Trudeau Has Buried Us In Debt
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PM’s $160K plane food bill has taxpayers paying for caviar wishes on meatloaf budget
Canadian Taxpayers Federation says prime minister 'spent more money on airplane food during one trip than the average family will spend on groceries in almost a decade'
Author of the article:Bryan Passifiume
Published Jul 15, 2026 • Last updated 19 hours ago • 3 minute read
Prime Minister Mark Carney walks along Sparks St. in Ottawa, ON. on Friday, May 2, 2025.
Prime Minister Mark Carney walks along Sparks St. in Ottawa on Friday, May 2, 2025. Photo by Bryan Passifiume /Toronto Sun
OTTAWA — The high-flying spending continues.
New data unearthed this week by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) shows more sky-high spending by Prime Minister Mark Carney aboard CANFORCE ONE, revealing new details about the PM’s $159,800 in-flight catering bill during an international trip last November.
“Carney spent more money on airplane food during one trip than the average family will spend on groceries in almost a decade,” said CTF federal director Franco Terrazzano.
“Carney keeps promising to spend less, but if he isn’t willing to cut back on airplane food, then what will he spend less on?”
Menus included beef tenderloin, chicken chasseur
On Nov. 18, CANFORCE ONE departed Ottawa for a week-long trip to attend the G20 Leaders’ Summit in South Africa, stopping on the way to attend trade talks in the United Arab Emirates.
Meals on that trip, according to a response to an order paper question tabled in June, cost $159,781.24 — but thanks to invoices and Department of National Defence (DND) paperwork obtained by the CTF, fare for that trip included a choice between Italian sausage and penne pasta in white wine tomato sauce, or chicken chasseur with bacon and mushroom sauce, served with mashed potato and green beans.
Printed on 437 Transport Squadron letterhead, the flight’s lunch menus offered passengers a choice between chicken breast orzo pasta or slow roast cod with tarragon cream sauce.
For the leg from Athens to Abu Dhabi, passengers could choose between chicken stuffed with turkey bacon or Chilean sea bass with steamed veg and roasted sweet potatoes.
Passengers on the flight from Abu Dhabi to Johannesburg enjoyed two meal services — for lunch a choice between grilled beef tenderloin or grilled salmon fillet, and for dinner chicken biryani or penne alfredo with mushrooms and parmesan.
For the leg between South Africa and a stop in the Canary Islands, dinner was a choice between Hawaiian chicken kebab or seared salmon, and a breakfast of either an omelette or french toast.
The flight home to Ottawa on Nov. 24 gave passengers a choice of a chicken dish with mushrooms or lasagna for lunch, and for dinner either beef tenderloin or cheese ravioli.
PM spent over $1 million on in-flight catering in his first year of office
In June, the Toronto Sun reported that the DND spent more than $1 million on in-flight catering for CANFORCE ONE missions during Carney’s first 12 months in office.
While the UAE/South Africa trip was Carney’s second-costliest trip in terms of food, the most expensive was the PM’s January trip to Beijing, Qatar and Davos, Switzerland — which according to DND-provided numbers cost $175,248.48 to feed the flight’s 73 passengers — an average cost of $2,400 per passenger.
“Catering costs are recorded as a total gross amount per flight leg and do not reflect any reimbursements that may have been received afterwards,” read a note attached to June’s OPQ response, adding that costs “remain provisional until full reconciliation of invoices is complete.”
Terrazzano questioned Carney’s promises to cut sky-high government spending in light of these eye-watering catering bills.
“How can the prime minister justify billing taxpayers six figures for airplane food?” Terrazzano said.
“If other politicians and bureaucrats can travel without racking up these outrageous bills then Carney can spend less while flying abroad.”
bpassifiume@postmedia.com
Government records. TORONTO SUN GRAPHICS
Government records show Mark Carney spent nearly $160,000 on airplane food. TORONTO SUN GRAPHIC
![carney-food[1].jpg](https://forums.canadiancontent.net/data/attachments/33/33361-e43e6484e1a589be0f5eab744dac6ab0.jpg "carney-food[1].jpg")
taxpayer.com
torontosun.com
Canadian Taxpayers Federation says prime minister 'spent more money on airplane food during one trip than the average family will spend on groceries in almost a decade'
Author of the article:Bryan Passifiume
Published Jul 15, 2026 • Last updated 19 hours ago • 3 minute read
Prime Minister Mark Carney walks along Sparks St. in Ottawa, ON. on Friday, May 2, 2025.
Prime Minister Mark Carney walks along Sparks St. in Ottawa on Friday, May 2, 2025. Photo by Bryan Passifiume /Toronto Sun
OTTAWA — The high-flying spending continues.
New data unearthed this week by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) shows more sky-high spending by Prime Minister Mark Carney aboard CANFORCE ONE, revealing new details about the PM’s $159,800 in-flight catering bill during an international trip last November.
“Carney spent more money on airplane food during one trip than the average family will spend on groceries in almost a decade,” said CTF federal director Franco Terrazzano.
“Carney keeps promising to spend less, but if he isn’t willing to cut back on airplane food, then what will he spend less on?”
Menus included beef tenderloin, chicken chasseur
On Nov. 18, CANFORCE ONE departed Ottawa for a week-long trip to attend the G20 Leaders’ Summit in South Africa, stopping on the way to attend trade talks in the United Arab Emirates.
Meals on that trip, according to a response to an order paper question tabled in June, cost $159,781.24 — but thanks to invoices and Department of National Defence (DND) paperwork obtained by the CTF, fare for that trip included a choice between Italian sausage and penne pasta in white wine tomato sauce, or chicken chasseur with bacon and mushroom sauce, served with mashed potato and green beans.
Printed on 437 Transport Squadron letterhead, the flight’s lunch menus offered passengers a choice between chicken breast orzo pasta or slow roast cod with tarragon cream sauce.
For the leg from Athens to Abu Dhabi, passengers could choose between chicken stuffed with turkey bacon or Chilean sea bass with steamed veg and roasted sweet potatoes.
Passengers on the flight from Abu Dhabi to Johannesburg enjoyed two meal services — for lunch a choice between grilled beef tenderloin or grilled salmon fillet, and for dinner chicken biryani or penne alfredo with mushrooms and parmesan.
For the leg between South Africa and a stop in the Canary Islands, dinner was a choice between Hawaiian chicken kebab or seared salmon, and a breakfast of either an omelette or french toast.
