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With the federal election on Monday, and with four Kamloops and Okanagan sitting MPs having another shot at being elected, iNFOnews.ca looked at how much taxpayer money our representatives in Ottawa have spent since winning their seats in 2021.

And it's a lot.

Flights to Ottawa can be pricey, as is paying staff, having a second home, and wining and dining with constituents. Then there's the constituent offices, the hydro bills, the advertising and the gifts, all paid for by the Canadian taxpayer.

This is what the five Kamloops/Okanagan MPs have spent since the last election.

From left: Dan Albas, Mel Arnold, Frank Caputo, Tracy Gray, and Richard Cannings.

Image Credit: SUBMITTED

Here are the numbers:

$9,049,940: The total amount MPs Dan Albas, Mel Arnold, Richard Cannings, Frank Caputo and Tracy Gray spent including staff salaries, travel, hospitality, and contracts. Contracts includes all other expenses such as constituency offices, second homes in Ottawa, advertising, gifts, etc.

5: The position Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo MP Frank Caputo holds out of the 343 MPs in parliament in terms of spending.

$2,066,468: The total amount Frank Caputo has spent since becoming MP in 2021.

156: The position Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola MP Dan Albas holds out of 343 MPs in parliament in terms of spending. The lowest of the five Kamloops and Okanagan MPs.

$1,653,665: The total amount Dan Albas has spent since becoming MP in 2021.

$3,369,812: The amount the five Kamloops and Okanagan MPs have spent, excluding staff salaries.

$48,568: The amount the five Kamloops and Okanagan MPs have spent on hospitality.

285: The position North Okanagan-Shuswap MP Mel Arnold holds out of 343 MPs in parliament in hospitality spending.

$4,087: The amount Mel Arnold has spent on hospitality. The lowest of the five Kamloops and Okanagan MPs.

55: The position Dan Albas holds out of 343 MPs in parliament for hospitality spending.

$23,348: The amount Dan Albas has spent on hospitality. The highest of the five Kamloops and Okanagan MPs.

$5,497: The amount of money Dan Albas spent on hospitality in the summer of 2023.

$60: The amount of money Mel Arnold spent on hospitality that same summer.

$1,684,385: The amount the five MPs spent on travel.

$281,031: The difference between how much Frank Caputo and Dan Albas spent on travel.

$492,537: The amount Frank Caputo spent on travel. The most out of the Kamloops and Okanagan MPs.

$211,506: The amount Dan Albas spent on travel. The lowest out of the Kamloops and Okanagan MPs.

$1,636,853: The amount the five MPs spent on contracts, which includes all other expenses such as constituency offices, second homes in Ottawa, advertising, gifts, etc.

$205,445: The difference between how much Kelowna-Lake Country MP Tracy Gray and South Okanagan-West Kootenay MP Richard Cannings spent on contracts.

$439,178: The amount Tracy Gray spent on contracts – the highest of the five MPs.

$233,733: The amount Richard Cannings spent on contracts – the lowest of the five MPs.

$2,232: The monthly cost of Tracy Gray's Ottawa digs in 2024. The priciest accommodation of the five MPs.

$1,222: The monthly cost of Dan Albas' Ottawa digs, the cheapest of the five.

$9,999: The amount Mel Arnold spent on three return flights to Ottawa last spring including meals.

$5,429: The amount Frank Caputo spent on a return flight from Kamloops to Ottawa in April 2024.

$3,233: The amount Richard Cannings spent on a return flight from Penticton to Ottawa in April 2024.

$1,695: The amount Tracy Gray spent on Canadian pins and flags at Your Dollar Store Warehouse.

$172: The amount Richard Cannings spent on dinner with two constituents at the Parliamentary Restaurant in Ottawa.

$145: The amount Frank Caputo spent on gifts from Costco.

$120: The amount Tracy Gray spent on gifts from Bulk Barn.

$44: The amount Richard Cannings spent on gifts from Wholesale Club.

$99: The amount Dan Albas spent on advising on Facebook last fall.

$61: The amount Mel Arnold spent getting something framed at the House of Commons.

$37: The amount Dan Albas spent at Value Village on office supplies.

5: The number of times Dan Albas went to the Cherry Pit Restaurant in West Kelowna in the summer of 2023.

$0: The amount Mel Arnold spent on hospitality in the winter of 2022.

— Data from House of Commons expenditure reports.

Note the figures in this article do not include the fourth quarter report 2024/2025 from Jan. 1 to Mar. 31, 2025, as it it not yet available.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Ben Bulmer or call (250) 309-5230 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

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