Mr. Speaker, Valentine's Day came early for Tim O'Connor and Gary Valcour.
Tim, who was the campaign manager for the finance minister's wife, was appointed to the Farm Products Council of Canada. Gary, who is the minister's Conservative riding president, will be heading up the new Oshawa port authority.
In return for these patronage roses, it looks like these Conservative insiders will rubber-stamp the construction and receive $25 million for an ethanol refinery on the Oshawa waterfront. This plan is opposed by local councillors, but the owner of the company, Tim and his brothers, are big Conservative donors.
The people of Oshawa are asking this. How much money does it take to get on the finance minister's valentine's list?
Rewarding friends and political insiders is what the government does best. It is just too bad it does not have more love for the citizens on this special day.