The flight home to Ottawa on Nov. 24 gave passengers a choice of a chicken dish with mushrooms or lasagna for lunch, and for dinner either beef tenderloin or cheese ravioli.
PM spent over $1 million on in-flight catering in his first year of office
In June, the Toronto Sun reported that the DND spent more than $1 million on in-flight catering for CANFORCE ONE missions during Carney’s first 12 months in office.
While the UAE/South Africa trip was Carney’s second-costliest trip in terms of food, the most expensive was the PM’s January trip to Beijing, Qatar and Davos, Switzerland — which according to DND-provided numbers cost $175,248.48 to feed the flight’s 73 passengers — an average cost of $2,400 per passenger.
“Catering costs are recorded as a total gross amount per flight leg and do not reflect any reimbursements that may have been received afterwards,” read a note attached to June’s OPQ response, adding that costs “remain provisional until full reconciliation of invoices is complete.”
Terrazzano questioned Carney’s promises to cut sky-high government spending in light of these eye-watering catering bills.
“How can the prime minister justify billing taxpayers six figures for airplane food?” Terrazzano said.
“If other politicians and bureaucrats can travel without racking up these outrageous bills then Carney can spend less while flying abroad.”
bpassifiume@postmedia.com
Government records. TORONTO SUN GRAPHICS
Government records show Mark Carney spent nearly $160,000 on airplane food. TORONTO SUN GRAPHIC
Carney drops $160,000 on airplane food during one trip
Prime Minister Mark Carney and his entourage spent $159,800 on airplane food during a single trip while dining on “chicken chasseur,” Chilean sea bass and “death by chocolate,” according to government records obtained by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.
PM’s $160K plane food bill has taxpayers paying for caviar wishes on meatloaf budget
From beef tenderloin to Chilean sea bass, taxpayers shelled out six figures to feed Prime Minister Mark Carney's entourage in the air. More
Willowdale MPP Stan Cho resigns from Doug Ford's cabinet over hotel expenses
Cho said in his resignation letter he has paid back all of the hotel expenses
Author of the article:Jane Stevenson
Published Jul 17, 2026 • Last updated 20 hours ago • 4 minute read
Stan Cho
Stan Cho, Ontario Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming, speaks during the official opening of the interim location of the Ontario Science Centre at Harbourfront Centre, Toronto, Ontario on Monday, June 29, 2026. Photo by Peter Power /POSTMEDIA NETWORK
Ontario Tourism, Culture and Gaming Minister Stan Cho has resigned from Premier Doug Ford’s cabinet over his hotel spending scandal.
In a resignation letter released Friday, Cho said his decision was effective immediately and that he made “a mistake” by claiming accommodation expenses for overnight stays in Toronto despite living within commuting distance of Queen’s Park.
“Looking back now, I made a mistake. I am taking full responsibility, as I do not want to be a distraction from our plan to grow the economy, keep families safe, and build this province,” he wrote.
The revelation by Cho and other Conservative MPPs prompted Premier Ford’s government to announce it would eliminate the long-standing expense rule.
The Premier released his own statement about Cho’s resignation.
“Earlier today, I accepted the resignation of Stan Cho from Cabinet, effective immediately,” wrote Ford.
“He has acknowledged and taken responsibility for his mistake. He will continue to serve the people of Willowdale as their Member of Provincial Parliament.”
At a Friday morning press conference on the Ontario wildfires, Ford reiterated plans to change that hotel expenses rule when asked if he trusted his ministers not to abuse it.
“Again, we’re changing that policy and they know how upset I was,” said Ford. “And we’re going to move forward and there has to be accountability and we don’t operate that way. That’s not in our DNA, so again we’re moving forward here and paying back every single penny.”
Still, Ford was asked if the 11 other MPPS who had also claimed hotel expenses, including his nephew Michael Ford, should also resign from Cabinet or face other penalties.
“It’s unacceptable,” said the premier. “It’s not how we operate. We have to be prudent fiscal managers. Stan did the right thing and he handed in his resignation from the cabinet. I’ve been clear to our entire caucus, it’s unacceptable and we’re not going to tolerate it.”
Ford said Attorney General Doug Downey will be taking on Cho’s and retiring MPP Neil Lumsden’s Cabinet responsibilities on an interim basis.
Lumsden is the Sports Minister.
In his retirement letter, Lumsden said: “To the people of Hamilton East-Stoney Creek, thank you for the trust you placed in me. Representing you has been the honour of a lifetime, and I retire with tremendous optimism for the future of our community and our province under the leadership of Premier Ford.”
Said Ford in his statement: “I also want to acknowledge Neil Lumsden’s announcement that he will be retiring from Cabinet and the provincial legislature effective August 4. Neil has been a dedicated public servant with a storied career during his time in the CFL, as a minister and as the MPP for Hamilton East-Stoney Creek. In particular, I want to thank Neil for his work supporting Toronto’s successful hosting of the FIFA World Cup. Ontario is lucky to have benefited from his leadership. I wish Neil and his family all the very best in his retirement.”
Ontario government current expense rules say MPPs who live more than 50 kilometres away from Queen’s Park are allowed to bill taxpayers for a residence in or around Toronto so they can be closer to the legislature, where most of their work is done.
MPPs who live within that 50-kilometre boundary, however, are only allowed to claim accommodation costs for special circumstances and only overnight.
Cho lived 6 km from Queen’s Park
Cho only lived six kilometres, or seven subway stops, from Queen’s Park but had billed more than $16,000 for hotel stays downtown over the past three years.
Cho said in his own statement that he had paid back the hotel stays and accepted that claiming them was a mistake.
“I have a young family at home and a schedule that too often kept me from them. On late nights, I made a choice that was easier for me. I did not stop to ask how it would look to a person in my riding working a double shift.”
In his statement, Cho said while his spending was within the rules, it was still a mistake.
“Over the past three years, I claimed accommodation in the city on nights the legislature sat late,” he wrote. “I have reviewed every one of those claims and am satisfied they met the criteria set out in the members’ guide.”
Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles says Cho resigning from cabinet and replaying the $16,000 doesn’t go far enough in her mind.
“I don’t think it’s enough,” she told reporters Friday. “I think we need answers. If they thought that was going to sweep things under the carpet, it’s not going to work.”
