TAXPAYERS PROMISED BETTER FROM PM

Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government has enjoyed a relatively stress-free honeymoon since winning office in October 2015. The feel-good vibe is threatened, however, by revelations of wasteful spending by two cabinet ministers, a practice that has the same effect on political honeymoons as food poisoning has on the real variety.

Health Minister Jane Philpott’s hiring of a high-end car service owned by a Liberal supporter is being examined by ethics commissioner Mary Dawson, who will focus on the perception of preferential treatment. Company owner Reza Shirani, who canvassed for Philpott during the last election, has admitted he was in the driver’s seat on July 12, when the cabinet minister billed taxpayers $1,994 for transportation during a speaking engagement at the Assembly of First Nations’ annual meeting in Niagara Falls, Ont.

Philpott — who billed the public $1,700 for car service on a different day and $520 for use of Air Canada lounges during her travels — has admitted these were “excessive costs” and has promised to reimburse taxpayers.

Her department is also reviewing 20 rides from her Ontario home to Toronto’s Pearson International Airport totalling $3,815.

“The costs were too high,” said Philpott. “Those costs were inappropriate and I apologize for that.”

An apology is appreciated, but Canadians

This spending suggests ... that at least two of Trudeau’s senior cabinet ministers are neither mindful of costs, nor committed to spending public money prudently. If they were, they wouldn’t have to issue apologies ...

expect their politicians to exercise good judgment, whether it involves managing an important portfolio that spends billions of dollars or when it comes to deciding whether to stick taxpayers with the cost of riding in luxury automobiles.

The other Trudeau cabinet minister to attract unflattering attention is Environment Minister Catherine McKenna, who charged $6,600 to hire a French photographer to document the climate change conference in Paris. At least Philpott’s expenses involved a smidgen of value — transportation to public events. McKenna’s extravagance provided no value to taxpayers whatsoever.

“I think there are ways that we can reduce costs,” McKenna said later. “We need to be mindful of the costs to taxpayers. That’s something we are committed to as a government.”

This spending suggests the opposite — that at least two of Trudeau’s senior cabinet ministers are neither mindful of costs, nor committed to spending public money prudently. If they were, they wouldn’t have to issue apologies or be compelled to repay the expenses.

The sums are relatively small, but Canadians expect better; indeed, we had been promised better. What we’ve seen in recent days simply reinforces the perception that politicians, who enjoy generous salaries and benefits including an over-the-top pension plan, are in it for themselves.

If Trudeau is smart — and there’s no reason to believe he isn’t — he’ll put a stop to this embarrassing waste.

This editorial originally appeared in the Calgary Herald.