PICTOU - Last year, Pictou West MLA Charlie Parker purchased a model display of Pictou's iconic Ship Hector for viewing at his Water Street constituency office at the taxpayer's expense.
The item was one of several singled out by auditor general Jacques Lapointe on Wednesday. While the purchase wasn't against the rules in the auditor general's book, it was flagged as 'outside the norm' for an MLA's expense account.
Parker said he plans to pay the $790 back. He said he bought the display to draw attention to Pictou's biggest tourist attraction.
"I purchased it, primarily, to bring recognition to our tourism icon - and it does work," he said. "I get a lot of people in the office that comment on it. The whole idea was to direct them to the Pictou waterfront, the Ship Hector and the Hector Heritage Quay."
"Because the auditor general has flagged it as … not what a reasonable person might consider for an office, I'm paying that money back."
The model ship carried one of the lower price tags among expenses claimed by MLAs in Lapointe's report. In another claim, an unnamed MLA spent $13,445 on custom-made furniture. Another claimed $2,499 for a 40-inch LCD television.
Parker said an internal review is already underway of the questionable expense claims, all filed between July 2006 and June 2009.
He called the information and recommendations presented by the auditor general a blueprint to follow in the future.
"I think it is a good report. We'll accept its recommendations. It's a blueprint for us now to move forward."
Parker defends purchase
- Published on February 4, 2010
- Published on February 20, 2010
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Staff ~ The News
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Comments
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- Bill
- - February 22, 2010 at 14:32:04
There is no one political party at fault here. They are all circling the wagons to say they have done nothing wrong; that they didn't break any rules. Well. that in itself should tell you that the rules are out of whack. Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should and that is what politicians can't seem to grasp.
They all complain they get no respect and the public is too cynical about politics. Well, boys and girls, look in the mirror and you see the reason why.
There should be no tax-free allowances and all expenditures for members should go through an outside accounting firm; not a committee of the legislature; that's having the foxes guard the chicken coop. -
- faraway
- - February 22, 2010 at 14:32:03
Mr parker made a mistake in judgement. I am not going to condem nor exhonorate him as I am not in a position to know the guidelines which are in place. That said I do not think Mr. Parker would have been in for any personal gain from this purchase.
One can not hastily paint everyone with the same brush, this would be as bad as some of the transgressions.
For a tourist to come into Charlies office this would have been a good conversation piece and promoted the town of Pictou and tourism in general in Pictou County not to mention the crafts people of the area. -
- NonNDP
- - February 22, 2010 at 14:31:58
Well done!
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- Jillian G
- - February 22, 2010 at 14:31:56
I personally 110% agree with Faraway. I've worked in accounts payable for several different companies for many years and I have learned that the guideline and rules for expense reports are ALWAYS different for different companies. However the process is always the same: Employee spends money, employee submits expense report with receipts, Manager/superior either approves or disapproves, AP department receives the expense report with approval and deposits payment into the employee's account. The problem with this system is the managers don't even look at this stuff, shouldn't these approvers be getting the heat? Also why is this only being caught now? Audits should be done annually.
In my opinion purchasing a $790.00 model ship to promote the Hector isn't completely a waste IF it is actually serving it's purpose. But the bottom line is I've seen money pissed away on worse things like $800.00 bottles of wine and overpriced electronics.
I hope for everyone's sake these politicians watch their spending from now on. -
- Archie
- - February 22, 2010 at 14:31:50
Shame on you Mr. Parker, Gonna pay it back, only now that it has been noted as being unnecessary. If it hadn't been spoke about you wouldn't have any intention of paying it back. A window poster of the ship would have done the same thing.
