Flaherty gave more consideration over which plane to take than he did his income trust tax

Sounds like more thought went into which plane to take than was devoted by the brain dead Jim Flaherty on how to resolve the income trust “problem”:

“please be assured that there was thorough consideration for all possible alternatives before deciding to use a Transport Canada aircraft”

What were the alternatives considered by Jim Flaherty about what the best way to “never raid seniors nest eggs, by never taxing income trusts”?. Whether to do it on Halloween or some late Friday evening?

Sent: Tue, March 9, 2010 10:37:06 AM
Subject: RE: Flaherty's high priced flight draws criticism The reported cost to taxpayers was $9,000.

Dear Mr. XXX

Thank you for your email.

In response to your letter with respect to Minister Flaherty’s flight to London, Ontario on March 4th 2010, please be assured that there was thorough consideration for all possible alternatives before deciding to use a Transport Canada aircraft.

Due to time constraints following the presentation of the Budget, Minister Flaherty’s schedule did not allow him to catch the last commercial flight on Thursday evening to London. He had a full morning of interviews, meetings and a speech to the London Chamber of Commerce the next day.

It should be noted that the Minister did not fly on a government Challenger jet, as was originally falsely reported by CTV News. The Minister flew on a Transport Canada C550 Citation aircraft that costs less to operate than a Challenger jet.

The Transport Canada planes are flown by Transport Canada pilots.
Flying these planes allows for pilots to conduct inspection work and to maintain their competencies through hours of flight.

Ministers are permitted to use the planes on official government business according to Transport Canada policy and as such, Minister Flaherty did not receive special treatment.

Ministers are required to follow Treasury Board Guidelines pertaining to use of government aircraft, as was done in this situation.

Government aircraft may be used only if commercial flight options do not exist.

Only government officials may travel on the flights and costs associated with use of government aircraft are posted on the “proactive disclosure” section of all ministers’ respective departmental websites, along with all other travel and hospitality expenses.

Thank you again for writing.

Best regards,

Thomas Coughlan

Office of the Honourable Jim Flaherty, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Finance and M.P. for Whitby-Oshawa/
Cabinet de l'honorable Jim Flaherty, C.P., député
Ministre des Finances et député de Whitby-Oshawa

Telephone/Téléphone (613) 992-6344
Facsimile/Télécopieur (613) 992-8320
435-S Centre Block, House of Commons/
435-S Edifice du Centre, Chambre des Communes
Ottawa , Ontario , Canada , K1A 0A6