HAMMERING OUT RULES
With plenty of eyes probing house expenses, the path to reform will be long and costly
Embarrassed by the spending scandal at the B.C. legislature, the three main parties are working with staff to slam the door, albeit belatedly, on the openings for abuse.
Many items on the to-do list, discussed this week during a meeting of the legislative assembly management committee (LAMC), were prompted by the well-documented outrages in recent reports from Speaker Darryl Plecas.
They range from overdue changes sure to be readily accepted to some unexpected items that could prove controversial. Of the former: “To establish protocols for the purposes that British Columbia beer and wine may be purchased by the assembly, the process for accounting for it, what to do with leftover supply, etc.”
A second example: “To establish a framework regarding procurement, giving, receiving and tracking of protocol gifts” including “a dollar maximum, a register of gifts given, to whom, and for what purpose.”
None of the legislature denizens would be surprised by or troubled at booze or gift protocols. But some might be taken aback at this: “To clarify how parking is designated/ assigned, tracked and monitored on the legislative precinct.”
Few perks at the lege are as prized as the small number of assigned parking spaces.
One item that did raise alarms at the LAMC meeting was a proposal to provide “greater clarity on what constitutes appropriate use of constituency office funds.”
NDP house leader Mike Farnworth: “We need to be really clear on what it is that we want to do and hope to accomplish here. I guarantee if we are not clear and we go back to our colleagues, they will freak out and go in a dozen different directions.”
He imagined them protesting: “What are you guys doing? My constituency office is my constituency office. It’s the one place where — in your caucus, everyone’s a member of the same team. I am king or queen in my domain. It may be 500 square feet, but here I don’t have to ….”
At which point the other members of the committee got the veteran MLA’s point and agreed there would need to be much clarification before going forward on that one.
But in general the list of pending changes, laid out in a progress report from acting clerk Kate Ryan Lloyd, was as predictable as it was well received.
Item: “To formalize the assembly’s employee travel policy to address topics such as economical mode of travel, loyalty programs, use of an assembly-issued travel card, pre-approval, eligible expenses and car allowances, among other things”
Item: “To establish clear policy for the provision, procurement, cleaning, replacement and maintenance of specific uniform and protective clothing required by assembly staff for work duties.”
Item: “To establish a clear policy regarding electronic device and telephone use, photocopiers, and other assembly-owned equipment” including “a limit on how many devices and what kind of devices staff are allowed to be issued at any given time.”
In short, no more junketeering, no more going nuts with the suit, watch, luggage and computer purchases — abuses that were all detailed in the Plecas exposes.
While there was no specific mention of a ban on the at-home storage of wood splitters, it should be covered by a blanket vow to “establish a clear policy regarding the appropriate use of assembly assets and resources.”
Also in the works, toughened guidelines for executive salaries, procurement, inventory, interparliamentary conferences and proactive disclosure of all travel and expense spending.
Plus there’s a much-needed effort to develop “a policy and process that will allow individuals to safely come forward with concerns and seek counsel when faced with an ethical dilemma. This policy will also establish a new ethics adviser and ethics training for staff.”
LAMC also got an update on three reviews pledged after the first Plecas report back in January.
The first, commenced last month, is the financial audit being undertaken by auditor general Carol Bellringer. The committee went in-camera to hear a brief report on that one. I am told it will be one of the most extensive audits ever undertaken by her office.
The second review, announced just before the LAMC meeting got underway, is the appointment of retired chief justice Beverley McLachlin to consider the fate of the suspended clerk and sergeantat-arms of the legislature.
The third exercise, not as well known, is a promised review of workplace concerns raised by the Speaker. Those include allegations of wrongful dismissal, silencing of whistleblowers and other abuses. Plecas has assembled affidavits from those who’ve come forward to complain to him.
LAMC fielded a preliminary report that laid out options ranging from a narrow focus on the allegations in the Plecas report to a broader review of the working environment at the legislature.
The committee set in motion a process to consult with the public service agency and others on best practices, then develop a short list of qualified experts on workplace issues.
The goal being to select the right overseer for the workplace review and report back by May 1 with a plan on how to proceed.
Not a speedy process, nor likely to be a cheap one.
The rumour mill is already speculating that the price tag could hit $1 million for the three LAM-Ccommissioned reviews, never mind what the police investigation might be costing.