John Horgan slams Christy Clark for 'camera crew' travel expenses

B.C. NDP Leader John HorganisslammingPremier Christy Clark for bringing a videographerwith her on private planes and charging taxpayers for the bill.

Documents obtained by freelance journalist Bob Mackin show Clark spent more than half a million dollars on private planes over the past five years.

Many of the flights were between Clark's riding in Kelowna and her home in Vancouver a route serviced by WestJet and Air Canada.

• B.C. premier's office defendsChristy Clark's private flight expenses

"What possible value is there to taxpayers to bring your own camera crew when you're visiting your own constituency?" Horgan said during question period on Tuesday.

The premier didn't directly respond to Horgan'saccusations about traveling with avideographer.However, she said it's her responsibility to travel across the province to "make sure that I'm staying intouchwith the people of the province."

She quoted former B.C. NDP President MoeSihotawho, inan interview on CBC'sThe Early Edition, said the criticism over her travel expensesis "overstated" given herneed to travel across the province to run an effective government.

"My staff work as hard as they can to make sure thatwe find the mostcost-efficientwaysto travel," she said.

Change in expense reporting coming

Christy Clark's travel bills will soon become more readily accessible asFinance Minister Mike de Jong says expense reporting will change.

"For MLAs, the receipts are there in lots of detail, and that is what we are seeking to achieve for members of the executive branch," said de Jong.

NDP MLA Mike Farnworth said it's about time there was more transparency around expenses for the premier and cabinet ministers.

"I think it is long overdue that the premier'sand cabinet ministers'travel issubject to the same scrutiny asMLA's travel," Farnworth said.

Ministers usuallyspend more money thanMLAs, often because of cross-country or international travel requirements.MLAs' travel expenses are released every quarter.