Forces search for honorary colonels liaison
Critics say position is waste of money at $100,000-plus
Canada’s air force wants to hire a retired senior officer to deal with dozens of honorary colonels, among them celebrities such as hockey great Guy Lafleur and singer Sass Jordan.
Such high-profile public figures, who also include businessmen and senators, expect to liaise with a senior military official, said Capt. Jean-Francois Lambert, Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) spokesman. He said awarding the job to a retired officer has been a tradition since the 1990s.
But union officials and an opposition MP say in a time of cuts and layoffs, the position, estimated to cost more than $100,000, is a waste of money.
Candidates have until May 6 to apply.
Lambert said the special adviser would provide advice to RCAF commander Lt.-Gen. Yvan Blondin, but the main job would be to look after the service’s 75 honorary colonels. “Obviously when you’re dealing (with honorary colonels) it’s better to have someone who has weight to their position,” he explained.
Dealing with honorary colonels can easily be handled by any one from the ranks, argues Liberal defence critic Joyce Murray. “Surely to goodness someone from within the air force could be posted to that function?” she said.
John MacLennan, president of the Union of National Defence Employees, said the liaison position will cost taxpayers more than $100,000 when travel and other expenses are counted.
“What you have is a double standard,” he said. “The department is preaching to us that they have to save money so they lay off kitchen staff and cleaners but no one thinks twice about putting a retired general or colonel back on the payroll.”
More than 1,000 Defence Department civilian staff, many of them at the lower end of the pay scale, have been cut under plans set out in the 2012 budget. The Defence Department’s target is a net reduction of 1,621 full-time civilian employees by March 2015.
The RCAF says honorary colonels are vital to fostering esprit de corps and developing community support by providing a public profile. Some of those now serving include Jordan, Lafleur, Second World War veteran Arthur Sherwin and president of Le Reseau des Sports, Gerry Frappier. In November, Sen. Pamela Wallin stepped down from her RCAF honorary colonel role after becoming embroiled in controversy about her expenses.
The adviser job opens up every four years, according to the RCAF.
MacLennan said the position is just one example of the dubious spending in a department that is supposed to be significantly reducing expenses. He noted as another example the Defence Department’s decision to hold a taxpayer-funded celebration in September for former defence minister Peter MacKay, almost two months after he left his job. The ceremony involving senior staff cost taxpayers $1,425 for the food.
During MacKay’s celebration, the minister and officers dined on lobster, beef Wellington and bacon-wrapped scallops. MacLennan said the $1,425 cost given didn’t include the cost of a band, an honour guard, and salaries of the senior department and military personnel who would have been at work if they hadn’t spent hours at the function.
A Defence Department official said the cost for an honour guard and band wasn’t included because those individuals volunteered during their work day.
MacLennan called that claim ridiculous. “They’ll go out to the troops and say, ‘You can volunteer first and if you don’t then you’re going to be volun-told,’ ” he said.