The generator was just the beginning.
It turns out Yarmouth MLA Richard Hurlburt spent $2,499 on a 40-inch LCD television and another $579 to have it installed.
Hurlburt was one of two politicians outed yesterday who hid that their expenses were red flagged in a report last week by auditor general Jacques Lapointe.
Last week, Hurlburt fessed up to spending $8,000 for a generator installed in his home. At first he refused to apologize and said it was for community use, but later backed down and repaid the full amount.
He neglected to mention the TV was also his.
Yesterday, Speaker Charlie Parker, under direction from Premier Darrell Dexter, released the auditor general’s list of names tied to the document.
Hurlburt was en route to Florida yesterday and could not be reached. Progressive Conservative Leader Karen Casey confirmed she knew about the TV but said it wasn’t mentioned last week because it wasn’t deemed “inappropriate” like the generator. Instead, it was flagged as “excessive” and Casey said they were seeking clarification.
The list also reveals former Tory fisheries minister Ron Chisholm was mentioned twice, for expensing a $750 GPS system and $1,274 in Internet bills. Chisholm had not come forward despite being contacted by the Tory party.
Yesterday, Dexter had the list released after he apologized for his own questionable spending — $5,501 for two laptop computers and $2,150 for a digital camera.
Hurlburt stood beside Casey Thursday as she was asked: “Your party was not responsible for any of the other excessive payments that were identified by the auditor general?”
Casey responded: “The Speaker’s office contacted my office to say that there was one member of our caucus who was identified in that letter, and that one member was Mr. Hurlburt.”
