Murray Wood: Of politics and principles
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The Saskatchewan NDP is highlighting recent government travel expenses incurred during the province’s latest trade mission overseas, including $42,000 spent on airfare alone.
In February, members of the provincial government – including Advanced Education Minister Ken Cheveldayoff, Deputy Minister of Advanced Education Louise Michaud, Executive Director of International Education and Advanced Education Anna Robinson, and Minister Cheveldayoff’s chief of staff, Josh Hack – traveled to the Philippines and Thailand.
In a news release, the NDP reported that the cost of the trip totalled $52,600, with nearly $42,000 of that cost attributed to flights.
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“The minister seems to be living a first-class life while his own constituents cancel summer vacations and stack on debt just to put food on the kitchen table,” said Matt Love, Sask. NDP caucus chair, in a news release.
“We deserve to know why this trip cost so much money. Did the minister dine on caviar and champagne on the taxpayer dime at 30,000 feet?”
The release stated that similar trips taken by other members of the Sask. Party to places like South America and Asia were much more cost-efficient.
Attempting to book similar flights to the same locations approximately two months from now on a weekend in September, the NDP reported the cost of an economy ticket would total about $3,109 per person, for a total cost of $12,436 for four passengers.
“I think we deserve to see all of the details of what was booked—and why the minister felt such pricey plane tickets were in the best interest of Saskatchewan people,” Love said.
The NDP is now calling on Cheveldayoff to provide a full and detailed accounting on how costs for the trip reached nearly $42,000.
A scan of similar archived out-of-province ministerial trips in recent years found that while the price point varies slightly with each trip, $42,000 in airfare isn’t uncommon for the province. A trip spanning September 20-28 last year to Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand totalled $42,712.
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe’s trip to Mumbai and New Delhi, from February 25 to March 6 this year, resulted in a $63,414 bill.
In response to the NDP, the government, in a statement, said the trip cost fell within approved government policies.
“The objectives of Minister Cheveldayoff’s mission to the Philippines and Thailand were to create new partnership opportunities for Saskatchewan post-secondary institutions, deepen relationships in these priority markets in order to attract workers to the province, including health care workers, and expand study abroad opportunities for Saskatchewan students,” the statement explained.
“The airline tickets were purchased for the minister and three officials within the Government of Saskatchewan travel policy, which allows for business class seating on international trips. This included one support staff required to assist the deputy minister of advanced education at the time, who is visually impaired,” it continued.
The government stated that the NDP should look inward when it comes to travel spending, claiming that over the past year, NDP MLAs have accepted thousands of dollars in sponsored travel across Canada, the United Kingdom and Germany, gifted from party donors and private groups.
“Today, the NDP are asking questions about government travel that helped to diversify our markets, promoted Saskatchewan industries and institutions, and falls within approved government policies,” said the statement from the Saskatchewan Party caucus. “The NDP also need to answer questions about their own travel.”
One instance the government referred to as an example was when provincial NDP leader, Carla Beck, received accommodation and airfare to attend a regional council meeting with Unifor, which cost $1,790.
The province also noted that airfare ticket costs “can vary widely depending on a multitude of factors,” and noted that the cost of all airline flights are reported publicly at the time of booking, including flights to the Philippines, Thailand and return trips to Canada.
–with files from 980 CJME’s Lisa Schick
