Booze and steak dinners paid for by Charlottetown taxpayers raise ire of watchdog group
CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Paperwork obtained by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation present Charlottetown elected officers and employees ignored expense insurance policies on the 2019 Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Convention in Quebec Metropolis.
The federation issued a information launch on Could 26 indicating members of council and metropolis employees who attended the convention spent more than they should have.
“The principles are crystal clear, metropolis officers aren’t speculated to be charging per diems for meals which can be already supplied and so they’re undoubtedly not supposed to stay taxpayers with their bar tabs,” stated Renaud Brossard, interim Atlantic director of the federation.
“Politicians and bureaucrats shouldn’t be treating work journeys like all-inclusive holidays on the taxpayers’ expense.”
Brossard stated FCM confirmed the convention’s $999 registration charge included breakfast, lunch and snacks.
The city’s travel and meal reimbursement policy explicitly states, “A meal allowance is not going to be paid to an worker with respect to a meal that’s included within the transportation fare, or in the price of the convention charges.”
Brossard stated regardless of this, 10 elected officers and employees current on the convention billed taxpayers for per diems overlaying the complete day, for between 5 and 6 days every, totalling $6,591.
Who attended
In an interview with SaltWire Community on Could 26, Brossard stated Mayor Philip Brown attended the convention, together with councillors Terry Bernard, Alanna Jankov, Greg Rivard, Kevin Ramsay, Mike Duffy, Terry MacLeod and Mitchell Tweel. Councillors Bob Doiron and Julie McCabe didn’t attend the convention.
Brossard added that Wayne Lengthy, the town’s occasions improvement officer, and Laurel Lea, the tourism officer additionally attended however most of their bills have been paid for by a present card.
“They have been there to do some promotion for the town,” Brossard stated.
In line with paperwork obtained by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, metropolis taxpayers have been on the hook for $1,948 in restaurant receipts, together with a $1,810 dinner at Le Beffroi steakhouse in Quebec Metropolis’s historic district.
Brossard stated there have been 15 attendees on the dinner. The bar tab consisted of 1 glass and 4 bottles of wine, 11 beers, 20 ounces of liquor and three cocktails at a price of $459.
Town’s journey and meal reimbursement coverage states, “Any alcohol included in meal expense claims is not going to be reimbursed.”
Metropolis response
Brossard stated the federation did converse with the town on the matter.
“Whereas it might have been previous practise based mostly on precedent, per diems shouldn’t be claimed if meals are included inside the registration charges of a convention,” a spokesperson with the town informed the federation.
As for the alcohol coverage, a spokesperson for the town informed the federation, “Alcohol included in meal expense claims aren’t reimbursed, nonetheless, if a delegate meal or assembly takes place, the CAO can use discretion to cowl this expense if it falls inside the tips set out within the procurement coverage.”
What they spent
Following is how a lot Charlottetown’s mayor, members of council and metropolis employees spent on the 2019 Canadian Municipalities Convention in Quebec Metropolis:
- Mayor Philip Brown, $3,818.38
- Coun. Terry Bernard, $4,193.09
- Coun. Alanna Jankov, $3,794.27
- Coun. Greg Rivard, $3,845.13
- Coun. Kevin Ramsay, $4,166.07
- Coun. Mike Duffy, $4,236.29
- Coun. Terry MacLeod, $3,538.34
- Coun. Mitchell Tweel, $4,770.07
- Laurel Lea, tourism officer, $1,502.38
- Wayne Lengthy, occasions improvement officer, $7,050.91
Whole – $41,921.48
Supply: Canadian Taxpayers Federation
Brossard informed SaltWire Community the reasons aren’t ok.
“If they can not provide you with a greater clarification we’re anticipating councillors and employees to repay taxpayers for the additional quantity that was taken,” Brossard stated.
When requested how a lot the town ought to reimburse taxpayers, Brossard stated he couldn’t put an actual determine on it however did say councillors and employees ought to repay any meal that expensed twice.
SaltWire Community left messages with the town’s communications employees and Brown on Could 26 however there was no response at press time.
Dave Stewart is a municipal reporter with the SaltWire Community in Charlottetown, P.E.I. @DveStewart
