If the sa国际传媒 Liberal government were a romantic suitor wooing British Columbians with its newfound respect for the taxpayer鈥檚 dollar, the taxpayer鈥檚 response might well be: 鈥淲ell, where have you been all my life?鈥�
Premier Christy Clark announced new 鈥渁ccountability principles鈥� Wednesday that are intended to rein in Crown corporations and other public bodies. It follows several years of public anger over the size of executives鈥� paycheques, bonuses out of tune with the times, potential conflicts of interest and questionable severance deals.
鈥淥ne of this government鈥檚 core values is respect for the taxpayer鈥檚 dollar,鈥� Clark said in a prepared statement. 鈥淲e received a mandate to control government spending and ensure the best possible use of government resources.
鈥淭hese principles recognize that the public sector has a higher accountability to the taxpayer 鈥� above and beyond the traditional fiduciary duty to the organization. For the first time, the board members of public-sector organizations will be accountable for these values, which will drive a principled and cost-conscious culture across the public sector.鈥�
Does that sound familiar? Didn鈥檛 the Liberals say much the same thing in the 2001 election campaign? In the Liberals鈥� vision statement, right after the promise to be 鈥渢he most open, accountable and democratic government in sa国际传媒,鈥� came this pledge: 鈥淩esponsible, accountable management of your public resources and tax dollars.鈥�
Perhaps in the excitement of forming the government, in which Clark was deputy premier, that document was set aside and forgotten, its underlying principles overshadowed by other developments.
Such as the sa国际传媒 Rail scandal, in which the taxpayers covered $6 million in legal bills for two former ministerial aides who pleaded guilty to charges of fraud and breach of trust in connection with the sale of sa国际传媒 Rail.
Such as generous salaries and bonuses to executives of Crown agencies and other public bodies when budgets were being tightened and services cut.
Such as political aides being awarded hefty pay increases soon after the 2013 election.
Such as ex-Liberal MLA John Les, who already had a contract worth up to $60,000 a year as chairman of the Farm Industry Review Board, being awarded a $140,000 contract to be the co-chairman of a review of earthquake preparedness.
Such as lack of oversight of the $70-million legislature budget administered by the Speaker.
Such as MLAs and other legislature officials taking expensive tropical vacations at taxpayers鈥� expense for the dubious purpose of attending Commonwealth parliamentary conferences.
Let鈥檚 give Clark鈥檚 government the credit it deserves. Those and other issues 鈥� except for the matter of the sa国际传媒 Rail legal expenses 鈥� have been addressed. The political aides鈥� salary increases were rescinded, Les鈥檚 contract was withdrawn and MLAs are becoming more open and careful about their expenses. Measures have been taken and policies implemented to improve transparency and accountability.
But most of the changes have come about after probing by the opposition or as the result of public outcry.
There鈥檚 nothing wrong with responding to public pressure. That鈥檚 what a good government does. But when a government is repeatedly embarrassed into correcting wrongs, its actions begin to look more like damage control than policy.
Any governing body needs to pause periodically to sharpen its tools and tighten its procedures. Improvement is a constant. And the sa国际传媒 Liberals are doing that by implementing the new principles of accountability.
Even if it is damage control, even if it is a grudging response to the rising tide of public anger, it鈥檚 better late than never and it鈥檚 welcome.
We just need to be sure it isn鈥檛 a one-night stand 鈥� some of those sweet nothings have been whispered to us before.
