Saving for a rainy day!

Ah the timing, it just couldn't be any better. As the Canadian public is focused on the image of millions of dollars of public monies getting shoveled to like minded advertising agents, we are asked to shift our gaze just a little. While most of us would rather keep a laser focus on that ever growing boondoggle of pork in sponsorships, perhaps we should broaden our horizons just a wee bit.

Jean-Pierre Kingsley, the Chief electoral officer says: "it's now impossible to know, just how much money MP's and other past candidates, have stashed away in trust funds, but it's hard to believe the figures won't reach into the millions." The dollars have been stashed away in private trust funds, that have for years remained out of public reach and out of site.

It's a topic that has remained out of the spotlight for years, as candidates amass huge war chests that can be spent on anything at anytime, with hardly any sense of control or transparency. As one critic explained, "If people can give money in secret, it's a recipe for corruption"

Through the years, there have been suspicions that some of these trust funds could total up into the six figures. The beauty of the trust fund, for the MP anyways, is the ability for the recipient to pocket any excess monies from their funds, not used on campaign expenses.

With all the attention on money these days, that which we send, and that with what they spend. The time might be more than right for an investigation into these funds and how to reel them back in. I'm sure in the spirit of the day, they'll all be more than accountable for us. Now normally these funds might be considered a "rainy day" fund, and there's certainly no doubt that right now Ottawa is more of a tsunami of water than a rainstorm. But many Canadians might at the moment resent being considered as the umbrella for our elected officials.