Should taxpayers pay for MP's family to travel?

[Topaz]

An article is on Yahoo asking the question should taxpayers pay for the travelling of MP's families and many at "comment" section are saying no and some other critics are agreeing. I have mixed views, one is not many Canadians don't get paid for travelling to their job, especially the expenses of gas for their cars and I can understand "family" time but maybe in hard financial times, the government should halved the allowed expenses OR, either take the expenses and receive a lower pension. I think a panel of Canadian taxpyers, should decide was is acceptable and not the MP's themselves. Thoughts? http://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/canada-politics/mps-allowed-fly-spouses-children-around-country-taxpayers-192436878.html%C2'>

[Topaz]

Sorry, but for some reason the links won't link with the story again. http://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/canada-politics/mps-allowed-fly-spouses-children-around-country-taxpayers-192436878.html

[Michael Hardner]

Not many Canadians travel to their jobs, but not many fly across the country to their jobs either.

If we're going to take the trouble to make Canadians take notice about expenses, let's prioritize those expenses that take more of our budget as a %. Health care, for example.

[scribblet]

I don't have a real problem with MPs travelling with their spouses, it's no big deal. I did hear an interview with Bob Rae who has the highest expenses, he said that's the way it is - get over it. I suspect that the travel could be cheaper, maybe Porter airlines instead of Air Canada, maybe cheaper seats ? They could drive I suppose, by the time you drive to the airport and check in etc. It's not much different.

[The_Squid]

No, spouses travel should not be paid for by taxpayers. That's idiotic! If the spouse wants to tag along, they can spring for airfare.

[Wilber]

No, spouses travel should not be paid for by taxpayers. That's idiotic! If the spouse wants to tag along, they can spring for airfare.

No big deal for an MP from Southern Ontario or Quebec. They can drive their own vehicles. For MP's from other parts of the country. Not quite so simple.

I don't think it should be open ended but an allotment of trips per year would be reasonable for those living outside a certain distance from Ottawa.

[AlienB]

An article is on Yahoo asking the question should taxpayers pay for the travelling of MP's families and many at "comment" section are saying no and some other critics are agreeing. I have mixed views, one is not many Canadians don't get paid for travelling to their job, especially the expenses of gas for their cars and I can understand "family" time but maybe in hard financial times, the government should halved the allowed expenses OR, either take the expenses and receive a lower pension. I think a panel of Canadian taxpyers, should decide was is acceptable and not the MP's themselves. Thoughts?

MP's shouldn't get any perks that are personal.

Any travel benefits should be covered in tax law.

Frankly they shouldn't even get paid.

They've made the legislature too professional.

The legalise and dragging out stupid issues while launching ad hominems is just so counter productive.

I get the sense they feel compelled to make laws like someone who sweeps a clean floor.

Paid too much, doing totally useless work, hyper legalizing and wasting peoples time while adding to the bureaucratic mess.

There are already too many laws. Their pay rate should be the poverty line with a potential bonus once generating a net income for the country.

None the less, if they have that option I have a feeling how that one is going to go.

Edited October 6, 2013 by AlienB

[scribblet]

No big deal for an MP from Southern Ontario or Quebec. They can drive their own vehicles. For MP's from other parts of the country. Not quite so simple.

I don't think it should be open ended but an allotment of trips per year would be reasonable for those living outside a certain distance from Ottawa.

Is Toronto to Ottawa far enough? I think the drive is about 4 hours so not worth the drive for only 2 or 3 days.

$57K for 20 return flights for Bob Rae’s wife, plus another 4 Canadian cities seems high. That’s an average of $2,375. per round trip. How much is a round trip from Toronto to Ottawa ? They must be flying Air Canada executive class as the flex or tango is much cheaper.

How about an MP can only fly their partner with them if it's more than a week, seems fair.

[The_Squid]

Terrible idea. Why should they get thousands of dollars extra for such a perk? Thousands of Canadians have to work and travel away from their family. I have an issue with this perk that has nothing to do with their jobs.

[waldo]

Is Toronto to Ottawa far enough? I think the drive is about 4 hours so not worth the drive for only 2 or 3 days.

$57K for 20 return flights for Bob Rae’s wife, plus another 4 Canadian cities seems high. That’s an average of $2,375. per round trip. How much is a round trip from Toronto to Ottawa ? They must be flying Air Canada executive class as the flex or tango is much cheaper.

not surprising you have such a simplistic analysis capability. Whether one agrees with the bene or not, that linked article (or anything else I've found concerning the issue) doesn't distinguish the travel as being between Ottawa and the designated home for the member; rather, it's for all travel. In the case of Rae, I expect being the 'interim' leader of a party warranted travel all across the country - ya think!

but let's play the singling out game, hey: The breakout, by party, for the linked article's provided expenses:

- BQ           => $   16,149.38
- IND          => $   17,333.16
- LIBERAL      => $  298,136.33
- NDP          => $  481,651.11
- CONSERVATIVE => $1,387,082.24

oh my! Harper Conservatives flying spouses (or designee) across the country - big time! Big time, hey scribbler! Oh my!

[scribblet]

Terrible idea. Why should they get thousands of dollars extra for such a perk? Thousands of Canadians have to work and travel away from their family. I have an issue with this perk that has nothing to do with their jobs.

Family friendly Canada, and I'm not totally against it. It's not the worst thing in the world or the country I don't think it's that big of a deal.

[waldo]

Family friendly Canada, and I'm not totally against it. It's not the worst thing in the world or the country I don't think it's that big of a deal.

of course not... you were for it, before you were against it... before you singled out Bob Rae, twice! In any case, in the interests of full transparency and accountability, my crack research staff was more than willing to provide that party affiliation breakout. You're welcome.

[jacee]

MP's shouldn't get any perks that are personal.

Any travel benefits should be covered in tax law.

Frankly they shouldn't even get paid.

You think only the wealthy should be in government ... the way it used to be? Edited October 6, 2013 by jacee

[guyser]

I don't have a real problem with MPs travelling with their spouses, it's no big deal.

Its a big deal if carte blanche, I would listen if a case was made for a one tiome a year thing.

They could drive I suppose, by the time you drive to the airport and check in etc. It's not much different.

Yea, a Calgary MP who drove would be in Chestermere by the time the other MP is flying over Winnipeg

[Wilber]

Is Toronto to Ottawa far enough? I think the drive is about 4 hours so not worth the drive for only 2 or 3 days.

$57K for 20 return flights for Bob Rae’s wife, plus another 4 Canadian cities seems high. That’s an average of $2,375. per round trip. How much is a round trip from Toronto to Ottawa ? They must be flying Air Canada executive class as the flex or tango is much cheaper.

How about an MP can only fly their partner with them if it's more than a week, seems fair.

I wouldn't think Toronto was far enough and I am not sticking up for Rae. I am pointing out that not all MP's are equal when it comes to traveling to and from their constituencies and neither are their families.

[GostHacked]

If traveling for official government business then yes taxpayers are on the hook. Otherwise, they need to pay it out of pocket like everyone else.

Edited October 7, 2013 by GostHacked

[jacee]

It looks like MP's from constituencies farther from Ottawa spend more on partner travel.

Shocking!

[Bonam]

Politicians are not royalty. The happiness of politicians and their families is not the taxpayer's responsibility. People who decide to run for office should know the trade-offs associated with the job and accept them willingly. The vast majority of MPs are a pack of useless fools that, at best, sit around in chairs and raise their hands when their boss tells them to. No reason for any special perks for that.

[cybercoma]

Politicians are not royalty. The happiness of politicians and their families is not the taxpayer's responsibility. People who decide to run for office should know the trade-offs associated with the job and accept them willingly. The vast majority of MPs are a pack of useless fools that, at best, sit around in chairs and raise their hands when their boss tells them to. No reason for any special perks for that.

The reason for the perks is so that we don't end up with a legislature filled with the most wealthy people who can afford to be there. It's supposed to be made up of average citizens and the benefits are supposed to not only allow them to do the job, but also encourage anyone to do it. You start limiting these things and you'll end up with a small sliver of society in the legislature. It has mostly come down to that already anyway, but that's the point of the perks. Get rid of them and you'll never have anyone that can't afford it in there.