Dear Editor,
A recent report on Member of Parliament expenditures highlighted that Pontiac Liberal MP Will Amos has some of the highest single hospitality expenditures out of all 338 Members of Parliament. (http://nationalpost.com/news/politics/larry-potter-and-the-139364-timbits-a-year-in-mp-entertainment-expenses/wcm/de0e3f99-c0f0-44dc-bd8e-44cbee51a914)
Large dollar claims aside, Amos has also made smaller expense claims that I would consider unbecoming.
Buried online is one such claim for $6.70, at an Ottawa coffee shop near Parliament Hill.
The act of making an expense claim requires unseen administration to accomplish.
An MP’s local staff are required to fill out paperwork and submit it to the House of Commons.
Public servants that make up the administration staff there are then required to do a significant amount of paperwork in claims processing.
Currently, Members of Parliament earn a $172,700 annual base salary. They earn an even higher salary if they are appointed to additional Parliamentary roles.
MPs are allowed to expense items related to their jobs and legitimate expense claims should not be thought ill of.
When the staff of Amos must devote time to processing coffee expense claims for $6.70, it takes away from their time capably serving our region.
This type of claim, and several others made by Amos, are items that one would think could come out of his own pocket.
I respectfully encourage Amos to be mindful of his expenses going forward and to always consider the taxpayer first.
Ben Woodman
Gatineau, Que.
