Gov. Gen. Adrienne Clarkson is squandering the taxpayers' money as frivolously as her Liberal paymasters do -- and her "northern junket" demonstrates the same contempt for Canadian citizens who end up footing all the bills. Canadians were already angry when they learned Clarkson planned to take 59 "elite" guests -- mainly friends and artistic types -- on a lavish three-week trip to Russia, Finland and Iceland this past September. Initial cost of the trip, to supposedly raise Canada's profile in those countries, was pegged at $1 million. Yet now that the bills are in, we learn the no-expenses-spared junket cost an alarming $5.3 million. This is an unconscionable waste of tax dollars and absolutely insulting behaviour by Clarkson and her entourage. There is simply no way the trip or the expenses incurred can be justified. Winnipeg MP Pat Martin is right when he proposes cutting the Governor General's budget by exactly $5.3 million in order to let her know this nonsense will not be tolerated. As Martin said, if Clarkson wanted to invite "a bunch of interesting people" to dinner, why not invite them to her Rideau Hall residence in Ottawa rather than on a trip around the world? It's just an arrogant slap in the face to hardworking, taxpaying Canadians. Canadian Taxpayers Federation director John Williamson has unearthed even more alarming details about Clarkson's reign as the supposed representative of the Queen in Canada. Since taking up her office in 1999, the Governor General's budget has doubled from $10 million to $20 million. Her staff roster has increased by 33% to 180 from 135. We mean no slur whatsoever to Queen Elizabeth -- who has great respect for her subjects -- but Clarkson appears to be living higher off the hog than the Queen herself. Martin intends to bring Clarkson's extravagance up at today's meeting of the parliamentary operations and estimates committee and to demand another northern trip planned by Clarkson -- this time to Norway, Denmark and Sweden -- be halted. We also hope the committee halts the serving of liberal lashings of caviar at Rideau Hall. That would be a big saving, too. | 
