A federal government agency spent nearly $6,000 in taxpayer money on a bowling party and Valentine's Day candy, according to Blacklock's Reporter.
The federal agency in question, The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority, said that these purchases were necessary for the organization's team spirit.
Being federal bureaucrats, they had little else to do on Valentine's Day and so decided to splash $2,885 on a ritzy lunch which included Lindt Valentine’s chocolates.
One month later, the same agency also forked out another $2,935 on a team-building event held at a bowling alley in Ottawa—this was all charged to the Canadian taxpayer.
154 bureaucrats attended this "team-building" party.
Due, in part, to these exorbitant parties, the federal agency is said to have "an overall sense of satisfaction that is growing year over year" amongst their workforce.
"The Agency strives to maintain an engaged, high-performing workforce," said the agency's spokesperson.
Stephen Harper's Conservative government required all federal agencies to disclose their hospitality expenses in 2005.
As well as this, the Treasury Board has mandated that party expenses should be limited to "the provision of meals, beverages or refreshments in events which are necessary for the effective conduct of government business and for courtesy, diplomacy or protocol purposes."
