VICTORIA - There were a number of significant

items worth noting in the first week: of the first

session of the Legislature presided over by the first’

NDP. government in B.C. sincé 1975. .

¢ One reference in the Throne Speech was to
amendments. to strengthen the Conflict of Interest
Act..

Watch for the role of conflict-of-interest commis-
sioner Ted Hughes, a former deputy aittorney-
general, now:to be expanded to include other levels
of: government i in B.C.

- The highly-respected Hughes has guided every
MLA through their disclosure of private assets and
business involvements, with
an.aim to head off any abuse
_ of.the system,

Extending the current

rules and powers of scrutiny
to cover mayors, aldermen
and ‘regional district repre-
sentatives can only. be wel-
comed. :
After 17 years in Oppo-
sition, preaching about
ethics, fairness and restoring
the faith of those in public
office, the NDP now are in a position to do samething
about it. .

We can. ni only hope that such policies are carried
through to fruition,

« A new. "independent. "mechanism" for reviewing
MLA ‘salaries, benefits, pensions, severance and
assorted perks should also be welcomed. = -

Having an “outside” agency make decisions to -

increase or to change any of the above will reduce

some of the accusations and distaste about MLAs

feathering their own nests.
Perhaps that mechanism can deal with a glaring

example.of what this scribe, for one, considers to. be.

unfair. to some of our elected representatives. -

 Thave little problem with the wages and benefits _

the MLAs receive, because the return is not as

22“ Aerrace Review March 20, 1992.

After 17 years in Oppo-
sition, preaching about
ethics, fairness and restor-
ing the faith of thosein .
public office, the NDP now
are in a position to do
something about it.

attractive as that for similar responsibilities i in the
private sector.

Add in the loss of privacy, and the low esteem i in
which politicians are held, and the $50,000 per year
in salary and expenses the MLAs receive does not
look to be out of line.

But when it comes to Cabinet_members, some of
whom end up working 12 and 14-hour days as a

_ matter of course, I suggest there should be a graded

scale dependent upon the workload and the nature of .
the ministry.

Surely it is disturbingly unfair to pay all Cabinet
ministers the same additional amount — $39,000 —
when some of them have
minuscule budgets and work-
loads, while others have
much more responsibility and
workloads which adversely
affect their family life, their
social life, and their health.

it is like having a hockey
team in which all ‘the
players, regardless of output
or experience are paid the
same. . 7
So, new "mechanism",

‘

sort that one out!

° It was significant to see e three of the four NDP
MLAs from central Vancouver Island speak in the
first two days of debate on the Throne Speech. .

That area is alone in the province in having no
representation in the Cabinet, a point which obvious-
ly led to the concession of allowing Alberni’s Gerard
Janssen, Cowichan’s Jan Pullinger and Parks-
ville’s Leonard Krog to take the floor.

After all, with 50 NDP members (the Speaker is
excluded), half of whom are raw rookies, the eager-
ness and lobbying among them to participate in the
six days of debate would have been intense.

Smart damage control.

- It was significant to gee Social Credit leader Jack
. Weisgerber easily, outscore his Liberal counterpart,