Bergen’s moving costs excessive

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This article was published 24/03/2022 (1321 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

“Mr. Speaker, high-tax, high-spend and higher costs for everything is all that this NDP-Liberal government will be delivering for Canadians.”

— Interim Conservative Leader Candice Bergen (Hansard) March 23, 2022

“We’ve certainly heard the official Opposition go after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau [and] his big-time spending. They’re right to hold the prime minister accountable on spending, but we would like to see the Conservatives then do everything they can to really look after taxpayers’ wallets.”

— Canadian Taxpayer Federation federal director Franco Terrazzano

It’s not every day I find myself in agreement with the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, but Franco Terrazzano has a solid point, considering how much interim Conservative Leader Candice Bergen charged to taxpayers in her hastened takeover of Stornoway, the official residence of the Canadian Opposition leader.

Earlier this week, the Globe and Mail published details about how much Bergen claimed in transition costs following her moving-in date of March 11. Never mind the fact that she managed to push her way into Stornoway early — and pushed former leader Erin O’Toole out of the residence at lightning speed — it’s to be expected that there would be a few costs associated with moving into and living within a new home. Especially one that has only just been vacated a few days earlier.

Keep in mind that Bergen’s spokesperson, Christopher Martin-Chan, said the interim leader asked that no work be done to the residence before she moved in, such as repainting or adding furniture or new artwork.

“There were no additional move-in costs as the only thing she brought into the house was what fit in her suitcase,” Martin-Chan said in a statement to the Globe. “The only items changed were linens and one mattress.”

But not all costs Bergen racked up seem … plausible.

According to the report by the National Capital Commission, the interim Conservative leader’s expenses included $3,832.11 for the replacement of a mattress, $5,202.35 for bed and bath linens, a further $1,690.17 for “accents/accessories” and $3,426.43 for cleaning and upholstery for the entire residence.

The Globe story also notes a reference to furnishings and artwork “as required” for $4,443, for a total cost of $19,404.36, according to the commission report.

Now, I’ve got no issue with the need to clean the residence — that probably needed to be done regardless. But perhaps she can explain to her constituents exactly how she was saving costs, particularly when it seems apparent that she wasn’t shopping for items at fair market prices. Perhaps she should have come out to Brandon. I’m sure someone from our business community could have helped her save some cash.

With a quick search on Google for local retailers, and I’ve found good mattresses available here between $229.95 and $549.99, though of course delivery might be tricky. But it must be said that prices are comparable in Ottawa — thanks again, Google.

To be honest, I don’t know how many linens she had to purchase, but even truly fine linens for one bed will still only set you back $1,000 or so. For a Prairie native who talks at length about “tax and spend Liberals,” surely a set of cotton sheets for a couple hundred dollars would suffice. Truly, $5,202.35 for linens makes a glass of $16 orange juice sound like a bargain. Harper-era reference. Sorry.

Back when O’Toole’s predecessor, Andrew Scheer, moved in, the NCC spent $18,000 on new upholstery, carpet cleaning, mattresses and linens as well, so perhaps it’s not so out of line. And to be fair to our political leaders, I don’t think it’s so scandalous that the leaders of the major parties in Parliament have residences that reflect their position in our country, and that taxpayer money is spent to keep them in proper condition. Not excessively, of course, but fairly.

But for an interim party leader who will not hold the job beyond Sept. 10, when the Conservatives vote on a new permanent leader, it seems an unnecessary cost. Further still, in about three months when the House of Commons ends the current session, MPs will be heading home to spend time in their constituencies.

So Joe and Jane taxpayer were just handed a bill for nearly $20,000 so that Candice Bergen could live in Stornoway for what amounts to less than four months.

Considering that even a backbench member of Parliament makes upwards of $185,000 per year, and that the leader of the Opposition gets an extra $88,000, she probably could have afforded to pay for her own mattress and linens.

Funny then, isn’t it, that Bergen should bring up the “high-spend” issue during a recent question period in the House of Commons?

» Matt Goerzen, editor