Squandering 1/2 billion dollars of taxpayer dollars on failed action plans rather than such frivolous things as Veterans, Seniors or Medicare

Ottawa’s advertising contracts reach nearly $500 million over past five years

OTTAWA—Ottawa inked or amended more than $93 million in advertising contracts last year, and nearly $500 million over the past five years, according to a Star analysis of Public Works contracting data.
 

The maximum value of last year’s contracts came in at $93.2 million, the analysis shows, and the work covers both the provision of advertising services as well as media buys and ad placements.
 

Public Works noted the final bill will only be made public in Ottawa’s annual advertising report, released 12 to 16 months after the end of the fiscal year.
 

“The contract values are the maximum the government is contracted to pay suppliers ... They are not the actual payments made to a supplier,” the department noted in a prepared statement after the Star requested an interview.
 

“The total value of payments made to advertising firms is reported in Public Works’ annual report on advertising.”
 

But contracting history from the last five years shows the contract value is a reliable indicator of the overall bill. Between 2009-10 and 2012-13, Public Works reported $367.1 million in advertising spending. The contract value data puts the figure slightly higher, at $413 million.

READ MORE: http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2014/12/14/ottawas_ad_contracts_reach_nearly_500_million_over_past_five_years.html