The IEC members at May 2004 - when the checks for $2875 were cut were:
Harvey Hodder (Chair)
Roger Fitzgerald
Ed Byrne
Loyola Sullivan
Elizabeth Marshall
Kelvin Parsons
Percy Barrett
They gave themselves a bonus which did not require receipts.
Just a few months later these members were in the House of Assembly debating the whole issue of the Auditor General being permitted to review their books.
The debate was interesting - especially as it relates to the desire of some members to audit on a go-forward basis. Yes I imagine there was an interest is auditing on a go-forward basis - then we would not have been "exposed" to all that mess from 2000 forward right?
Anyway on the issue of the day - the bonus pay - well Loyola Sullivan managed to duck under the radar again - escaping to Federal cash instead. You see Loyola was on the IEC throughout the period in question and apparently nothing caught his attention - and then Mr. belt tightener and scrooge to the public sector employees did not protest at all at the bonus in 2004. He was the Finance Minister? He was a great Finance Minister?
Then there's Beth Marshall - who along with Danny did not take the payment. Maybe not however Beth was sitting at the IEC table when the decision was taken. I did not see a note in the AG report that says Marshall voted against the bonus. I did not here her tell the public - as a matter of accountability - that this was a payment that should not have been made.
For the two of them - there was no attempt by our sitting Minister of Finance or our previous AG and Chartered Accountant - that the way the account was presented was so vague the public would not be able to figure out what it was for. Where was the protest?
Loyola Sullivan has skated through this - and apparently without a blemish - yet if he was that competent or concerned about taxpayer dollars (he said we were almost bankrupt)then why did he not demand the books be audited by the AG from 2000-2004 - why Loyola?
Harvey Hodder is presenting himself as the facilitator of change - wanting to get right at the accountability of the HOA - yet he was the Chair when the bonus was handed out. He was the Chair when the HOA overspent it's budget.
Ed Byrne - yeah okay - same old same old...
Then there is Kelvin Parsons and Percy Barrett - two members who would like to achieve government again - great way to demonstrate it - no problem taking the bonus there - in fact the culture of "I'm entitled to my entitlements" lead by the Tobin era of accountability carries right on in their political genetics.
Let them keep their money - all of them - but don't let them keep their jobs. I hear there's an employee review coming in October - I guess we can give them a performance review at that time...
AUDITOR GENERAL'S REPORT
1 comment:
I thought Beth Marshall voted against the motion and didn't take the extra money?
I notice you have her listed there.
But the point is you are probably right when you say people do not go into politics ONLY for the good of the province.
They are a greedy bunch aren't they?
Also my suggestion to govt for a fix (since we shouldn't just rant and roar) is that every year there should be full disclosure of all the MHA expenses. Published in a report and PDFed on the govt website. This should include not only their constituency allowances but any payments made to them from salary, overtime, bonus and expenses from regular department budgets.
How does that saying go? Live as if you're being watched - you'll act better.
That's my fix suggestion.
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