[DrCaleb]

Lemmy Lemmy:

DrCaleb DrCaleb:

As I posted earlier, the results of a Government study showed it was cheaper to maintain a fleet of vehicles than it was to reimburse MLAs mileage and expenses to use their own. I agree that most MLAs and even Deputy Ministers shouldn't have the option of a government vehicle, but since they do the cheapest option should be first.

It's only that way because the per-km mileage allowance is too high.

True. It's been a while since I had a company vehicle, but $0.55/km does seem a bit high to me. Even for something like a Lincoln Navigator. For a Subaru like the Speaker has, it would be wayyyy too high.

[Lemmy]

DrCaleb DrCaleb:

Lemmy Lemmy:

DrCaleb DrCaleb:

As I posted earlier, the results of a Government study showed it was cheaper to maintain a fleet of vehicles than it was to reimburse MLAs mileage and expenses to use their own. I agree that most MLAs and even Deputy Ministers shouldn't have the option of a government vehicle, but since they do the cheapest option should be first.

It's only that way because the per-km mileage allowance is too high.

True. It's been a while since I had a company vehicle, but $0.55/km does seem a bit high to me. Even for something like a Lincoln Navigator. For a Subaru like the Speaker has, it would be wayyyy too high.

Yeah, WAAAAYYYYY too high. At $0.55/km, most people could just drive, all day long, and earn more money in mileage expenses than in salary!

at 50km/hr x $0.55 x 7hrs x 260days = $50,050!

It doesn't cost anyone more than $0.15/km to operate most vehicles. Even if depreciation is covered (which it shouldn't be on a per-km basis), it'd still be less than half the $0.55/km "reimbursement" rate. And we wonder why people bitch about government entitlements.

[DrCaleb]

Imagine you followed the theme of the article, and got a Tesla?

[Thanos]

Used to get one dollar per km on field jobs. I imagine these days everyone using their own vehicle on a job is providing it for free now.

[herbie]

15c /km? I own one of those 660cc minitrucks, you must be thinking of a bicycle.
The CRA rate bookkeepers go by here was 51c/km in 2014. THe job I did for the Feds this summer paid 47.5c/km
If you want to gripe move your outfit to Surrey, my b-i-l's fleet of service trucks runs up $2500-$3500 a month in BRIDGE TOLLS. He doesn't even blink about the carbon tax and 17c/L transit tax there!
Notice how the article is whining about the carbon tax and quotes the TOTAL of gas taxes an average family will pay.

[Lemmy]

According to CAA, a 2010 Toyota Rav 4 4cylinder 4x4 costs $0.10/km in fuel.

[DrCaleb]

Lemmy Lemmy:

According to CAA, a 2010 Toyota Rav 4 4cylinder 4x4 costs $0.10/km in fuel.

That just keeps it moving though. Then there is the added insurance. If you use it for work, you have to change that. Tires, windshields, oil changes! It adds up fast.

[Lemmy]

DrCaleb DrCaleb:

That just keeps it moving though. Then there is the added insurance. If you use it for work, you have to change that. Tires, windshields, oil changes! It adds up fast.

Of course. I have to buy new pants, shirts and all kinds of other things that I use for work. Doesn't mean I should be allowed to expense them on my employer or, in this case, on the taxpayer.

If, instead of getting $0.55/km, the employee were allowed to expense their actual fuel costs, and their actual repair/maintenance costs, it'd still amount to a hell of a lot less than $0.55/km. I'm certain that's true even if we counted 100% of their driving as "on the job".

[DrCaleb]

Lemmy Lemmy:

DrCaleb DrCaleb:

That just keeps it moving though. Then there is the added insurance. If you use it for work, you have to change that. Tires, windshields, oil changes! It adds up fast.

Of course. I have to buy new pants, shirts and all kinds of other things that I use for work. Doesn't mean I should be allowed to expense them on my employer or, in this case, on the taxpayer.

If, instead of getting $0.55/km, the employee were allowed to expense their actual fuel costs, and their actual repair/maintenance costs, it'd still amount to a hell of a lot less than $0.55/km. I'm certain that's true even if we counted 100% of their driving as "on the job".

Very true. And you also get a certain tax credit for using your own vehicle as a work vehicle, so there is that benefit too.

[bootlegga]

DrCaleb DrCaleb:

bootlegga bootlegga:

Well as the Rebel's FOIP request showed, the director of PAB got an Infinti QX-50 - and IIRC, Infinti is Nissan's luxury brand. It may be a cheaper luxury SUV, but it's still a luxury SUV in the eyes of most Albertans.

As I said, I don't have a problem with the vehicles per se, I just think they should be buying smaller SUVs, and certainly not ones from luxury brands such as Audi, Acura, Infinti (as noted in your link). Many of the vehicles listed are sensible, including Cherokees, Escape, Muranos, etc. but if you want to take the high road, you actually have to drive it and not buy ANY luxury brand vehicles IMHO.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/ ... -1.3781414

To me, Infinity and Acura are just rebadged Nissans and Toyotas. Only in North America do those brands exist, those vehicles are sold around the world under their parent company badge. I don't see Nissan or Toyota as a hign end brand, any more than Cadillac or Lincon - although those are pretty nice vehicles. 'Luxury' to me would be Audi, Porsche, Range Rover . . . and I only see one Audi on that list. And entry level one at that. Like driving a Mercedes B class SUV. Sure, it's got a fancy badge, but the Nissan is probably nicer.

I'd agree on some of the domestics - like the Cadillac Escalade that looks the same as an Avalanche or the Lincoln XVI truck that looks like an F-150. However, unlike their domestic counterparts, Lexus/Infinitis look quite different than their Toyota/Nissan cousins - for example, the Infiniti Q50 looks nothing like the X-Trail, X-Terra, or Murano SUVs that are Nissan branded, and the Lexus RX350 and NX200 look nothing like the RAV 4 or 4 Runner SUVs.

Many of the Infiniti/Lexus vehicles often have features that are listed as optional on Toyotas/Nissans (things like leather interiors, heated seats, etc).

Because of that, I'd argue that many Albertans would consider Lexus/Infiniti luxury brands.