Why did TV set cost $14,000, MP asks

OTTAWA • Federal government spending on television sets is out of control, a Conservative MP says after he discovered departments spent tens of thousands of dollars on TVs, including almost $14,000 for a single unit at Indigenous Affairs.

Alberta MP Chris Warkentin says an average family can pick up a flat-screen television for $500 or less, adding he expects the government to institute improved spending practices for units often used for training and video conferencing.

Since the Liberals came to power in November 2015, overall amounts spent on TVs totalled $66,631 at Indigenous Affairs, $67,559 at Health Canada, $62,348 at Natural Resources and $1.29 million at National Defence, according to figures obtained by Warkentin.

“I am quite frankly shocked at the scope and the extent the Liberals have been spending in this area,” he said. “I would expect the government could find better ways to save money.”

Warkentin said indigenous people living in poverty in his riding would be outraged to learn Indigenous Affairs needed to spend thousands on a TV.

“It is, quite frankly, the ministers who should be held responsible for these expenditures,” he said.

“If there’s a necessity for a monitor or a television in a particular location, there may be a defence for that, but I am not sure there is a defence to spend over $10,000 per unit.”

Most Canadians would be surprised tax dollars are going toward $14,000 TVs for government departments, added Aaron Wudrick of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.

“I’m not saying the government should not have any TVs,” he said. “The question is: why do they have so many? What are they using them for and are they getting the best value?”

A spokesperson for Indigenous Affairs said that “all of the televisions that were purchased since Nov. 4, 2015, were for videoconferencing purposes.

“The use of videoconference allows the department to reduce travel costs.”