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Veteran Richmond MLA mum on expense row

Linda Reid spent nearly $50,000 on computer
Linda Reid
Veteran Richmond East MLA Linda Reid

B.C.’s Speaker of the House was asked to put her verbal skills to work Tuesday to explain a long list of expenses attributed to her position in Victoria.

But unfortunately, due to her duties in the Legislature and a series of meetings in Victoria, Linda Reid, the long time Liberal MLA for Richmond East, didn’t return News calls in time for deadline.

If Reid did, the News would have asked her about a list of costs that included $48,412 for a custom, touch-screen computer terminal that sits in front of her in the legislature chamber.

Other information on her expenses, obtained by the Vancouver Sun, listed $13,965 for new drapes at the legislature dining room, and another $13,449 to convert half of the legislature library into an MLA-only TV lounge — with a $733 “food display case/rack” for coffee, muffins and other free snacks for MLAs.

Critics have called the spending on some items frivolous in an era of austerity in B.C. where pay raises for government workers have been set around the annual inflation rate.

Reid is in her sixth term as MLA, and assumed her role as Speaker in Victoria last July.

Though largely a ceremonial job, the Speaker also acts as chairperson of the legislative assembly’s $70-million annual budget, approving MLA salaries, expenses, travel, security, Hansard and other building amenities.

But that didn’t stop a taxpayers’ watchdog from criticizing Reid.

“Talk about a frivolous use of taxpayer dollars,” said Jordan Bateman, B.C. director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. “We don’t pay taxes for frills and gimmicks for the Speaker of the House.”

Reid should be leading by example during tough economic times and curbing spending, Bateman added.

— With files from the Vancouver Sun