HineSight – March, 2010
Certainly, over the last few weeks, Nova Scotians have learned that there is a whole lot wrong with the governance of MLA spending. Each MLA, have in their own way, attempted to justify the expenses they have individually incurred .Nova Scotians all, have heard journalists attack some members with a vengeance and completely ignore others. Perhaps one would be correct in assuming the media have elevated some concerns well above others. Spending on technology, and material purchases such as computers and generators, have taken a prominent position, while things less transparent such as double dipping and recreational sponsorship, have been less pronounced.
I am going to elaborate on a couple of these at the same time indicating the role of some members involved..
Rick Howe, on 95.7 news radio, reported that NDP MLA Bill Estabrooks should be commended for being on the low end of the big spenders list, spending only some $2800 on technology and office aids. Estabrooks appeared on Live at Five with Steve Murphy and graciously explained that he was only being responsible and prudent with tax payers money. Less than two weeks later the media dug into another account that released the spending on community advertising and community sponsorship and Estabrooks was at the top end of the list; he had incurred $52,066 and $44,424 was sponsorship in his community, placing his logo – MLA BILL – on team jersey’s, positioning him on the top ten list of big spenders.
The big spender list was led by NDP members Leonard Preyer, Premier Dexter, David A Wilson; Liberals Diana Whalen and David H Wilson rounding out the top five. The next five were four NDP and one Tory.
Tories Len Goucher and Richard Hurlburt were 32nd and 28th among 52 members, despite being made poster boys by the media, while Premier Dexter vacationed in relative comfort (away) from media attention.
Perhaps the most upsetting, and yes illegal, was the practice of double dipping and the lack of attention directed to this issue.This list was led by NDP Michelle Raymond and Premier Dexter – the top five were NDP, with our own Percy Paris in number five with some $1500 worth of double payments. Leadership you can trust!
Now, it is time to tell it like it is. Our MLA Percy Paris took the opportunity in the Chronicle Herald’s “Howe Room” to dispense, in my view, a narcissistic, self indulgent, pompous diatribe against his colleagues, while defending his own frugal and responsible habits as an MLA. Since then, after being outed as a “double dipper”, Paris then took another shot at self gratification in the local paper, The Laker. Again Paris talked about his own accountability, despite being identified as one of the members double billing and accepting payment. Paris explained his guilt was a result of his advertisers double billing and being paid twice. This tells me that we are trusting our money to a poor manager, or someone who did not expect to get caught – after all, it happened several times!
Paris attacks other MLA’s for spending on technology, and defends his purchase of similar items such as a TV, camera, LCD, and furniture, because he did not pay top dollar. Well, I would suggest that you get the same punishment for stealing a Volkswagen as a Cadillac. I would also suggest a blue tooth, top of the line, would be about $125, as opposed to a $633 system in a car. Lap tops are considerably cheaper than $2,123.76 as well. Frugality at its finest.
Perhaps the issue that should cause the most concern would be spending $83601.01 of tax-payers dollars to repair, refit, or renovate, private property that he is paying rent for. Will Paris recover the money when he moves on or will the enhanced facility be a generous gift from the tax payer? Yes Percy, narcissism is not a virtue!
Lastly, I would like to question the Premiers lack of leadership regarding the issues of tax-payers paying his Barrister fees of some $3200, and the failure to return illegal funding he received for the last election. I know he pretends not to know about it, just as he failed to disclose the NDP funding during the election, as the other leaders did. But, not to know, tells me a lot about who the leader is and what is in our future over the next four years. Perhaps we will just keep spending Capital Funds on wilderness, while Western Nova Scotia dies without its life line.
I wish the biggest problem the taxpayers of this District (and of NS) have is to insure all the MLAs who committed these atrocities against us, were treated equally by the press. EVERY current and past MLA who participated in this misuse, or sat by and did nothing to bring openness and transparency to government should hang their head in SHAME. One MLA who specialized in computers and printers said the media had ruined his reputation. Guess what, he ruined his own reputation without any help from the media, as did every other MLA who held the office in the last 15 to 20 years.
