Jim Roepcke's weblog have browser, will travel (est. 1999)

$17.50 per diem?

canada.com: Soldiers forced to repay Forces' food allowance

Their $50 food allowance per diem was cut to $17.50, forcing 10 soldiers to repay an average of $2200 each (originally $3000 but later lowered) to the military.

This was in the spring of 2002. Back then the Canadian dollar was at less than 65 cents US, so for readers familiar with the value of an American dollar, that's less than $12 USD per day for 3 meals! In Vancouver, where food isn't cheap.

What a disgrace. The Canadian military and government officials responsible for this should be ashamed of themselves.