Agriculture bureaucrats dine on lobster as farmers struggle
 

As jobless numbers mount and stock markets plummet, Canada's top agriculture bureaucrats have retired to the luxury Brentwood Bay Lodge and Spa to discuss business over lobster at taxpayers' expense.

Deputy agriculture ministers from the provinces and territories are taking part in the retreat, which opened Thursday and continues Friday at the upscale resort, where published room rates run from $279 to $499 a night during the spring season. About 20 people are participating.

Agriculture Canada, which organized the conference at Brentwood Bay Lodge, said each province and territory covered its own expenses. Nova Scotia was unable to attend, but sent lobsters for the bureaucrats to enjoy.

B.C. Agriculture Minister Ron Cantelon initially defended the conference, saying that hotels "are probably pretty competitive in these times" and the real issue is that senior government officials are doing important business.

He called back later, however, to acknowledge that governments "need to be smarter" about how they conduct business in tough economic times. While his ministry was not responsible for organizing the conference, he noted the potential for increased use of video- and teleconferencing, and said he will instruct his ministry to make better use of that technology in future.

Agriculture Canada was unable to say how much the conference is costing.

Dan Behune, Brentwood's managing director, declined to disclose what government guests were charged. The lodge has a range of rates depending on the number of visitors and length of stay, and it would be unfair to assume a total cost based on the published rates, he said.

"The most important part of the story, instead of trying to be negative, is to say that, 'Hey, look: We have this five-star, award-winning boutique hotel in our local community that's attracting great business, that's bringing revenue and employment to our local economy, when things are particularly slow and troublesome with the recession going on."

But NDP MLA Adrian Dix said government officials should try to be more frugal at a time when so many people are losing their jobs.
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I really wish that every hypocrite member of the goddamn NDP would shut their dirty whore mouths.

Really. I fucking hate listening to them whine how everything in the province and everything in the country should revolve around the fucking poor. Tax the crap out of everything and give more to the poor.

They are talking about a shared expense retreat for a few days with lobsters donated by Nova Scotia. This just in...lobster is not that expensive when its in your backyard. Teleconferencing? The value of these meetings aren't the meetings themselves, but the conversations that take place outside of the official itinerary. You can't network on the phone.

Once again...fuck you NDP. Shut up...you had your chance. Get off the stage.