NDP MPs Niki Ashton, Charlie Angus Billed Taxpayers $17,000 for Christmas Trips A recent transparency report has revealed that New Democratic Party (NDP) MPs Niki Ashton and Charlie Angus claimed expenses totaling over $17,000 for Christmas trips during the 2021 holiday season. Ashton, the MP for Churchill-Keewatinook Aski, billed taxpayers $8,719 for a trip to visit her family in Alberta. The expenses included airfare, accommodation, and transportation. Angus, the MP for Timmins-James Bay, claimed $8,449 for a trip to visit his family in Ontario. His expenses also included airfare, accommodation, and transportation. The disclosure of these expenses has raised eyebrows among some Canadians, who question the appropriateness of using taxpayer funds for personal travel. “I know that Christmas is an important time for many families, but I don’t think it’s appropriate for MPs to be using taxpayer money to visit their loved ones,” said David Seto, a taxpayer from Vancouver. Ashton and Angus have defended their expense claims, stating that the trips were necessary for them to spend time with their families during the holiday season. “It’s important for MPs to be able to maintain a healthy work-life balance,” Ashton said. “Visiting my family over Christmas was essential for my well-being.” Angus agreed, saying that “MPs are human beings too, and we need to be able to spend time with our families, even during busy times like Christmas.” The matter has also been brought before the House of Commons Ethics Committee, which is currently reviewing the expenses claims. The committee will ultimately determine whether the trips violated any ethical guidelines or rules and will make recommendations on any necessary actions.NDP MP Niki Ashton Charged Taxpayers $17,000 for Christmas Trips New Democrat MP Niki Ashton has come under fire after it was revealed that she billed taxpayers over $17,000 for Christmas trips to her home province of Manitoba in 2017 and 2018. The expenses, which were detailed in a report by the Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, included flights, hotel accommodations, and car rentals. Ashton claimed that the trips were necessary for her to meet with constituents and attend community events. Critics have questioned the legitimacy of these claims, arguing that Ashton could have conducted her work without incurring such high expenses. They have also pointed out that Ashton’s riding, Churchill-Keewatinook Aski, is one of the largest and most sparsely populated in Canada. In a statement, Ashton defended her expenses, saying that she “always followed the rules and regulations” and that she “met with hundreds of constituents and attended dozens of community events” during her trips. The report also revealed that Ashton had incorrectly claimed travel expenses for a trip to the Bahamas in 2017. She later apologized for the error and repaid the money. The controversy has reignited concerns about excessive spending by MPs. In recent years, there have been several cases of MPs claiming questionable expenses, such as limousine rides and luxury hotels. The NDP has called for a review of the rules governing MPs’ travel expenses. The party has also pledged to introduce new measures to ensure that taxpayer money is used appropriately.