Nova Scotia municipalities urged to be open about expenses

The Nova Scotia government should compel municipal officials in the province to make expenses public, says Kevin Lacey of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.

"Every municipality should disclose all expenses of councillors and senior administrators, just like MLAs and cabinet ministers do," said Lacey, director of the federation's Atlantic region.

Disclosure 'so important'

An investigation by CBC Nova Scotia uncovered thousands of dollars for out-of-province conferences and international trips. Some communities are also reimbursing claims for alcohol.

"This is why disclosure is so important," said Lacey.

"Municipal politicians can charge for alcohol, but they should be forced to defend it and explain why it is they are doing what they're doing."

Money wasted

Pierre Clouthier, a member of the Kings County Citizens Coalition, also had questions about conference attendance.

The group wants more cooperation between the county and towns in the Annapolis Valley, particularly when it comes to economic development.

• How much did your municipality spend to go to conferences?
• How much did it cost to send a CBC reporter to a conference on municipalities?

Clouthier thinks money is being wasted when it comes to sending representatives to national municipal conferences.

"You can't tell me that Kentville and Wolfville are so vastly different from King's that they need a separate delegate,"  said Clouthier. "That's what really irks me."