Post MLA expenses online

In addition to their hefty salaries, the men and women who represent us in the B.C. legislature can claim expenses of up to $140,000 a year, for things like food, travel, office furniture, and living expenses in Victoria. But MLA’s from both the government and the opposition have steadfastly refused to share the details of their spending with the public.

What are the politicians hiding? In Nova Scotia, an audit of MLA expenses showed massive waste, with taxpayers getting the bill for politicians’ high-definition, big-screen TV’s and espresso machines. Now, since the scandal there, MLA expenses are posted online, and Nova Scotia taxpayers having been logging on, by the hundreds, to see the details for themselves.

Even Canada’s Senate, a bastion of privilege for unelected politicians, has begun posting senators’ expense details online. And some Canadian cities are posting the politicians actual expenses claims, along with the supporting receipts, for all to see.

We've made a little progress in B.C. First, Premier Christy Clark and cabinet agreed to have monthly, lump-sum travel expenses posted regularly to this government website. Of course, that didn't tell us much. Independent MLA Bob Simpson (Cariboo North) has gone further by posting detailed breakdowns of his travel expenses. This is a big step forward, although it still represents only a small slice of the spending MLAs control.

But we want to see it all. B.C. taxpayers were promised action on full accountability by September 2010 – that deadline came and went. Now, the government is promising MLA’s will come clean “in a couple of months.” If you're holding your breath, you've long since expired.

Other forward thinking jurisdictions, such as Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and the City of Toronto have simply posted their expenses online. There is no reason why this can't be done in B.C. as well. Let’s tell our politicians that we’re tired of waiting for answers.

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