“The people of Ontario demand answers and I will say as well that (Cho’s) not even the worst offender,” Stiles added. “They had other ministers and MPPs in that government who even spent more. So I will keep calling for them to not just refund the money but to provide answers to the people of Ontario.”
torontosun.com
Cho said in his resignation letter he has paid back all of the hotel expenses
Author of the article:Jane Stevenson
Published Jul 17, 2026 • Last updated 20 hours ago • 4 minute read
Stan Cho
Stan Cho, Ontario Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming, speaks during the official opening of the interim location of the Ontario Science Centre at Harbourfront Centre, Toronto, Ontario on Monday, June 29, 2026. Photo by Peter Power /POSTMEDIA NETWORK
Ontario Tourism, Culture and Gaming Minister Stan Cho has resigned from Premier Doug Ford’s cabinet over his hotel spending scandal.
In a resignation letter released Friday, Cho said his decision was effective immediately and that he made “a mistake” by claiming accommodation expenses for overnight stays in Toronto despite living within commuting distance of Queen’s Park.
“Looking back now, I made a mistake. I am taking full responsibility, as I do not want to be a distraction from our plan to grow the economy, keep families safe, and build this province,” he wrote.
The revelation by Cho and other Conservative MPPs prompted Premier Ford’s government to announce it would eliminate the long-standing expense rule.
The Premier released his own statement about Cho’s resignation.
“Earlier today, I accepted the resignation of Stan Cho from Cabinet, effective immediately,” wrote Ford.
“He has acknowledged and taken responsibility for his mistake. He will continue to serve the people of Willowdale as their Member of Provincial Parliament.”
At a Friday morning press conference on the Ontario wildfires, Ford reiterated plans to change that hotel expenses rule when asked if he trusted his ministers not to abuse it.
“Again, we’re changing that policy and they know how upset I was,” said Ford. “And we’re going to move forward and there has to be accountability and we don’t operate that way. That’s not in our DNA, so again we’re moving forward here and paying back every single penny.”
Still, Ford was asked if the 11 other MPPS who had also claimed hotel expenses, including his nephew Michael Ford, should also resign from Cabinet or face other penalties.
“It’s unacceptable,” said the premier. “It’s not how we operate. We have to be prudent fiscal managers. Stan did the right thing and he handed in his resignation from the cabinet. I’ve been clear to our entire caucus, it’s unacceptable and we’re not going to tolerate it.”
Ford said Attorney General Doug Downey will be taking on Cho’s and retiring MPP Neil Lumsden’s Cabinet responsibilities on an interim basis.
Lumsden is the Sports Minister.
In his retirement letter, Lumsden said: “To the people of Hamilton East-Stoney Creek, thank you for the trust you placed in me. Representing you has been the honour of a lifetime, and I retire with tremendous optimism for the future of our community and our province under the leadership of Premier Ford.”
Said Ford in his statement: “I also want to acknowledge Neil Lumsden’s announcement that he will be retiring from Cabinet and the provincial legislature effective August 4. Neil has been a dedicated public servant with a storied career during his time in the CFL, as a minister and as the MPP for Hamilton East-Stoney Creek. In particular, I want to thank Neil for his work supporting Toronto’s successful hosting of the FIFA World Cup. Ontario is lucky to have benefited from his leadership. I wish Neil and his family all the very best in his retirement.”
Ontario government current expense rules say MPPs who live more than 50 kilometres away from Queen’s Park are allowed to bill taxpayers for a residence in or around Toronto so they can be closer to the legislature, where most of their work is done.
MPPs who live within that 50-kilometre boundary, however, are only allowed to claim accommodation costs for special circumstances and only overnight.
Cho lived 6 km from Queen’s Park
Cho only lived six kilometres, or seven subway stops, from Queen’s Park but had billed more than $16,000 for hotel stays downtown over the past three years.
Cho said in his own statement that he had paid back the hotel stays and accepted that claiming them was a mistake.
“I have a young family at home and a schedule that too often kept me from them. On late nights, I made a choice that was easier for me. I did not stop to ask how it would look to a person in my riding working a double shift.”
In his statement, Cho said while his spending was within the rules, it was still a mistake.
“Over the past three years, I claimed accommodation in the city on nights the legislature sat late,” he wrote. “I have reviewed every one of those claims and am satisfied they met the criteria set out in the members’ guide.”
Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles says Cho resigning from cabinet and replaying the $16,000 doesn’t go far enough in her mind.
“I don’t think it’s enough,” she told reporters Friday. “I think we need answers. If they thought that was going to sweep things under the carpet, it’s not going to work.”
“The people of Ontario demand answers and I will say as well that (Cho’s) not even the worst offender,” Stiles added. “They had other ministers and MPPs in that government who even spent more. So I will keep calling for them to not just refund the money but to provide answers to the people of Ontario.”
Willowdale MPP Stan Cho resigns from Doug Ford's cabinet over hotel expenses
Ontario Tourism, Culture and Gaming Minister Stan Cho has resigned from Premier Doug Ford’s cabinet over his hotel spending scandal. Read on
Vast majority of Canadians want lifetime perks for ex-governors general to end: Poll
'Taxpayers shouldn’t be on the hook for up to $200,000 every year in discretionary expenses:' CTF director
Author of the article:Bryan Passifiume
Published Jul 21, 2026 • 2 minute read
Mark Carney and Louise Arbour
Prime Minister Mark Carney and Canada's next Governor General Louise Arbour arrive to a media availability at the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa on May 5, 2026 Photo by Blair Gable /Postmedia Network
OTTAWA — The free ride is over.
That’s the message most Canadians have for the government when it comes to the Governor General’s expense account, according to a new Leger poll commissioned by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.
“Canadians are delivering a clear message with this poll: It’s time to end this taxpayer-funded perk for former governors general,” said Franco Terrazzano, the CTF’s federal director.
“Taxpayers shouldn’t be on the hook for up to $200,000 every year in discretionary expenses.”
Among Canadians with an opinion, 85% of those polled supported eliminating the vice-regal’s expense account, while just 15% said they were in favour of keeping it.
Ex-GGs can bill taxpayers $206K annually
Vice-regal spending at Rideau Hall has long been an issue for Canadians.
After leaving office in 2005, former governor general Adrienne Clarkson had so far billed taxpayers more than $1.1 million under a secretive program that allows former vice-regals to claim expenses of up to $206,040 annually.
