Board of Internal Economy

The CBC reports the government will cut deeper into departmental budgets than previously planned. The Finance Minister raises the possibility that some departments may have to cut more than 10% from their budgets.

Seems the Conservative bill on flag-flying will not apply to the most powerful condo board of all.

The Board of Internal Economy has tabled its latest report of MP expenses. The second biggest expenditure line: ten percenters. Seems the Canadian public was charged $10,182,707.71 for the printing of partisan flotsam during the last fiscal year.

Meanwhile, MPs have agreed to let Auditor General Sheila Fraser have a look at the books.

Last week, Michael Ignatieff said the auditor general and the Board of Internal Economy should discuss their differences over an audit of MP expenses. Yesterday, the Prime Minister’s Office said likewise. And just now, Jack Layton’s office sent out the following.

While the auditor general remains delightfully passive aggressive, Liberal Paul Szabo explains that one reason the public can’t have a look at the books is because, well, then we’d know about all the lawsuits we’re paying to fight and settle.

Liberal backbencher Michelle Simson confirms her cult hero status with the seemingly desired reaction to yesterday’s decision to keep MP expenses beyond the purview of the auditor general.

Stephen Maher asks and both Michael Ignatieff and Gilles Duceppe say they’re open to allowing Sheila Fraser to audit MP expenses. Peter Stoffer says he’ll release details of his expenses, but then says he can’t.

Conservative Gerald Keddy explains why details of MP expenses shouldn’t be made public.

Buried in a Liberal motion yesterday was a proposal that the House direct “its Board of Internal Economy to take all necessary steps to end immediately the wasteful practice of Members sending mass mailings, known as ‘ten-percenters,’ into ridings other than their own, which could represent another saving to taxpayers of more than $10 million.”