B.C.’s living allowance for politicians in Victoria might look generous. But ask an MLA who has to commute more than 1,200 kilometres to the capital, and you’ll find it doesn’t even cover expenses.
Mike Bernier, a rookie Liberal MLA for Peace River South, said the $1,000-a-month accommodation he claims doesn’t pay for the one-bedroom downtown Victoria condo he purchased recently.
“It doesn’t even cover my mortgage, let alone my insurance, strata or parking,” said Bernier, who lives in Dawson Creek.
Bernier said he stayed in a hotel during the summer legislative session, but grew tired of checking in and out regularly and hauling all his clothes back on the long late-night flights to Fort St. John.
He chose the $12,000 option for MLAs, which doesn’t require receipts, because it seemed easier.
“For the simplicity, I took the no-receipts [option],” said Bernier. “Just give me the money and the shortfall comes out of my pocket. It is interesting because you’re always trying to think what is the best way to be accountable.”
It would be more expensive to bill taxpayers for a hotel each time he’s in town, said Bernier, who was working at the legislature Monday in his role as a member of the select standing committee on children and youth.
Every visit to Victoria requires extra travel days to and from the capital, he said.
A flight can take between three and seven hours, depending on connecting times in Vancouver.
“You can appreciate, knowing the cost of things in Victoria, I’m definitely not ahead of the game,” he said.
“There’s a lot of money coming out of my pocket for housing and accommodations here.”
Bernier, a former natural gas executive and mayor, said he’s fine with covering costs to be an MLA.
“It’s a great job,” he said. “You definitely don’t get into it for the money.”
