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FRANKLAND TAX LESSON
FOR SENATOR MOORE
BY PAT ANNE SERR
THE HON. SENATOR WILFRED P. MOORE
HAS A HABIT OF IGNORING MY MESSAGES, SO I
AM UNABLE TO DEFINITIVELY SAY IF THE HON.
SOUTH SHORE SENATOR IS GUILTY OF MISIN-
TERPRETING FEDERAL LAW, OR PERHAPS FINDS
HIMSELF THE VICTIM OF THE MISQUOTE OF THE
CENTURY.
In the recent Progress Entreprise article,
“Senator responds to questions about funds,”
“Free Willie” tells scribe Robert Hirtle that he
is unable to hand over the Bluenose II Preservation
Trust money to the province because,
“It is against the law.”
Willie is further quoted saying, “It’s against
the law under the charities act. We can’t give
money to what is deemed an ineligible donee.”
Of the province’s claim to the $700,000-plus
trust kitty — in the past five years, the Hon.
Senator has stymied a revolving door of N.S.
Tourism ministers from claiming the funds —
Willie is quoted saying, “It’s simply not correct
and that has been made clear to us as well by
IT’S GOOD TO BE THE KING PM!
BY LOTTA SWAG
WHILE OPPOSITION LEADER MIKE IGNATIEFF WINDS UP HIS SWEATY,
SUMMER BUS TOUR, PRIME MINISTER STEPHEN HARPER MUST BE BUSY
WONDERING WHERE HE CAN STASH ALL OF HIS NEWFOUND SWAG BAGS.
Earlier this summer PM Stevie scored loot aplenty from his brief stint as
host of the G-8 and G-20 summits. You remember those summit thingies:
the eyes of the world on Canada; the tear gas and broken windows
along Queen Street West; the $2 million artificial lake? Yes, now you
remember.
Well, it turns out that Stevie collected more gifts from world leaders at
the summits than Santa Claus squeezes down the chimney for spoiled
anklebiters on the Night Before Christmas.
Now 24 Sussex Drive’s legion of housekeepers must be tearing their
hair out, trying to find room for all Stevie’s new playthings. (If you’re
wondering, according to federal Conflict of Interest rules, gifts over
$1,000 are forfeited to the Crown.)
Here are all of Stevie’s declared summit gifts:
� Six silk ties from Silvio Berlusconi, the Italian loudmouth playboy.
� Zeiss binoculars from Angela Merkel, the likeable plump German
lady who resembles a singer in an oompah band.
� Tea set for six from Dimitryi Medvedev, who everyone knows is
really Vladimir Putin in disguise.
� Silver ceremonial dagger, from Abdelaziz Bouteflika of Algeria (so
Stephen can dispatch enemies the Algerian way? — ed.)
� A “large piece” of Qiang embroidery from Hu Jinto, an offering de-
4 ATLANTIC CANADA FRANK SEPTEMBER 28, 2010
the charity sector of the Canada Revenue
Agency.”
But, contrary to Willie’s public assertions, CRA
spokesperson Philippe Brideau tells me registered
charities, such as Willie’s Bluenose II
Preservation Trust, can in fact donate money
to the provincial government under the Charities
Act.
“Are you sure?” I ask again.
So I won’t have to take her word for it, Philippe
emails me the legislation, with the appropriate
bit highlighted in green. Sure enough, the CRA
official is right, and the Hon. Senator is wrong.
(Shurely shome mishtake! — ed.)
As I say, Willie did not return my message
seeking clarification. If he ever gets back to me,
hell will freeze over, I mean, I’ll let you know.
Willie has 6.5 years left in the Upper Chambers
until his mandatory retirement at 75. Paid
$132,300-per, plus perks, he sits on the Senate
committees for Banking, Trade and Commerce,
and the Scrutiny of Regulations.
Does Frank Know?
atlanticfrank@eastlink.ca
Sen. Willy Moore
signed no doubt in the finest of Chinese sweatshops.
� “Various hand painted boxes and set of
dishes” from Felipe Calderon. I’m unclear if
the boxes were actually coffins meant for the HILL O’
ongoing Mexican drug war, but I’m quite sure
the dishes were mucho bueno. BEANS
� A “large marble disk with flora pattern inlaid
with stone” from Indian PM Manmohan Singh. It’s amazing what you
can fit under those Sikh turbans, isn’t it?
Finally, Canada’s First Lady, the highly independent Laureen Harper
(Frank 577), also received some thank-you gifts for her hostess duties.
� A David Yurman bracelet from Michelle Obama. Nothing says Fifth
Avenue like a Yurman bracelet, unless of course it was purchased for
$50 from a street vendor near Times Square.
� A Hermes scarf from Maria Barroso, wife of former Portugese
PM, Jose Barroso, the current European Commission prez, a perfect
accessory for lovely biker chick Laureen.
� A Motocicolo cloth jacket from the Australian government. Must be
kangaroo skin or something. I dunno.
Nothing at all from the newest kid on the block, Conservative Brit
skinflint, David Cameron, who apparently has never heard of dutyfree.
Does Frank Know?
atlanticfrank@eastlink.ca