Mint chief’s payand bills more than $ 1M annually
DINGWALL UNDER FIRE Expenses include costly meals, golf and limousines
OTTAWA •
Federal documents released under the Access to Information Act show that the office expenses and pay packet of David Dingwall, president of the Royal Canadian Mint, cost more than $1 million a year.
Included in Mr. Dingwall’s office billings for 2004 was $1,235 for his annual golf membership, $13,228 in one day of foreign travel, and a $5,728 meal at a posh Ottawa restaurant. While Mr. Dingwall has a leased car courtesy of the Crown corporation, his office also ran up a $2,500 tab on limousines in 2003.
The wining, dining, globe-trotting and other office expenses added up to $846,464 in 2004, Mint records show. In addition, Mr. Dingwall’s annual salary -not including up to 12% in performance bonuses — is as much as $241.000.
“These expenses have to be explained,’’ said Brian Pallister, the Tory critic for the Royal Canadian Mint. “ What is the value derived to taxpayers by lavish meals, golf club memberships and expensive travel all paid for by them? I would argue that this is all rather excessive.’’
Mr. Dingwall’s billings, released to Mr. Pallister, show the former Chrétien-era Cabinet minister has been running up a substantial tab which included the following in 2004:
$5,297 for various membership fees
$11,173 for domestic meals
$3,317 in foreign dining
$40,355 for domestic travel
$92,682 for foreign travel.
$12,487 for domestic hospitality
$5,998 for lease vehicle operating costs
Mint spokeswoman Pam Aung Thin defended Mr. Dingwall’s spending, saying each claim has been approved and verified by the Crown corporation’s chief financial officer.
“ They are all in accordance with the Mint’s policies on governance,’’ she said.
In addition, Ms. Aung Thin said, Mr. Dingwall submits all of his travel records to the Mint’s board to ensure full transparency.
“I am very confident that his expenses are very transparent and very accountable.’’
Ms. Aung Thin said the $5,728 dinner bill was for a special seminar for senior Mint staff, key employees and representatives of its unions. While the golf membership is in Mr. Dingwall’s name, Ms. Aung Thin said other senior members of the Mint may also use it to entertain.
The $13,228 travel bill reflected the costs of travel from St. John, N.B., to London, England for a meeting of the Royal British Mint and then to Basel, Switzerland for the World Money Fair, she said. As close to 45% of the Mint’s business is outside of Canada, Ms. Aung Thin said Mr. Dingwall is required to frequently travel overseas.
While unable to explain the limousine billings, Ms. Aung Thin said they may have been incurred during a Mint board meeting outside of Ottawa.
Ms. Aung Thin added that under Mr. Dingwall’s leadership, the Mint paid a $ 1- million dividend to the federal government based on its pre- tax profit of $ 16- million.
Earlier this month, Mr. Dingwall was at the centre of an Industry Canada probe into $350,000 in lobbying fees his firm collected in 2000 while acting for a Ontario biotechnology firm.
The controversy, in part, revolved around Mr. Dingwall’s failure to register as a lobbyist on behalf of another high-tech company. Mr. Dingwall’s executive assistant has explained the matter was a clerical error.