Manitoba politician promises to repay big cellphone bill racked up in Mexico

WINNIPEG — A Manitoba politician is planning to repay a $5,000 cellphone bill he racked up while on a tropical vacation.

Rob Altemeyer, a longtime legislature member for the Opposition New Democrats, submitted a monthly expense claim in February that included $5,000.72 for wireless service. The figure is contained in documents filed with the Members’ Allowances Office, the legislature group that oversees politicians’ work-related spending. 

His bills the two prior months were under $60 each. 

The NDP rejected interview requests Tuesday, but a caucus spokeswoman said Altemeyer inadvertently racked up high roaming charges while on vacation in Mexico. She said he filed his expense claim with the expectation he would have to repay much of it.

“Rob had already committed to covering the full bill, other than the normal allowable monthly business expenses, after negotiations with the provider to reduce the bill are complete,” Rachel Morgan wrote in an email.

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“He had already arranged with Member’s Allowances to cover it, with the exception of the normal allowable monthly businesses expenses. Taxpayers won’t be on the hook for the extra fees.”

There was no word on when Altemeyer’s attempt to knock down the price might be complete.

Altemeyer has represented the Wolseley constituency in Winnipeg since 2003. He captured 41 per cent of the vote in last year’s election, narrowly defeating a Green Party candidate.

The high phone bill comes at a time when the New Democrats are pressing for information on the cellphone habits of Premier Brian Pallister when he goes to his vacation home in Costa Rica.

Pallister has said taxpayers do not cover any of his out-of-country communications costs. He has cited security concerns for refusing to provide details as to how he keeps in contact with his staff and caucus colleagues while he is away.

Altemeyer is not the first politician to run up high roaming fees while in another country.

In 2012, Thomas Lukaszuk, then deputy premier in Alberta, rang up more than $20,000 in roaming charges while on a personal trip to Poland and Israel. He apologized when the bill was leaked to a media outlet two years later and said that a government legal case had needed his attention and he had to be on the phone.

Lukaszuk said a cabinet minister called him in distress and told him of a dispute in which violence was involved and police were on the way. Lukaszuk stayed on the line with the person until officers came.

It was later determined it was a personal matter involving the cabinet minister’s sibling and not work-related.

Steve Lambert, The Canadian Press