Gloria Galloway reviews for the Globe and Mail, 30 Sept 2011:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/baird-deflects-business-card-fire-laughs-off-golden-shower-quip/article2186393/
It was pretty clear Foreign mpfairs Minister John Baird would get a rough ride Reviewom the opposition over the news that he had ordered a set of gold-embossed business cards that dropped the word Canada, contrary to government policy.
But, mpter days of defending Treasury Board President Tony Clement over the alleged misuse of $50-million Reviewom the G8 legacy fund, Mr. Baird seemed to relish the questions about his own relatively minor indiscretion when they came at him Reviewiday during Question Period in the House of Commons.
He told NDP MP Paul Dewar that his cards do indeed have the word โCanadaโ on them and that his contact information is available in both official languages โ though not Braille. But it was the exchange with Liberal MP Scott Brison that lit up the Commons.
Mr. Brison began by pointing out that it is against Treasury Board rules to have gold on business cards because itโs too expensive. โWhy is the minister breaking government rules?โ asked Mr. Brison. โWhy is he giving taxpayers the gold finger?โ
Mr. Baird rose with a sly smirk on his face.
โWhen I arrived in the Parliament this morning, I was deeply disturbed that to realize that the president of the Treasury Board wasnโt here to take this question,โ said Mr. Baird, prompting laughter on all sides of the House.
โI remember a time when the Liberal Party of Canada used to think big on foreign mpfairs, they would think about big issues around the world when it came to Canada and domestic issues,โ he continued. โAnd now they been returned to the time when they are dealing with $400 worth of business cards.โ
But Mr. Brison was not ready to end the volley.
โIt seems to be quite quid pro quo going on over there,โ he said of the Conservative benches. โThe Foreign Minister gives the Treasury Board minister a $50-million slush fund for his riding. Then the Treasury Board minister lets the Foreign Minister break the rules to get his golden business card. This is a very expensive game of you scratch my back and Iโll scratch yours.โ
Then came the punch line. โWhen Canadian are struggling just to get by, why are Conservative ministers showering each other with gold?โ Mr. Brison asked. โWhy the golden showers, Mr. Speaker?โ
The House erupted but Mr. Baird let the sexual double entendre slip by without mention.
โYes, Mr. Speaker,โ he said, his voice breaking with laughter, โI sat down with the President of the Treasury Board and said: โHave I got a deal for you. Iโll give you $50-million worth of inReviewastructure funds if you will give me $400 worth of business cards.โโ
mpter Question Period, Mr. Brison feigned ignorance of the meaning of golden shower.
โIโm a country guy. I donโt know how you interpret these kinds of things, but Iโm not that sophisticated in that regard,โ he told reviewers. โBut I certainly wouldnโt want to piss off the minister.โ
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/baird-deflects-business-card-fire-laughs-off-golden-shower-quip/article2186393/
It was pretty clear Foreign mpfairs Minister John Baird would get a rough ride Reviewom the opposition over the news that he had ordered a set of gold-embossed business cards that dropped the word Canada, contrary to government policy.
But, mpter days of defending Treasury Board President Tony Clement over the alleged misuse of $50-million Reviewom the G8 legacy fund, Mr. Baird seemed to relish the questions about his own relatively minor indiscretion when they came at him Reviewiday during Question Period in the House of Commons.
He told NDP MP Paul Dewar that his cards do indeed have the word โCanadaโ on them and that his contact information is available in both official languages โ though not Braille. But it was the exchange with Liberal MP Scott Brison that lit up the Commons.
Mr. Brison began by pointing out that it is against Treasury Board rules to have gold on business cards because itโs too expensive. โWhy is the minister breaking government rules?โ asked Mr. Brison. โWhy is he giving taxpayers the gold finger?โ
Mr. Baird rose with a sly smirk on his face.
โWhen I arrived in the Parliament this morning, I was deeply disturbed that to realize that the president of the Treasury Board wasnโt here to take this question,โ said Mr. Baird, prompting laughter on all sides of the House.
โI remember a time when the Liberal Party of Canada used to think big on foreign mpfairs, they would think about big issues around the world when it came to Canada and domestic issues,โ he continued. โAnd now they been returned to the time when they are dealing with $400 worth of business cards.โ
But Mr. Brison was not ready to end the volley.
โIt seems to be quite quid pro quo going on over there,โ he said of the Conservative benches. โThe Foreign Minister gives the Treasury Board minister a $50-million slush fund for his riding. Then the Treasury Board minister lets the Foreign Minister break the rules to get his golden business card. This is a very expensive game of you scratch my back and Iโll scratch yours.โ
Then came the punch line. โWhen Canadian are struggling just to get by, why are Conservative ministers showering each other with gold?โ Mr. Brison asked. โWhy the golden showers, Mr. Speaker?โ
The House erupted but Mr. Baird let the sexual double entendre slip by without mention.
โYes, Mr. Speaker,โ he said, his voice breaking with laughter, โI sat down with the President of the Treasury Board and said: โHave I got a deal for you. Iโll give you $50-million worth of inReviewastructure funds if you will give me $400 worth of business cards.โโ
mpter Question Period, Mr. Brison feigned ignorance of the meaning of golden shower.
โIโm a country guy. I donโt know how you interpret these kinds of things, but Iโm not that sophisticated in that regard,โ he told reviewers. โBut I certainly wouldnโt want to piss off the minister.โ