INVERNESS: The MLA for Inverness has responded to criticism from the Warden of the District of the Municipality of Guysborough (MODG).
Last week, Guysborough Warden Vernon Pitts requested an apology after Allan MacMaster questioned a purchase by the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO).
Pitts charged that the Official Opposition “interpreted that [the CAO] was buying personal luggage” when in fact he purchased a new briefcase to carry files relating to the dissolution of the Town of Canso.
“I accept responsibility for asking the questions and I wish to apologize to CAO Barry Carroll, Warden Vernon Pitts and to all of the councillors and staff at the Municipality of the District of Guysborough,” MacMaster wrote in a letter released today.
“The question about the briefcase should not have been labeled an inappropriate expense, nor should the tone of the question have implied further wrongdoing. Making such accusations is certainly not the purpose for which I chose public service. May this public apology restore any damage done to the reputations of those involved.”
The Inverness MLA said on October 8 he asked a question during Question Period in the Nova Scotia Legislature about municipal expenses in Guysborough, specifically the purchase of a briefcase.
“I was told we had information that would tell a similar story to the Ombudsman’s audit of the former Richmond Council’s spending practices,” the PC MLA explained.
“On October 9, a second question was asked but had to be modified at the last minute because I discovered the practice of councillors receiving cash advances for travel outside of the county is permitted in some municipalities…”
MacMaster said he planned to ask another question on October 10, but he determined the evidence was unfounded.
“While I did see examples of municipal credit cards used for personal expenditure, those amounts are shown to have been paid back,” MacMaster wrote.
“There were expenditures for alcohol which also show to have been paid back [though I understand they are permitted in some cases under Guysborough policy]. Ultimately, the information we had did not show the evidence it was supposed to contain. Citizens have had concerns, but any investigation is best left in the hands of the Department of Municipal Affairs and the provincial Ombudsman.”
Last month, MacMaster came under fire for comments made in the legislature while questioning the reimbursement of tickets to Richmond Municipal Councillors for a Liberal fundraising dinner in mid-2014, which is the subject of an investigation by Elections Nova Scotia. Cape Breton-Richmond MLA Michel Samson took issue with MacMaster’s characterization of the local Liberal association as a “mafia.”