CTF demands full audit and online posting of councilor expenses

WINNIPEG: Documents obtained by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) through Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) show the councilor for River Heights Fort-Garry took 18 months to pay back over $4,000 in personal expenses he claimed on his City of Winnipeg purchasing card. Despite claims that he has ceased using the card for personal use, documents show Councilor Benham has maintained his questionable spending habits.

"The citizens of Winnipeg expect and deserve their politicians to act in a responsible and honest manner when it comes to using their taxpayer-funded credit card," said Manitoba Director Adrienne Batra. "The councilor for River Heights-Fort Garry has abused this privilege and he should immediately turn in his purchasing card to city officials."

FIPPA documents show Councilor Benham racked up over $4,000 in personal expenses on goods and services such as haircuts, liquor store purchases, groceries, airline tickets and restaurant meals. The information goes on to show the personal claims began just one month after Councilor Benham was elected in 2004 and that he paid back the personal expenses in an installment plan with the last payment processed in March of 2006.

"In effect, Councilor Benham has been using his taxpayer funded purchasing card as his own personal bank account," added Batra. "And he continues to abuse the public's trust with purchases as recent as March of 2006 for books on running for office and how to win elections. These are partisan, personal purchases the taxpayers of Winnipeg should not be paying for."

The CTF is demanding:
- Councilor Benham return his purchasing card immediately;
- A full audit by the City of Winnipeg Auditor for all personal expenses claimed by councilors; and
- All councilor and senior city staff expenses be posted online.

To add insult to injury, following media reports of his misuse of the purchasing card, Councilor Benham then used taxpayer's money to issue an apology to his constituents. "Obviously the councilor for River Heights-Fort Garry cannot be trusted with this credit card and needs to know the taxpayers of Winnipeg are not his personal line of credit," concluded Batra.