The office of the auditor general for local government (AGLG) is still aiming for an April release date for its performance audit report on the District of Sechelt, despite the firing last week of AGLG Basia Ruta.
“We’re still planning to proceed with the Sechelt audit report and all of our audits,” Mark Tatchell, deputy auditor general for local government, said Wednesday.
Tatchell acknowledged it was “theoretically possible” the release could be delayed beyond April, but said there’s a strong determination “on the part of the audit council, this office and the government to stick to our timelines to get these reports published.”
Tatchell said the audit council is working “very diligently and quickly” to recommend the appointment of an acting or permanent AGLG, who will have to review and approve the Sechelt audit before it’s published.
The provincial government removed Ruta from her position on March 23, after two weeks of controversy surrounding a leaked workplace report that listed a series of employee grievances in the AGLG’s Surrey office. The report cited “wasted time and work” as the most common frustration in the office, which released only three audit reports in two years.
Community, Sport and Cultural Development Minister Coralee Oakes said Ruta’s “obstruction of an intended review of her office has created an intolerable situation that compounds the unstable work environment and lack of performance from that office.”
In a statement issued the same day, Ruta denied obstructing the review of her office, saying she offered two alternatives to a proposed third-party review that she said is not allowed under legislation.
“The manner of removing me from office occurred without adherence to basic principles of procedural fairness. I will be seeking judicial review of the decision,” Ruta said in the statement issued by a law firm.
The Sechelt audit report, which is believed to focus on the Sechelt Water Resource Centre project, was set to be released last fall, but was delayed because of the municipal elections.
Last month, Mayor Bruce Milne confirmed the AGLG had sent the District a confidential copy of its proposed final report for a 45-day review and comment period.
“I wish I could give you a date [for its release] because we’d probably have a welcoming committee for it,” Milne said after the Feb. 18 council meeting. “I’m sorry we can’t talk about what’s in it.”
Interim CAO Bill Beamish said Wednesday the District had forwarded its comments on the report to the AGLG’s office.
