NDP MP Calls for PMO to Make Salaries, Expenses Public

The battle over CBC expenses grows yet again as the NDP go after Harper's inner circle.

An NDP MP is calling on the Conservatives to release to the public the salaries and expenses of the staff of the Prime Minister's Office in response to a Tory effort seeking the same from the CBC. Tyrone Benskin put forth the question on yesterday's Order Paper for the House of Commons, meaning the government is obligated to respond within 45 days. The question specifically seeks the salaries of "Bruce Carson [a former adviser], Dimitri Soudas [former director of communications], Sandra Buckler [former director of communications], Guy Giorno [former chief of staff], Nigel Wright [current chief of staff], Ian Brodie [former chief of staff], Ray Novak [principal secretary], Andrew McDougall [press secretary], Kory Teneycke [former director of communications], Alykhan Velshi [founder of the EthicalOil.org campaign, recent PMO-appointee] and Angelo Persichilli [current director of communications]." As the Ottawa Citizen's Glen McGregor points out, the wording Benskin used is almost identical, save for the names and organizations, used by Tory MP Brent Rathgeber last week in his question seeking CBC expenses and salaries. Benskin's question also wants to know how much the PMO uses in hospitality and travel expenses.