OTTAWA — Donald Savoie, the eminent governance expert, once called the House of Commons’ Board of Internal Economy “the most secretive committee that has ever existed — secretive even to its own MPs.”No longer. Perhaps its members would have unique initiations rites and rituals — funny handshakes like the Freemasons or self-flagellation like Opus Dei. Much of the meeting was taken up with a discussion of the House of Commons’ financial statements for the year. In fact the House spent an extra $33 million in the year ended March 31, taking total expenses to $545.7 million. His explanation that this was caused by the addition of 30 new MPs was accepted with equanimity by the board members.

Source: National Post October 19, 2017 23:15 UTC