Cariboo-Prince George MP Dick Harris's travel expenses took a significant leap in 2010-11 while Skeena-Bulkley Valley MP Nathan Cullen's took an even bigger tumble, according to a report on MPs' expenses released in the House of Commons this month.
Harris ran up $199,363 on travel - a $40,990 increase over the year before, albeit still $4,009 less than he spent in 2008-09. The total made Harris the fourth highest spender on travel in 2010-11.
Cullen's total, meanwhile, stood at $143,542, a massive $46,875 drop from 2009-10, which in turn was a $38,185 decline from 2008-09. As a result, Cullen spent the 26th most on travel.
Given that both represent ridings among the furthest away from Ottawa, it's not surprising that their travel expenses are at the top end.
But getting a breakdown of where and when the trips were made and how much they cost is difficult and likely impossible.
Only a sum total is provided in the report posted on the parliamentary website and produced by the board of internal economy and Harris declined to provide further details.
"That's not provided by me or any other member of parliament," Harris said.
However, he said every MP operates within a budget and "you can't spend anymore than your budget or you're spending out of your pocket."
For travel, MPs are allowed 64 "points" each year, each one being a round trip, of which 25 may be used for "special trips" anywhere in Canada. They can allocate the full 64 to a "designated traveller" up to 30 points to a dependant and up to 21 to eligible employees.
Harris said the amount of travel he's done has not changed much over the years and estimated he takes about 50 trips a year.
"If the numbers have changed, it's probably the result of the same activity but at much higher prices," Harris said. "Airline prices have gone up considerably over the last five, 10 years."
Harris added that he approves of the provision that allows spouses to fly with MPs.
"It's a good measure, I wouldn't vote against that one," Harris said.
His spouse owns property in the Okanagan but Harris, who keeps a home in Prince George, said he flies into Kelowna no more than he travels anywhere else.
"I fly all over the country," Harris said. "I'm not only the Member of Parliament for Cariboo-Prince George but also the chair of the B.C. caucus and, as such, I'm traveling to many locations in British Columbia as well as the Yukon and the Northwest Territories and other parts of Canada to meet with other caucus chairs and various stakeholders in different places," Harris said.
"So the simple answer is, if you were wondering why my travel budget was more than Cullen's it's probably because I fly more."
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