Finley Flounders

Human Resources and Lack of Development Minister Diane Finley stunned a Commons committee today when she spilled the beans on a $3,000 taxpayer-funded trip she and a director of communications she later fired took to Manitoba for a photo-op to present a $100 cheque to local family.

The RayBan promoter's startling admission came on the heels of a grilling by Liberal MP Geoff Regan.

While Republican-Conservatives on the committee such as Patrick (the Ottawa Police Service wants to know more about what YOU did at the 2005 Republican-Conservative convention) Brown were asking softball questions about the weather and leg warmers, Regan was asking the weakest link in President Harper's cabinet about her cuts to all programs that help the country's most vulnerable.

The feckless Finley could not identify one single organization she took a buzz saw to.

For example, she could not name the Salvation Army, the YWCA or battered women's shelters that saw budgets evicerated. It was a shameful display.

As for the high-priced photo-op, Finley told the committee she could have sent the cheque by mail at a cost of 51 cents. "But then I wouldn`t have got my face on TV." She also could have presented a cheque to a family in Ottawa at no cost.

What a disgrace.