That’s on top of the $393,800 salary and equally lucrative pension given to Canada’s governor general — pay subject to annual and legislated automatic raises.
Retired vice-regals are permitted to claim those expenses for the rest of their lives.
Government records showed former governor general Mary Simon expensed over $45,000 on new clothes in the first four years of her time at Rideau Hall, while her predecessor Julie Payette expensed $50,000.
Will new GG rein in spending?
Simon also spurred controversy with a pair of costly trips — including using $100,000 of in-flight catering for a 2022 Middle East trip and billing taxpayers nearly $300,000 for a four-day trip to Reykjavik, Iceland, including $71,000 in limo services to get around what many consider to be the world’s most walkable capital city.
The pressure to act comes as newly appointed Governor General Louise Arbour signalled a willingness to rein in spending at Rideau Hall, recently stating her intentions to axe her clothing allowance.
“Carney should eliminate this outdated expense account once and for all,” Terrazzano said.
“Arbour has already shown a willingness to reform Rideau Hall and should continue that work by ending the expense account for former governors general.”
bpassifiume@postmedia.com
X: @bryanpassifiume
torontosun.com
'Taxpayers shouldn’t be on the hook for up to $200,000 every year in discretionary expenses:' CTF director
Author of the article:Bryan Passifiume
Published Jul 21, 2026 • 2 minute read
Mark Carney and Louise Arbour
Prime Minister Mark Carney and Canada's next Governor General Louise Arbour arrive to a media availability at the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa on May 5, 2026 Photo by Blair Gable /Postmedia Network
OTTAWA — The free ride is over.
That’s the message most Canadians have for the government when it comes to the Governor General’s expense account, according to a new Leger poll commissioned by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.
“Canadians are delivering a clear message with this poll: It’s time to end this taxpayer-funded perk for former governors general,” said Franco Terrazzano, the CTF’s federal director.
“Taxpayers shouldn’t be on the hook for up to $200,000 every year in discretionary expenses.”
Among Canadians with an opinion, 85% of those polled supported eliminating the vice-regal’s expense account, while just 15% said they were in favour of keeping it.
Ex-GGs can bill taxpayers $206K annually
Vice-regal spending at Rideau Hall has long been an issue for Canadians.
After leaving office in 2005, former governor general Adrienne Clarkson had so far billed taxpayers more than $1.1 million under a secretive program that allows former vice-regals to claim expenses of up to $206,040 annually.
That’s on top of the $393,800 salary and equally lucrative pension given to Canada’s governor general — pay subject to annual and legislated automatic raises.
Retired vice-regals are permitted to claim those expenses for the rest of their lives.
Government records showed former governor general Mary Simon expensed over $45,000 on new clothes in the first four years of her time at Rideau Hall, while her predecessor Julie Payette expensed $50,000.
Will new GG rein in spending?
Simon also spurred controversy with a pair of costly trips — including using $100,000 of in-flight catering for a 2022 Middle East trip and billing taxpayers nearly $300,000 for a four-day trip to Reykjavik, Iceland, including $71,000 in limo services to get around what many consider to be the world’s most walkable capital city.
The pressure to act comes as newly appointed Governor General Louise Arbour signalled a willingness to rein in spending at Rideau Hall, recently stating her intentions to axe her clothing allowance.
“Carney should eliminate this outdated expense account once and for all,” Terrazzano said.
“Arbour has already shown a willingness to reform Rideau Hall and should continue that work by ending the expense account for former governors general.”
bpassifiume@postmedia.com
X: @bryanpassifiume
Vast majority of Canadians want lifetime perks for ex-governors general to end: Poll
A new Leger/CTF poll shows 85% of Canadians want PM Mark Carney to end lifetime expense accounts for retired vice-regals. Read more.
I want to go one farther and eliminate the position. Or at minimum, make Britain pay, since the GG is supposed to represent the clown king in Canada.Vast majority of Canadians want lifetime perks for ex-governors general to end: Poll
'Taxpayers shouldn’t be on the hook for up to $200,000 every year in discretionary expenses:' CTF director
Author of the article:Bryan Passifiume
Published Jul 21, 2026 • 2 minute read
Mark Carney and Louise Arbour
Prime Minister Mark Carney and Canada's next Governor General Louise Arbour arrive to a media availability at the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa on May 5, 2026 Photo by Blair Gable /Postmedia Network
OTTAWA — The free ride is over.
That’s the message most Canadians have for the government when it comes to the Governor General’s expense account, according to a new Leger poll commissioned by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.
“Canadians are delivering a clear message with this poll: It’s time to end this taxpayer-funded perk for former governors general,” said Franco Terrazzano, the CTF’s federal director.
“Taxpayers shouldn’t be on the hook for up to $200,000 every year in discretionary expenses.”
Among Canadians with an opinion, 85% of those polled supported eliminating the vice-regal’s expense account, while just 15% said they were in favour of keeping it.
Ex-GGs can bill taxpayers $206K annually
Vice-regal spending at Rideau Hall has long been an issue for Canadians.
After leaving office in 2005, former governor general Adrienne Clarkson had so far billed taxpayers more than $1.1 million under a secretive program that allows former vice-regals to claim expenses of up to $206,040 annually.
That’s on top of the $393,800 salary and equally lucrative pension given to Canada’s governor general — pay subject to annual and legislated automatic raises.
Retired vice-regals are permitted to claim those expenses for the rest of their lives.
Government records showed former governor general Mary Simon expensed over $45,000 on new clothes in the first four years of her time at Rideau Hall, while her predecessor Julie Payette expensed $50,000.
Will new GG rein in spending?
Simon also spurred controversy with a pair of costly trips — including using $100,000 of in-flight catering for a 2022 Middle East trip and billing taxpayers nearly $300,000 for a four-day trip to Reykjavik, Iceland, including $71,000 in limo services to get around what many consider to be the world’s most walkable capital city.
The pressure to act comes as newly appointed Governor General Louise Arbour signalled a willingness to rein in spending at Rideau Hall, recently stating her intentions to axe her clothing allowance.
“Carney should eliminate this outdated expense account once and for all,” Terrazzano said.
“Arbour has already shown a willingness to reform Rideau Hall and should continue that work by ending the expense account for former governors general.”
bpassifiume@postmedia.com
X: @bryanpassifiume
Vast majority of Canadians want lifetime perks for ex-governors general to end: Poll
A new Leger/CTF poll shows 85% of Canadians want PM Mark Carney to end lifetime expense accounts for retired vice-regals. Read more.
