The Canadian province of Alberta will spend $16 million to promote handwashing.

Calgary Herald columnist Don Braid says your mother always told you to wash your hands, but she never tried to charge you $16 million for the advice.

Braid adds that the recipients of this advice will be the province’s many thousands of health-care employees. Didn’t they listen to their mothers?

Asked what all that money would buy, Health Minister Dave Hancock shrugged, sort of, and said, "sinks."