Alberta MLAs win award for wasting taxpayer dollars

A group of Alberta MLAs have been making thousands of dollars to sit on a committee that has not met in over three years.

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation handed out their annual Teddy Waste Awards in Ottawa Wednesday, showcasing the best of the worst in wasted taxpayer dollars. The big "winner" in Alberta is the Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections, Standing Orders and Printing.

Each of the 21 members have been receiving $1,000 per month to sit on a committee that has not met since 2008 because no issue has been referred to it. The money spent has cost Albertans $261,000 in the past year alone and nea.

Committee chairman Ray Prins is defending the committee saying although they haven't met, they are prepared to do so on a moment's notice.

Scott Hennig of the Canadian Taxpayers Association has his own view on the situation.

"I'm sure they have some sort of bat signal they put up outside the (Legislature) and all 21 of them scurry back here for the important meeting for the (committee)," Hennig says sarcastically adding, "they haven't done anything unfortunately in all of 39 months but I'm sure it's of utmost importance that they are together."

Hennig says there is no one party to blame as every political party has one to two members on the committee.

He says the Taxpayers Federation was made aware of the wasted money when they were putting together their submission to retired Justice John Major, who is reviewing MLAs' pay.

"We made this part of our submission back in January and we're hoping that this will be some of the recommendations coming forward in the Justice Major report that they do away with paying these guys 1,000 dollars a month."

One of the committee members, Genia Leskiw, says she was caught off guard when told of the news Wednesday morning.

"I sit on so many different committees and it seems like I'm working from seven in the morning 'til ten or 11 at night and one committee runs into another committee and a person just sort of loses track of all the stuff that they're doing."

When asked about the validity of the committee or whether she will keep the money she was paid, Leskiw seemed flustered and repeatedly said she had no comment although says people are right to have questions.

"And I think having the review question it is a good idea," she adds, "and then we'll take the review and we'll see what happens."

The 21 MLAs on the committee in question are as follows:

Mr. Raymond Prins (Chair)
Mr. Lloyd Snelgrove (Deputy Chair)
Mr. Moe Amery
Mr. Guy Boutilier
Ms. Pearl Calahasen
Ms. Alana DeLong
Mr. Arno Doerksen
Mrs. Heather Forsyth
Mr. Broyce Jacobs
Mr. Mel Knight
Mrs. Genia Leskiw
Mr. Barry McFarland
Mr. Leonard Mitzel
Ms. Rachel Notley
Ms. Bridget A. Pastoor
Mr. Dave Quest
Mr. Ed Stelmach
Dr. David Swann
Ms. Janis Tarchuk
Mr. Dave Taylor
Mr. Gene Zwozdesky

With files from Vassy Kapelos.