'Chicken' Liberal MPs put off review of Clarkson's expenses

Opposition members accused Liberal MPs of turning "chicken" yesterday after a parliamentary committee backed away from a review of Gov. Gen. Adrienne Clarkson's spending.

The government operations and estimates committee, whose investigation led to the resignation of former privacy commissioner George Radwanski, met in closed session and put off a decision on whether to call officials to testify about the office's 64-per-cent jump in its annual budget.

Liberal MP Reg Alcock, who chairs the committee, said the issue returns to committee tomorrow, but acknowledged some MPs were concerned that what should be a routine review of Madame Clarkson's budget was being overshadowed by media interest in a controversial $1-million, 20-day trip that began yesterday.

He said many were concerned that the committee's review was being painted with the same brush as its unprecedented probe into the Privacy Commission earlier this year.

"We did not make a decision today, but we will be going at it again this week," said Mr. Alcock. "Members want to discuss the issue more completely ... and be certain that we concentrate on substantive issues and not just chasing the next news story. We want to make sure that what is driving our agenda is our work, not the front page."

Mr. Alcock has spent the last several days explaining that a review of the Governor General's budget and expenses would be a normal course of committee business. He has said there were no concerns of mismanagement or questionable spending practices, like those that led to the committee's investigation into the expenses of Mr. Radwanski.

But opposition MPs didn't buy the Liberals' concerns and accused them of going "soft" and "turning chicken" in delaying a decision on the review, which they argue could be dragged out long enough that the committee won't even have time to call Governor General officials before Parliament is prorogued. They argued Liberal MPs were afraid of finding something that could embarrass the government.

"I guess some of the Liberals are getting chicken," said Canadian Alliance MP Paul Forseth. "There are different ways of phrasing it as to what their inner motivations may be. The media splash over the weekend has caused some people to have different ideas."

MPs who sit on the committee's steering group put together a proposed agenda and recommended calling Governor General officials to testify about the office's $19-million budget yesterday.

A draft invitation outlining areas the committee was interested in exploring was to be prepared when the committee decided to back off and reconsider the proposal.

"The Liberals went soft. All of sudden it wasn't a priority anymore and they were concerned it would undermine the credibility of the committee and could be seen as a witch hunt," said NDP MP Pat Martin.

The Governor General's budget was thrust into the spotlight after reports of Madame Clarkson's estimated $1-million trip to Russia, Finland and Iceland to explore the "northern identity" of other countries, prompting complaints from citizens and groups and negative editorials across Canada. The $1-million trip began yesterday when Madame Clarkson and her entourage arrived in Russia.

She was to be accompanied by some 59 guests, including Maurice Strong, a special adviser to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan; CBC-TV producer Mark Starowicz; Toronto author Michael Ondaatje; Vancouver architect Arthur Erikson; Montreal filmmaker Denys Arcand; and former Ontario NDP premier Bob Rae.

Mr. Martin argued the committee should be examining issues that are "timely" and generate Canadians' interest. He said the committee shouldn't duck an issue over fears that it may cause too much attention or leave the wrong impression.

He said the committee wasn't going to focus on the trip, but rather wanted a review of how the office works; who funds the activities of Rideau Hall and what is the office's role; and who the Governor General takes direction from when deciding upon her agenda and travel. The government operations and estimates committee, created only a year ago, received a lot of publicity over the flexing of its muscles in the Radwanski affair and a report that called for the former privacy czar's resignation, as well as a review of the government's feeble whistleblowing policies.

The committee has a sweeping mandate to examine public spending, particularly the federal agencies that normally fall through the cracks and escape parliamentary scrutiny. The budget of the Governor General's office has not been reviewed by a parliamentary committee since 1989.

But Mr. Martin said he worries the Liberals' reticence in reviewing the Governor General's office is a sign that the independent-minded committee will slip under the thumb of cabinet and government whips like most other committees.

"I can sense the mood of this committee shifting," said Mr. Martin. "For a committee to be effective, you have to co-operate and we had a lot of magic going there for a while, but I worry those days are over."