Fun with audits

The National Post's editorial board weighs in on the latest developments in Sheila Fraser's quest for performance audits:

It appears that our federal politicians are coming to their senses. After weeks of public outrage over the Board of Internal Economy’s refusal to allow Auditor-General Sheila Fraser to conduct a parliamentary performance audit, the Conservatives announced that they will be making a proposal that would allow Ms. Fraser to open the books. The Tories will be presenting their plan to the Board this week, in an attempt to break the logjam while saving as much face as possible under the circumstances.

But MPs have little dignity left to salvage. Over the past few weeks, the Conservatives, Liberals and New Democrats have treated increasingly irate voters to a litany of excuses, flip-flops, and outrageous attempts at justifying the Board’s position. Only the Bloc Quebecois supported Ms. Fraser’s request, ironically turning the separatist party into the champion of the Canadian taxpayer.

Read the rest here. Meanwhile, Alison Crawford offers some analysis of the MP expenses which have been voluntarily disclosed by individual representatives, over at Inside Politics.