B.C. premier defends taxpayer-funded gifts

VANCOUVER — B.C. Premier Christy Clark is defending a program allowing civil servants to give each other gifts at the taxpayer’s expense, calling it a “widely recognized way” to motivate employees.

At the same time, she conceded a lack of control and added gift giving would be monitored in future.

Critics called her “out of touch.”

Following her faux throne speech over the radio Monday morning, Clark said she would preserve the so-called “recognition cupboard” program encouraging employees to regularly send each other goodies as a pat on the back for good work.

“That’s a pretty widely recognized way to go about trying to incent employees,” she said, arguing it was “OK” to spend $750,000 on perks for 30,000 provincial employees “who dedicate their lives to the needs of British Columbians.”

B.C. NDP Leader Adrian Dix questioned how the provincial Liberal government could encourage a taxpayer-funded gift program as it closes groups homes for adults with developmental disabilities.

“The government is just out of touch,” he said.

B.C. Conservatives Leader John Cummins said it is “outrageous” taxpayer dollars are being spent on “chocolates, gift cards and backpacks to civil servants” when the justice system is in “crisis due to lack of funds” and hospitals “are begging for more money.”

Clark promised she was “fixing” the program, which currently allows employees to give presents without supervisor approval.

“There hasn’t been in all those years much suggestion it has been abused, but nonetheless we need an additional sign off,” Clark said, noting the program was created by the NDP in the 1990s.

Dix countered the Liberals kept it alive the last 11 years, despite multiple budget reviews.

Independent Delta South MLA Vicki Huntington called it an “affront to taxpayers” for a government running a deficit to have “storerooms of luxury items” for “employees to reward one another at will.”

“They don’t need to expect presents for a job well done,” said Huntington, who wants Finance Minister Kevin Falcon to disclose how many government ministries have such programs and the rules governing them.