VANCOUVER, B.C.: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is applauding the work of the B.C. Auditor General Carol Bellringer that has confirmed the shocking misspending of taxpayers’ money at the B.C. Legislature.

“This report again shows that there has been scant oversight of spending at the B.C. Legislature and this looks like a party on our dime with no closing time,” said Kris Sims, B.C. Director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. “It is wrong for officers of the legislature to travel to far flung places, to go on shopping sprees at gift shops and to pamper themselves with expensive tech gadgets using our money – it must stop.”

The Auditor General, among other things, found that in the past three years the officers of the legislature blew through $393,283 on travel expenses.

The legislature spending issue erupted late last year when Speaker Darryl Plecas released a report detailing years of spending on trips to the United Kingdom, the United States and Hong Kong with spending on things such as gunpowder mustard, fine chocolates, fancy suits, Seattle Mariners baseball tickets, a luxury watch and piles of luggage – all paid for by taxpayers.

Bellringer also recommended that the Legislative Management Committee take a stronger role in approving and overseeing spending at the legislature.

“We need stringent oversight at the B.C. legislature, and every nickel of taxpayers’ money should be carefully watched and accounted for – no more fancy watches, wood splitters or whiskey cakes,” said Sims. “Members of the Legislative Assembly who face voters in elections need to account for their spending of our money and it’s absurd that the spending of the Officers of the Legislature has run under the radar with next to no accountability.”

The B.C. legislature won the annual national Teddy Waste Award from the Canadian Taxpayers Federation this year. The award recognizes politicians and bureaucrats who waste taxpayers money in a spectacular fashion.

To read the full report by the Auditor General, click HERE.

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MEDIA CONTACT:

Kris Sims, BC Director, Canadian Taxpayers Federation

Mobile Phone & Text Message:  604-997-1798

Email: [email protected]

The CTF is Canada's leading non-partisan citizens' advocacy group fighting for lower taxes, less waste and accountable government. Founded in 1990, the CTF has more than 200,000 supporters and seven offices across Canada. The CTF is funded by free-will contributions that do not get tax receipts.