OTTAWA - Green Party Leader Elizabeth May, MP Saanich-Gulf Islands, has once again made her MP office and personal expense claims public, as she has done since being elected, hoping her fellow MPs will do the same.
May’s travel expenses both outside and within her riding, secondary residence costs, and per diems are all itemized clearly on her website.
“I am doing this because I have always believed in true transparency which is the basis of accountability,” said May. “I promised voters I would do this and I have kept my promise.”
The Green Party MP claimed $23,684.82. Of this, $18,600.00 was for her Secondary Residence costs. These she has kept low because she does not claim phone, cable, or utilities which she is allowed to claim.
The same applies to May’s riding travel costs of $834.96. This is a fraction (1%) of the allowable travel claim within the riding boundaries. Ms. May absorbs the majority of these travel costs personally.
May’s per diem claim for 2012-2013 fiscal year is $4,249.86, for the time spent in Ottawa when Parliament is in session. A Member of Parliament could claim approximately $11,000 for this same time period.
“There has been too much political game-playing over this issue,” said May. “I’m also doing this to show any colleagues who haven’t done the same how easy and painless it is.
"With the changes being made this fall to the Board of Internal Economy, my hope is that the expenses of all MPs will take on a similar degree of transparency."