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Top Two PMO Aides Apologize For Controversy Over Moving Expenses

The Canadian Press, 23 Sep, 2016 11:34 AM

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's two top aides have decided to repay a portion of the $207,000 in expenses they incurred in moving to Ottawa from Toronto.

Chief of staff Katie Telford and principal secretary Gerald Butts say they followed all the rules but don't feel comfortable about some of the relocation costs to which they were entitled.

Both will reimburse the government for miscellaneous moving expenses — $23,373 for Telford and $20,299 for Butts.

Butts also says he will further reimburse $25,141 for the land transfer tax associated with his family's new Ottawa home.

In a statement posted on their Facebook pages and released to the media, the pair apologized for the controversy that has surrounded the moving expenses since they were revealed by the government earlier this week in response to written question from a Conservative MP.

They say they followed the policy that's been in place for decades but say Trudeau has asked Treasury Board to create a new policy to govern relocation expenses across the whole of government.

THE NUMBERS BEHIND THE LIBERAL GOVERNMENT'S MOVING EXPENSES CONTROVERSY

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's two top aides have decided to repay a portion of the $207,000 in expenses they incurred in moving to Ottawa from Toronto.

In a post on Facebook, chief of staff Katie Telford and principal secretary Gerald Butts included a breakdown of their respective moving expenses, as well as the portions they intend to repay the government. Here is the breakdown:

KATIE TELFORD, chief of staff to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

Moving logistics: $10,735.50

Real Estate Commission, fees and employer taxes: $44,149.40

Personalized cash payout and incidentals: $23,373.71 (to be reimbursed)

Administration fees: $1,577.94

Travel: $546

___

GERALD BUTTS, principal secretary to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

Moving logistics: $14,636.39

Real Estate Commission, fees and employer taxes: $47,103.56

Personalized cash payout and incidentals: $20,799.10 (to be reimbursed)

Land transfer tax, legal fees and insurance: $25,141.31 (to be reimbursed)

Temporary rental lodging (apartment) : $18,247.60

Administration fees: $468.60

Travel: $273

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