AG mum on whether forensic audit identifies MLAs
Posted May 18, 2010 05:21:13 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The results of the auditor general’s forensic probe of MLA expenses will be released later this morning, and the big question is whether or not the politicians under investigation will be named.
There’s speculation 5 invididuals have been the focus of his more detailed look into their expenses as MLA’s, including a current sitting member of the legislature – but whether Jaques Lapointe identifies them is entirely up to him.
Lapointe has been taking a closer look at a handful of current and former MLA’s since his initial report in February detailed what he called inappropriate or excessive spending.
He says anyone who was a target of the investigation has been spoken to, and wouldn’t tell CTV whether his report will reveal who they were.
“You’ll get the results of my investigation and what actions I’ve taken or I’m suggesting should be taken,” he said. “I don’t know whether naming names or not naming names would make much difference. The fact is, there’s a presumption of innocence.”
Liberal leader Stephen McNeil says the MLAs involved should be identified.
“I think it’s important that those members be identified so that Nova Scotians aren’t wondering whether their MLA is one of them or not,” he said.
Interim PC party leader Karen Casy says she’ll respect whatever decision Lapointe makes, while Premier Darrell Dexter says he won’t protect any MLAs named in the report.
Lapointe says he has spoken to RCMP about his investigation, but hasn’t made any recommendations on possible charges.
“It’s not really up to me to be making decisions about whether there’s fraud,” he said. “There are legal tests about that and that’s beyond my expertise.”
Lapointe’s intial report led to the resignations of Tory Richard Hurlburt and Liberal Dave Wilson, and the NDP asked him to investigate Trevor Zinck’s expense claims. Lapointe says the forensic audit was focused on only a handful of MLAs and was not as sweeping as his first investigation.
The forensic audit report will be available at 9:30 today.
