OTTAWA-
The federal Liberal government is joining the opposition Conservatives in no longer allowing its MPs to charge taxpayers for home Internet services.
And the office of Government House Leader Mark Holland said on Thursday it would propose ending the practice for MPs of all parties, after the Conservatives signaled plans to do the same.
A breakdown of recent spending shows that 31 Conservative MPs billed taxpayers for home internet services for themselves or their staff, according to analysis by The Canadian Press. The information was first reported by the National Post.
The MPs include former interim party leader Candice Bergen and fellow Manitoba MP James Bezan, as well as Calgary MP Michelle Rempel Garner and British Columbia Rep. Mark Strahl.
Across the aisle, 27 Liberal MPs paid home internet fees for their homes or those of their employees, including Justice Minister David Lametti and Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly.
As for the Bloc Québécois and the NDP, the parties respectively saw 11 and four of their MPs claim such expenses.
A House of Commons spokeswoman said the practice is permitted under existing rules for MPs, who can charge the fee to their office budgets.
As has been the case for many Canadians, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced MPs and their staff to work from home. But their offices have now been reopened for months and there are currently no health restrictions requiring them to work from a home office.
No rules were broken, but the opposition whip’s office told MPs that a new policy had been established for the caucus, according to a recent email obtained by The Canadian Press.
The email said it had been decided that no caucus member or employee could charge home internet costs, following a discussion with Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre.
The message said that while the party expects Canadians to see the Conservatives as responsible fiscal stewards, “we must lead by example.” He adds that the party is considering proposing an end to the current Commons policy for MPs of all stripes.
“As Canadians continue to face a cost of living crisis, spurred in part by irresponsible government spending, we don’t expect taxpayers to foot the bill for MPs’ home internet,” said Kerry-Lynne Findlay, the chief opposition whip, said in a statement Thursday.
“While this spending has been authorized under permanent House of Commons policy, the Conservatives will stop spending on home internet charges in the future.”
By Thursday afternoon, Liberal MPs had also been told the rules were changing for them as well.
“The Chief Government Whip today told Liberal MPs that going forward they should not charge for their own home and staff internet expenses,” spokesman Alex Maheux said in a statement. .
Maheux’s statement added that at the next meeting of the Board of Internal Economy, which is the committee that sets the rules for MPs, Holland would propose a change to end the practice for good.
“Our government has supported and continues to support Canadians as they navigate the economic and health challenges facing this country,” Holland’s office said.
“That’s why, during the COVID-19 pandemic, we have proposed measures to allow Canadians to claim tax deductions for expenses related to working from home, such as the cost of the internet.
This report from The Canadian Press was first published on January 26, 2023.
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