Trust in how governments and their agencies spend taxpayer dollars is often shaky at best. This past week, the province’s auditor general released a report alleging multiple incidents of fraudulent activity within one department within the Newfoundland and Labrador English School District. While it may be a case of a few people making many others look bad, the report likely won’t help bolster taxpayer confidence in public institutions.
Question: Are you confident in how government and public agencies spend taxpayer dollars?
Dan Campbell
- Markham, Ont. (formerly of Corner Brook)
I don’t think anybody is 100 per cent confident. You’re going to get people misappropriating funds in any government, but they should be punished to the full extent of the law. It’s downright fraud and people should be punished for it.
Jamie Langford
- Corner Brook
I can only imagine the amount of fraud that goes on in bigger levels of government. I have no faith in any government anymore and I don’t think a lot of people do. This kind of thing doesn’t make things any better.
Tom Bannister
- Massey Drive
When you see things like that, how can you have any faith? There’s always going to be a question in the back of your mind. I think there needs to be more oversight in the system so those things don’t happen and charges are brought to court.
Clayton Tapp
- Corner Brook
I have 100 per cent no confidence in public spending whatsoever. Now, this with the school board is totally disgusting. They are all on the public payroll. Someone should be doing something to correct this and they should serve time for their crimes.
Peter Pennell
- Benoit’s Cove
I’ve worked in the system and there is crookery at every level, let’s put it that way. I think this should be closely looked at. I have done work through a lot of government agencies and I’ve seen it. It should be seriously looked at.
Brian Perry
- Frenchman’s Cove
Absolutely not. There are probably more scandals just waiting. These are the people who we put our trust in. Someone should be held accountable for it. We have far too many people in our system getting paid far too much for doing far too little.
