Auditor General finds Liberal MLA qualifies for housing allowance
Posted Aug 2, 2013 09:44:36 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
HALIFAX – Nova Scotia’s auditor general has found a Liberal member of the legislature qualifies for monthly allowances for a Halifax residence where he lives much of the year because he votes in his hometown in Cape Breton.
Michel Samson faced questions earlier this year over whether the house he rents in Halifax is his family’s primary residence.
Jacques Lapointe released a review today on Samson’s monthly allowance, concluding that while the politician lives in both Halifax and Arichat, Samson is registered as a voter in the Cape Breton community.
Lapointe says this is sufficient under the House of Assembly Act to settle the question of where Samson lives.
Samson says he is pleased with Lapointe’s conclusion.
But Lapointe also says the legislature should do a thorough review of the definition of residency rules.
Lapointe undertook the study after being approached by legislature Speaker Gordie Gosse, who ruled that Samson’s family lives in Halifax and should not receive a $1,470 monthly allowance.
Under the House of Assembly Act, a member is eligible to receive an allowance if he or she resides more than 40 kilometres from the legislature.
