Two Abbotsford residents were angry this week at what they say is government waste after seeing a dumpster half full of parole board brochures and other materials at the local recycling depot.
Irene Enns and Charles Blair, who do not know each other, had both taken trips to the depot on Valley Road to drop off items of their own.
Enns was there late Monday afternoon to recycle some office materials when she noticed the dumpster of items beside the one she was using.
Blair was there Tuesday morning to drop off some newspapers.
The two were not upset to see that the government materials were being recycled, but that there were so many of them in the first place.
“I looked at it and I thought, ‘This is ridiculous.’ I’m just so fed up with government waste,” Enns said.
Blair said the materials all appeared to be unused items.
“I got a little excited, to say the least … This is taxpayers’ money being wasted.”
Brian Chase, regional director general with the Parole Board of Canada, confirmed the materials all came from the Abbotsford office. They consisted of items that have been saved up for 10 years or longer, he said.
They sported titles such as “Mission Statement of the National Parole Board” and “Parole Decision-Making: Myths and Realities.”
Chase said the items have become outdated because they sport the agency’s former name, the National Parole Board, and a logo that does not comply with treasury board policy.
“We basically cleaned house … We kept what we could,” Chase said.
The office is now awaiting the delivery of new publications.
