Government eager for municipal audits: Oakes

The Quesnel MLA with the responsibility for local government fielded questions in the Legislative Assembly Tuesday about the progress of the auditor general for local government.

Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development Coralee Oakes said the government is looking forward to the 17 long-awaited audit reports from auditor Basia Ruta's office this spring.

"The important thing to understand about the auditor general for local government is that it's an agency that's outside of government," Oakes said during Tuesday morning's question period in Victoria.

It's also an agency that costs $2.6 million per year, said NDP local government critic Selena Robinson.

"Does the minister believe that $5.2 million for one audit over two years is good value for money?" Robinson asked.

The Regional District of Fraser-Fort George is one of 18 local governments waiting for the results of the audits first announced in the spring of 2013. The reporting date has been pushed back twice.

In a February interview with The Citizen, deputy auditor general Mark Tatchell said the office recognized they took on a heavy workload to begin with. "We're working our way through those and we are making good progress on them, I can certainly say that," he said.

Tatchell also said the remaining 17 audits - one for the city of Rossland was released last year - were scheduled for release by the end of March.

As of Tuesday, the AGLG's website provided updated release dates for reports on Delta, (April), Rossland (March), and Sechelt (April). Expected publication timelines for the remaining 15 communities (including the local regional district) were not specified.

"We are always looking for ways that we can support local governments with efficiencies and accountability," said Oakes, adding that ultimately all residents would benefit from the AGLG's work. "Government has no ability to direct the AGLG regarding reporting timelines on audit topics."

The money to fund the office could be better spent, noted Nelson-Creston MLA Michelle and NDP social devleopment critic Mungall.

"At $5.2 million, this has got to be the most expensive report British Columbians have ever paid for," Mungall said. "After failure to meet the plan for year one, you'd think the minister would actually take action but no. The Liberals just sat around while taxpayers' money was wasted again."