A long-standing perk for senior civil servants was under fire during question period on Tuesday.
A freedom of information request found that 36 B.C. high-ranking bureaucrats, deputy and associate deputy ministers, are getting vehicle leases of up to $1,200 a month, paid for by taxpayers.
The total cost of the program is about $370,000 per year.
The opposition is calling out the program, pointing out that the provincial debt is skyrocketing and programs are being cut.
“This government is paying for their deputy ministers to drive six-figure cars while families are losing funding needed to put their children through therapy?” Reann Gasper, BC Conservative MLA for Abbotsford-Mission, asked.
“How can this government justify giving deputy ministers … car allowances while ripping funding away from children with autism?”
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B.C. Finance Minister Brenda Bailey defended the program.
“You know how many are affected by this? Thirty-six people,” she said.
“There are 36,000 public servants, 36,00 public servants, 0.1 per cent have this benefit. The benefit is from 2013. It’s a long-standing benefit so that we can compete for the best people to be in these roles.”
Taxpayers are also on the hook for the insurance, operating costs and fuel for those vehicles.
Brenda B says : Quit your whining there are only 36 pigs being fed by taxpayers.
It doesn’t matter how many civil servants are involved, even 1 is too many. There is no justification to wasting tax payers money. Take a look at some of the salaries that these civil servants are making. Again another waste. These people should be ashamed that they are taking funds away from programs that need it more- ones that are helping programs for children and seniors.
Getting to the point where politicians are nothing more than a WASTE of money, the only people they help is themselves
With the wages these people likely earn let them but their own vehicle.
If travel is part of their job, and they would normally get mileage, then leasing them a vehicle should make economic sense for them to be given a vehicle. If it is a perk, then they should simply have to pay for the lease out of their salary. They should pay income tax on the bonus, anyone look into that? I question the ‘best people’ when people in higher positions are hired by politics rather than skills. – see the covid scandals.