B.C. New Democrat repays $35,000 to non-profit group for trips cited in audits

VANCOUVER – British Columbia New Democrat Jenny Kwan says she has reimbursed $35,000 to a non-profit group after government audits revealed her family’s trips to Disneyland and Europe were paid for by taxpayers.

The Vancouver member of the legislature appeared upset and apologized at a news conference, saying her husband assured her he’d paid for the family portion of the trips to California, Vienna and the United Kingdom in 2012.

Robert Dan Small was an executive with the Portland Hotel Society until Thursday, when the government fired four managers and appointed an interim board after scathing audits detailed the society spent thousands of dollars on lavish trips, hotels and restaurant meals.

Kwan says she trusted Small and tried unsuccessfully to reach him Thursday for an explanation but communication between the divorcing couple has been difficult.

She says she learned about the cost of the trips Thursday and has now taken a leave of absence for an undetermined amount of time to be with her two children.

Kwan says she is disturbed that her family played a part in money coming from a non-profit society that is supposed to help needy people that she has been advocating for during her 17 years in politics.