Good point , one I have never considered . I am sure they would not be as generous.
Realistically, all government remuneration is out of hand. Six figure pensions take a lot of work to spend and most just accumulate with little chance of ever being spent. Heard somewhere average is 88% not spent and passed on which is all the younger generations have going for them.
Federal pensions should terminate at 71 and then the CPP looks after them the way they designed it to look after us. Live within your means and try to be happy imo.
Federal pensions should terminate at 71 and then the CPP looks after them the way they designed it to look after us. Live within your means and try to be happy imo.
World Wealth Report: Two million more people became millionaires in 2025
The global high-net-worth individual population grew 7.9% in 2025 to 25.3 million individuals worldwide, but how did Europe fare on the world stage?View on euronews
ca.finance.yahoo.com
Too much money.
Originally it was designed as a tool to aid commerce and now has become a nightmare of hoarding and lavish spending to show how important we all are.
Average Canadian family paying $21K for 'free' system, new report says
Canadian families face an estimated $21,115 health-care tax tab this year as costs outpace food and housing, says a new Fraser Institute report
Author of the article:Bryan Passifiume
Published Jul 28, 2026 • Last updated 1 day ago • 2 minute read
St. Michael's Hospital
A person walks past the St. Michael's Hospital Emergency area on Toronto's Shuter Street, Thursday March 6, 2025. Photo by Peter J. Thompson /Postmedia
OTTAWA — While Canadians like boasting of their “free health care,” a new report shows hidden tax bills related to Canada’s struggling medical system are climbing faster than household earnings.
Released this week by the Fraser Institute, the study entitled The Price of Public Health Care Insurance, 2026 shows the average Canadian family of four earning an average household income of $202,885 will spend an estimated $21,115 in health-care costs.
“Canadians often misunderstand the true cost of our public health-care system,” read an excerpt from the report, authored by institute fellows Nadeem Esmail, Nathaniel Li and Milagros Palacios.
“This occurs partly because Canadians do not incur direct expenses for their use of health care, and partly because Canadians cannot readily determine the value of their contribution to public health care insurance.”
Health-care cost comparative chart.
How health-care insurance has increased relative to other costs between 1997 and 2026. Photo by Toronto Sun graphic
‘Canadians pay a substantial amount’
Couples without kids will cough up an estimated $19,225, while single adults will pay around $6,464.
Because Canada funds health care via general tax revenues rather than through direct billing or dedicated health-care tax, the researchers say most Canadians have little idea of many of their tax dollars actually fund healthcare.
“Canadians pay a substantial amount of money for public health care through a variety of taxes — even if we don’t pay directly for medical services,” Esmail said.
Health-care costs have grown substantially
He argued that understanding the true cost of healthcare is important for taxpayers to determine if they’re getting their money’s worth from Canada’s struggling health-care system.
Health-care costs for Canadian families, the report said, have grown substantially over the past few decades.
Between 1997 and 2026, public health-care costs for average Canadian families has grown 2.3 times faster than food costs, 1.5 times faster than the cost of housing, and 1.7 times faster than the growth of average incomes.
“The 10% of Canadian families with the lowest incomes will pay an average of about $637 for public health care insurance in 2026,” the report stated, adding that the 10% percent of families who earn average incomes of $88,572 will pay around $8,644 for public health insurance, while those earning among the top 10% will pay $66,350.
bpassifiume@postmedia.com
X: @bryanpassifiume
![health-insurance1[1].gif](https://forums.canadiancontent.net/data/attachments/33/33470-93acdb53c16f770b07f8981500ce5191.jpg "health-insurance1[1].gif")
fraserinstitute.org
torontosun.com
Canadian families face an estimated $21,115 health-care tax tab this year as costs outpace food and housing, says a new Fraser Institute report
Author of the article:Bryan Passifiume
Published Jul 28, 2026 • Last updated 1 day ago • 2 minute read
St. Michael's Hospital
A person walks past the St. Michael's Hospital Emergency area on Toronto's Shuter Street, Thursday March 6, 2025. Photo by Peter J. Thompson /Postmedia
OTTAWA — While Canadians like boasting of their “free health care,” a new report shows hidden tax bills related to Canada’s struggling medical system are climbing faster than household earnings.
Released this week by the Fraser Institute, the study entitled The Price of Public Health Care Insurance, 2026 shows the average Canadian family of four earning an average household income of $202,885 will spend an estimated $21,115 in health-care costs.
“Canadians often misunderstand the true cost of our public health-care system,” read an excerpt from the report, authored by institute fellows Nadeem Esmail, Nathaniel Li and Milagros Palacios.
“This occurs partly because Canadians do not incur direct expenses for their use of health care, and partly because Canadians cannot readily determine the value of their contribution to public health care insurance.”
Health-care cost comparative chart.
How health-care insurance has increased relative to other costs between 1997 and 2026. Photo by Toronto Sun graphic
‘Canadians pay a substantial amount’
Couples without kids will cough up an estimated $19,225, while single adults will pay around $6,464.
Because Canada funds health care via general tax revenues rather than through direct billing or dedicated health-care tax, the researchers say most Canadians have little idea of many of their tax dollars actually fund healthcare.
“Canadians pay a substantial amount of money for public health care through a variety of taxes — even if we don’t pay directly for medical services,” Esmail said.
Health-care costs have grown substantially
He argued that understanding the true cost of healthcare is important for taxpayers to determine if they’re getting their money’s worth from Canada’s struggling health-care system.
Health-care costs for Canadian families, the report said, have grown substantially over the past few decades.
Between 1997 and 2026, public health-care costs for average Canadian families has grown 2.3 times faster than food costs, 1.5 times faster than the cost of housing, and 1.7 times faster than the growth of average incomes.
“The 10% of Canadian families with the lowest incomes will pay an average of about $637 for public health care insurance in 2026,” the report stated, adding that the 10% percent of families who earn average incomes of $88,572 will pay around $8,644 for public health insurance, while those earning among the top 10% will pay $66,350.
bpassifiume@postmedia.com
X: @bryanpassifiume
The Price of Public Health Care Insurance, 2026
Average Canadian family paying $21K for 'free' system, new report says
Think health care in Canada is free? A new Fraser Institute report shows health care costs are soaring past income growth.
