RCMP investigate N.S. MLA Zinck

The RCMP is asking questions about an Independent Nova Scotia politician as part of their investigation into the MLA expense scandal.

Officers have talked to an NDP caucus staff member about Independent Dartmouth North MLA Trevor Zinck, who was expelled from the NDP caucus in March over concerns about his expense claims.

"I understand they were in to talk to one of our staff members who turned over to the Speaker's office earlier materials which related essentially to the concerns we had around Mr. Zinck's expenses," Premier Darrell Dexter said Wednesday.

The NDP said Zinck was reimbursed for certain office expenses, such as power and rent, but didn't immediately use the money to pay those bills.

Zinck declined to comment Wednesday.

Last month, Auditor General Jacques Lapointe referred five cases to the RCMP for investigation. They include one sitting MLA and four former MLAs.

The investigation has already led the RCMP to the office of Bedford Liberal MLA Kelly Regan, who was interviewed by a commercial crime investigator last week about her predecessor, former Progressive Conservative MLA Len Goucher.

Goucher was the member of the legislative assembly for Bedford-Birch Cove from 2006 to 2009.

Regan said the Mounties asked her about Goucher's constituency office furniture.

"They asked me for the names of people who worked for Mr. Goucher, if I knew where Mr. Goucher's furniture went," she said last week.

"What the RCMP is trying to do is understand the arrangements that would normally be made between MLAs when one MLA is defeated or chooses not to run again."

Neither Goucher nor the RCMP would comment, and the Mounties will not discuss who is under investigation.

Their inquiries are not proof of wrongdoing, only that an investigation into MLA expenses is underway.