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NDP MLAs are the big spenders

NDP expenses are higher than those for most Liberal MLAs.

Editor: Information from the online MLA expense reporting shows that of the 85 MLAs, there are 46 Liberals, 36 NDPers and three independenst.

The expense breakdown shows that 52.1 per cent were by NDP members, 3.54 per cent by independents and 44.36 per cent by Liberals.

Why does the opposition party (NDP) have more expenses with less members?  The location of the riding is no barrier in expenses.

For example, Scott Fraser NDP MLA for Alberni-Pacific on Vancouver Island, spent $31,157 and Katrine Conroy, NDP MLA for Kootenay West, spent $30,482.

Out of the top 15 on the list out of 85, the NDP have 11 names on the list. Robin Austin, MLA for Skeena, had expenses of $53,606, Norm MacDonald, MLA for Columbia River-Revelstoke, had expenses of $45,332, and Doug Donaldson, MLA for Stikine, had expenses of $42,678.

Expenses for B.C. cabinet ministers who do a lot of travel are Christy Clark, with expenses at $39,612, Shirley Bond at $27,323, Rich Coleman at $21,938, Mike de Jong at $23,450, Terry Lake at $27,575, and Steve Thomson at $19,809.

In summary, why is it that the opposition NDP have far more in expenses than the B.C. government, which has cabinet ministers with lower totals than opposition MLAs?

NDP MLAs such as Harry Lali spent $32,829, and Nicholas Simons spent $30,841.

It is unbelievable, as the NDP complain about everything and anything under the sun, until it affects themselves.

Joe Sawchuk,

Duncan

Editor’s note — Cabinet ministers have separate expense accounts, in addition to the expenses they incur as MLAs.