Alward's trip to N.L. not approved: Liberals

The New Brunswick Liberals are alleging that Tory Leader David Alward is lying about whether he received approval to take a taxpayer-funded trip to St. John's on Monday.

Alward met with Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Danny Williams on Monday to discuss energy issues. When the Tory leader returned to New Brunswick he first told reporters that the Progressive Conservative Party paid for the trip. Then a staff member confirmed thatthe office of the legislature had in factapproved that the tripbe paid for with public funds.

But on Friday, Donald Arseneault, theLiberal deputy premier, released a series of emails between Loredana Catalli Sonier, the legislature's clerk, andGovernment House Leader GregByrne, indicating that the clerk hadn't been asked in advance of the flight.

"Based on the facts I've shown you, the new information shows that Conservative Leader David Alward lied about his private flight," Arseneault said at a news conference on Friday.

Arseneault said that the legislature's rules require MLAs to take the cheapest flight option.

Alward and Tory MLA Bruce Fitch took a charter plane to St. John's but the Liberal MLA said the legislature has "no experience with the use of charter aircraft."

'It was determined that it was cheaper and more economical to take the chartered flight.' Tory MLA Jody Carr

Arseneault said any Air Canada flight from either Fredericton or Moncton to St. John's would cost less than $600 per person return.

He said Alward's private charter cost at least $7,000. The Tories say the trip cost $6,000 plus tax, they say that is less than four business-class tickets, which is all that Air Canada had remaining when they booked the trip.

"Mr. Alward said that this flight was pre-approved by the legislature, but that is simply not true," Arseneault said in a statement.

"We have proof that the legislature has no experience with charter aircraft and that, if they did, they would only reimburse the cost of an economy ticket."

Trip approved after

The Tories responded to Arseneault's allegations of lying by insisting that Peter Woulters, the legislature's director of finance, approved that the expense would come out of the Office of the Opposition's budget.

Tory MLA Jody Carr saidWoulters approved the expense after the trip.

Carr said expensive business class tickets were all Air Canada had at the last minute and they would have been more expensive than taking the charter flight.

"It was determined that it was cheaper and more economical to take the chartered flight," Carr said.

The Tories say taking a charter flight was also cheaper than flying commercial because it allowed the trip to be completed in one day. If Alward and his staff had flown with Air Canada they would have had to stay overnight and would have incurredfurther expenses at a hotel.