Federal execs received $200M in bonuses despite half of targets being missed
'Taxpayers can’t afford overpaid government executives rubber-stamping bonuses for each other,' CTF director
Author of the article:Bryan Passifiume
Published Jul 29, 2026 • Last updated 17 hours ago • 2 minute read
A pile of Canadian money.
A pile of Canadian money. Photo by iStock /Getty Images
OTTAWA — Despite not meeting their own performance targets, executives in Canada’s federal public service pocketed over $200 million in bonuses last year.
That’s according to access-to-information records obtained by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, which showed that roughly 88% of eligible federal executives took home the extra cash through a combination of performance pay, “at-risk” pay and bilingual bonuses.
“Taxpayers are fed up with Ottawa’s entitlement culture, where bureaucrats think they deserve more money just because they’re on the government payroll,” Franco Terrazzano, federal director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, told the Toronto Sun.
“Bonuses are for when you do a good job, not when you write your own test and barely get a D-minus.”
Canada Post handed out $30M in bonuses
According to tables published online by the federal government, nearly 54% of performance targets were met last year.
As reported in the Toronto Sun earlier this month, Canada Post — the troubled Crown corporation that routinely receives billions in government funding and bailouts — handed its top executives and managers a little over $30 million in bonuses last year.
The Toronto Sun also reported on Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) dishing out $31.7 million in taxpayer-funded bonuses to its employees in 2025.
Shrink Canada’s bureaucracy, Terrazzano urges
Despite debate raging over which route Canada’s proposed high-speed rail line will take and years before any shovels hit the earth, Alto — the Crown corporation responsible for overseeing the project — handed out $2.8 million in bonuses to its employees, the federation reported earlier this year.
“Taxpayers can’t afford overpaid government executives rubber-stamping bonuses for each other. We need politicians to shrink the bureaucracy and make government more affordable,” Terrazzano said.
“Carney keeps telling Canadians he’s going to spend less, but if he was serious about saving money then he would end these taxpayer-funded bonuses for failure.”
bpassifiume@postmedia.com
X: @bryanpassifiume
taxpayer.com
torontosun.com
'Taxpayers can’t afford overpaid government executives rubber-stamping bonuses for each other,' CTF director
Author of the article:Bryan Passifiume
Published Jul 29, 2026 • Last updated 17 hours ago • 2 minute read
A pile of Canadian money.
A pile of Canadian money. Photo by iStock /Getty Images
OTTAWA — Despite not meeting their own performance targets, executives in Canada’s federal public service pocketed over $200 million in bonuses last year.
That’s according to access-to-information records obtained by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, which showed that roughly 88% of eligible federal executives took home the extra cash through a combination of performance pay, “at-risk” pay and bilingual bonuses.
“Taxpayers are fed up with Ottawa’s entitlement culture, where bureaucrats think they deserve more money just because they’re on the government payroll,” Franco Terrazzano, federal director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, told the Toronto Sun.
“Bonuses are for when you do a good job, not when you write your own test and barely get a D-minus.”
Canada Post handed out $30M in bonuses
According to tables published online by the federal government, nearly 54% of performance targets were met last year.
As reported in the Toronto Sun earlier this month, Canada Post — the troubled Crown corporation that routinely receives billions in government funding and bailouts — handed its top executives and managers a little over $30 million in bonuses last year.
The Toronto Sun also reported on Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) dishing out $31.7 million in taxpayer-funded bonuses to its employees in 2025.
Shrink Canada’s bureaucracy, Terrazzano urges
Despite debate raging over which route Canada’s proposed high-speed rail line will take and years before any shovels hit the earth, Alto — the Crown corporation responsible for overseeing the project — handed out $2.8 million in bonuses to its employees, the federation reported earlier this year.
“Taxpayers can’t afford overpaid government executives rubber-stamping bonuses for each other. We need politicians to shrink the bureaucracy and make government more affordable,” Terrazzano said.
“Carney keeps telling Canadians he’s going to spend less, but if he was serious about saving money then he would end these taxpayer-funded bonuses for failure.”
bpassifiume@postmedia.com
X: @bryanpassifiume
Taxpayers pay for Alto bonuses despite no train
Ottawa has already handed out $2.8 million in bonuses for the high-speed rail project even though it’s not even close to starting construction, according to government records reviewed by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.
Federal execs received $200M in bonuses despite half of targets being missed
Records show 88% of eligible executives took home performance bonuses in 2025 despite government departments missing key targets. Read on.
Queen’s Park has an entitlement problem
If you give politicians an inch, they take a mile.
Author of the article:Noah Jarvis
Published Jul 30, 2026 • Last updated 12 hours ago • 3 minute read
Ontario Legislative Building at Queen's Park, Toronto, Canada. Photo by JHVEPhoto /Getty Images/
Ontario’s politicians need a reminder that they’re not royalty.
Members of Provincial Parliament have become too comfortable raiding taxpayers’ pockets. Real change needs to be made at Queen’s Park.
The Ontario government allows MPPs who live 50 kilometres or closer to Queen’s Park to bill taxpayers for hotel stays in Toronto under special circumstances, like a bad snowstorm.
But Progressive Conservative MPPs have been abusing the special circumstances expense for hotel stays in Toronto, according to recent reports. Sixteen MPPs billed taxpayers $107,118 for “special circumstances” hotel expenses.
Former tourism minister Stan Cho billed taxpayers $16,203 for Toronto hotel stays. He resigned his seat in cabinet because of the scandal. Cho slowly ramped up his use of taxpayer money for Toronto hotel stays — billing taxpayers $1,431 in 2023-24, $3,081 in 2024-25 and $11,691 in 2025-26.
If you give politicians an inch, they take a mile.
Cho resigned from cabinet a few days after the story broke. His colleagues have refused to take responsibility for abusing taxpayer money.
Associate small business minister Nina Tangri, associate women’s minister Charmaine Williams, Procurement Minister Stephen Crawford and parliamentary assistants David Smith, Silvia Gualtieri, Mohamed Firin and Hardeep Grewal also billed taxpayers for the same type of Toronto hotel stays without resigning their positions.
What’s worse is that Cho, Tangri, Williams and Crawford all had access to their own taxpayer-funded car and driver, yet they still billed taxpayers for hotels in Toronto.
MPP’s entitlement culture
This is disappointing but not shocking coming from Queen’s Park. This is just another product of an entitlement culture among MPPs.
