Tories paid $25 billion in grants and subsidies over first year in office: report

OTTAWA - A citizens' group says the Conservative government paid out $25 billion in grants, contributions and subsidies during its first fiscal year in office, with the two largest going to a Quebec-based aerospace company.

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation has compiled a list of the top 100 grants and contributions paid out between April 1, 2006, and last March 31.

The group says the 100 largest payments, doled out by 16 different departments and agencies, total $3.3 billion - much of it spent "questionably, inefficiently and, in some cases, outright irresponsibly."

The group says the government's total grant-subsidy budget accounts for just over 11 cents of each tax dollar spent.

The two largest handouts went to Quebec-based Pratt and Whitney Canada, the first for $213 million and second for $137 million.

Other notable examples of what the taxpayers' group called "corporate welfare" include $47.5 million to Quebec's Mont Tremblant ski resort, $27 million for a soccer stadium in Toronto and $19.1 million for Alcan.

The group says $9 billion a year is funnelled to native bands "despite the lack of accountability to Canadian taxpayers."

It points out that the auditor general is not allowed to scrutinize payments to aboriginal groups.

And it says most cities can only dream of the federal money given to Toronto - besides the soccer stadium, payments include $25 million to the Toronto International Film Festival, more than $24 million to the Toronto Waterfront Revitalization, $21 million to the Toronto Harbourfront Centre and $18 million to the Greater Toronto Airports Authority.

Here are the Top 25 recipients of federal grants, contributions and subsidies paid during the Conservative government's first fiscal year in office (province, recipient, amount), as compiled by the Canadian Taxpayers' Federation and released Monday:

1. Quebec, Pratt and Whitney Canada Corp., $213 million

2. Quebec, Pratt and Whitney Canada Corp., $137 million

3. British Columbia, Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee, $124 million

4. Ontario, Canarie Inc., $120 million

5. Ontario, Canadian Television Fund, $120 million

6. Washington, D.C., World Bank, $115 million

7. Ontario, National Association of Friendship Centres, $77 million

8. Ontario, Canadian Red Cross Society, $70 million

9. Quebec, Cree Regional Authority, $70 million

10. Alberta, Blood Band, $62 million

11. Ontario, Conseil des Ministres de l'Education Canada, $56 million

12. Quebec, Mont Tremblant Resorts and Co. Ltd., $48 million

13. Quebec, Quebec government, $44 million

14. New York, UN Population Fund, $44 million

15. Quebec, Development and Peace, $42 million

16. Manitoba, Manitoba Floodway Authority, $42 million

17. British Columbia, Nisga'a Nation, $42 million

18. Quebec, Societe du 400e Anniversaire de Quebec, $40,000

19. Manitoba, Norway House Cree Nation, $39 million

20. Saskatchewan, Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation, $36 million

21. Saskatchewan, Lac La Ronge Band, $36 million

22. New Brunswick, Atlantic Wallboard Ltd., $35 million

23. Quebec, Mohawk Council of Kahnawake, $35 million

24. Ontario, National Association of Friendship Centres, $34 million

25. British Columbia, Nuu-Cha-Nulth Tribal Council, $32 million.

The federation's complete list of 100 recipients can be found at http://www.taxpayer.com/pdf/Top100.pdf.

Canadian Press