PEI Government stops leasing Vehicles.

The P.E.I. government says it is moving from leasing to purchasing vehicles, because the former method was costing more than it was saving.

Provincial Treasurer Wes Sheridan said the government has paid big penalties on three cars that were over their kilometre limit: about $6,000 on two and almost $7,000 on a third.

Sheridan said in one of the cases, the car also sat unused for months.

"[There was] one that had been parked for some time because it was going to go over," he said.

"They just had it sitting, parking it in our parking garage, that we were paying monthly lease payments on but couldn't use it because it was going to incur penalties."

Sheridan wasn't specific about who was using all the cars. He said two of the vehicles in question were driven by high-ranking deputy ministers, while the third was used by Pat Binns while premier.

Binns ended up buying out the lease on his vehicle.

Sheridan said that, soon after he became Treasurer in June, he changed the purchase policy so that the government will not be leasing any more vehicles.

Taxdollars well spent,

I THINK NOT.

Adam Affleck

Charlottetown Remax Realty