boondoggle
/ˈbuːndɒɡəl/
Definition
A wasteful or trivial project that consumes large amounts of time, money, or resources while providing little to no practical public benefit.
Etymology
The term is of uncertain origin, appearing in the early 20th century to describe handcrafted items made by Boy Scouts. It gained broader political significance during the New Deal era to describe questionable government-funded programs that appeared useless or overly extravagant.
In the news
The author uses the term to characterize the Pathways carbon capture project, implying it is an expensive and ineffective initiative driven by political optics rather than genuine environmental progress. It highlights the author's frustration with the government's willingness to subsidize oil industry infrastructure at the taxpayer's expense.
Carney’s Grand Bargain Isn’t With Alberta: It’s With the Rest of Us.
Read the full article ↗The Energy Mix Weekender