Cornwall ON – All three major Federal parties are refusing the Auditor General’s request to audit the expense accounts of MP’s. A total of almost half a BILLION Dollars. The only Federalist Party supporting this issue is the Green Party under leader Elizabeth May and the Bloc Quebecois under Gilles Duceppe.
The Green Party of Canada pledges full support for the Auditor General in her bid to increase the transparency of MPs’ spending habits. Greens are calling for the release to the Auditor General of the last 10 years of MP expenses.
“The Green Party of Canada fully supports the Auditor General having a mandate to oversee MP expenses,” said Green Party Leader Elizabeth May. “The Canadian public deserves accountability for the half billion dollars MPs spend every year. The fact that MPs are afraid to have Sheila Fraser examine their accounts suggests that it is probably long overdue.”
Provincial governments and the government of Britain have been rocked by government spending scandals in recent years, adding to the disillusionment of citizens and mistrust of politicians.
“Given the declining voting record in this country, Parliament should be doing everything possible to encourage public trust and engagement in democracy,” said May.
According to the Toronto Star, a Leger Marketing poll showed 88% of Canadians would like a deeper examination of politicians’ expense accounts. Currently, details of any spending by MPs and senators are kept secret.
“For someone who campaigned on transparency, Prime Minister Harper is failing miserably,” said May. “Shame on the Liberals and the NDP for agreeing that the public doesn’t deserve to know how their tax money is being spent.”
Kinda makes one think what these MP’s have to hide…..Wonder what our own MP Guy Lauzon has to hide….
What do you think Canada? Should the MP’s have to open the books to the Auditor General? Feel free to post your comments below.
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88% is an extremely high number. The masses have spoken. If MP’s are not audited, why vote.
Its the TAXPAYERS dollars! We should have every right to know how our money is being spent!!
Makes you wonder why Michael Ignatieff was so vociferously against opening the Liberal MP’s books on expenses. Do we have another adscam effect coming on? I wonder what Jack Layton has to hide? After all, used car salesmen can be trusted to tell the truth. And then there’s St.Stephen, I’m sure he’ll do the right thing and turn over the Conservative books to Sheila to audit. After all, he is the leader of the country.
Don’t hold your breath on Sweatervest Stevie turning over any books to the the Auditor General…