According to the audits:

• Ouellet claimed expenses of an average of $250,000 a year since 1996, including a total of nearly $336,000 for which he had no reciepts. Last year his expense exceeded $350,000 (not surprisingly he approved his own expenses);
• He awarded untendered contracts of up to $25-million to firms that support the Liberal Party;
• Canada Post paid for $75,000 worth of travel by former Public Works Minister Alphonso Gagliano; and
• He was responsible for no less than 83 "special hires" that were done outside the normal hiring process.

Mr. Ouellet is also one of the highest paid government officials in Ottawa pulling in about $400,000 a year - not bad work if you can get it.

What never ceases to amaze me is these guys seem to have thought what they were doing was perfectly acceptable. You have to have your head deeply implanted in a really dark place not to realize that a hundred dollars in unreceipted expenses is unacceptable, let alone hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Let's put Mr. Ouellet's travel expenses in perspective. $250,000 is the equivalent of 200 flights between Ottawa and Vancouver in Executive Class (without any restriction) - the most expensive ticket, in other words. That is one flight between Ottawa and Vancouver, every day of the year starting January 1 and ending July 20. Or, if he felt so inclined, it is the equivalent of about 640 nights in a "Signature King Room" at Toronto's Royal York Hotel - this 500 square foot room features "high floors, extra amenities and a luxurious decor."

The Government has give Mr. Ouellet seven days to explain himself, after which time they will make a decision on his future. I expect they'll fire him as the opposition is demanding.

If that is the case, let me be the first to offer my services as his replacement. I'll do it for half his $400,000 salary and I will be diligent enough to make sure I keep my receipts.