CBC's glitzy Strombo party cost $72,000+

mentalfloss

Prickly Curmudgeon Smiter
Jun 28, 2010
39,778
454
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This one is dedicated to the good ol' cap'n.




CBC's glitzy Strombo party cost $72,000+

OTTAWA - CBC paid more than one-and-a-half times the average income of a working Canadian for a one-night, celebrity-filled party last September.

Called the Hazelton Takeover, the event cost taxpayers more than $72,000, thousands more than CBC president Hubert Lacroix claimed when he appeared before a Commons committee.

The lavish event, held at "Canada's only 5 star hotel" in "the city's finest and most fashionable downtown district," brought CBC host George Stroumboulopoulos together with American and British celebrities during the Toronto International Film Festival.

Lacroix told MPs that the party cost $64,000, but a single invoice from Veritas Communications shows a charge of $72,372.

Other invoices, including one from the Hazelton Hotel, have had all the key information -- including charges -- removed.

According to Statistics Canada's Labour Force Survey, the average wage in Canada for working individuals is $44,252 a year.

The documents were obtained by QMI Agency through an access to information request.

Another document shows a team of four bodyguards were hired to protect Stroumboulopoulos during his party. The costs for the private security team have also been removed.

The contract for renting out Canada's most luxurious hotel for the party were released with all relevant details removed. CBC claimed the contract was "information the disclosure of which could reasonably be expected to prejudice the competitive position of a government institution."

The documents show that CBC officials hoped to create a buzz about the launch of their new show, George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight.

In the end they reported a three-day spike in Twitter traffic.

Pages upon pages of material related to the party have been held back by the state broadcaster, claiming that releasing them to the public would harm CBC's creative, programming or journalistic activities.

Other material was held back because releasing it would harm the economic interests of Canada, according to the CBC.

http://www.torontosun.com/2011/12/19/cbcs-glitzy-strombo-party-cost-72gs-plus
 

shadowshiv

Dark Overlord
May 29, 2007
17,545
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What surprises me more is that he actually has a television show. I find it quite boring to be honest. He does come across as an intelligent host, but the show itself? Meh.
 

damngrumpy

Executive Branch Member
Mar 16, 2005
9,949
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kelowna bc
Compared to the goings on in media its a drop in the bucket. In fact it will likely bring in
some money from the hype over time. Not an excuse you say? Remember when some
were critical of the sports venue in Vancouver? The government spent over a half
billion on that thing, in order to gain some money later supposedly. Later we find out it
was because some influential people wanted a refurbished stadium across the street
from their gambling casino. In the end no casino and a bill still being paid for a half
billion dollars and it is likely going to be one of the reasons the NDP comes back to power
in BC.