MPPs gave themselves a massive 35% pay raise in May 2025. MPPs also gave themselves a shiny new pension plan. Former Progressive Conservative premier Mike Harris abolished the old pension plan in 1995.
As if that wasn’t enough, MPPs gave themselves another pay raise this past April.
But this pattern of behaviour cannot go on. Ontarians pay their taxes assuming politicians will use their money to build hospitals and fill potholes. Nobody hands over huge chunks of their income to the government hoping politicians spend the money on stays at the Marriott within spitting distance of their front door.
And taxpayers can’t afford to pay for politicians’ questionable hotel stays when the government is sinking in an ocean of debt. The government is increasing the debt to $485 billion by the end of the year while taxpayers are on the hook for $17.2 billion in debt interest.
Premier Doug Ford is taking a good first step by ending the special circumstances exemption for MPPs.
But Ontario can only root out this kind of abuse with taxpayer money if politicians open themselves up to greater transparency so taxpayers can hold them accountable.
Expense receipts should be published
Ontario should require MPPs and government ministers to publish the receipts associated with each expense they make on the taxpayer dime.
That’s already standard practice in Alberta and British Columbia.
Alberta requires its provincial politicians to submit receipts for all purchases made with taxpayer dollars. These receipts are uploaded online for the public to openly examine and scrutinize. Alberta also requires government ministers to publish their expense receipts.
All B.C. MLAs, Ministers and even senior bureaucrats routinely publish their expense receipts on different databases.
These measures allow taxpayers to examine expenses line-by-line and find out if politicians are reimbursing themselves for reasonable expenses or if a politician is splurging on luxuries.
The Ford government should also reverse its changes to Ontario’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act that shield the premier, cabinet ministers and parliamentary assistants from freedom-of-information requests.
Allowing Ontarians to access all records related to cabinet ministers’ expenses, including emails and text messages, gives taxpayers the tools to judge the merits of these expenses.
If politicians are paying with the taxpayer credit card, taxpayers need to see the receipts.
MPPs need to remember they’re not royalty — they work for taxpayers.
– Noah Jarvis is the Ontario Director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation
ontario.ca
alberta.ca
assembly.ab.ca
news.ontario.ca
torontosun.com
If you give politicians an inch, they take a mile.
Author of the article:Noah Jarvis
Published Jul 30, 2026 • Last updated 12 hours ago • 3 minute read
Ontario Legislative Building at Queen's Park, Toronto, Canada. Photo by JHVEPhoto /Getty Images/
Ontario’s politicians need a reminder that they’re not royalty.
Members of Provincial Parliament have become too comfortable raiding taxpayers’ pockets. Real change needs to be made at Queen’s Park.
The Ontario government allows MPPs who live 50 kilometres or closer to Queen’s Park to bill taxpayers for hotel stays in Toronto under special circumstances, like a bad snowstorm.
But Progressive Conservative MPPs have been abusing the special circumstances expense for hotel stays in Toronto, according to recent reports. Sixteen MPPs billed taxpayers $107,118 for “special circumstances” hotel expenses.
Former tourism minister Stan Cho billed taxpayers $16,203 for Toronto hotel stays. He resigned his seat in cabinet because of the scandal. Cho slowly ramped up his use of taxpayer money for Toronto hotel stays — billing taxpayers $1,431 in 2023-24, $3,081 in 2024-25 and $11,691 in 2025-26.
If you give politicians an inch, they take a mile.
Cho resigned from cabinet a few days after the story broke. His colleagues have refused to take responsibility for abusing taxpayer money.
Associate small business minister Nina Tangri, associate women’s minister Charmaine Williams, Procurement Minister Stephen Crawford and parliamentary assistants David Smith, Silvia Gualtieri, Mohamed Firin and Hardeep Grewal also billed taxpayers for the same type of Toronto hotel stays without resigning their positions.
What’s worse is that Cho, Tangri, Williams and Crawford all had access to their own taxpayer-funded car and driver, yet they still billed taxpayers for hotels in Toronto.
MPP’s entitlement culture
This is disappointing but not shocking coming from Queen’s Park. This is just another product of an entitlement culture among MPPs.
MPPs gave themselves a massive 35% pay raise in May 2025. MPPs also gave themselves a shiny new pension plan. Former Progressive Conservative premier Mike Harris abolished the old pension plan in 1995.
As if that wasn’t enough, MPPs gave themselves another pay raise this past April.
But this pattern of behaviour cannot go on. Ontarians pay their taxes assuming politicians will use their money to build hospitals and fill potholes. Nobody hands over huge chunks of their income to the government hoping politicians spend the money on stays at the Marriott within spitting distance of their front door.
And taxpayers can’t afford to pay for politicians’ questionable hotel stays when the government is sinking in an ocean of debt. The government is increasing the debt to $485 billion by the end of the year while taxpayers are on the hook for $17.2 billion in debt interest.
Premier Doug Ford is taking a good first step by ending the special circumstances exemption for MPPs.
But Ontario can only root out this kind of abuse with taxpayer money if politicians open themselves up to greater transparency so taxpayers can hold them accountable.
Expense receipts should be published
Ontario should require MPPs and government ministers to publish the receipts associated with each expense they make on the taxpayer dime.
That’s already standard practice in Alberta and British Columbia.
Alberta requires its provincial politicians to submit receipts for all purchases made with taxpayer dollars. These receipts are uploaded online for the public to openly examine and scrutinize. Alberta also requires government ministers to publish their expense receipts.
All B.C. MLAs, Ministers and even senior bureaucrats routinely publish their expense receipts on different databases.
These measures allow taxpayers to examine expenses line-by-line and find out if politicians are reimbursing themselves for reasonable expenses or if a politician is splurging on luxuries.
The Ford government should also reverse its changes to Ontario’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act that shield the premier, cabinet ministers and parliamentary assistants from freedom-of-information requests.
Allowing Ontarians to access all records related to cabinet ministers’ expenses, including emails and text messages, gives taxpayers the tools to judge the merits of these expenses.
If politicians are paying with the taxpayer credit card, taxpayers need to see the receipts.
MPPs need to remember they’re not royalty — they work for taxpayers.
– Noah Jarvis is the Ontario Director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation
e-Laws | Ontario.ca
Travel and expense disclosure
Search for expenses related to travel, accommodation, meals and hospitality incurred while on government business.
