HANTS EAST: In light of a recent report released by Nova Scotia’s Auditor General, Hants East NDP MLA and Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources, John MacDonell, came out as the top spender.

In Jacques LaPointe’s recent audit of MLA spending, MacDonell topped the list with custom office furniture purchases coming in at $13,445. He was also flagged for excessive spending for a printer for $2,600. MacDonell says if MLA’s learn anything from the report, it’s that more guidelines should be in place for their spending.

“If out of this auditor general’s report we get clearer guidelines, that would be helpful,” said MacDonell.

He added the rules are not very clear on what the MLAs can and cannot purchase, aside from a few clear guidelines.

“Other than strictness for (doing business with) family, the rest isn’t so clean,” MacDonell said. “If it fits in the budget we can purchase it.”

Although flagged, MacDonell’s spending was not penalized by the Auditor General.

“Within the Auditor General’s report, it says my funds were within the regulations,” he said.

He has since paid for the office furniture, which was handmade within the province. He has two desks and bookshelves in his constituency office in Enfield.

MacDonell says he is a little confused over being flagged for his office printer.

“It’s probably the third one I have bought since becoming an MLA,” he said. “It’s a printer, copier, scanner and fax. I could have bought the four separate machines but space is an issue in my office. I would like a little more clarity in what’s inappropriate in that.”

After hearing the report, MacDonell says he hopes regulations are created as an outcome of this so MLA’s have a better understanding, or, have their spending done for them.

“As MLA’s, we really work in isolation from each other,” he said. “I’ve never even been to most of my colleague’s offices.”

He says the thread that strings them all together is the Speaker’s Office, where they submit their claims too. He suggests any changes coming forward can be made at that level.

“Maybe we can get the speaker’s office purchase our equipment for us, so we don’t do purchases at all,” he said. “I don’t think I would mind that if someone looked into that. All offices would be on the same playing field in that case.”

Although the two items MacDonell was flagged for were both within spending regulations, he says instead of criticizing what other MLA’s have spent, he will make sure he is more conscience of his own spending.

“My own spending concerns me the most,” he said. “I checked around for good, quality furniture and I thought I might as well spend more and have it made locally in Nova Scotia.

“I guess that didn’t pass muster.”

acameron@enfieldweeklypress.com