Taxpayers federation announces porkbarrel awards as big city mayors meet

Photo: Canadian Taxpayers Federation

OTTAWA – Canada’s top pork-barrellers will be on full display in Ottawa as the Canadian Taxpayers Federation announces the Teddies.

It’s the 16th year for the awards, which are handed out by the federation to highlight waste of tax dollars at every level of government.

Just don’t expect anyone to actually pick up their award.

The presentation comes as big city mayors meet in Ottawa, hoping to convince the Harper government to fork over more money for roads, sewers and other infrastructure projects.

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford, after years of boycotting such meetings, is expected to attend the gathering to argue in favour of exceptional funding for his city’s subway expansion plan.

Other events in Ottawa today include:

— the major political parties will hold their weekly gabfests, otherwise known as caucus meetings.

— Parliament will hold a non-binding take-note debate on the crisis in Ukraine.

— Parliamentary secretary Kelly Block will speak about the Harper government’s investments in clean energy.

— And Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau will speak to the Canadian Federation of Agriculture’s annual meeting. So will the NDP’s agriculture critic.