WCB Wastes Money on Needless Self-promotion

"The CTF cited more than $8,500 spent by Workers Compensation on golf balls and manicure sets . . . The Workers Compensation Board, however, isn't funded by tax dollars but instead by premiums paid by employers, . . . "When you hear of government agencies and Crown corporations handing out golf balls, manicure sets, pocket knives, golf shirts, lip balm and those kinds of things, they're certainly unnecessary. Unlike businesses, Crown corporations and agencies aren't competing with anyone." "

Promo items panned

Crown agencies waste $$ to 'help them look good'

Manitoba Crown agencies are needlessly spending cash to promote their efforts without any threat of competition, a taxpayers lobby group charges.

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation says the money -- more than $4.1 million during the past four years alone -- is tossed around irresponsibly on clothing such as golf shirts and souvenir items including "bouncing balls" and pocket knives.

'LIKE THE OLD SAYING'

"It's like the old saying -- it's always easier to spend someone else's money," Colin Craig, the CTF's Manitoba director, said of the spending by agencies such as the Manitoba Gaming Control Commission, Manitoba Public Insurance and the provincial Workers Compensation Board.

"These kinds of things, in their minds, help them look good. At the end of the day though, $4 million has been taken from ratepayers' and taxpayers' pocketbooks, which for the most part doesn't need to be."

Craig pointed to T-shirts and calculators used as MPI promotional items in a province in which such arm's-length government organizations enjoy monopolies.

The CTF cited more than $8,500 spent by Workers Compensation on golf balls and manicure sets, nearly $700 paid out by the Communities Economic Development Fund for pocket knives and more than $35,000 coughed up by the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority for giveaway items including lip balm and "splatter heads," which resemble body parts and stick to walls.

The Workers Compensation Board, however, isn't funded by tax dollars but instead by premiums paid by employers, said spokesman Warren Preece. And Preece said giveaway items help spread an important message about the need for safe-work efforts and programs.

'UNNECESSARY'

WRHA spokeswoman Heidi Graham said the health-care system benefits by using souvenir-style items at career fairs to promote its recruitment of nurses and other personnel, particularly from the aboriginal population.

Craig isn't buying the explanations.

"Some of it may be appropriate, but most of it is unnecessary," he said.

"When you hear of government agencies and Crown corporations handing out golf balls, manicure sets, pocket knives, golf shirts, lip balm and those kinds of things, they're certainly unnecessary. Unlike businesses, Crown corporations and agencies aren't competing with anyone."