So, the right wing media in Canada has gotten its knickers into a twist because Justin Trudeau has managed to make a very nice living for himself on the speaking circuit.
Last I checked, quite a few politicians in this country make quite a nice bit of money on the side doing the speaking tour thing. This is neither news, nor surprising. The speaking circuit is both a means to keep one's public profile up, as well as make a bit of cash on the side. Trudeau may have made a substantial chunk of change doing it, but that's hardly a crime.
It comes as no surprise to me that Brad Wall decided to stand up on his hind legs and bray about the $20,000 that Justin Trudeau made for appearing at a literacy conference. This is obviously the kind of indirect attack that the Harper Politburo ... er ... PMO ... has decided to start using to attack Justin Trudeau. Having failed entirely to get any traction with their usual ham-fisted attack ads.
Charity events don't come together for free. I don't care whether you are talking about renting the hall, catering or the speakers. It's not free. Ironically, this is where charity organizations and business intersect. A caterer doesn't (usually) provision an event for free - they usually have a price that includes a nice little profit for them in it. The charity ultimately makes its money off the difference between ticket sales and the expenses incurred.
If you are running a small business, it's the same thing. You are hoping like hell that you can make enough money to put it all together and make enough profit to move on to the next step.
I find it more than a little suspicious that months after the fact there is suddenly a bunch of faux outrage over Trudeau's appearance fees.
When the government is caught in the midst of a disastrous scandal over Senate Expenses, has lost some 3.1 Billion dollars of taxpayer money and is lining up its next attack on Canada's middle class, the Harperites are busily looking to find a squirrel to distract public attention from their malfeasance.
[Update 17/06/13 12:30 PM]
If you were thinking that my supposition that this whole idiotic thing is a setup on the part of the Harperites, consider the following:
Grace Foundation Charity A Failed Conservative Stunt
It turns out that the person who wrote the letter complaining to Trudeau about the outcome of his speech has close ties to the HarperCon$. Surprisingly close ties.
... and to complain in March of 2013 about a speech given in July of 2012 seems just a tiny bit ridiculous.
[/Update]
[Update #2 18/06/13 7:45 AM]
Received via e-mail last night, it becomes clear that the PMO is acting politically in this matter:
PM's Office Sends Details of Trudeau's Talk At Georgian
First, they are digging back to years before Trudeau was elected to the House of Commons.
Second, taxpayers are paying for this. In short, we have the smoking gun here that shows that Harper is inappropriately utilizing the offices of government to carry out partisan political attacks.
[/Update #2]
Last I checked, quite a few politicians in this country make quite a nice bit of money on the side doing the speaking tour thing. This is neither news, nor surprising. The speaking circuit is both a means to keep one's public profile up, as well as make a bit of cash on the side. Trudeau may have made a substantial chunk of change doing it, but that's hardly a crime.
It comes as no surprise to me that Brad Wall decided to stand up on his hind legs and bray about the $20,000 that Justin Trudeau made for appearing at a literacy conference. This is obviously the kind of indirect attack that the Harper Politburo ... er ... PMO ... has decided to start using to attack Justin Trudeau. Having failed entirely to get any traction with their usual ham-fisted attack ads.
Charity events don't come together for free. I don't care whether you are talking about renting the hall, catering or the speakers. It's not free. Ironically, this is where charity organizations and business intersect. A caterer doesn't (usually) provision an event for free - they usually have a price that includes a nice little profit for them in it. The charity ultimately makes its money off the difference between ticket sales and the expenses incurred.
If you are running a small business, it's the same thing. You are hoping like hell that you can make enough money to put it all together and make enough profit to move on to the next step.
I find it more than a little suspicious that months after the fact there is suddenly a bunch of faux outrage over Trudeau's appearance fees.
When the government is caught in the midst of a disastrous scandal over Senate Expenses, has lost some 3.1 Billion dollars of taxpayer money and is lining up its next attack on Canada's middle class, the Harperites are busily looking to find a squirrel to distract public attention from their malfeasance.
[Update 17/06/13 12:30 PM]
If you were thinking that my supposition that this whole idiotic thing is a setup on the part of the Harperites, consider the following:
Grace Foundation Charity A Failed Conservative Stunt
It turns out that the person who wrote the letter complaining to Trudeau about the outcome of his speech has close ties to the HarperCon$. Surprisingly close ties.
... and to complain in March of 2013 about a speech given in July of 2012 seems just a tiny bit ridiculous.
[/Update]
[Update #2 18/06/13 7:45 AM]
Received via e-mail last night, it becomes clear that the PMO is acting politically in this matter:
PM's Office Sends Details of Trudeau's Talk At Georgian
First, they are digging back to years before Trudeau was elected to the House of Commons.
Second, taxpayers are paying for this. In short, we have the smoking gun here that shows that Harper is inappropriately utilizing the offices of government to carry out partisan political attacks.
[/Update #2]
2 comments:
Well, they had to come up with something fast, or they might have to resort to having Nigel Wright shell out for the crack video, so Rob Ford could be the distraction. At least it didn't have to come to that. Phew!
It's a little odd, actually. Up to this point the Harperites have been more organized than that about getting their attacks organized.
All the fumbling around Justin Trudeau seems uncharacteristically inept.
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