Bud Talkinghorn: Another Billion Dollar Plus Government Boondoggle

The National Post (Jan. 31 A-7) reports that "the Liberals' Technology Partnerships Canada program, which has shelled out about $2-billion in so-called corporate investments, is collecting less than a fifth of its promised repayments. Through The Access to Information Act (thank God for that act) it is revealed that only $55.6 million has been repaid over the last five years, although the government expected a return from the companies of $283 million."

The disbursements went to such corporate welfare bums as Bombardier and Pratt and Whitney. Bombardier, through its close relationship to Jean Chretien and his relatives, is never far from the trough. Any commercial bank that took such a bath on clients like these would be grabbing their assets. They certainly would not keep loaning these losers billions more. However, the Liberals have an enormous piggybank called taxation and they feel free to wow whatever businesses might garner votes. Doesn't this remind you of the 'self-sustaining" gun registry? Except this TPC program was actually supposed to make a handsome profit. "Government program" and "profits" makes a true oxymoron. Forget beating the same-sex drum all the time, the opposition should expose this travesty in Parliament. Let the people see how the Liberals just go on frittering away their tax dollars. Calling Auditor General Sheila Fraser. . . . .

© Bud Talkinghorn--Speaking of the Chretien business connection, does anyone remember that, in a fit of pique in 1993, Chretien cancelled theEH-101 helicopter contract at a cancellation cost to Canadian taxpayers of $470- million. Of course, if Bombardier had been able to make that helicopter . . .

I have said before that JC is the most c****** politician in my memory. Jean Chretien had the nerve to send his minions to attempt to besmirch Brian Mulroney, his predecessor and a former Prime Minister. Jean Chretien lost in a court of law. I suppose taxpayers, not JC, were forced to pay the court-awarded millions which went to charity, not to Mr. Mulroney. For using his power thus, Jean Chretien should be in * * * * . For all the rest, you may fill in your own choice place for him . . . . . . My fondest wish is for him to land in ********* -- forever. You figure it out. Enjoy yourself; use your imagination. I am grinning at the thought.