Another day in the fantasy of Harper fiscal prudence

Greg Weston pulls another Harper-floated piece of waste off the surface.

A federal agency created by the Conservative government to mediate complaints about Canadian mining operations abroad has spent more than $1.1 million in the past two years, but has yet to mediate anything.

At the same time, the agency — the Office of the Extractive Sector Corporate Social Responsibility Counsellor — has racked up hundreds of thousands of dollars in travel, entertainment, training, meetings, reports and other expenses, documents obtained by CBC News show. Renovations to a federal government office to accommodate the agency's three employees alone cost Canadian taxpayers $189,000.

You should read the whole thing. And in case you miss the best part, here it is.

Trade Minister Ed Fast said he sees no problem with it, calling it a "common sense approach."

These people seem to treat tax revenues like cash in a birthday card from your old aunt. Once you've got it in your hands it's yours to spend any way you want.