British Columbia government employees have incurred significant expenses for helicopter travel, raising questions about fiscal responsibility. In 2024, staff from the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport alone charged taxpayers nearly $93,000 for helicopter rides, according to documents obtained through freedom-of-information requests.

The use of helicopters has become increasingly common among some bureaucrats, with the Ministry of Tourism reporting an average of five helicopter trips per week. Each trip costs approximately $370, making it the most expensive option for travel between Vancouver and Victoria. In contrast, a walk-on ticket for the government-owned B.C. Ferries costs only $20.

One employee from the tourism ministry expensed 27 helicopter trips, totaling over $14,930. If this individual had opted for the ferry instead, it would have saved taxpayers nearly $14,390. Additionally, four other employees billed taxpayers for 20 or more helicopter rides each in 2024.

Other ministries have also reported high helicopter travel costs. The Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs spent over $40,000 on helicopter rides, while the Jobs Ministry incurred another $90,000 in expenses. This comes at a time when British Columbia is facing rising unemployment, which increased from 5.2% to 6% in the last six months of 2024.

Premier David Eby has urged his cabinet to find ways to reduce costs for families and review program spending amid rising provincial debt, which is projected to increase by $23.6 billion this year. Critics argue that cutting non-essential helicopter travel for government staff could be a starting point for savings.

The province's credit rating has also suffered under Eby’s leadership, with S&P Global downgrading B.C. from AA- to A+. The agency noted that the province's commitment to fiscal discipline has weakened in recent years.

While emergency services may require helicopter access for urgent situations, the normalization of helicopter travel among bureaucrats raises concerns about wasteful spending. Many British Columbians are struggling to meet their housing costs while government employees utilize tax dollars for expensive helicopter rides. This situation highlights a broader issue of waste within the provincial government.