Auditor says review of her office unlawful

WATCH (above): A review of BC’s municipal auditor general is slated to get underway tomorrow — to examine its processes and planning for performance audits. Keith Baldrey reports.

VICTORIA – British Columbia’s auditor general for local government says a review of her office is undermining the independence of her bureau and may not be legal.

Basia Ruta says she supports a review of her office but has concerns about the appointment of former deputy minister Chris Trumpy to conduct that review.

The office has been under fire lately after a workplace review team found employees with concerns about leadership and productivity.

Premier Christy Clark says she is disappointed with the slow pace of municipal audits completed by the local government auditor, a branch of government created after the 2013 B.C. election.

The five-member Audit Council, appointed to review and monitor the local government auditor office, says Trumpy’s review will address ongoing concerns about the delivery of performance audits by Ruta’s office.

Ruta says in a statement that B.C.’s auditor general would be a better choice to conduct the review of her office rather than Trumpy who has political connections to the government.