VANCOUVER, B.C.: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is calling on Premier David Eby to cut expenses in his own office as documents show runaway expenses for a staffer to travel via helicopter.

Eby’s former top aide, Matt Smith, billed taxpayers for 36 helicopter trips between Jan. 8 and August 29, 2024, according to access-to-information records obtained by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.

“British Columbians are struggling while political insiders are living the highlife and using helicopters for their commutes,” said Carson Binda, B.C. Director for the CTF. “Taxes are going up so the premier’s staff can travel in luxury.” 

Smith spent a total of $12,445 on helicopter rides in that eight-month period, at an average cost per trip of $345, according to the records. 

In comparison, the same trip on B.C. Ferries costs $15. Some days, Smith took helicopter rides, despite his deputy chief of staff taking a vehicle on the ferry. 

On March 7, for example, Smith billed taxpayers $435 for a helicopter flight from Victoria to Vancouver. On the same day, then-deputy chief of staff, Don Bain billed taxpayers for B.C. Ferry trip, with a vehicle, along the same route. 

“If Smith had ridden shotgun with his deputy, taxpayers would have saved $435 on March 7 alone,” Binda said. “Smith’s colleagues in the premier’s office travel between the mainland and island with B.C. Ferries and he should have too.”

During his two-year tenure as chief of staff, Smith took home $761,000 in compensation, including a $278,629 severance payment when he left the premier’s office in December 2004.

Overall spending by the premier’s office has ballooned over the past five years by 55 per cent, from $11 million in 2019 to a budgeted $17 million in 2024. During that same five-year time period, food bank visits in B.C. have increased by 81 per cent. 

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