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EX-PMs: RCMP used as Golf Caddies, Beer Runs?
by Barry Artiste | May 1, 2008 at 09:09 am | 312 views | 4 comments
Opinion
Barry Artiste, Now Public Contributor
Ex-Canadian Prime Ministers are offered RCMP Security Protection once they leave office and join the "Joe Six Packs" of this world. But 4 RCMP officers seems a little bit of overkill !
Granted, if attending Public events on behalf of the Government I would have no problem, but Golf outings in their hometown? All to the tune of close to half a million dollars a year to chauffeur a Prime Minister or go for a Beer Run and grab a Blockbuster video?
I put it this way, if Ex- Prime Ministers feel they are Legends in their own Mind, and think they are Beloved by taxpayers in Canada, why would they need protection, especially when some are Billionaires?
Certainly time to nip this "Tax Drain in the Bud", and put a timeframe on protective services, say 5 years.
Of course why use RCMP at all, when private security firms in Canada can do the same service at a fraction of the cost.
Do you really need an armed person to fetch your clubs, carry your umbrella or look for your TV remote under the couch cushions?
Some fascinating RCMP documents may finally offer a clue to the whereabouts of Paul Martin Jr., the former prime minister (remember him?) who seems to have all but vanished from the capital since voters kicked him out of the Big Office.
The documents suggest the only sitting MP with his own private golf course may also be the only duffer with an armed foursome, passing his days putting with the Mounties, if not using the Horsemen as the world's coolest caddies.
Far-fetched as that probably is, it would at least help to explain how the gazillionaire former PM has managed to rack up over $440,000 in RCMP chauffeur and bodyguard services since leaving office, every penny of it covered by grateful taxpayers.
Like all former prime ministers, Martin is entitled to protective services, and heaven forbid anything should happen to him.
But how many Mounties does it take to protect a guy who is arguably both out of mind and out of sight from sea to shining sea?
A lot, apparently.
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May 1, 2008 at 09:09 am by Barry Artiste, 312 views, 4 comments
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Comments (4)
at 09:27 on May 1st, 2008
Well, they're definitely going to bring back the right kind of beer... but that's not really the issue here! (In the USA, ex-presidents also get a security detail, but not the FBI, which would be the RCMP's equivalent!)
at 09:46 on May 1st, 2008
Still though, it is hard to envision these "Milquetoast" Canadian Prime Ministers as an equivalent to other World Leaders since they really are not even in the Public eye anymore and remain sequestered in their hometowns puttering around golf courses and society luncheons.
at 13:30 on May 1st, 2008
Hey what's the problem? Haven't you always wanted 'The Help' to wear cool red serge and breeks?
at 20:33 on May 1st, 2008
Yeah, fer me "n" yew, but damn Skeeter, we's gots ta pay fer them slick oil salesmen, wiff our moonshine revenuer money, t'aint fair I tells ya, t'aint. specially in them fancy city cars wit windows and doors, why caint they drive in pikup trucks like us reglur folk, bet ya, he don't got a rifle rack in the back o his fancy limoooseene, I caint stands it, I tells ya, I caint., not fair ! Some howse ah din thanks the Pohleece wood be too crazee servin us moonshine in fancy tea cups, no siree bob.