A former auditor general is asking why members of Parliament are refusing to permit a special audit of their expenses, saying they are acting as if they have something to hide.

"Well, I'm mystified," said Ken Dye, Canada's auditor general from 1981 to 1991.

"Why are they being reluctant to being transparent? I think they’re condemning themselves, telling the world, 'We’re afraid that you’re going to find something, so we’re not going to let you find it.'"

Auditor General Sheila Fraser asked last June if her office could conduct a "performance audit" on $533 million of annual spending by the House of Commons and the Senate.

But Parliament's all-party Board of Internal Economy recently rejected the request, saying the proposed audit "would go beyond the scope of the auditor general's mandate."

MPs also say an independent auditor already examines MPs’ expenses, so there’s no need to dig any deeper.

Performance audit sought

But MPs' expenses make up only a small part of the Commons budget. Fraser also wanted to do what’s called a "performance audit" on expenses that include training staff and security.

During his tenure, Dye was allowed to do performance audits and subsequently made numerous recommendations in areas such as staff training and hiring practices.

Dye says taxpayers have no way of knowing if the Commons followed his recommendations, since MPs have refused to open their books.

Politicians say they have been getting mail from many angry constituents, upset that their MPs will not allow the audit.

On Wednesday, Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff said he wants the auditor general to meet with the Board of Internal Economy. But he wouldn't commit to supporting Fraser's efforts, saying Canadians "don't want us to go through receipts of this meal and that meal."