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MacKenzie Seeks Auditor General's Input on Industrial Expansion Fund |
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Written by NS Liberal Party
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Friday, 17 March 2006 |
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Liberal Leader Francis MacKenzie is asking Auditor General Jacques Lapointe to investigate recent government activity surrounding the Industrial Expansion Fund.
On January 19 the Conservative government transferred $50 million dollars into the fund.
MacKenzie has written a letter to the auditor general asking if the Conservative government is in violation of the Provincial Finance Act that requires the government to place extraordinary revenue into the Public Debt Management Fund.
He is also seeking the auditor general's opinion on whether making such expenditure without the legislature's approval was an appropriate use of taxpayers' money.
"I am very concerned that these funds were transferred without the consent of the legislature and without debate," says MacKenzie in his letter. "Indeed there seems to be no justification for this transfer as there appears to be no urgent or immediate requirement to increase the amount of the fund."
Former Auditor General Roy Salmon has been critical of the fund recommending in the Report of the Auditor General "that annual business planning and information and accountability reporting on the Industrial Expansion Fund be made available to the House of Assembly*"
"We are talking about a lot of money and we need to make sure the interests of Nova Scotians are protected," said MacKenzie. |
