The Fitness Trainer and the Senate Scandal

   There is a Senate scandal brewing in Canada! 
In the U.S.A. Senators are elected to represent their state. In Canada Senators are appointed by our head of state the Prime Minister in a model similar to the House of Lords in Great Britain.
The Senate was originally intended to be a 'chamber of sober second thought' to act as a check against any excessive ideology in bills passed by the elected House of Commons.
   The current accusations allege that bills of the dollar plus variety may have changed hands in bribery charges and overzealous expense claims. The Senator on trial is Mike Duffy, a former T.V. political newshound turned Senate appointee. So what we have is a political story involving possible bribery and misuse of taxpayer money. "How is this even news?" you might ask. Crooked politics
and shady bag men have been bedfellows since the first vote was ever cast. "Tell me something new!"
   What intrigued with this story was that a very small portion of the suspected misappropriated funds
were used towards the services of a Personal Fitness Trainer.  Mike Croskery is an Ottawa based Fitness Trainer with a B. Sc. in Human Kinetics. He is also accredited as a Certified Exercise Physiologist with the Canadian Society of Exercise Physiologists. He has extensive credentials in the fitness field.  He has also published books and pamphlets on fitness. He has worked with numerous sports teams. Kudos to Mike Duffy for realizing he needed such expert help with his fitness.
 
This is how this Fitness Training link to this scandal unfolded:

• Mike Duffy secured the services of Mike Croskery as a Fitness Trainer while Mr. Duffy was still a  political news icon.
• This Trainer - Client arrangement continued after Mike Duffy became a Senator. 
•  Instead of Mike Duffy paying from his own finances the billing was now being done to a consulting company that then invoiced the Senate. 
• Fitness Training fees are not considered Senate business.  
•  At Duffy's suggestion, the Fitness Trainer also began to bill for services as a consultant on 'Fitness for Canadian Seniors".
• Nothing appears to have ever been produced for the consulting for the senior's fitness idea. There was hopes for CD's or books but nothing materialized

   Did Mike Croskery show poor judgement by accepting payment from a questionable source?
Was he part of a bogus fitness for seniors consulting scheme?

   Cut the man some slack! Most Fitness Trainers do not have the luxury of being able to screen their clients financially. Do mob lawyers get condemned for defending clients of questionable character or for for taking payment of what may possible be dirty money? Why should Fitness Trainers be held to a higher standard?
My take on this scenario:

1. A Fitness Trainer agreed to a training contract with a well known client.
2. Such clients can boost recognition for the Fitness Trainer and possibly attract more high income potential.
3. The Fitness Trainer accepted in good faith that the reimbursement came from honest and lawful means. 
4. The Fitness Trainer agreed to provide consulting services with a Fitness for Seniors theme.
5. The Fitness Trainer received payment for the consulting services although nothing of substance ever materialized from it. 

   This particular Fitness Trainer may be guilty on point 5. He possibly accepted payment for a task that was never completed. Was this really his fault? The terms and conditions of this project seem to have been vague with no real goals,objectives or guidelines. Maybe this project was not dead but just very far behind schedule. Now that the Senator has been stripped of his duties, we will never know if a final product was pending.

   It would of course be wise for a Fitness Trainer to know as much about a client as possible. You want to deal with a person that is punctual, honest, and willing to adhere to your exercise program.
You also want to be sure that the potential client will be able and willing to pay in a timely manner with legally earned currency.  However we are exercise experts - not forensic accountants! 
Fitness Trainers rely on referrals, and initial  pre-screening interviews to decide on taking on new clients.  Red flags warning of financial impropriety may not be obvious or evident.
It is probably good policy to question payments of cash with purple dye or bloodstains.
   Who knows!  Maybe ex-Senator Mike Duffy will be found not guilty!  There is much evidence in his favor. There are also worse ways to spend tax money. The Old Duff will not go down without swinging back! 

A questionable fitness consulting payment?
Not necessarily!  

                    
Until Next Time,...Keep Fit


Little Bobby Strong













Links
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AudienceBuilder.ca
www.fitnwell.com
www.rabbitview/rabbitview-crossfit