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CTV News
4 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
B.C. government staff spent more than $220K on pricey Helijet flights in 2024, says watchdog
The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is questioning the travel habits of B.C. government staff after finding they spent more than $220,000 on costly Helijet flights last year, instead of using the much more affordable BC Ferries. It argued the trips, which included $93,000 from the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport alone, amounted to wasteful spending at a time when the province is urging ministries to tighten their belts. 'There's a lot of ways to get between the capital and the Lower Mainland, but taking a luxury helicopter service is literally the most expensive way to do it,' said Carson Binda, with the federation. 'There is no realistic reason why a senior executive at the tourism ministry, for example, should be expensing taxpayers for 27 separate luxury helicopter trips,' he argued. The CTF found the Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs billed over $40,000 for Helijet travel, while the Ministry of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation expensed more than $90,000. In a statement to CTV News, the Ministry of Finance said cost-saving measures are already underway. 'The province is committed to making sure every dollar we spend has the greatest impact on the lives of British Columbians,' it read. 'As directed by the minister of finance earlier this year, all government ministries are cutting back on travel. We're finding savings on contracting, hiring and travel – to safeguard key services like health care and education while investing in jobs and the economy.' The ministry said travel decisions are evaluated based on need, urgency, and available options, and that staff are expected to find the most cost-efficient method given their circumstances.
The Province
7 days ago
- Business
- The Province
Opinion: B.C. bureaucrats rack up helicopter tab instead of taking the ferry
Carson Binda: Why wait in line for the ferry when you can look down on it from a helicopter? A helicopter service is the most expensive way to get between Vancouver and Victoria, writes Carson Binda. Photo by DARRYL DYCK / THE CANADIAN PRESS B.C. bureaucrats are bringing a whole new meaning to the phrase 'sky-high spending'. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Employees of the provincial government have been charging taxpayers for tens of thousands of dollars worth of helicopter travel. Why wait in line for the ferry when you can look down on it from a helicopter? Helicopter trips seem to have become the norm, not the exception, for some bureaucrats in B.C.'s government. Let's take a look at the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport, for example. Staff from the Tourism Ministry spent $93,000 on helicopter rides in 2024 alone, according to documents obtained by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation through freedom-of-information requests. It's truly difficult to imagine a more wasteful way for government bureaucrats to spend taxpayer money. A helicopter service is the most expensive way to get between Vancouver and Victoria. Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Bureaucrats at the tourism ministry billed taxpayers for 250 rides, an average of five per week. The average cost of the helicopter trips was $370 each way. By comparison, the same trip on the government-owned B.C. Ferries costs $20 for a walk-on ticket. One bureaucrat from that ministry expensed 27 chopper trips between Vancouver and Victoria, which cost taxpayers more than $14,930. If that bureaucrat alone had taken the ferry, it would have saved taxpayers $14,390. Four employees at the tourism ministry billed taxpayers for 20 or more helicopter rides in 2024. Other ministries also saw staff run up big bills on helicopter travel. Staff at the Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs chose to spend more than $40,000 on helicopter rides while overseeing Canada's most unaffordable housing market. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Bureaucrats at the Jobs Ministry spent another $90,000 on helicopter trips in 2024. While they were flying high, British Columbians were dealing with rising unemployment. Unemployment rose from 5.2 per cent to six per cent in the last six months of 2024. Premier David Eby has told his cabinet to 'reduce costs for families' and review program spending 'in the context of current budget constraints.' Those savings are urgently needed because B.C.'s provincial debt is going up by $23.6 billion this year. A good place to start finding savings is by cutting non-essential helicopter travel for government staff. B.C.'s provincial credit rating has taken a nose dive under Eby's leadership. S&P Global's most recent credit rating downgrade brought B.C. down from AA- to A+. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'The province's commitment to fiscal discipline and stability has wavered in recent years,' wrote S&P Global. When helicopter travel for bureaucrats seems to have become standard, the government's commitment to fiscal discipline has not just wavered, it has evaporated altogether. It's one thing when police, ambulance service, firefighters or search and rescue teams need to quickly travel to remote locations. But it's a serious problem if a helicopter service becomes an expectation for B.C.'s bureaucracy. British Columbians are wondering how they will afford to make their rent and mortgage payments while provincial employees use tax dollars on helicopter travel. This is not just about expensive helicopter rides. It shows a culture of waste within the provincial government. Enough is enough. Eby must ground helicopter trips for bureaucrats. Carson Binda is B.C.'s director for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. Vancouver Whitecaps News News Sports News
Global News
09-07-2025
- Business
- Global News
Richmond Olympic Oval poised to have city subsidy slashed
See more sharing options Send this page to someone via email Share this item on Twitter Share this item via WhatsApp Share this item on Facebook Richmond's Olympic Oval is poised to receive about a million dollars less per year, after a motion was put forward to cap a municipal subsidy to the facility at $2.5 million annually. The motion, put forward by Councillor Kash Heed, is expected to be approved by council next week. On average the subsidy has been about $3.5 million per year, and more in recent years. 1:49 Questions surround Richmond Oval CEO's salary The Oval received $3.904 million in 2023, $4.001 million in 2024 and $3.574 million in 2025. Story continues below advertisement Canadian Taxpayers Federation B.C. director Carson Binda believes $2.5 million a year is still too much of a subsidy Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'Look, there's been a consistent culture of waste at the Olympic Oval,' he said. The Oval is undergoing a forensic audit for possible fraudulent activity. 2:11 Richmond mayor responds to city controversies Global News has also reported that Richmond Olympic Oval CEO George Duncan's compensation last year totalled $582,000. He was among eight people from the Oval and city who went on a secret European junket, costing more than $77,000. In the months ahead, there could be more changes coming at the Oval. Richmond council has directed the city's chief administrative officer to review possible options for replacing the Oval Corporation.
