MLA racks up $35,000 in mileage
New Democrat MLA Jessica Littlewood will be reimbursed $34,800 from government coffers after racking up mileage while driving around her constituency east of Edmonton.
The member for Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville claimed mileage expenses for 80,000 kilometres in her personal vehicle in 201718, nearly 30,000 kilometres more than any other MLA.
United Conservative Party MLAs Nathan Cooper and Drew Barnes, members for Olds-DidsburyThree Hills and Cypress-Medicine Hat, were the next in line, claiming around 50,000 kilometres in personal vehicle mileage, according to expense forms.
At a reimbursement of 43.5 cents per kilometre, their claims amount to $22,457 and $21,821 respectively.
“I do my very best to meet constituents in their communities,” Cooper said Tuesday. “I know how much time I spend behind the wheel, and to drive an additional 30,000 kilometres is a significant effort and one that I’m not entirely sure is possible.”
Under the rules set out by the members’ services committee, MLAs representing rural ridings can claim up to 80,000 kilometres in mileage for driving personal vehicles within their constituencies, providing they submit fuel receipts. Urban MLAs can claim up to 35,000 kilometres annually.
“To claim the maximum is very surprising to me ... That is a lot of driving,” Cooper said. “There’s a balance to be struck between being a busy member of the Legislative Assembly and also taking advantage of the system.”
MLAs are required to submit expense claims on a quarterly basis, ranging from travel costs to buying coffee for meetings. Littlewood said her kilometres are a result of outreach in her riding.
“It’s a lot of trips out to Vegreville and Lamont and Andrew, so it’s a lot of meetings with municipalities, ag societies and events,” she said, estimating she drives around her constituency multiple times per week. “I would expect that other MLAs in rural constituencies would be driving similar amounts.”
On Canada Day 2017, Littlewood drove about 500 kilometres in one day, she noted.
“I went to every city, town and village that day to ensure everyone
was represented by their MLA on a really special day,” she said. “That’s not atypical.”
MLAs are obligated to travel within their constituencies, said Alex McCuaig, chief of staff to Bob Wanner, Speaker of the legislature.
“Some of the constituencies are extremely large, there has to be accommodation for that travel,” he said. “That’s part of the job.”
The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is concerned with the way
Some of the constituencies are extremely large, there has to be accommodation for that travel.
mileage claims are made, said Alberta director Colin Craig. MLAs can claim fuel expenses and minor maintenance for personal vehicles on top of mileage.
“What we’ve advocated for is to bring their expense rules in line with the private sector, and just giving MLAs the straight-up per kilometre reimbursement, instead of allowing them to be reimbursed for gas receipts,” he said, adding the current system allows for double dipping. “The rules should be changed.”