So Gary, you are correct Dexter got off easy, and Paris’s computer sounds like it is suited for the work of a nuclear scientist or that of a gaming enthusiast . But quite frankly I am not focused on the issue of equality in the press. (Thank god for the press reporting this to us.) Insiders knew this was going on and did nothing , absolutely nothing , to stop it. I would be more interested in you telling us why you and your party allowed this to go on. I would be more interested in you telling us whether all the current Conservative MLAs should resign in disgrace. I would be more interested in you and your party telling us how far you would go to end this sense of entitlement that is so prevalent in our legislature.
I am focused, and I think most taxpayers are focused on what needs to be done to rid ourselves of these integrity deficient people. I am not too interested in your whimpering about the inequality of the press, although given the lack of the comics it does make for fun reading!!! You just do not get the seriousness of this entitlement issue do you!!!! So Gary, please tell us were you part of the problem or part of the solution.
There seems to have been no MLA nor political party that was completely immune form the expense scandal.
It seems to have gotten started several years ago and took off to unprecedented levels during the reign of the Provincial Progressive (?) Conservtive government. Even the Barristers’ Society fees being paid clearly was a policy begun by the Conservatives while in government in the case of the late Michael Baker.
I wonder why Mr, Hines did not go on record to have the expense accounts audited and changed while he was an MLA and member of the government if he held such strong views on the matter. The hypcrisy of his position now does not go unnoticed.
Give up the partisan politics on this one Mr. Hines. You have no credibility on this issue as you took part in the same system while MLA and said nothing.
One of the reasons that Mr. Goucher and Mr. Hurlburt garnered so much attention during the breaking of the story was the apparent lack of character they demonstrated once their sins became public. Hurlburt suggesting that he had the generator in his home so seniors could come while the power was out was insulting. Goucher suggesting that he needed all the high tech equipment for his constitutents in Bedford was laughable.
There seem to be no innocent parties in the expense scandal and your attempt to play with the numbers to construe it as a partisan matter misses the point.
The more concerning notion for me as a taxpayer is related to the general incompetence that we have in MLAs runing our province. I guess that explains why a friend I have that retired from the government over four years ago is still using his goverrnment issued blackberry and having his monthly phone charges paid for by the taxpayer. If the MLAs cannot even track their own spending how on earth do we expect them to effectively track spending in the departments they oversee.
Steve,
I do agree with your comments regarding a lack of character shown by many of the MLA’s. It’s difficult to accept and believe anything a politician says and unfortunately even the well-meaning and credible ones (probably few of them) are not considered very highly.
The current NDP gov’t will most likely bring in a budget (today) which will break some of their main platform promises which basically got them get elected. I know this isn’t politically correct to say but if they break their promises then they are “liars”. Excuses should not be accepted.
Finally, even though I appreciate your comments and have no desire to judge you as we haven’t met, I need to question how you choose your friends. Your friend has retired from the government still using his blackberry and having his monthly phone charges paid for by the taxpayer? Unless I’m missing something here he seems to have a total lack of good character and credibility! He knows this is wrong and is making a choice to do this. What else would he do (or is doing)?
Steve , I would concur with Geddes that you don’t set very high standards when choosing your friends when you allow him to ,obviously , continue to deceive and steal from taxpayers and you continue to lay the blame for MLA abuse at the feet of someone else. Your friend is obviously criminal . The MLA’S have obviously exercised poor judgement but to date no one has been charged.
You also show lack of character when you like , Premier Dexter , so tastelessly blame a deceased Cabinet Minister for an act that allowed payment of barrister association fees. You obviously don’t understand the make up or function of committees in a minority situation. All parties have equal representation at the table and the governing party is out represented 2 to 1 , so , although the sitting government observes ownership of a bill that reaches passage the bill can be much different than the initial submission.( eg. the OffRoad Vehicle Bill ) which was a completely different bill than the one entered into the legislature . After Law Ammendments the bill that became law was unrecognizable to those of us who voted against .
Regarding concerns that I was responsible for someone’s short comings in judgement as an MLA I would point out that I operated a small modern office that was affordable and met the needs of the electorate and my assistant and our purchases were modest in serving our needs. I negotiated free of charge a board room and a room to accomodate handicapped. Each year we turned back money to the speakers office and my assistant received no additional pay and I was never cited for double dipping.