Global News
13-06-2025
- Health
- Global News
Performance-based pay hikes for IH execs criticized amid Kelowna doctor shortage
Performance-based pay increases given to top Interior Health (IH) brass amid a physician shortage crisis at Kelowna General Hospital (KGH) are being criticized by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF). 'Taxpayers should be deeply concerned at the culture in Interior Health that's allowing this to happen,' said Carson Binda, B.C.'s director with the CTF. A shortage of physicians has already closed down the entire pediatric ward for at least six weeks and the maternity clinic is no longer accepting patients. It's a situation that doctors have publicly blamed on mismanagement by IH, saying the staffing model has been failing for years and has resulted in physician resignations. In 2023, seven pediatricians quit working at the hospital, the same year that a number of top executives received those performance-based pay hikes. Story continues below advertisement Through public documents, Global News has learned that in most cases, the executives received a 6.7-per cent increase including Interior Health CEO Susan Brown. Brown's total compensation, with that pay increase, jumped to $472, 607. One executive received a 12-per cent increase that year from a promotion. 'It's unacceptable for bureaucrats to be taking big performance-based pay raises when the health care system they're supposed to be overseeing is in free fall,' Binda said. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'If this were the private sector, pink slips would be raining down. Folks certainly wouldn't be taking big performance-based pay raises.' In an email to Global News, IH's board chair, Dr. Robert Halpenny, stated, 'Interior Health salary levels and benefits, including executive compensation, follow guidelines set by the Health Employers Association of BC. These province-wide frameworks are used across all health authorities and allow for performance-based adjustments that reflect organizational targets and responsibilities, not the circumstances of individual departments.' The statement goes on to say, 'In 2023, we added a total of 4,433 new frontline staff across a range of roles—843 full-time, 628 part-time, and 2,962 casual. We also continued to strengthen our physician workforce with 146 new doctors joining Interior Health that same year.' Conservative MLA for Kelowna-Mission Gavin Dew also expressed concern over the pay raises. Story continues below advertisement 'Things are falling apart…and yet we are rewarding leadership for what looks to me like failure,' said Dew. 2:10 Interior Health CEO speaks out on pediatric unit closure at KGH Dew. who, along with two other Conservative MLAs, met with Brown Thursday, is also raising questions whether current leadership can provide a fix given Brown is set to retire at the end of the year. 'I am not convinced that we're going to be able to restore Interior Health to balance, to restore it to function without very serious change,' he said. Dew suggested fast-tracking a leadership transition and urged B.C.'s health minister Josie Osborne to weigh in. 'The Minister of Health cannot keep sitting silent on this,' Dew said. 'She has to make a decision. She has to act. We cannot afford to wait.' Story continues below advertisement Neither Osborne nor her ministry responded to Global's request for comment.
Global News
21-05-2025
- Business
- Global News
City council to vote on permanent Vancouver sign
Vancouver council is expected to vote on Wednesday on whether to proceed with installing a large permanent Vancouver sign outside Canada Place. The sign would be similar to the temporary signs in Coal Harbour that have proved to be popular with tourists and Instagram users. A report has found that a permanent sign would cost between $550,000 and $1 million, plus $50,000 to maintain annually. Local organizations such as Destination Vancouver have agreed to chip in but staff are asking the council to commit up to $300,000 for the project. 2:07 Metro Vancouver condos sitting empty amid housing crisis Some critics are raising concerns about the price tag. Story continues below advertisement 'Look, life is hard for taxpayers right now,' Carson Binda with the Canadian Taxpayers Federation told Global News. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'Families and businesses are struggling to make ends meet so it is deeply inappropriate for city council to be proposing to waste taxpayer money in such a flamboyant fashion.' If approved, the goal is to have the sign fully installed by early 2026, ahead of the FIFA World Cup.
