The annual report on MPs' expenses came out this week, showing the cost to run two federal constituencies in the Tri-Cities.
The Members' Expenditure Report for the period of April 1, 2015, to March 31, 2016, show Port Moody-Coquitlam NDP MP Fin Donnelly spent $354,059 on employee wages in Ottawa and in his riding as well on service contracts, travel, advertising and offices.
Of that sum, $286,681 came from his MP budget while the rest was provided by the House of Commons; Donnelly's biggest House resource was spent on travel for 16 flights at $40,206 while $11,262 went toward mail outs.
As Donnelly retained his seat following last fall's federal election, he is the only Tri-City MP with a full expense form for the year.
In the riding of Coquitlam-Port Coquitlam, the Conservatives' James Moore — who did not seek a another term — racked up $208,108 in expenses, of which $157,583 came from his MP budget.
Moore listed $106,843 in employee salaries (which came from his budget) while the House paid for $26,348 for his travel, between April 1 andy Oct. 18, 2015.
Meanwhile, his replacement, Liberal MP Ron McKinnon, had plenty of office costs and renovation charges over the five months — largely covered under his MP budget — including:
• $28,469 for repairs and maintenance;
• $10,337 for materials and supplies;
• $7,464 for leases, insurance and utilities;
• $6,402 for telecommunications;
• and $3,138 for furnishings and equipment.
McKinnon's total bill — including items paid by the House — came to $160,809 from Oct. 19, 2015, to March 31, 2016.
jwarren@tricitynews.com-
