Government vows ‘every single penny’ to be paid back from NDP mailings
One million eight hundred thousand first-class stamps do add up.
After the Board of Internal Economy determined NDP MPs misused their mailing privileges it ordered that $1.17 million be repaid.
Only a small fraction of that, about $36,000, is owed to the House of Commons directly for envelopes and processing, while the rest is for what’s called “franking privileges,” the free postage Canada Post is required under law to provide to MPs.
NDP Leader Tom Mulcair appeared before a Commons House affairs committee last month to explain the use of House of Commons resources by the NDP, but the Board of Internal Economy has ruled that $1.17 must be repaid for partisan mailings. (Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press)
The Board of Internal Economy has now declared these mailings to be “not parliamentary functions,” which effectively means the NDP ought to have paid postage on nearly two million letters sent to voters using MP mailing privileges.
Canada Post says it is now examining what to do next and promises to do so in a timely fashion.
Transport Minister Lisa Raitt, who is responsible for Canada Post, said she has given the Crown corporation no direction on the issue, but her office issued a statement indicating the minister’s preference for a resolution to the matter.
“Rest assured, every single penny that was misspent by the NDP will be paid back to hard-working Canadian taxpayers,” Raitt said.
Canada Post looking at how to recoup $1 million from NDP mailings - Politics - CBC News
One million eight hundred thousand first-class stamps do add up.
After the Board of Internal Economy determined NDP MPs misused their mailing privileges it ordered that $1.17 million be repaid.
Only a small fraction of that, about $36,000, is owed to the House of Commons directly for envelopes and processing, while the rest is for what’s called “franking privileges,” the free postage Canada Post is required under law to provide to MPs.
NDP Leader Tom Mulcair appeared before a Commons House affairs committee last month to explain the use of House of Commons resources by the NDP, but the Board of Internal Economy has ruled that $1.17 must be repaid for partisan mailings. (Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press)
The Board of Internal Economy has now declared these mailings to be “not parliamentary functions,” which effectively means the NDP ought to have paid postage on nearly two million letters sent to voters using MP mailing privileges.
Canada Post says it is now examining what to do next and promises to do so in a timely fashion.
Transport Minister Lisa Raitt, who is responsible for Canada Post, said she has given the Crown corporation no direction on the issue, but her office issued a statement indicating the minister’s preference for a resolution to the matter.
“Rest assured, every single penny that was misspent by the NDP will be paid back to hard-working Canadian taxpayers,” Raitt said.
Canada Post looking at how to recoup $1 million from NDP mailings - Politics - CBC News