Steve, you do have some “unique” friends. Next thing you will be telling us you have a friend who is selling government supplied computers and printers. The amazing part is your friend is proud enough to tell you about the misdeed. Maybe it is not an accident that this oversight has been left in place. But you are correct it is just another sign of incompetence in the civil service, and we are paying big time
.
Gary G. , yes they are liars.
Gary H., Having been to your former office I must admit it was modest, and reasonably equipped. ( And I saw no big screen TVs or generators.) Whether the rent was appropriate and your overall spending was respectful, I have to reserve judgement, because I have nothing to go on. That is the problem with secrecy. I commend you for comparing the spending by Hurlburt and Goucher to stealing a Cadillac
Gary G & Gary H
I have reported the Blackberry incident to government officials from both the former PC government and the current NDP government. Nothing has been done. I have read coverage of the matter in Frank Magazine and yet it continues. This is an example of needless government spending with which I accept no responsiblity. Employee theft happens in many workplaces. The difference is that in the private sector once it is discovered action is taken.
The spending scandal by the MLAs is indicative of a larger problem but points the citizens directly to the obvious failures of their elected offcials to act appropriatedly when behind closed doors.
Unlike Gary H, I was never a part of the provincial government and thus unable to effect a forensic audit of all departmental government spending. I can guarantee you that had I been, the number of unauthorzed cell phones in use would have dropped.
I guarantee that the out of control spending taking place in all government departments every March would have dropped. And I guarantee that the purchasing of hats, t-shirts, golf balls and other nonessential government spending would have stopped. I would also have expressed my displeasure at government hirings like Heather Foley-Melvin, the vacations by Cabinet Ministers disguised as government business and expeditures like the the Kiddie ATVs.
I served once in elected office and that was on the school board. During my time on the board our spending was reduced every year and we managed to balance our spending priorities while delivering high quality education to our students. There were tough decisions made and I was part of making those tough decisions. We did not let senior employees run the board in those days and in fact eliminated 90% of the middle management positions during my term in office with no reduction to quality in the classroom.
Fianlly I can assure you that regardless of the make up of the government (minority or majority) most people would not need to be schooled to know that MLAs having their Bar Society fees paid evey year would be open to question when one’s job that they were being paid for by the taxpayers was as an MLA and not as a lawyer. It is interesting to note that for Gary it was wrong for Premier Dexter to have his Barrister Society fees paid but not Michael Baker’s. I bring it up not to disparage in any way the deceased former Minister but to point out the inconsistency in Mr. Hines’ rhetoric which can be attributed as usual, to unbalanced partisan politics.
Steve,
Good to hear that you have reported this abuse of taxpayers money. You have done your part and hopefully have choosen not to associate with this character any more.
I still don’t understand why this person continues to use the blackberry knowing that it’s morally and ethically wrong but I guess I was raised differently. Like I said earlier “What else would he do (or is doing)?”
And Barry, I do realize that the NDP (Dexter/Steele) are liars – and now that the media are holding their feet to the fire for not keeping their election promises we get the childish response from Graham Steele “you’re not being fair to me”. Here’s a news flash Mr. Steele, “it’s not about you – it’s about honesty, integrety and trust, so get your act together and TELL (not ask) Epstein ( a caucus member) to give us back our money” Let’s see some leadership !!
Gary
Steve,seems that you have lost your fire since your days on the schoolboard. Would you send the info on your friend to me and provide me with the information on your reporting of the criminal activity and I will pick up where you failed and get the job done. I also did not suggest that Michael Baker should be exempt from accountability, I only suggested you and Darrell exhibited poor judgement in outing a deceased individual. Keep on singing the NDPer song and you may get a judgeship !!!
Steve ,does not your knowledge of a crime and not dealing with it make you liabel for harboring a criminal or do you just have to suggest that you have reported it. The RCMP would be the likely party to report this criminal act . Have you done that . Tell me ,you are the lawyer !
Steve: given all the things you have done I repeat what I said earlier– perhaps the lack of action is no accident/ oversight. Something else is going on. Maybe your friend is involved with his/ her former employer in something much larger. Your friend gets the blackberry, what does the civil servant get???
I suspect the blackberry is the tip of the iceberg. Your friend is in the same situation as many of our MLAs.