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- ron
- - February 22, 2010 at 14:31:47
politics and polititions in general have become a joke especially here in nova scotia.When it comes to dealing with wage disputes with the various unions the goverment nickles and dimes us to death,not to mention raising our already high taxes.Then they have the gall and arrogance to spend our tax dollars on their own personnal use.They wonder why voter turnout is so low.Shame on them.---------RON from WESTVILLE
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- Carol
- - February 22, 2010 at 14:31:46
why in the world would anyone even consider that an mla/mp or anyone else should be able to have the taxpayer pay for Anything they purchase-isn't the stipend they get monthly enough to satisfy their needs,if it is now,then welcome to the school of hard knocks and poverty line people.there should be absolutly nothing that is deductable on their plate,same as ours,if they can't take that,then move on an let someone who actually cares about the people come foreward.a friend of mine always tells me,the only change in government after an election,is the smiling faces...
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- Bill
- - February 22, 2010 at 14:31:45
Compare this to the $8,000 Richard Hurlburt spent on a generator, which he kept in his basement at home.
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- Trent
- - February 22, 2010 at 14:31:43
For a tourist to come into Charlies office this would have been a good conversation piece....
How many tourists do you think would visit an MLA's office? I don't know about you but when I am on vacation I don't seek out politicians for travel advice or itineraries. I could be wrong though. A good conversation piece would be the boat itself. -
- charles
- - February 22, 2010 at 14:31:43
a socalist is a capitalist with other people's money
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- taxpayer
- - February 22, 2010 at 14:31:43
I am angry at the ways that MLA's spend the taxpayers money. They whine that there is no money and they are facing a big debt and how can they raise taxes, etc. to raise revenue. I suggest they take the large salaries we the taxpayers give them plus huge allowances and buy their own goodies. I don't where they shop, but I bought a 40'' LCD TV for $699, and a generation wired in for $ 1600 and I didn't know any diigital camera cost $2150, bought my for less $200 and 2 laptops for $5500. What are--gold! Also the custom furniture and more. I think their names should be published so we know who they are at election time. Adisgruntled taxpayer.
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- Trent
- - February 22, 2010 at 14:31:42
Come on Charlie! $790 for a model of the Hector? You could have visited the Quay in Pictou 100 times and stood on the real thing for the same price!
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- Big Foot
- - February 22, 2010 at 14:31:35
I think it is great that the auditor has finally brought this spending to light but why did he wait so long...isn't there an audit every year. These transactions date back to 2006...Who was in power then??? Yes...it was the PC's, so come on folks...who are the ones that have come forward so far and admitted to the unnecessary spending and are paying it back...Yes, the NDP guys and one Liberal...come on PC's, step up to the plate and let us know what you have to pay back to us! The bottom line is that if there were no guide lines to follow and the items were verified and paid for the guys did nothing wrong...they just did what most people would have done in the same situation. It just sad that it has been allowed to go on for so long...long before the NDP was in power!! I applaud the NDP for being honest and coming forward with their purchases...someone had to have a Big Foot!! Just my opinion of course!!!
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- Glenn
- - February 22, 2010 at 14:31:35
I don't think Mr. Parker should resign for this bad error of judgement. It is my opinion that it makes it difficult for the voter to trust anyone who wants to run for political office. I have not belong to a political party for the past 3 years and it appears it could be another 3 before I join another political party.
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- raraway
- - February 22, 2010 at 14:31:34
Trent I do not know how many tourist would happen into charlies office but I am sure knowing Mr. Parkers office manager would give you that information. It is not only tourists but dignitaries also. I am also sure knowing charlie if he was to leave office that the model ship would probably end up at the tourist bureau of the Ship Hector center.
I dont reside in Mr. Parkers riding but before we had Clarrie macKinnon in this riding I had often requested help from Mr. Parkers office and they came throughy for me.
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I went into Charlie Parker's office after the Hector model in his storefront window caught my eye. It is not that great a model (thus the very low price for one that size) and I know a good deal about the Hector anyway, but I was intrigued to see another model of Hector anywhere outside of the one at Hector Quay. For me, it did its job (got my attention) and, for me, it is a legitimate office expense for Mr. Parker. I amazed that such nitpickery can run so rampant!