The Canadian Taxpayers Federation has declared Liberal MP Joe Volpe the winner of the federal "Teddy" award -- an honour bestowed upon the worst offender when it comes to government overspending.

"In a world where money is no object because other people are paying, taxis are free and there is always wine with dinner, Joe Volpe is right at home," said Tasha Kheiriddin, the CTF's Ontario director, at the federation's eighth annual "Teddies Waste Awards Ceremony" in Ottawa on Wednesday.

"Abusing the public purse at any level of government is unacceptable, and our Teddies are an appropriate way to give the people who fleece Canadian taxpayers the recognition they so richly deserve," added Kheiridden, decked out in a black dress and a pearl collar in the spirit of Oscar season.

The CTF claims to be a non-profit, non-partisan advocacy group which fights for lower taxes, and greater government accountability. It says former immigration minister Volpe and his staff earned the award by racking up more than $60,000 in travel and hospitality bills in just a few short months at the expense of taxpayers.

Some of the lavish dining expenses include:

• Treating friends to a dinner on March 21, 2005 that cost $507.39.
• Just a few hours later, they ate again at an Italian restaurant for $80.14.
• Spending $138 on pizza for two one night, and $207 a few nights later on pizza for three.

Other winners

David Dingwall, the onetime president of the Royal Canadian Mint, received a "Lifetime Achievement Teddy" for what the CTF described as his long-term lavish spending habits.

Dingwall resigned as Mint president after critics accused him of racking up exorbitant, six-figure expenses which included everything from extravagant foreign travel to a $1.29 pack of gum in 2004 and 2005.

"David Dingwall is truly a taxpayer's worst nightmare," said Kheiriddin.

The government of Manitoba, meanwhile, won the provincial award for its taxpayer-funded tummy tucks and fat-reducing surgeries ($981,000), and payments for Botox treatments ($10,900) in 2003-04.

"Regrettably for taxpayers, as many Manitobans languish on wait lists for a variety of medically necessary procedures, the government sees nothing wrong with trimming tummies at public expense," said Kheiriddin.

In the cities category, Richmond, B.C., came out the winner for spending $460,000 on world travel for council members -- as well as spending on a speed-skating oval for the 2010 Olympics.

The Teddies are named for Ted Weatherill -- a former senior public servant who was fired in 1999 for excessive expense claims as Chairman of the Canada Labour Relations Board.