HALIFAX - Nova Scotia's auditor general says he will conduct a forensic investigation into the expense claims of provincial politicians after he received information that raises concerns about possible illegalities.
Jacques Lapointe issued a statement today saying he is following up on some of the questionable transactions he flagged in an audit released earlier last week.
In an interview Lapointe says those concerns led to the forensic investigation.
He says "additional information" from the public and the media prompted him to take a closer look at spending.
Lapointe wouldn't say how many members of the legislature are involved, but he confirmed that there are more than one.
In his audit, Lapointe cited numerous examples of inappropriate or excessive spending and pointed out the need for clearer rules.
The audit, the first of its kind in 15 years, revealed members of the legislature used taxpayers' money to buy expensive furniture, renovations, a video game, cameras, big-screen TVs, an espresso maker, laptops and other items the auditor deemed too expensive or inappropriate.
Former Conservative cabinet minister Richard Hurlburt quit politics Tuesday after it was revealed he had spent $2,400 on an LCD television and $8,000 on a generator that was installed at his home in Yarmouth.
Premier Darrell Dexter has pledged to bring in changes that will tighten controls on how politicians spend public money.
However, the NDP premier has also said he doesn't see the need for a public inquiry, saying he's more focused on fixing a system riddled with vague rules and little oversight.
