Wednesday, the provincial government released a detailed list of expenses claimed by Nova Scotia MLAs from July 2006-June 2009.
NEW GLASGOW - The furor over MLA expenditures reached a fever pitch Wednesday afternoon, following the provincial government's decision to fully open expense account information to the public.
The order to do so came from Premier Darrell Dexter and it was Pictou West MLA and House Speaker Charlie Parker who distributed the information. All of it comes from a report by Auditor General Jacques Lapointe last week.
It's a big list, and it includes expenses for individual MLAs between July 2006 and June 2009. Most of the items listed are office equipment and there are a considerable amount of computer and gadget purchases.
Parker said full disclosure is a step in making the system more accountable.
"We're trying to find a balance between what MLAs require in order to serve their constituents well, and what's reasonable and just," he said. "I've released every bit of information that the auditor general gave me. Our job now is to try to fix the system and ensure that these types of things don't happen again."
Between constituency receipts and electronic technology, Parker claimed $7,004.65 in the time period mentioned above.
More costly than the model display of the Ship Hector, the one that was flagged as an 'excessive expenditure' in the auditor's report, were computer purchases.
The two most expensive items were a laptop and an office computer.
"In my office I have (a computer) and Hugh Miller, who works with me, has one. And then, we have one laptop between us. So if I'm on the road we can keep up with what's going on - or vice-versa.
"MLAs need technological items, like printers or photocopiers or a camera to do their work. Unfortunately, right now, the rules are not clear and there's no upper end limit for MLAs to spend on these items."
Parker said the direction to analyse and come up with new expense rules falls to former Progressive Conservative speaker, Art Donahoe, who was appointed in December to the province's internal economy board. Donahoe is expected to give his report in July.
"We feel he's a well-qualified individual who can set these guidelines, whether it's how many computers should be purchased in a year or in a three-year period and what should be the maximum amount to be paid," Parker said.
The News attempted to reach former Pictou Centre MLA Pat Dunn last night but no one was available to take the call.
Among the most expensive items on Dunn's list are a 50" Sony television, purchased with a stand and a warranty. There's also a $2,779.28 bill which includes a soundbar for a flat panel display ($39.99), a 22" LCD monitor ($269.00) and a laptop.
Dunn's tab shows another laptop, valued at $2,143.82.
Pictou East MLA Clarrie MacKinnon says he found out yesterday afternoon he was on a list of 28 MLAs showing duplicate payments. For him, it was a May 2008 charge for an apartment rental.
MacKinnon says the payment for the apartment was listed in error.
"I have asked the Speaker's Office to go through my account," he said.
As for items on his expense account, MacKinnon said all of the purchases made, including a July 2006 purchase of two computers totalling $4,061.64, was needed for constituency work.
"We're still using them," MacKinnon said of the computers.
Also listed are six chairs - they're shown as 'monogram armchairs.' MacKinnon said he's not certain what the monogram listing is for.
"We couldn't believe that when the list was circulated this afternoon - those chairs are straight Dobson's (Office Pro) chairs," he said. "There's absolutely nothing on them. There's no Pictou East, CFMK or anything else."
MacKinnon said last night he was happy to discuss any item on his expense account. "Any time that any purchase has been made in our office. I thought that what I was buying was needed."
He calls the information disclosed yesterday, "the best thing that could have ever happened to the system."
But at the same time, he added "It's not a time to be proud of being an MLA, no matter where you sit in the current expenditure situation - if you are a person with a conscience, you're losing sleep over this.
"The last thing I want to be remembered for in Pictou County is an MLA who ripped off the system. That's the very last thing," MacKinnon said. "I want them to say that he was an MLA who was out there with people and doing things right."
Clarrie MacKinnon
Date Item Cost (with tax)
07-06 Two Pentium 4 Computers - $4,061.64
11-08 Laptop and software - $1,589.91
12-07 Notebook laptop and software - $1,429.99
12-07 Four office chairs - $1,390.80
09-06 Laptop - $1,025.99
12-06 Custom 7' storage unit (labour) - $581.73
Pat Dunn
Date Item Cost (with tax)
11-07 Soundbar, LCD monitor, laptop - $2,779.28
12-06 Sony 50" TV, stand, warranty - $2,163.71
12-06 Laptop - $2,143.82
12-08 Laptop, 19" screen - $1,904.03
07-06 Office computer - $1,384.46
07-06 Leather tilter - $226.86
11-06 Canon digital camera - $307.72
Charlie Parker
Date Item Cost (with tax)
12-07 Toshiba laptop, warranty and bag - $1,304.16
12-06 Computer, monitor, printer - $1,242.58
08-08 Model boat for office - $790.00
12-08 Desktop computer - $789.87
12-07 Canon digital camera - $672.52
12-06 Multi-function copier - $625.86
60k a year, does that include the "all that you can steal clause" no I did not think so.