NDP continues trend of reducing ministers’ international travel bills
As Premier Rachel Notley makes plans to visit Washington, D.C., figures released on the NDP government’s international travel spending are well below those of previous Progressive Conservative governments. Deron Bilous, economic development and trade minister, had the biggest travel tab in an NDP government that has scaled back international trips in comparison with their high-flying predecessors in office.
Based on international travel reports posted on the Alberta government website, NDP ministers and MLAs tallied up travel costs totalling $306,528 in 2016.
Bilous took four trips — two to Asia and two to the United States — at a total cost of $103,924. He was followed by Notley, with two trips to the U.S. at a cost of $51,675 and Agriculture Minister Oneil Carlier, who travelled to the U.S. and Asia to the tune of $50,104.
Energy Minister Marg McCuaigBoyd had travel costs of $33,379, and Environment Minister Shannon Phillips came in at $32,320.
In an interview this week, Bilous said travel by government ministers is an economic necessity.
“I would say it’s more than important, it’s absolutely critical to the long-term prosperity of Alberta. Our province is an export province ... without a buyer, Alberta would frankly be in trouble.”
The Notley government’s expenditures on international travel are significantly less than what was seen under the Progressive Conservative administration pushed from office by the NDP in the 2015 election. In 2014, the last full year of the PC government, travel costs totalled $497,303, or 62 per cent more than what the NDP spent. That tally was itself much lower than the previous year, when the Tories hit a near-record $744,130.
The soaring travel tab was a major factor in the downfall of then-premier Alison Redford. After much outrage, she paid back the $45,000 tab on a trip to South Africa for Nelson Mandela’s memorial. There was also criticism over a $131,000 tour of India and Switzerland.
“The PCs had a reputation as far as taking unnecessary trade junkets,” said Bilous, who said the NDP has taken a different approach.
“We have a very rigorous process in place for any cabinet minister looking to travel outside of the province. We have a number of eyes that look over proposed trade missions ... I am very adamant on focusing on outcomes. What are we getting from every dollar that we spend and every trade mission that we go on?”
Several high-profile NDP ministers, including deputy premier Sarah Hoffman, Infrastructure Minister Brian Mason and Education Minister David Eggen, have made no international forays since the NDP took office in the spring of 2015.
The single most costly trip by an NDP minister in 2016 was Bilous’s March visit with two employees to Hong Kong, China and Korea, which ran to $45,098.
That total included $17,819 in travel costs and $11,780 in reception and hosting costs.
The final report on the trip called it a success in promoting market diversification, selling Alberta as a stable place for investment and signing a number of memorandums of understanding.
Scott Crockatt of the Calgary Chamber of Commerce said there is value in the international travel and he applauded the government for its modest spending.
He noted the expenditures on international travel are just a tiny drop in the bucket of the government’s $52.8-billion budget.
“Expenses can be a meaningful indicator of government attitudes ... it’s also important to keep them in context, though,” said Crockatt.
“Many businesses would agree with a rigorously scrutinized and focused approach to travel. Every business recognizes that travel is important for building relationships.”
Wildrose MLA Nathan Cooper praised the NDP government for spending less on travel than the previous PC government but noted that is “not difficult.”
However, he lashed the NDP for Phillips’ two trips to international climate change conferences and Notley’s mission to New York for Climate Week.
“Travel for economic development is more palatable than any sort of travel where they’re selling the carbon tax,” Cooper said in reference to one of the NDP government’s signature environmental positions.
Interim Tory Leader Ric McIver said international trips should be judged primarily on the results they achieve.
“Premier Notley, though we’re on opposite sides, as long as she is