Big tab for CBC French Exec

Sylvain Lafrance, the executive VP of CBC French, claimed almost $80,000 in exepnses in 2006. Among this is $28,000 on hotels, travel and meals in 2006 -- including almost $6,000 for lunch and dinner dates with other CBC managers and executives. He ate with TV host and editor Yvan Asselin eight times in 2006 spending almost $850 over the year.

According to the Ottawa Sun, the arts community in Quebec has also enjoyed an indirect subsidy through the CBC: "more than $33,000 in corporate expenses for CBC's French service, which were cleared by Lafrance, for benefit dinners and theatre tickets to events that raise money for Quebec-based arts and culture organizations."