Ottawa

Never mind the auditor general

David Eaves proposes a solution to the current dispute over MP expenses.

Today, the accounts are kept in a digital format. It should be easy to convert them to Microsoft Excel or another computer format. They could be posted online where anyone could download and look at them at no cost. And, as the Guardian newspaper proved last year, thousands and thousands of people would be interested in using their computers to analyze and write about them….

What Parliament needs to do is hand over their expense accounts to everyone. Indeed, I am making a formal request right now. I would like Parliament to invite Canadian taxpayers – the people who vote for them, who pay their salaries, and who cover their expenses – to review their books. Please take all the expenses and post them online. Today.

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