Newfoundland and Labrador Francophone Schools Executive Director Kim Christianson spent more than $ 100,000 in travel expenses between 2017 and 2019. This is evident from hundreds of records listing luxury hotel stays and business class airline tickets.
The Conseil Scolaire Francophone Provincial (CSFP) says it has “complete confidence” in Christianson’s “integrity and honesty” and notes that since its appointment in late 2016 it has “changed the school board and improved its performance”.
But Education Secretary Tom Osborne has requested that the Provincial Plenipotentiary review Christianson’s travel expenses.
Christianson was also criticized by the Secretary of State after moving to Ontario to be closer to family at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and not going back to work despite written and verbal requests from the Department of Education to get back to work Returned province was headquarters of the board in St. John’s.
$ 410 hotel room
In total, Radio-Canada received 40 travel authorization forms for Christianson that released $ 108,000 for travel, including $ 89,100 for travel outside the province, between August 2017 and November 2019.
The receipts received by Radio-Canada show that she has stayed at the Ritz-Carlton in Toronto at least eight times, including a five-night stay that cost $ 1,500. In July 2018, the bill for an overnight stay at Chateau Laurier, Ottawa was $ 410. A night at the Hotel Bonaventure in Montreal costs $ 353.
CBC News requested an interview with Christianson and Chairman Brian Lee, but was referred to Vice President of the Board, Michael Clair, to speak on their behalf.
Clair said Christianson only stayed in luxury hotels “for certain meetings or conferences with the executives of other school boards” or when stays were “at a similar cost”.
Costs reasonable and travel necessary, says board of directors
The board said in a statement that all CSFP trips are aimed at advancing first language French teaching, including recruiting hard-to-find Francophone teachers. Until recently, the CSFP did not have a human resource manager, which meant Christianson had to travel to recruiting fairs and meet the deans of education faculties at Francophone universities.
“If you ask me, the cost we’ve incurred is very reasonable. As I said, if we want to cut costs we could leave Ms. Christianson at her desk here in St. John’s and save a lot of money. But what would that do? ”Clair said in an interview in French.
“I’m not happy that hotels charge $ 400 a night, but it’s the price they set and that’s where the event takes place,” he said, adding that a “minority” of travel expenses are from other agencies like Canadian Heritage was taken over.
Copies of Air Canada tickets also show that Christianson has been in business class at school board at least six times. The provincial treasury board’s guidelines for work travel stipulate that business class travel must be approved by the education minister, which has not taken place.
But Clair said Christianson “respects the rules of the Treasury Board” and “only accepts business class tickets if they are not more expensive or if they have been upgraded by the airline”.
The Treasury Board’s transportation policy also provides that workers “typically need to rent compact or sub-compact vehicles unless a larger vehicle is required with the consent of the Deputy Minister”. Receipts show that Christianson has rented SUVs like an Audi Q5, a Chevrolet Tahoe, a Toyota 4Runner, and a GMC Terrain.
Another receipt dated November 2017 shows the CSFP paid $ 1,036 to repair the front bumper of a Chevrolet Silverado in Dorval, Quebec. The school board said this truck was “the only vehicle available and unfortunately the agency’s insurance did not cover this incident” and that “for safety reasons, larger vehicle rental is preferable and very often done at a comparable cost”.
The minister asked for a review by the general manager
In a letter sent on Wednesday, the Minister of Education officially requested a review of the expenditure by the Plenipotentiary. Two examiners were commissioned to investigate.
“There are times when no hotel rooms other than a higher priced room are available, or there are times when there is a shortage of rental vehicles. But that is absolutely the exception, not the general rule. So you know, these expenses certainly seem worrying “said Osborne, who has discussed the matter with CEO Brian Lee.
“The Comptroller General’s investigation will determine the next steps to take and determine if the expenses were acceptable and not in line with Treasury Board guidelines.”
PC Party’s education critic Barry Petten said the government had to go further. When asked what he would do if he were in Osborne’s place, Petten said, “Bring in laws to take over the powers of the board and put them in order.”
Petten said he would like the proposed changes to affect both provincial school boards, which are currently independent entities, to allow for more government scrutiny.
Since Christianson works from home in Ontario, Osborne said that despite repeated requests to return to the province, no date has been set for her return.
The CSFP, meanwhile, has repeatedly advised that Christianson will do all of her duties while working outside the province and will return when the trip is safe.
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