Draft regulations aimed at taming MLA expenses tabled
Posted May 7, 2010 03:24:39 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Politicians at Province House are mopping up the mess left from the MLA expenses scandal.
The government tabled a set of draft regulations Friday, aimed at taming expenses.
“The legislation and the regulation could be summed up into three words,” says Premier Darrell Dexter. “Transparency, transparency, transparency.”
Under the new proposed regulations MLA’s, among other things, will have their expenses posted online. Public access to expenses will make it much harder to claim things like big screen televisions, generators or $700 coffee makers, items which were highlighted in the Auditor General’s February report.
“We’re putting in place a whole new way of dealing with these issues,” says Dexter.
He says he’s pleased that all three parties worked on the new set of rules. However he says it’s still a work in progress.
“The great thing about this process is that all of this will be done in public,” says Dexter. “People will see it, people will see the adoption of the regulations.”
Highlights of the draft regulations include:
- expense manual for MLAs: Develop a policies and procedures manual that will help answer questions and serve as a training tool for new MLAs and staff
- member personal liability: Members will be liable for repayment or any overpayment. This will help avoid confusion if mistakes are made during the process.
- monthly reports: Before the 21st of each month, the clerk will prepare and provide reports to allow reconciliations and avoid confusion.
- documentation: original invoices and proof of payment will be needed for reimbursement. If the original is not available, a copy will be accepted.
- support staff: temporary replacements must be on the payroll with the Speaker’s Office. This will ensure proper amounts are deducted to meet Canada Revenue Agency guidelines.
