Ottawa councillors' expenses going online

Ottawa taxpayers will be able to keep track of how much money their city councillors are spending, starting Monday.

The city will start posting councillor and senior manager expense reports on the Internet.

Mayor Jim Watson, who campaigned on what he called an 'integrity platform', says residents will be able to see how their money is being spent.

"We will be releasing for the first time ever councillors and senior management expenses online, so that you can see what we're spending your money on," said Watson.

The information will be separated into categories such as hospitality and travel, which will help taxpayers to understand how their money is being spent.

"[City officials] do have to spend money on hospitality or travel, that's part of doing business," the mayor said. "But it also disciplines us to make sure that we're being respectful day in and day out with your money."

The mayor says putting office expenses online will help to discipline councillors and managers to think about how they spend public money.

Watson has also promised to establish a municipal lobbyist registry and to hire a part-time integrity commissioner.