The CTF received a tip several months ago about some potentially inappropriate expenses being rung up at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) in Calgary. Using my favorite hammer in the CTF toolkit - Freedom of Information requests – we found just that.

The documents released to the CTF show that SAIT Dean, Allen Billy ran up a dinner bill of $1,079. The SAIT Dean billed taxpayers and students $135 for each of the eight persons who ate at a The Ranche, which included Academic Chairs and several spouses.

According to well-placed sources, Allen Billy allegedly informed those who attended the meal not tell anyone about it due to its high price tag. The same source also informed the CTF that there was controversy at SAIT after Allen Billy allegedly emailed employees informing them to watch their own expenses, following the CTF’s revealing former University of Calgary Chair, Doug Black’s expenses.

If true, this is pretty funny.

This all comes at a time when SAIT Executives got a hefty raise. Three vice-presidents saw their salaries increase by 26 per cent, from  $182,000 to $230,000, plus a $58,000 bonus.

The CTF was unable to obtain expenses outside of a small timeframe for Allen Billy and for other senior SAIT employees due to expensive search fees for the FOI requests.

What is needed is for SAIT to follow the lead of the provincial government and post all of its employee, executive and board expenses online, with receipts. SAIT should do so retroactively for at least one year, and proactively on a go-forward basis.

As some cry poverty about modest budget cutbacks in post-secondary education, we should be mindful that at least some at the top of the food chain haven’t exactly been living a Spartan existence.

Some highlights:

• $152 for 4 rib-eye steaks
• $280 for 5 bottles of Skylark wine
• $111 for 3 tenderloins

The full Freedom of Information request can be found here: