Another apology and a plan to reimburse the Canadian taxpayer late Thursday night from Canada’s own Health Minister Jane Philpott.
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Philpott’s statement did not address questions from the National Post about the fact the owner of the limousine company was a volunteer on her campaign, nor his promise earlier Thursday to reimburse the government himself.
A $1,708 expense incurred March 31 was for a full day of services with several meetings and events in the Greater Toronto Area.
“It never occurred to me that providing a service to a minister of the Crown at my company’s normal and standard rates – rates that are competitive for the service we provide – would end up damaging the reputation of the MP I respect and the political party I love”, he said.
Philpott apologized for the “excessive costs” related to her work travel billed to Executive Sedan Livery Service Inc. “I have also asked my department to review travel booked to and from the airport with this service to ensure that taxpayers are charged for only fair-market value, and I will reimburse and excessive expenses based on departmental advice”.
Philpott’s move to repay taxpayers comes after the minister faced criticism from both opposition parties and a watchdog group, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.
While the Tories demanded Philpott repay the $1,700, her office has revealed even higher expenses, including a $1,994 bill for a vehicle on the day the minister spoke at a July gathering of the Assembly of First Nations in Niagara Falls, Ont.
MPs including the NDP’s Charlie Angus and Conservatives Colin Carrie and Michelle Rempel weighed in, saying they thought using a limousine service for this objective was inappropriate. Giving their remarks, NDP’s Charlie Angus and Conservatives Colin Carrie and Michelle Rempel, all said that using a limousine service for this objective was inappropriate.
Canadians would have been on the hook for thousands more if the minister had not been called out in public, Tory health critic Colin Carrie said, adding the minister also wasn’t upfront with Parliament when she said she didn’t use limos.
So far, the Prime Minister’s Office has been mum on the Philpott issue or the need to examine ministerial spending across the board.
Spent by Philpott in March for travel around her riding on March 31.
“I’m delighted that she and my party were elected to form a majority government”, said Shirani, who was a volunteer on Philpott’s federal election campaign a year ago.
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$222: Spent by Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould for two limo rides from Ottawa’s airport to her Ottawa office.
