Hurlburt pleads guilty in N.S. spending scandal

Richard Hurlburt, a former Nova Scotia cabinet minister,apologizedtohis former constituentstoday after pleading guilty to fraud and breach of trust.

Hurlburtentered his pleas in Nova Scotia Supreme Court in Yarmouth. His wife Nancy was at his side.

Later, he told reportershe accepted responsibility for his actions.

"I want to apologize to the constituents of Yarmouth for any hardship that it's put on to [them] and all of Nova Scotians," he said.

He refused to take questions.

Hurlburt, a former Progressive Conservative cabinet minister under John Hamm, will be sentenced on July 5.

Hurlburt and three others were charged in 2010 following an investigation into MLA spending between July 2006and June 2009.

The provincial auditor general found a number of questionable constituency expense claims.Purchases likean espresso maker and custom-made furniture were deemed excessive and inappropriate.

Hurlburt billed $8,000 fora generator hekept athis home. He initially defended the cost, saying seniors at a nearbyhousing complexcould use it.

He also spent more than $3,000 to buy and install a 40-inch LCD television.

It wasn't long before heresigned and apologized. He said he paid back the money.

Last fall, Dave Wilson, former Liberal MLA for Glace Bay, pleaded guilty to uttering forged documents, fraud and breach of trust.

Russell MacKinnon's trial is set to start on May 3.

Trevor Zinck the only sitting MLA to be charged is due in court in June for a preliminary inquiry. The former New Democrat is now an Independent.