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,