P.E.I. finance minister offers to reimburse taxpayers after questions about $500 truck hitch
P.E.I.’s finance minister discovered herself beneath the microscope after public disclosure statements confirmed she expensed a $500 trailer hitch to taxpayers in January.
A public disclosure assertion, posted on-line in January, confirmed Compton claimed a $500.98 expense on Dec. 16, 2021, for set up of a trailer hitch on a government-owned car.
Throughout query interval within the P.E.I. legislature on April 27, Liberal interim chief Sonny Gallant requested Compton concerning the expense.
“I am curious if the minister can inform this home if it was an error or why did she want a $500 trailer hitch put in on her authorities car in December of 2021. What a part of her duties as finance minister would deem this an acceptable use of taxpayer {dollars}?” Gallant requested.
Compton responded the expense was incurred after she divested one other authorities car – a half-ton truck ¬¬¬¬- to the Division of Agriculture and Land. A brand new, government-owned sport utility car was then bought for Compton’s use.
However this new car didn’t have a trailer hitch put in.
“I will let you know precisely why it will be there. It is as a result of I do bike regularly. And I used to place the bike on the again of the truck,” Compton informed the legislature.
“So now I’ll put it at the back of the SUV with my bike holder that I’ve at residence.”
However the challenge of the car bills was sophisticated by the truth that the brand new car had a chip malfunction. Compton stated she has not used this car in a number of months and has, within the meantime, been utilizing a rental car offered by the dealership.
As such, Compton shouldn’t be positive whether or not the dealership will shoulder the expense of the trailer hitch on the SUV.
“If I ever get my car again, I would be blissful to overview the truth that it was placed on my expense report. However I do not suppose I am getting that car again,” Compton stated.
“For those who purchase a car that does not have a trailer hitch, and also you need one to your private use, that must be your private accountability not taxpayers.”
Sonny Gallant
The problem of the trailer hitch was additionally taken up by Inexperienced MLA Hannah Bell.
“What I and loads of different Islanders do not perceive is how a $500 trailer hitch would assist a minister of finance do her job?” Bell requested.
“Due to the questions from the chief of the third celebration, it is now clear that this has bought nothing to do with doing the job. That is a couple of private expense.”
Bell requested if Compton would reimburse taxpayers for the trailer set up.
Compton disclosure statement by The Guardian on Scribd
Following query interval, Compton informed SaltWire she had initially thought the trailer hitch can be included within the buy value of the brand new car. It ended up being billed individually and was later included on her bills.
She stated she can be keen to reimburse taxpayers for the expense of the hitch.
“These transactions are accomplished by (the Division of) Transportation. It was on my disclosure. And I’ve no downside reimbursing that quantity,” Compton stated.
“I signed off on it as a result of we did buy the hitch, however I did not know that it was going to be a part of my disclosure. But it surely was.”
Provincial authorities ministers are sometimes supplied with a authorities car for work utilization.
Gallant stated that, throughout the earlier Liberal authorities, it was understood bills like winter tire modifications, gas, upkeep and automotive washes might be claimed as bills by ministers. Additions to autos like hitches weren’t.
“For those who purchase a car that does not have a trailer hitch, and also you need one to your private use, that must be your private accountability not taxpayers,” Gallant stated.
Throughout query interval, Gallant additionally requested Compton concerning the insurance policies for what ministers can declare as bills. Compton pledged to desk these paperwork publicly.
