It is unlikely many people have heard of Raymond Lavigne, but his story is a cautionary tale for politicians at the public trough and perhaps a lesson for all of us about the way government now sees the world.
Lavigne has resigned from the Canadian senate after being found guilty of fraud and breach of trust in Ontario Superior Court, for falsely claiming $10,000 in travel reimbursements. As frauds go, it is hardly a huge crime, given that we have seen so many more people help themselves to so much more cash from the public till. Some senators, though, are furious that Lavigne will still collect his parliamentary pension of over $79,000 a year. And, despite being suspended from the senate since 2007, he kept his $132,000 salary, plus he wracked up $300,000 in travel, hospitality and office expenses.
Lavigne is a former Liberal MP, but party really has nothing to do with fraud. We’ve seen crooks of all political stripes over the years.
But what gives with these guys, anyway? Those of us struggling with debts and mortgages learn of such huge stolen sums, a small portion of which would help us immensely in our own financial lives, and shake our heads in disgust. This nonsense has been happening for decades and is seemingly unstoppable.
Why? And where does it start?
We suspect the issue is one of innocence. Take for example outrageous spending by government bureaucrats and politicians. Perhaps it started with some special meetings, where somebody wished there was coffee available. Then, somebody suggested a few doughnuts to go with it. Shortly after that, a caterer could provide sandwiches and a veggie and fruit tray. It was only a short step to visiting the local cafe for a lunch or dinner, and a few more steps down the line people are “dining out.” After that, why not some fine wines and expensive liquors at an expensive eatery to go along with them? After all, they are working very hard at important business for “the people.” Why shouldn’t the people pay?
All that can happen even at the local level if people around the council table or in the accounts office are unable to restrain the miscreants.
And so it escalates. People at provincial and federal levels earning six figure salaries think nothing of dining at the best and most expensive restaurants. Then the government credit card becomes an easy way to pay after a while. A few years down the line, everyone is shocked at thousands of dollars spent on meals or claimed for travel expenses Outright fraud is merely the next step. It is a gradual slide down the slippery slope – one that gets harder to stop as everyone picks up spending and entitlement steam.
Consider simply the local municipal level (and we are unaware of anyone locally who abuses privileges the way provincial and federal politicians and employees have over the years). Local councillors used to be elected to serve a term. It was reasonable to pay them mileage costs and for conventions. But some of them noted that committee work was taking longer than council and they complained – or worse, skipped meetings or refused some committees.
So about 20 years ago they started getting paid for attending committee meetings that previously had been simply a part of their job.
Today, when looking at some of the salaries and perquisites of local councils, it seems that many local politicians are collecting in pay as much or more than what people on minimum wages are earning for a full week’s work. And remember, the political jobs are part time.
So it begins. The days of altruistic community service for service sake has passed away. Some would argue that good, or over generous pay, attracts the best candidates. Does that mean in previous decades there were no good candidates? Or were those politicians in the job for other lucrative reasons? We don’t buy it.
It is yet another slippery slope, albeit everyone is still, comparatively, at the top of the hill and there is still time to stop their slide. But we do not expect that to happen.
Voters appear to have accepted the inevitable scandals – which ensures they will happen.
