END GOLD PLATED POLITICS IN NOVA SCOTIA
End Taxpayer Support of Political Parties
An Atlantica Party government will end taxpayer support of political parties by eliminating the handouts and the indirect tax deductions. Further the Atlantica Party is opting out of 'official registration' which mandates taxpayer support. We cannot in good conscience benefit from a scheme we consider bad for taxpayers; the Atlantica Party will save Nova Scotia taxpayers the expense of 'supporting' yet another political party. We call on the other four provincial parties to stop taking taxpayer handouts.
MLA Pension Reform
An Atlantica Party government will reform Nova Scotia MLA pensions, salaries and benefits. Dollar for dollar matching in a private RRSP is fair and is the same retirement plan of many working Nova Scotians. The public needs to be involved in reviewing the salary and expense regime of their representatives. The Atlantica Party's mission of smaller, transparent and accountable government means our representatives need to set an example of lower costs and less waste. Therefore an Atlantica Party government would:
- Replace the current pension 22-to-1 scheme with a 1-to-1 RRSP plan in which MLAs and taxpayers contribute equally. All Atlantica Party candidates are bound by this. We call on sitting MLAs and other candidates to follow suit.
- Ensure MLAs who have committed a crime related to their office be stripped of their pension privileges.
- End the 'show up for work' bonus and make all political expenses receipt-able with online disclosure; all part of a larger transparency movement in government.
- Have an independent citizen panel review MLA salaries, tie salary increases to reasonable indicators of the provincial economic performance such as wealth creation per capita and decide if MLAs can keep items purchased with the 'household allowance' among other things.