Our politicians just don't get it.

One would think public outrage after the auditor general exposed MLA spending abuses would be enough to motivate politicians to deliver some real change to our political system. But, the implementation of the promised reforms to MLA expenses and the leaders’ reactions to questions about the appropriateness of excessive MLA pensions suggests otherwise. Instead, all we see is our politicians dragging their feet and hiding behind lawyers to prevent reform. 

Now the House Management Committee decided a new online program to track expenses of our MLAs would not include the names of vendors providing the service or product.

House Speaker Charlie Parker says he can’t provide the names of vendors because government lawyers have advised him not to. He says if anyone wanted to see the names of vendors they could simply stop by his office in Halifax or individual MLA offices and the receipts would be made available.

Huh?  So vendors’ names can’t be released online, but it’s ok to release them at the office? This doesn’t sound like a matter of principle, it sounds like he just doesn’t want to make the names too accessible because people might, well, access them.

Instead of access in minutes after a few quick keystrokes, taxpayers have to dig around for the missing information. If vendor privacy is a concern, why is it that other public bodies have not put forward the same obstacle?   Toronto City Council doesn’t just post councilor expenses, but also the names of all vendors.

Perhaps rather than hiding behind government lawyers, Mr. Parker should step up and deliver on the new transparency that our politicians promised.

By not showing the names of vendors, the existence of a relationship between the MLA and the vendor could cast doubt upon the legitimacy of the expense.  For example, the auditor general’s investigation found that one MLA expensed art that he purchased from his brother. Without full disclosure, the public has every right to continue to be suspicious of MLA expense claims. That’s why politicians promised greater accountability in the first place. It’s now up to them to deliver it. It’s been eight months since the auditor released his report on MLA expenses. And while politicians have said that they want to restore faith in the political system, it falls to taxpayers to ensure they deliver.

The pension program is the latest example of excessive payouts to our MLAs and again the response from our politicians is lacking.

Darrell Dexter has said he was ok with a review of MLA pensions. But he’s made no efforts to get one started or commit to when he will.

Tory leader Jamie Baillie said he supports having citizens involved in MLA entitlement reform, but has been silent on what he thinks of the current plan.

Stephen MacNeil wants to send the issue to the House Management Committee where MLAs would decide for themselves if their pensions are fair.

Do politicians really want to restore public faith, do they really want to redress MLA spending abuses or do they just want to distract taxpayers long enough so that the public will forget all about it? If the role of the politicians is to serve the public, then it’s time that they put taxpayers first and put themselves second.