OTTAWA—A member of Parliament from the New Democratic Party has repaid a portion of the funds she used for a Christmas trip for herself and her family, which was funded by public money.
The federal New Democrats announced that Manitoba MP Niki Ashton reimbursed the House of Commons administration $2,900, part of the total $17,000 in expenses she accrued during a Christmas trip to Quebec City and Montreal.
Records of public expenses reveal that Ashton, along with her husband and two children, flew from her northern Manitoba constituency to Ottawa on December 21, 2022.
Ashton stated that her Ottawa apartment was being treated for bedbugs on December 20, prompting her and her family to travel to the capital to address the “urgent” situation.
“I then had separate meetings with stakeholders in Quebec,” said Ashton, who frequently participates in House of Commons proceedings virtually.
Despite being contacted for an interview, the MP did not respond. News of Ashton’s travels was initially reported by CBC News.
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Reports filed with the House of Commons indicate that Ashton, along with her husband and children, traveled from Ottawa to Quebec City on Christmas Day “to meet with stakeholders regarding House business.”
They then visited Montreal five days later for the same purpose. On December 31, the family returned to Ottawa for a few days before heading back to Thompson, Manitoba.
The total expenses for the trip amounted to $17,641.12, including $13,619.90 for transportation, $2,508.39 for accommodations, and $1,512.83 for meals and incidentals. However, there were no specific details provided regarding the $2,900 that Ashton repaid.
Images from Ashton’s Instagram account showcase the family exploring Quebec City, engaging in activities such as ice-skating in a downtown park and visiting a Christmas market.
“Thanks to Quebec for an unforgettable visit,” Ashton captioned the photos. “Thank you progressive activists for sharing your inspiring work. Thank you to everyone who shared their culture, history, city with us.”
Ashton has chosen not to disclose the identities of the individuals she met during her Christmas trip.
The MP from Churchill—Keewatinook Aski mentioned that she repaid the funds “to safeguard the privacy of the stakeholders I met with and ensure they were not subjected to similar scrutiny.”
Following media coverage of her travel, Ashton revealed that she and her family have been the targets of death threats, harassment, and abuse.
“The discussions surrounding this House of Commons-approved travel have become a distraction from the important work that New Democrats are doing for Canadians,” said Ashton.
“My team and I remain focused on providing assistance to the people in northern and Indigenous communities who often lack the necessary resources.”
