Greater VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 six MLAs incurred more than $185,000 in travel expenses last year.
The figures, as part of the public accounts portion of the provinceB次元官网网址檚 finances, were released last week as the B.C. government works towards an air of openness.
In years past, only ministersB次元官网网址� expenses were released, but British Columbians can now see just how much of taxpayersB次元官网网址� money every MLA spent.
In Victoria, Carole James (Victoria-Beacon Hill) racked up the largest MLA bill with $39,869 in travel costs. The former NDP leader said she spent three-quarters of her time as leader travelling the province prior to her stepping down in December, and welcomed this new measure of financial openness.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 definitely the right direction. MLAs are accountable for those dollars, they are public dollars and we should be accountable to the voters in our community,B次元官网网址� she said.
Oak Bay-Gordon HeadB次元官网网址檚 Ida Chong had a meagre $1,635 travel bill as an MLA, but racked up an additional $61,057 on ministerial duties.
She says itB次元官网网址檚 because following a cabinet shuffle, the new minister is expected to meet with the same stakeholders and interest groups their predecessor met with months before.
B次元官网网址淲hen I took on universities and colleges, there was a huge demand for me to visit them all and get up to speed on the initiatives they started with (former minister of advanced education) Moira (Stilwell),B次元官网网址� she said.
B次元官网网址淚f youB次元官网网址檙e supposed to understand and bring in legislation and policy, sometimes you have to go out and see how things work.B次元官网网址�
Chong served as minister of healthy living and sport; science and universities; and regional economic and skills development during the year. Now she is the minister of community, sport and cultural development.
James says that is a prime example of extraneous, unnecessary spending.
B次元官网网址淲ith the number of cabinet shuffles weB次元官网网址檝e seen over this past year with Gordon Campbell and with Christy Clark, every time you change cabinet you have different travel costs, you have new business cards, and those are taxpayersB次元官网网址� dollars,B次元官网网址� James said.
Of all ministers, Chong had the third-largest travel bill, after Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation Pat Bell ($68,467) and Kevin Krueger ($65,562).
Gregory Thomas, B.C. director of the Canadian TaxpayersB次元官网网址� Federation, said the transparency of public accounts is a good thing, but he said that more detailed summaries may be needed.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 progress, but theyB次元官网网址檙e years behind the rest of the country,B次元官网网址� he said, adding that many other jurisdictions provide scans of receipts or a breakdown of each expense. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not rocket science. Providing one expenditure line for the whole year just doesnB次元官网网址檛 cut it in 2011.B次元官网网址�
The MLAs all said theyB次元官网网址檙e cognizant of spending taxpayersB次元官网网址� money.
Searchable provincial government expenses, data and statistics can be found at data.gov.bc.ca.
MLA running around money
Greater Victoria MLA travel expenses for 2010-11.
-Ida Chong (Liberal) Oak Bay-Gordon Head: $62,962 (as MLA and cabinet minister).
-Carole James (NDP) Victoria-Beacon Hill: $39,869.
-Lana Popham (NDP) Saanich South: $28,825.
-Rob Fleming (NDP) Victoria-Swan Lake: $26,683.
-John Horgan (NDP) Juan de Fuca: $15,745.
-Maurine Karagianis (NDP) Esquimalt-Royal Roads: $12,044.
editor@goldstreamgazette.com
