The City of Victoria has been given an award for most wasteful municipal spending at the Canadian Taxpayers Federation’s (CTF) Teddy Awards.
The award was handed out over spending on construction of the Johnson Street Bridge, also known as “Blue Bridge.”
According to CTF, the bridge was supposed to cost $63 million. Because of problems with the quality of steel being used to repair the 93-year-old bridge, the price tag has risen to $105 million. The bridge is expected to be finished in 2018, three years behind schedule.
“At $42 million over budget, Victoria taxpayers are sure to be a lot bluer than even the Blue Bridge,” CTF director Aaron Wudrick said in a news release.
Other mentions at the 19th annual awards was The Canadian Revenue Agency for paying an employee $538,000 in moving expenses, Ontario’s electric vehicle incentive program, and the Government of Ontario for mishandling their energy files.
The Teddy Awards, which mock government spending each year, was held on Parliament Hill in the Charles Lynch Press Conference Theatre.
The awards are named after Ted Weatherill, a former federal appointee who was fired in 1999 over expense claims.
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