Wednesday April 2, 2014 www.saobserver.net $1.25 GST Included
Kyllo defends spousal trips
Province: MLA says his approved expenses for travel allow him to do his job and keep his family life intact. was going to be away from Georgina a lot more,” said Kyllo. “And that OBSeRVeR STAFF was definitely one of the main items Shuswap MlA Greg Kyllo says a that we talked about, as far as wantgovernment policy that accommo- ing to make sure we’re able to spend dates spousal visits in Victoria was more time together with the large an influential factor in his running amount of travel that’s involved.” for office. Kyllo notes the accompanying perThe B.c. legislature recently re- son travel expense, approved through leased a list detailing Accompanying legislation, has been around for a Person Travel expenses for the prov- while, and it’s only the recording of ince’s 85 MlAs. A total of $125,310 it that’s new. He said his expenses was spent last year between April 1, are due to distance between his ridwhen the province being and Victoria, and began keeping a record of cause of “the number of these expenses, and dec. committees I’m sitting 31. Kyllo racked up the on, which requires me to fourth highest amount, be away a lot more than and the highest among a lot of others.” Bc liberals, at $5,182. “I know I was talking All of the top-10 with a federal minister spenders – the highest not too long ago, and being Bc ndP member he indicated about 10 Greg Kyllo Michelle Mungall of the years ago the divorce ShuSwap nelson-creston riding rate among elected offiMLa at $7,806 – were from cials was something like outside the lower Mainthree times the national land. average,” said Kyllo. “The efforts of each MlA may designate up to government, I think both federal and 12 trips in a fiscal period (April to provincial, have gone a long way to March) for travel with an accompa- make sure families have the ability to nying person of the MlA’s choos- spend more time together.” ing. Typically, it’s a family member, Bc liberal MlA and speaker though it might also be a constitu- linda Reid is under fire for abusing ency or legislative assistant. a separate Speaker Approval Travel Kyllo said last year he used one category, which showed $55,922 of his allotted accompanying person in expenses. This included $5,500 trips to bring his constituency assis- for business-class airfare for Reid’s tant, Holly cowan, to Victoria for a spouse to accompany her to a conferconference, but “primarily I think ence in South Africa. families use them for spouses.” Kyllo Bc ndP MlA and deputy-speaksays this travel expense was a major er Raj chouhan is in the same boat, consideration behind his decision to having spent $2,200 for an economyrun for provincial politics. class ticket for his spouse to accom“Obviously, there’s a remuneration pany him to the same conference. package as far as salary, but a big part Both have since committed to repayof the discussion was the fact that I ing these expenses. By Lachlan Labere
James murray/OBSeRVeR
In mid-flip
Parkour instructor Talon Keener performs a front somersault over Tiegan Foley while she is doing a handstand. For more on this unique activity in Salmon Arm, see the story on page A15.
This week Crews are assessing the site of a mudslide that took place Saturday in Eagle Bay. See A3. Kayla Feenstra turned this trailer into a 130-square-foot home. Find out how on page A9.
Index Opinion ....................... A6 View Point ............ A7, A8 Life & Times ............... A9 Sports................A15-A18 Arts & Events ... A19-A22 Time Out................... A23 Vol. 107, No. 14, 40 pages