Lisa McLeod, a longtime MPP party and former cabinet minister in Ford’s government, received more than $ 44,000 in allowances from her Ottawa Riding Association for three years, including money to pay for her home.
The Ontario NDP released the information late Monday morning, saying McLeod’s actions were not illegal but ethically questionable.
Riding associations receive funds from political donations, fundraising events and money that come from taxpayers in the form of subsidies for each vote. For three years, McLeod received an allowance, and her riding association received $ 32,930 in public grants.
“It was essentially her personal ATM,” NDP candidate Catherine Fife told a virtual news conference.
“I’ve never heard of MPP asking for a bonus from the riding association to make their lives more comfortable. And I think that speaks to how detached this government is from the real priorities of the people we serve. “
McLeod is aiming to be re-elected in the 16-year-old Nepean ride.
Other PC MPPs in the Ottawa region have not claimed such allowances.
As cabinet minister, McLeod received about $ 165,000. She also receives a housing allowance of more than $ 26,000 to live in Toronto while working at Queen’s Park.
Advertise for Mother’s Day with the LMAC team! pic.twitter.com/fo7AUoeqig
– @ MacLeodLisa
McLeod gave nearly $ 17,000 for housing in 2019
Riding associations are required to file financial statements annually with Elections Ontario, and all information cited by the NDP is publicly available and verified by CBC News.
According to these statements, McLeod received $ 18,200 for the MPP spending allowance in 2018, $ 16,727 for the MPP housing / expert allowance in 2019, and $ 9,500 for the MPP allowance in 2020.
CBC News has reviewed the financial records of several current and former cabinet ministers living in Toronto, including: Merry Fullerton of the Ottawa region, John Jacobuski of the Ottawa Valley, Steve Clark of Brockville and Vic Fedeli of North Bay. None of their riding associations gave them a bonus.
Neither MacLeod nor the computers responded to a request for comment.
This story will be updated.
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