• Acting Human Rights Commissioner has accumulated $760k in expenses since 2006

OTTAWA, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) today called on the federal government to explain the exorbitant travel expenses incurred over the last eight years by David Langtry, the Acting Commissioner of the Canadian Human Rights Commission to commute to Ottawa from his home in Winnipeg.

Since 2006, Mr. Langtry has racked up nearly $760,000 in expenses. Because he lives in Winnipeg he is expensing not only his flights to Ottawa, but all his housing, taxi, meals and incidental expenses as well.

“For $760,000 in expenses, the government could have simply bought him a very nice house in Ottawa. Instead, they’re allowing him to continue living 2,000km away from his place of work, with taxpayers picking up tab,” said CTF Federal Director Aaron Wudrick. “Canadians deserve to know why such an expensive arrangement was put in place, and whether the government intends to offer such gold-plated packages to future political appointments.”

After compiling a record of Mr. Langtry’s expenses since 2006, the CTF has tabulated that 80 per cent of his 264 flights were between Ottawa and Winnipeg.

“Was there no one in Ottawa willing to take a job that pays a quarter-million dollars per year,” questioned Wudrick.

Langtry’s salary range is listed as between $228,400 and $268,700 per year.

The CTF has estimated that if his expense trend continues through to the end of his appointment in 2017, taxpayers will be on the hook for an additional $274,000 in flights, hotels, taxis, meals and incidental expenses.

For more information please visit: http://www.ccdp-chrc.gc.ca/eng/content/travel-and-hospitality-expenses-chief-commissioner-2014

For the CTF data backgrounder please click here