Thread by @robshaw_vansun

When I arrived at #bcleg 10 years ago, I clashed w/ MacMinn.
Asked him for basic $ details about MLA spending. Told no. Asked him for travel expenses. Told no. Asked to see #bcleg budget. Told no. There WERE no financial books.
So I doubt this is his accurate travel costs.

https://twitter.com/INTEGRITYBC/status/1088077770767257600

I remember one year he was asked politely to curtail legislature spending. He was so upset he turned around and in step 1 fired the parliamentary player students who dress up annually as the Queen, Sir James Douglas, etc.
MLAs backed off after that poison pill.

Anyone who thinks MacMinn was some sort of guardian of the public $ is either ill-informed or nuts. When he retired, he demanded continued pay as an emeritus clerk consultant. Turned into a scandal. Was forced to promise to donate his salary to #bcleg upon his death. Still alive.

I still remember getting told that MLA oversight (LAMC) meetings were held over drinks in Speaker Bill Barisoff's office w/ MacMinn and crew. No public allowed. No agenda. Minutes kept were only released years later, and they were at best a few lines. Have Qs? Get lost, kid.

I've had around 100 stories on MLA expenses published over the years on: LAMC not public. #bcleg should be subject to FOI. MLA receipts should be online. Muffin rack. MLAs buying boats and RVs w/ housing allowance. Linda Reid's 1st-class safari. But it all started w/ MacMinn.

Linda Reid possibly double-billing taxis/KM (if true) is wrong. But also probably one of least offensive things MLAs from ALL parties have done w/ expenses over yrs.
NDP's Bill Routley bought RV w/ housing $ and charging KMs to drive it to #bcleg weekly. MLAs defended. Crazy.

When I wrote about Linda Reid's $40k computer terminal, spousal travel and $700 muffin rack, who was her biggest defender at the time? Then NDP house leader @jjhorgan who said I should be focusing on bigger stories and not cheap shot expense investigations. Yet. Here we are.

@jjhorgan This place has been a mess for a long, long time. Worse in the past. MacMinn a major source of culture of entitlement. Reporters like myself who covered this for a long time got flak and no help from MLAs.
MLAs didn't want to crack down on expenses for themselves or staff.

@jjhorgan And I guess in closing I will say this: Good on Darryl Plecas for at least taking a shot at this. I wish I'd given him more of the benefit of the doubt at his attempt, despite him being new and his total silence about what he was doing.