Premier under fire for flight expenses

The Opposition Liberals are suggesting Premier Darrell Dexter spent too much money on travel costs during a trade mission to China in September 2012.

The Liberals have presented information showing that Dexter paid $7,136 for a first class plane ticket while leading the mission.

The number is one thousand dollars more than PEI Premier Robert Ghiz’s entire trip costs, including meals.

Liberal MLA for Dartmouth East, Andrew Younger, thinks the Premier should have flown economy class.

“We have a time when the Premier is asking everybody to preach austerity in the province, he’s asked people to accept cuts, and the Premier seems to have no problem flying first class,” he says.

Meanwhile, Dexter says he hasn’t done anything wrong and says the province has a travel policy.

“That dictates what class you would fly, so for example over 9 hours, which is considered an extended flight, then you would fly in business class or in an upgraded class,” says Dexter.

The Liberals are also suggesting Dexter over spent a year ago on a trade mission to Israel, when he paid $7,500 to fly executive class.

Dexter blames that cost on flight booking changes so he could attend the federal shipbuilding announcement.

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today