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Suggestions for Government Expenses
Posted 8/9/2012 12:00:00 PM

Well the government is now vowing a complete review of Alberta Health Services executive expenses after the "expensegate" revelations of the past week.  Good, it's about time. However I have two suggestions for the Tories about what to do with OUR money.

Firstly, if we continue with the same system of expenses and allowances, all should have to post on line what and where they spend money on a weekly for all to see. This might prove to be a little unmanagable and require too many man hours that should be spent doing something useful, so, lets go to idea #2.

A flat allowance paid to the person monthly. We give them the $1000.00 a month and if they want to put a phone in the car, fine. If they want to go to expensive restaurants, fine.  If they want to eat at Arby's, fine. They can do what they want with the designated amount.

Buuuut,there is a 3rd option.  Pay for your own lunch with the generous salary we already pay you.......
Posted By: Bruce Kenyon  

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  1. Pete Whitehead posted on 08/09/2012 12:07 PM
    Did you ever wonder how many employees (elected & hired) have a government credit card in their wallet? Who decides who qualifies for a credit card and who approves the expenditures?
  2. Mike posted on 08/09/2012 12:50 PM
    Expenses are a fact of life for many employees, be they government, private enterprise, or otherwise (even you maybe, Bruce...). What's needed is better scrutiny. I submit my expense claims once a month using well-defined procedures and limits. Perhaps if the AHS adopted a two-level approval system for expenses that exceed a certain amount (e.g. $1,000 in a month), then the likelihood of such an obvious abuse taxpayers' money would be much less likely to occur. But, to suggest that expense accounts be eliminated altogether is unrealistic.
  3. Don Sharpe posted on 08/09/2012 01:06 PM This comment was edited by a moderator at 01:15 PM on 08/09/2012
    "Buy your own lunch."

    I like it - fit's well on a sign, too.
    Great Job, Bruce!
  4. Pablo posted on 08/09/2012 02:11 PM
    I wish for a more effective government not for a crippled one. The latter is what I fear we would see should government employees have to use their own money to do what you and I rely on them to do. Do private companies ask that their very well paid CEO and VPs pay their own lunch when on business?
    I don't think so.
    I ask for better controlls and clearer rules for government employees' expense reports, as I would expect of a public company where I have stock.
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