Image Credit: SOURCE/ Office of the auditor general website
January 20, 2013 - 11:41 AM
There's no news yet on whether or not auditor general John Doyle will get his job back.
The decision to dismiss him came from a committee headed by Vernon-Monashee MLA Eric Foster, and has received heated discussion in recent weeks. Critics believe Foster's move was affected by a conflict of interest; Doyle investigated the financial aspects of a renovation to Foster's Vernon office. The NDP have made it clear they want Doyle reappointed, while the Conservatives have focused on Foster's finances, which they say don't add up. There's also some controversy over the fact that Foster's office landlord is a patron of the Liberal party.
Earlier this week, B.C. Premier Christy Clark gave a directive to the Liberal dominated committee to offer Doyle two more years as auditor general. Foster told reporters the committee would discuss the matter and announce the decision Friday, but now it looks like it will be early next week.
Mark Olsen, NDP candidate for Vernon-Monashee, says he doubts Clark's orders will go unfollowed.
"I think they recognize they made a mistake... they're trying to remove the politics and salvage some support," Olsen told InfoTel News.
He says the committee—made up of three Liberals and two NDP—needs a unanimous vote to dismiss the auditor general. There wasn't one for Doyle.
Olsen says Doyle has done a great job as financial watchdog, a prime example being the investigation of Foster's renovation bills. Conservatives want answers on why Foster's expense claims for the reno were so high, and how long Foster has known about his landlord's financial donations to the Liberal party.
"The questions need answering," Olsen says. "They point to why Doyle should be reappointed."
—Charlotte Helston
chelston@infotelnews.ca
(250)-309-5230
News from © iNFOnews, 2013