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GOVERNOR GENERAL ADRIENNE CLARKSON FOR ONE MORE YEAR

Owing to the constitutional uncertainties caused by a minority Liberal government in Ottawa, Prime Minister Martin has given Governor-General, Adrienne Clarkson, a year's extension in that office. Ms. Clarkson's extravagant ways have been well documented.

• The budget for the Governor-General jumped from $11 million to $19 million since Ms. Clarkson began her five-year term (a 70% increase).



• A northern travel trip for Ms. Clarkson, her consort, and 59 of her closest friends, last year cost the Canadian taxpayers $5.3 million.



• The staff of Rideau Hall, residence of the Governor-General, has doubled since Ms. Clarkson was appointed Governor General.



• In the last two years, Ms. Clarkson and her husband flew to New York City on government aircraft ten times. She has refused to disclose the purpose of these overnight trips (to see a Broadway show, perhaps?). The military Challenger aircraft costs $2,032 per hour to fly, totalling $48,564 for these ten trips. This does not include salaries for air and ground personnel, support and engineering, services, holding facilities, security and crew training services associated with Challenger.

We thought the cartoon was appropriate.

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