Imagine you make $100,000 per year, plus perks, and, on top of sitting among the rarefied ranks of the 10 per cent of the wealthiest Canadians, you get 12 grand to do with what you like — no questions asked.
If you are an MLA outside of cabinet in B.C., there is no need to imagine that above scenario. If you are an MLA, you are living that dream.
Thanks to the tenacious reporting of the Vancouver Sun’s Rob Shaw, we are learning more details about the questionable living-allowance program for MLAs when they are in Victoria on business.
Shaw obtained a confidential cost-benefit analysis that found taxpayers could save money if MLAs in Victoria on business stayed in hotels, rather than be given that $12,000 annual housing allowance to rent or purchase property.
(While in Victoria, cabinet ministers have their housing allowances paid for by their respective ministries.)
What boggles the mind is the fact MLAs are handed the $12,000, but not required to submit any form of evidence it was spent on housing.
Theoretically, an MLA could crash on a buddy’s couch while in the capital and pocket the $12,000, which would fund a terrific vacation — or two or three — every year.
According to the living-allowance program, MLAs have three options to cover their stays in Victoria: $19,000 annual allowance for which they must submit mortgage or rental documentation; the $12,000 no-questions-asked payment; or $17,000 for hotel stays, with receipts required.
Not surprisingly, 41 of the 78 MLAs eligible for the program choose the $12,000 option, according to the report obtained by Shaw.
Here’s the catch: In B.C., the legislature is not often in session.
Tuesday, May 13 marked the 41st day the legislature was in session this year. There was no session in January and the spring session is scheduled to end on May 29, after which there will be four long months — June, July, August and September (coincidentally, the four best months of the year, weather-wise) during which the legislature will not sit.
Imagine the Shuswap cabin that can be had for $12,000 during peak season?
In the fall, the legislature is scheduled to sit for just 24 days in October and November, with December being another fallow month.
So, in 2013, the legislature will likely sit for a grand total of 71 days, which is not much more than usual as the legislature has not sat for more than 67 days in any one year in the past six years.
As one commenter online so aptly pointed out, the government of the day is of the opinion those on social-assistance payments can pay rent and utilities for $375 per month.
If that is the case, then wouldn’t our MLAs, while in Victoria on business, be fine with about $600 a year?
Shaw also brought to light the $61 per day meal allowance given to spouses, kids and grandchildren of MLAs who are visiting Victoria.
Why on earth relatives of men and women making an extremely good wage are being paid by taxpayers to dine out in Victoria remains a mystery, though it should be noted Finance Minister Michael de Jong voted against retaining that luxury, while Bruce Ralston, house leader of the NDP, voted in favour of retaining the gift for MLA visitors.
As of today, that benefit remains.
Even more disturbing is the fact the housing study, despite being debated publicly, was retroactively deemed secret by legislature staff, based on a new policy adopted earlier this year.
If that odd policy doesn’t raise concerns about democracy and open government, nothing else will.
Not only are MLAs and their families dining and living on your dime, they have the temerity to employ a political time machine and retroactively erase mention of the debate.
This doesn’t quite square with Premier Christy Clark’s vision when she was running for the B.C. Liberal leadership. Back then, in January 2011, Clark called for more open government (she vowed to hold 12 town-hall meetings a year to hear from residents).
“The reality is that voters feel a disconnect with their government,” Clark said then.
She might say the same now.
Christopher Foulds is editor of Kamloops This Week.
