🕳️ Rat Holes

Tracking questionable government spending: Where your tax dollars go

Total Documented Spending
$42.76B
CAD of taxpayer money
ngo
$8.66B
lgbt
$12.5M
foreign aid
$10.95B
corporate
$17.00B
other
$6.15B
Showing 12 of 12 rat holes
Corporateongoing

Electric Vehicle Battery Plant Subsidies

$13.20B
April 21, 2023
Recipient
Volkswagen & Stellantis

Production subsidies to Volkswagen and Stellantis for EV battery plants in Ontario, matching U.S. Inflation Reduction Act benefits with unclear job guarantees.

Key Stakeholders
François-Philippe Champagne - Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry
Doug Ford - Premier of Ontario
NGOongoing

First Nations Water Settlement

$8.00B
July 30, 2023
Recipient
Assembly of First Nations

Compensation and infrastructure funding for First Nations communities affected by boil water advisories, with concerns about project delays and cost overruns.

Key Stakeholders
Patty Hajdu - Minister of Indigenous Services
Othercompleted

Quebec Childcare Transfer Payment

$6.00B
March 28, 2024
Recipient
Government of Quebec

Federal transfer to Quebec for childcare system despite province already having established program, with no strings attached on service improvements.

Key Stakeholders
Karina Gould - Minister of Families, Children and Social Development
François Legault - Premier of Quebec
Foreign Aidongoing

International Climate Finance

$5.30B
October 12, 2023
Recipient
UN Climate Fund & Various Countries

Five-year commitment to international climate finance for developing countries, with limited tracking of Canadian involvement in funded projects.

Key Stakeholders
Steven Guilbeault - Minister of Environment and Climate Change
Foreign Aidongoing

Ukraine Financial Aid Package

$4.80B
February 10, 2024
Recipient
Government of Ukraine

Multi-billion dollar aid package to Ukraine including military equipment, humanitarian assistance, and budget support with limited oversight on fund allocation.

Key Stakeholders
Justin Trudeau - Prime Minister
Mélanie Joly - Minister of Foreign Affairs
Corporateongoing

Rural Broadband Telecom Subsidies

$3.20B
September 14, 2023
Recipient
Bell Canada, Rogers, Telus

Subsidies to major telecoms (Bell, Rogers, Telus) for rural internet expansion, despite companies reporting record profits and maintaining high consumer prices.

Key Stakeholders
François-Philippe Champagne - Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry
Foreign Aidongoing

African Development Bank Contribution

$845.0M
November 8, 2023
Recipient
African Development Bank

Five-year commitment to African Development Bank for infrastructure and development projects with minimal Canadian contractor involvement or direct benefits.

Key Stakeholders
Ahmed Hussen - Minister of International Development
Corporateongoing

Legacy Media Subsidy Program

$595.0M
January 12, 2024
Recipient
Various Canadian Media Companies

Annual subsidies to legacy media organizations through tax credits and direct funding, raising concerns about media independence and bias.

Key Stakeholders
Pascale St-Onge - Minister of Canadian Heritage
NGOongoing

World Economic Forum Partnership Funding

$387.0M
June 15, 2023
Recipient
World Economic Forum

Funding allocated to various WEF initiatives and partnerships, including climate action programs and global governance projects with limited transparency on Canadian benefits.

Key Stakeholders
Chrystia Freeland - Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Finance
Klaus Schwab - WEF Founder
NGOongoing

Climate Action NGO Grants

$275.0M
April 22, 2024
Recipient
Various Environmental NGOs

Grants to environmental NGOs for climate advocacy and awareness campaigns, with limited metrics on emission reduction impact.

Key Stakeholders
Steven Guilbeault - Minister of Environment and Climate Change
Otherongoing

DEI Consulting Contracts

$147.0M
December 5, 2023
Recipient
Various DEI Consulting Firms

Federal contracts for diversity, equity, and inclusion consulting services across government departments with unclear deliverables and effectiveness metrics.

Key Stakeholders
Anita Anand - President of the Treasury Board
LGBT+completed

Pride Festival Grants Program

$12.5M
March 20, 2024
Recipient
Various Pride Organizations

Federal grants distributed to 47 Pride organizations across Canada for festival operations, with concerns raised about accountability and measurable community benefits.

Key Stakeholders
Marci Ien - Minister for Women and Gender Equality

Disclaimer: This page tracks publicly reported government spending that raises questions about value for Canadian taxpayers. All data is sourced from official government announcements and reputable media outlets.

The term "rat hole" refers to spending with questionable accountability, unclear benefits, or lack of transparency - not necessarily illegal activity.