Wasted taxpayer dollars while the economy collapes

Conservatives spent more than $4.7 million fighting 15 losing court cases

Department of Justice records show 15 losing cases cost federal government $4.7M

 

The Conservatives have spent more than $4.7 million fighting 15 losing court cases, including more than $1 million on tough-on-crime measures, according to figures released this week.

The cases range from the Conservatives' $426,529 battle to shut down Insite, Vancouver's safe-injection site, to $347,271 on the Supreme Court of Canada reference regarding Marc Nadon, whom Prime Minister Stephen Harper tried to name to the top court, but who was ultimately found to be unqualified.

Liberal MP Ralph Goodale tabled a written request for the costs of the court cases through the House of Commons' order paper questions process, which allows MPs to request information from the government.

The most expensive fight for the Conservatives is the continuing dispute over health care for refugee claimants, which totalled $1,062,187 according to the costs released this week. The government lost a Federal Court case last July, which it plans to appeal, and refugee advocates have returned to Federal Court to argue the government is ignoring the original decision.

READ MORE: http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/conservatives-spent-more-than-4-7-million-fighting-15-losing-court-cases-1.3042725