HALIFAX Hockey teams, churches, seniors groups and a host of others will lose out if Nova Scotia politicians have their constituency donation funds cut back, several members of the legislature said Thursday.
Donations and gifts were also put under the spotlight by the auditor general when he examined expense claim reports from 2006 to 2009.
Timberlea-Prospect member Bill Estabrooks rang in the lowest expenses for his office over that three-year period, but scored among the highest for donations and gifts from July 2008 to June 2009. His tally for that category came in at $29,750.
The majority of that figure was for sponsorships of minor hockey and other sports teams, and youth and church groups in his constituency, the New Democrat said Thursday.
"My (local) minor hockey association, I think this year I sponsored 35 hockey players," he said. "These are kids brave enough to wear 'Bill MLA' on their backs. In return (for a donation) at the ball field, they'll hang up your banner. They give us some publicity."
New Democrat Leonard Preyra claimed $23,427 in donations and gifts over the same period.
"Every single penny of mine is made up of that," Preyra said Thursday of his community group donations.
"Every day we get requests from all groups coming in saying `Can you sponsor us?' ... The only way we can actually give them money is to say if you recognize us as part of your advertising, then we can give it to you."
That held true for the donation of a pink Nano - valued at $261.06 - that Preyra bought to donate to an auction for the Italian-Canadian Cultural Association of Nova Scotia.
"(It) would have raised $1,500," said Preyra, who represents Halifax Citadel-Sable Island. "A lot of not-for-profit groups depend on these small amounts ... to raise money."
He said he donated $1,500 this year for two scholarships at Citadel High School.
Richmond Liberal Michel Samson gave out $20,737 in donations and gifts he gave out from July '08 to June '09.
"It's fundraisers, it's minor hockey teams, baseball teams; events that are going on in the community," said Samson. "As a rural member, people are finding it harder and harder to find sponsorships. In many cases, I'm their only hope. Over the last two years, people are coming in on a yearly basis and making requests."
N.S. politicians say charitable donations will suffer if expenses are cut
- Published on Febuary 12th, 2010
- Published on Febuary 20th, 2010
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The Canadian Press
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Comments
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- Steve M
- - February 22nd, 2010 at 13:31:59
Charity should come from individuals and business. From government it amounts to vote buying. At minimum its to buy some good PR.
If you ad up the amount spent on this gift and sponsor category it was $323,000 for a one year period. Thats a fair bit of money.
While we are at it, why are we paying MLA's for livingin expenses when they are at their riding? If they were bus drivers, cashiers, or lawyers, they would need to pay for their own living expenses wouldnt they? They incur no extra cost living in their own homes because they are MLA's, but I am getting off topic.
Charity should be at the discretion of people and business, not politicians. -
- Blair
- - February 22nd, 2010 at 13:31:38
this sounds like a bit of blackmail-using their expenses and donations towards charity is the hostage--give us a break politicians and get of your high horses and donate like the rest of us,Out of Your Own Pockets for a change...
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- Faraway
- - February 22nd, 2010 at 13:31:36
Instead of donating to sports teams how about take all the money and help out the people who can not afford to eat. I was just in a local grocery store and they are chargeing $2.60 for tow pounds of carrots, local product. Do not forget Mr. Or Ms MLA you have to consider all the people you do not sponsor at the taxpayers expense. Is that what you call a level playing field?
