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NS: Auditor blasts government for deficiencies, policy of secrecy
[HALIFAX, NS] — Today, auditor general Jacques Lapointe released a five-chapter report covering audits completed in the fall of 2009 and winter 2010. In it, he cited some serious deficiencies in the operations of government, but his harshest criticism was directed at what he called “government’s pervasive policy of secrecy — consistently hiding information from [...] More
NS: Province agrees to give auditor general more access
[HALIFAX, NS] — In response to the auditor general’s report released today, Finance Minister Graham Steele says the province plans to introduce legislation this fall that will provide the auditor general with more access to government documents protected by cabinet and solicitor-client privilege. “Clearly, the government and the auditor general both want the same thing,” said [...] More
NS: Politicians put auditor general’s inquiry under microscope
[HALIFAX, NS] — CBC News is reporting that some MLAs are upset with the auditor general’s move to double and triple check certain expense claims to ensure those hired to provide services did, in fact, provide them. For more information, read the story at: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/nova-scotia/story/2010/04/28/ns-auditor-general-investigation-expenses.html More
NS: Current, former MLAs not paying up for expenses
[HALIFAX, NS] — CBC News is reporting that some current and former Nova Scotia MLAs have yet to pay back expenses labelled “excessive” by the auditor general. In particular, two sitting MLAs are insisting the expenditures they made were legitimate and say they have no intentions of repaying them. For more information, read the story [...] More
NS: Zinck cries foul in decision to call in auditor
[HALIFAX, NS] — CBC News is reporting that independent MLA Trevor Zinck is accusing Speaker Charlie Parker of unfairly siccing the auditor general on him for how he handled his office bills. For more information, read the story at: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/nova-scotia/story/2010/03/30/ns-zinck-speaker.html More
NB: Province’s financial future in jeopardy, says auditor
[FREDERICTON, NB] — The Telegraph-Journal is reporting that New Brunswick’s auditor general is saying the future does not look good for New Brunswick as it heads deeper in debt, with no plans to significantly curb expenditures and increase revenue. For more information, read the story at: http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/front/article/981738 More
NS: Opposition reveals MLA spending figures
[HALIFAX, NS] — The Canadian Press is reporting that Nova Scotia’s two opposition parties have released spending details revealing how much their MLAs spent on additional staff and bonuses for constituency assistants. For more information, read the story at CBC News: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/nova-scotia/story/2010/02/20/ns-opposition-mla-spending.html More
NS: Free ride is over for MLAs, says auditor general
[HALIFAX, NS] — Nova Scotia MLAs had 15 years to spend money without scrutiny. Auditor general Jacques Lapointe doubts that will ever happen again. Lapointe admits he’s surprised by the massive fallout from his report two weeks ago on MLA expenses. His audit examined spending from 2006-09, but it had been 15 years since the Speaker’s [...] More
NS: Auditor General launches investigation into MLA expenses
[HALIFAX, NS] — Auditor General Jacques Lapointe issued a statement late this afternoon that he has decided to conduct an investigation into certain transactions identified in his report related to MLA expense claims. More
NS: Inquiry into MLA spending not necessary, says Dexter
[HALIFAX, NS] — Premier Darrell Dexter has announced that he will not set up an inquiry to look into political expenses. The recent report by auditor general Jacques Lapointe only examines expenses from 2006 to June 2009. The last expense prior to this audit was 15 years ago. Lapointe also couldn’t audit the up to $48,000 [...] More
NS: Scandal continues with reveal of all MLA expenses
[HALIFAX, NS] — Len Goucher must have had a very cramped office. The former Tory MLA from Bedford-Birch Cove expensed more computers, more cameras, more printers and more video cameras than any other MLA. He also spent taxpayer dollars on a Dance Dance Revolution videogame. His record $38,694 in assets expensed was more than seven other [...] More
NS: Names and expenses revealed in MLA scandal
[YARMOUTH, NS] — Turns out a generator valued at nearly $8,000 wasn’t the only expense claimed by Yarmouth MLA Richard Hurlburt that was flagged in the recent auditor general reporter. Up until Monday the public was still wondering who had submitted an expense claim for a $2,499 40-inch LCD television. Now the public knows that was [...] More
NS: Spending spree over for MLAs with proposed new rules
[HALIFAX, NS] — Premier Darrell Dexter has just released a statement saying he accepts and agrees with the recommendations of Nova Scotia’s Auditor General with regards to MLA expenses. “I believe that the regulations need to be updated to reflect a contemporary office or working environment and that clear, adequate, guidelines are required,” said Dexter. More
NS: Hurlburt fesses up to inappropriate generator expense
[HALIFAX, NS] — CBC News is reporting that MLA Richard Hurlburt has done an about-face in his apology stance regarding the generator he expensed, acknowledging it was an inappropriate claim. For more information, read the story at: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/nova-scotia/story/2010/02/05/ns-yarmouth-hurlburt-generator.html More
PE: Cabinet ministers excluded from PNP probe
[CHARLOTTETOWN, PE] — Cabinet ministers who put their businesses in blind trust were excluded from Auditor General Colin Younker’s investigation into the Provincial Nominee Program. During a meeting of public accounts on Wednesday, Younker explained that he did not have the power to investigate business interests being held in blind trust by cabinet ministers. He’s now [...] More
