Travel Expense Scandal(PART 1 OF 3)
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B.C. leg staff double travel expenses
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Staff at the B.C. legislature have been racking up larger and larger travel bills---with enpenses more than doubling between 2010 and 2014, according to the latest government salary and expense documents.
According to the documents, which were obtained by government watchdog Integrity BC and provided to 24 hours, the total travel bill for legislature staff in the fiscal year ending on March 31, 2014 totalled $458,080, a big jump from the $200,303 recorded in 2010.
Of particular note is the travel expenses of Craig James, the clerk of the B.C. legislature, who billed taxpayers $71,873 in 2013/14 in travel, by far exceeding the expenses of his colleagues.
The amount actually put him as the top travel spender of all government employees in 2013/14, according to the province's latest public account document.
"When you turn around and put how much he spent into a weekly basis---that's nearly $1,400 a week in travel for every single week of the year," said Dermod Travis, Integrity BC executive director.
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James' office, the legislature's Office of the Clerk, did not respond to 24 hours for comment by presstime.
Between fiscal years 2010 to 2014, according to government travel expenses, James billed a total of $277,037 in travel, including his expenses during his time with Elections BC for two of the years.
The second-highest billing staff member at the legislature in 2013/14 is Gary Lenz, the seargent-at-arms of the legislature, who billed $31,831 for travel in the latest year.
Lenz, who had his salary listed at $175,474 in fiscal 2014 from $95,915 in fiscal 2010, actually has a higher salary than House of Common Sergeant-At-Arms Kevin Vickers---which has a salary ceiling of $173,300, according to the government of Canada's salary ranges.
James, as B.C.'s legislature cleark, made $289,984 in salary in 2013/14, which was also higher than House of Common clerk Audrey Elizabeth O'Brien's salary ceiling of $228,800.
By Michael Mui
(Photos from Denman Library)
Page 5 "24 hours"
Tuesday, Janauary 13, 2015
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Diane, have you read the above newspaper article?
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Yes, I have. What about it?
Jee... you don't seem to be in shock, do you?
Why should I be in shock?
...'Cause those guys billed taxpayers---like you and me---an unreasonable amount of money. It says that the total travel bill for legislature staff in the fiscal year ending on March 31, 2014 totalled $458,080, which is a big jump from the $200,303 recorded in 2010. That is, more than doubled.
Well... there must be some reasons.
Like what?
For example, Craig James---the cleark of the B.C. legislature---might have spent more on travel because the provincial election took place during the year.
Maybe so, but I think there's something fishy about him.
What is it, Kato?
Well... the reporter contanted Craig James, but he didn't respond. I think he didn't want to talk about it with the newspaper reporter because he felt guilty about his spending.
Don't make such a short-cut conclusion, Kato. He might've been busy doing some legislature work at the time the reporter called him.
Diane, you seem to be quite protective towards the legislature staff. I wonder if some of your family members are working with those guys.
No, none of my family are working for the legislature.
Then you should be more judgemental about how they spend taxpayers' money.
Well ... Nobody is perfect, Kato.
I know... I know... Diane, you're a good-natured woman. So, you tend to be lenient, but sometimes you should be judgemental---especially regarding unreasonable spending of the government staff.
I'm againt being judgemental.
How come ...?
Well ... Being judgemental is a way of making yourself feel better, by hurting others. And usually such a judgement is driven by closed mindedness or a lack of manners.
So, Diane, you're saying I'm closed-minded without manners. Is that it?
Don't take it personally, Kato. I'm just telling you in general.
Diane, you're a believer in Christianity and act like a Jesus from time to time. You're generous, considerate and compassionate. That's probably the reason you tend to forgive big spenders in the government. But I feel the right to judge against big spenders---especialy using our tax dollars in such a wasteful manner.
But the above article is one-sided. None of the government staff haven't given us a reason---if any.
It's because they feel ashamed.
You'll never know, Kato. They might have some legitimate reasons.
They might, but what I'm saying is, at least you should take a critical point of view over how they spend our tax dollars.
So what would you do about their big spending?
Well, if I were a premier, I would tell the legislature staff to cut the travel expenses in half and to save the other half as a soup-kitchen fund so that unfortunate or low-income people could enjoy more free meals at the soup kitchens in the province.
I'm glad to hear that. Now, I know why you say that.
Do you, Diane?
Yes, I gather, Mayumi and you really appreciated our volunteer work at the church.
You're right on.
(To be followed)