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April 23rd, 2012

Reality check: A Long History of Living the High Life

International Development Minister Bev Oda has set a new high water mark for government excess and abuse of the taxpayers’ credit card ... again.

Two Rooms, the height of luxury! Aside from the $1000/day Mercedes shuttle and expensing taxpayers $16 for a glass of Orange Juice, the Minister has set a new standard for accommodation extravagance. 5-star hotels aren't good enough for this minister, she had to stay at the ultra posh Savoy hotel in London -- and taxpayers ended up footing the bill for two hotel rooms for one Minister.

The $1,995 that Bev Oda spent on her swanky hotel room alone could have vaccinated over 140 kids against maleria.

Its bad enough the Minister was more concerned with living the life of luxury than fighting for the most vulnerable. But it’s the utter disregard for modesty and the taxpayers’ dime that hurts the most.

Memories of Oda expenses of old.

This Minister has a record of using taxpayer dollars for her own comfort. Please enjoy this walk down memory lane of wasteful spending.

Limo expenses? What limo expenses? In 2008 it was revealed that of the nearly $17,000 dollars Minister Oda spent on limos in her first 15 months in office, half was kept secret, despite proactive disclosure rules. Cost to taxpayers: $ 14,800 Driving Miss Lazy Heritage Minister Bev Oda racked-up almost $6,000 in limousine expenses over four days in Halifax in 2006 to attend the Juno Awards. It’s been reported that Oda had arrived a couple of days before the awards ceremony, during which time she had an assortment of limos escorting her around – or on standby. Oda refused a minivan which was rented for her, opting for a limo instead. Embarrassed by even her own excess, Oda was forced to pay some of the cost. Cost to taxpayers: $5,475