Jack Layton’s, and others, expenses were published by The Hill Times (Feb 18, 2008) using on information released by the House of Commons. According to The Hill Times, party leaders are permitted to be reimbursed for 80 trips per year between Ottawa and their constituency. In 2006/07, NDP leader Jack Layton charged $241, 016 to this budget line, making him the highest spending MP in Canada for Ottawa/home travel. That works out to $3,012 per trip! Looking at today’s airfare prices, the maximum round trip fare is about $750 (open ticket, no advance purchase, etc.) but of curse cheaper fares are available assuming not all flights are at peak hours and weekend travel home/back to Ottawa is pretty much predictable and amenable to advance purchase tickets. Airfares have increased significantly since 2006/07 due to rising fuel costs.
Even so, Layton billed Canadian taxpayers more than $2000 per trip for costs in excess of the flight ticket. For what? Taxis? Snacks at the airports? He takes a private limousine home to Toronto most weekends, like other “working class Canadians”?
More astounding, Ottawa NDP MP Paul Dewar billed $9,725 for travel between, well, Ottawa and Ottawa! He managed to outspend CPC cabinet minister John Baird who billed $3, 895 for his travel between Ottawa and Ottawa. CPC minister Gordon O’Connor billed $35 suggesting maybe he took a cab home after a liquid dinner one Friday night.
Other NDP big spenders were Nathan Cullen, MP ($199,738), but at least he was travelling to the BC interior, and Dennis Bevington, MP ($173,494) who was travelling to the Western Arctic (Yellowknife).
There’s are many other details f=of how the dippers like to spend, including Layton’s wife Olivia Chow topping all MPs for printing expenses at $90,702. How exactly does she manage to so outspend others like NDP Libby Davies – last of the top ten – at $3,396, or the lowest 10 spenders – all under $5000. There were also the seven NDP MPs (including Chow) among the top ten big spenders on office supplies.
The next time an NDP candidate comes to your door asking for your support, keep these spending habits in mind.