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Ontario Newsroom
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JARVIS: Queen’s Park has an entitlement problem
MPPs have become too comfortable raiding taxpayers’ pockets. Real change needs to be made at Queen’s Park. Read on.
That should be changed to " if you give politicians a dollar, they will steal a billion dollars.
Ottawa approved pay hikes for 78% of federal employees in 2025: CTF
Government workers enjoy 4.8% wage premium over non-government workers says the Fraser Institute
Author of the article:Jane Stevenson
Published Jul 31, 2026 • Last updated 17 hours ago • 2 minute read
Parliament Hill
Parliament Hill as seen from the Gatineau side of the Ottawa River. The active use pathway was reopened by the NCC after rehabilitation work was completed. Photo by Tony Caldwell /POSTMEDIA
I see you and I’ll raise you.
So said the federal government last year when it rubberstamped raises for 78% of its employees, or 336,188 bureaucrats, according to the Canadian Taxpayers Federation who obtained access-to-information records showing as much.
Meanwhile, the same records showed departments barely met half of their own performance targets and only 0.14%, or just 596 employees, took a pay reduction.
“Taxpayers have every reason to question why the vast majority of bureaucrats are taking bigger paycheques when departments can barely pass their own test,” Franco Terrazzano, CTF Federal Director, said in a statement.
“Federal bureaucrats shouldn’t feel entitled to more money every year just because they’re on the taxpayer payroll.”
The CTF says about 385,000 federal employees took a pay raise in 2024 and the government handed out more than one million pay raises between 2020 and 2023.
The federation says the government has continually refused to disclose how much these pay hikes cost taxpayers.
CTF says feds won’t say how much raises cost taxpayers
“Taxpayers are on the hook for another wage hike, but the government won’t tell Canadians the price tag,” Devin Drover, CTF General Counsel, said in a statement.
“That’s another failure of Canada’s broken access-to-information system. Taxpayers pay these wages and they have a right to know the bill.”
CTF says this isn’t the first time the feds have refused to disclose pay raise amounts after the federation launched legal challenges against CBC and the Bank of Canada for refusing to do so for its senior bureaucrats.
CBC logo on building
The CBC Radio Canada logo / sign on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporations building in the 700 block HamiltonVancouver, May 28 2013. Gerry Kahrmann / PNG staff photo) ( Prov / Sun News ) [PNG Merlin Archive]
The federation says government employees are now taking larger salaries than their counterparts working outside of government.
“Canada’s government-sector workers (from federal, provincial, and local governments) enjoyed a 4.8% wage premium, on average, over their private-sector counterparts,” according to the Fraser Institute, which controlled for factors like age, gender, education and industry.
The government union, Public Service Alliance of Canada, who is negotiating new contracts for its members, has already called the federal government’s wage offers “insulting” and “unacceptable.”
“What’s really insulting and unacceptable is how much the bureaucracy costs taxpayers and how little it delivers,” Terrazzano said. “Prime Minister Mark Carney needs to shrink the federal bureaucracy to stop borrowing money and provide Canadians with the tax relief they need.”
The cost of the bureaucracy is expected to reach $79.4 billion in 2026 – more than during former prime minister Justin Trudeau’s last year in office in 2024-25, even after inflation.
The cost of the federal bureaucracy increased 80% between 2015 and 2024, according to the Public Accounts.
torontosun.com
Government workers enjoy 4.8% wage premium over non-government workers says the Fraser Institute
Author of the article:Jane Stevenson
Published Jul 31, 2026 • Last updated 17 hours ago • 2 minute read
Parliament Hill
Parliament Hill as seen from the Gatineau side of the Ottawa River. The active use pathway was reopened by the NCC after rehabilitation work was completed. Photo by Tony Caldwell /POSTMEDIA
I see you and I’ll raise you.
So said the federal government last year when it rubberstamped raises for 78% of its employees, or 336,188 bureaucrats, according to the Canadian Taxpayers Federation who obtained access-to-information records showing as much.
Meanwhile, the same records showed departments barely met half of their own performance targets and only 0.14%, or just 596 employees, took a pay reduction.
“Taxpayers have every reason to question why the vast majority of bureaucrats are taking bigger paycheques when departments can barely pass their own test,” Franco Terrazzano, CTF Federal Director, said in a statement.
“Federal bureaucrats shouldn’t feel entitled to more money every year just because they’re on the taxpayer payroll.”
The CTF says about 385,000 federal employees took a pay raise in 2024 and the government handed out more than one million pay raises between 2020 and 2023.
The federation says the government has continually refused to disclose how much these pay hikes cost taxpayers.
CTF says feds won’t say how much raises cost taxpayers
“Taxpayers are on the hook for another wage hike, but the government won’t tell Canadians the price tag,” Devin Drover, CTF General Counsel, said in a statement.
“That’s another failure of Canada’s broken access-to-information system. Taxpayers pay these wages and they have a right to know the bill.”
CTF says this isn’t the first time the feds have refused to disclose pay raise amounts after the federation launched legal challenges against CBC and the Bank of Canada for refusing to do so for its senior bureaucrats.
CBC logo on building
The CBC Radio Canada logo / sign on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporations building in the 700 block HamiltonVancouver, May 28 2013. Gerry Kahrmann / PNG staff photo) ( Prov / Sun News ) [PNG Merlin Archive]
The federation says government employees are now taking larger salaries than their counterparts working outside of government.
“Canada’s government-sector workers (from federal, provincial, and local governments) enjoyed a 4.8% wage premium, on average, over their private-sector counterparts,” according to the Fraser Institute, which controlled for factors like age, gender, education and industry.
The government union, Public Service Alliance of Canada, who is negotiating new contracts for its members, has already called the federal government’s wage offers “insulting” and “unacceptable.”
“What’s really insulting and unacceptable is how much the bureaucracy costs taxpayers and how little it delivers,” Terrazzano said. “Prime Minister Mark Carney needs to shrink the federal bureaucracy to stop borrowing money and provide Canadians with the tax relief they need.”
The cost of the bureaucracy is expected to reach $79.4 billion in 2026 – more than during former prime minister Justin Trudeau’s last year in office in 2024-25, even after inflation.
The cost of the federal bureaucracy increased 80% between 2015 and 2024, according to the Public Accounts.
Ottawa approved pay hikes for 78% of federal employees in 2025: CTF
The feds rubberstamped raises for 78% of its employees or 336,188 bureaucrats in 2025 says the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. Read more.