Truemors
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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