Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre holds a press conference in the foyer of the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023. Members of Pierre Poilievre's caucus have been told they are no longer allowed to charge taxpayers for their home internet. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
OTTAWA – Members of Pierre Poilievre’s Conservative caucus have been told they are no longer allowed to charge taxpayers for home internet services.
As first reported by the National Post, a breakdown of recent expenses shows 31 Tory MPs have charged taxpayers for home internet services for either themselves or staff.
A spokeswoman for the House of Commons says that is allowed under existing rules for members of Parliament, who can expense the fees through their office budgets.
No rules have been broken, but the opposition whip’s office told MPs that a new policy has been set for caucus, according to a recent email obtained by The Canadian Press.
The email says after a discussion with Poilievre, it has been decided no caucus member or employee can expense home internet costs.
The message says if the party expects Canadians to see Conservatives as responsible financial stewards, “we must lead by example.”
Kerry-Lynne Findlay, the chief opposition whip, says in a statement that given the high cost of living, “we do not expect that taxpayers should be left paying the bill for the home internet” of MPs.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 26, 2023.
