Read the story about the Opposition’s criticism of the cost to taxpayers of hosting this summer’s meeting of the Council of the Federation. The government defends the price tag of just under $500-thousand by saying it generated nearly $1.4-million in economic spin-off and successfully promoted the province to national and international media.
What is interesting about this whole issue is the sheer scale and opulence you now see at these annual meetings of Canada’s premiers. These were once sleepy, low-key summer affairs. The premiers would meet for a few days, discuss the issues of the day, squeeze in a round (or two) of golf, and then hold a news conference to outline their conclusions. But now these events have turned into a competition as fierce as any election campaign. Each province tries to outdo the previous year’s host province and the cost and magnitude of the conference grows and grows and grows.
The conference Premier Danny Williams hosted this summer was not outside the norm of what these events have become. But the Liberals do raise a legitimate question about whether all of this is necessary for the premiers to meet and do their jobs. In fact, the emphasis on glitz and showbiz might even be counterproductive, with more focus put on the show business than on the nation’s business.
The first conference I covered was in Quebec City in 1999. There the premiers were entertained by the world renowned Cirque de Soleil. In St. John’s, it was Great Big Sea and Rick Mercer. Each premier likes to use these conferences as a stage to showcase local culture and local talent. That may be a laudable goal. But each year it become a more expensive one to meet.