MLA Travel Expenses

[fluffy]

Following the Auditor General's release yesterday of MLA's travel expenses, Bill Berisoff was unavailable for comment. Seeing that he placed highest among Okanagan MLAs, and second highest overall in the province, I'm sure a detailed report will be forthcoming at his earliest convenience.

[Thinktank]

Canda's governor general Adrienne Clarkson spent $5 million
on a trip to europe with fifty freeloading friends. that's $100,000 each.

I emailed the governor general's office three times asking for details
on exactly where she spent the money. The third time they emailed back
with a link that went nowhere. Real honest government we have.

I'll pay $5.00 to anyone who can tell me exaclty where all our $5 million went to.

[Bsuds]

I'll pay $5.00 to anyone who can tell me exaclty where all our $5 million went to.

You can mail $5 to me

[Thinktank]

I'll pay $5.00 to anyone who can tell me exaclty where all our $5 million went to.

You can mail $5 to me

Here you go. This is my paypal account where you can receive your $5.00.

http://www.thispagecannotbedisplayed.com/

[DblDwn11]

Canda's governor general Adrienne Clarkson spent $5 million
on a trip to europe with fifty freeloading friends. that's $100,000 each.

I emailed the governor general's office three times asking for details
on exactly where she spent the money. The third time they emailed back
with a link that went nowhere. Real honest government we have.

I'll pay $5.00 to anyone who can tell me exaclty where all our $5 million went to.

Shocking that the Governor General of Canada didn't respond to your urgent emails. You..Thinktank.

If you wanted details on expenses, all you have to do is file a FOI and request the documents. It may take a while to get them but they are available. Democracy is a participation sport. So get out there and get your uniform dirty.

As for Bill, I think his expenses were on the high-side considering travel between here and Victoria can't possibly cost that much. The other two MLA's named represented ridings in hard to reach areas, which would account for higher expenses.

[Thinktank]

... request the documents. It may take a while to get them but they are available.

Thank you for your advice. Click on this link to get your $5.00.

http://www.thispagecannotbedisplayed.com/

[Thinktank]

Actually, the truth is, no one in all of Canada will ever know
where adrienne clarkson spent our $5 million. I offered $5.00
here: http://www.dslreports.com/forum/canchat
and no one was able to collect the money.

I suspect adreinne Clarkson's friends got free condos somehwere in northern england.

[Bsuds]

[

As for Bill, I think his expenses were on the high-side considering travel between here and Victoria can't possibly cost that much. The other two MLA's named represented ridings in hard to reach areas, which would account for higher expenses.

But in his defence he is also the Speaker of the House and is probably required to be in Victoria more often and for longer periods.

[DblDwn11]

But in his defence he is also the Speaker of the House and is probably required to be in Victoria more often and for longer periods.

Good point however the report only covered expenses charged for MLA duties. His Speaker of the House expense were excluded from the total.

[Rockitman]

Following the Auditor General's release yesterday of MLA's travel expenses, Bill Berisoff was unavailable for comment.

In terms of general provincial travel, Bill Berisoff, Speaker of the House, expensed the most ($30,273)
As for speaker approved travel, ironically, Speaker Barisoff topped the list ($5,648)

The total was 1.5 mil and keep in mind folks that this was only for a six month period April to September. Barisoff's total was $46,410 even higher than Dix who came in at $32,997. And the legislature sat for what about 47 days for the WHOLE year. I don't think he drives back and forth every day but at $1000/day, on average he could have.

So, I can't help myself.. Is everyone OK with this. If so then keep voting the way you have been. I truly believe that when the government rakes in Billions in tax revenues they lose perspective and all of a sudden 46 grand for 6 months worth of travel is OK. Its like people getting desensitized to violence when they watch it on television every night on every channel or almost every video game, it just becomes "normal".

But then again "perhaps" knowing your on the way out you become a little more "LIBERAL" with your spending (pun intended). So do your still think voting for a "party" is the way to go..??

[Captain Awesome]

But then again "perhaps" knowing your on the way out you become a little more "LIBERAL" with your spending (pun intended). So do your still think voting for a "party" is the way to go..??

So, when somebody independent gets in, all of a sudden they won't be traveling? Or they'll be traveling for cheap? Nice of you to jump on a bandwagon trying to score some cheap brownie points.

[fluffy]

There's a considerable spread in the amounts claimed by Okanagan MLAs, from nothing to over $46K for Mr. Berisoff. I'm interested in hearing details of the expenditures, and given Mr. Berisoff's recent statements on accountability and transparency it's not unreasonable to expect him to make those details easily accessible for his constituents.

[Rockitman]

So, when somebody independent gets in, all of a sudden they won't be traveling? Or they'll be traveling for cheap? Nice of you to jump on a bandwagon trying to score some cheap brownie points.

Lets be clear, I am NOT jumping on the bandwagon, I'm "DRIVING" it. I'm tired of people condoning, even justifying, this kind of spending. Of course you have to travel and YES I would travel cheap, like I would if it was my money instead of yours. It's easy for politicians to spend like "crazy" on elaborate travel when it's coming out of your wallet. When I travel for business I don't eat Lobster and caviar because my company is paying, nor do I eat KD. I eat like I normally would, nor do I stay in the penthouse. Is that a concept so far out there that its incomprehensible? Treat tax-payer money like it's your own.

Interesting how some other Okanagan MLA's spent as little as $4452 on their travel. Oh, but then Barisoff is the speaker, so it's OK. Probably also why he spent the "most" of "any" candidate on his campaign in the last election, to the tune of $72,000.

[fluffy]

Lets be clear, I am NOT jumping on the bandwagon, I'm "DRIVING" it. I'm tired of people condoning, even justifying, this kind of spending. Of course you have to travel and YES I would travel cheap, like I would if it was my money instead of yours. It's easy for politicians to spend like "crazy" on elaborate travel when it's coming out of your wallet. When I travel for business I don't eat Lobster and caviar because my company is paying, nor do I eat KD. I eat like I normally would, nor do I stay in the penthouse. Is that a concept so far out there that its incomprehensible? Treat tax-payer money like it's your own.

You've caught the essence of my concerns there. Among elected officials, gov't employees and contractors dealing with the gov't, there is an air of "deep pockets" when it come to pubic funds. The idea of public responsibility is no longer associated with public funds. I would not expect things like first class travel and five star hotels to appear on gov't expense claims, nor would I expect to see claims for travel to accomplish something that could be easily done at a distance with any of the myriad of electronic media available today. Treat tax-payer money like it belongs to the taxpayer.

[grammafreddy]

Following the Auditor General's release yesterday of MLA's travel expenses, Bill Berisoff was unavailable for comment. Seeing that he placed highest among Okanagan MLAs, and second highest overall in the province, I'm sure a detailed report will be forthcoming at his earliest convenience.

I hope you aren't holding your breath waiting for that.