Canadians learned recently that Industry Minister Tony Clement's riding got more than their fair share of stimulus funding. However, the Canadian Press has just uncovered the fact that he is also tapping into a special fund, set aside for the G8 summit that is to take place in Canada in June, to pretty up his riding.
Forget that they are not equipped to handle the meetings, which should be taking place in Toronto, Montreal, Calgary or some other large centre. No, the Reform-Conservatives have chosen Huntsville in cottage country. Beautiful setting but the foreign guests won't be impressed with it's lack of facilities.
But hey, if it will ensure that 'do nothing' Clement gets re-elected, that's all that really matters, right?
G8 money lands far from meeting site
By Heather Scoffield,
THE CANADIAN PRESS
October 27, 2009
OTTAWA — A $50-million federal fund set up to build infrastructure for next June’s G8 summit is being spent partly on projects that are far from the summit site and with tenuous links to the high-powered meeting. Industry Minister Tony Clement announced the low-profile fund last February, explaining that the fund was being “provided for G8 Summit related infrastructure, including a G8 Centre in Huntsville.”
Huntsville, Ont., will host the meeting. The town of 18,000 is in Clement’s riding, about 215 kilometres north of Toronto, and is best known for being at the heart of prime cottage country for Toronto’s wealthier class.
Huntsville has received the largest share of the money, mainly $16.7 million for a new G8 Centre, $9 million for a summit management office and $2.4 million for improvements to the road by the resort where the meeting is to take place. ...
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