Ice rink spending gives taxpayers chills

It couldn’t have gone any other way. There was really only one contender to win the federal Teddy Award for worst government waste: The Parliament Hill rink!

It’s one thing to waste millions on some feel-good government project. Much to our frustration, these expenses happen all of the time. But it’s another to spend millions on something that everyday Canadians quite capably put together in their own backyards every year for next to nothing.

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation, which gives out the Teddy Awards annually, nailed it doling out its top award of shame to such an absurd expense.

The rink was slated to cost $5.6 million, which was rightfully seen as a ridiculously high expense. But, according to the taxpayers group, the final costs bring it up to

$8.2 million.

Keep in mind, this rink is temporary, set up as one of the last Canada 150 celebrations. It’ll be gone by the end of the winter.

“Incredibly, it was built just one block away from the Rideau Canal, which is widely known as Canada’s most famous outdoor skating rink,” reads the group’s release.

The runners-up for federal fiscal failures were all monies spent on communications and optics. Finance Canada gets a nod for its $192,000 spent on graphics and advertising

The rink was slated to cost $5.6 million ... But, according to the taxpayers group, the final costs bring it up to $8.2 million.”

for the budget. It’s not enough they have to spend too much of our money in the budget, but they also persist in spending too much of our money-making the document that tells us how much of our money they’re wasting. It’s enough to make your head spin!

Meanwhile, Health Canada gets a shout out for shelling out $100,000 of hardworking taxpayers’ money to operate the minister of health’s Twitter account, which has few followers and offers up even fewer posts.

It’s no surprise the feds are wasting money on messaging. The Trudeau era is about spin over substance. We’d take a balanced budget over these silly expenditures any day.

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation also took a look at provincial and municipal snafus, such as the $20,000 spent by SaskPower to maintain a fish pond at their Regina headquarters.

Another year, another reminder that there are no shortage of nominees for this dubious distinction.