Former TNRD chief administrative officer Sukh Gill, seen speaking at a Rotary Club of Kamloops meeting in 2017, was at the centre of recent financial investigations at the regional district.
Image Credit: Rotary Club of Kamloops
May 25, 2022 - 12:31 PM
An annual award for government waste this year goes to the Thompson Nicola Regional District's former top employee.
After its former chief administrative officer Sukh Gill was found to have benefitted from hundreds of thousands in taxpayer spending and accruing a $500,000 payout in his severance, he was awarded the Teddy Waste Award for wasted government spending.
The Canadian Taxpayers Federation gives the Teddy Waste Award each year to "celebrate the best of the worst in government waste," according to a news release.
“A champagne room and bling are usually the realm of rockstars, but a bureaucrat at the Thompson-Nicola Regional District treated himself to a baller lifestyle with the taxpayer credit card," taxpayer federation federal director Franco Terrazzano said in the release.
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Gill was largely responsible for roughly $500,000 in meals and gifts over five years.
The regional district signed an agreement which compels Gill's departure to be labelled as a "retirement" in February 2020.
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After Gill's departure, more unchecked spending was uncovered, spurring a forensic audit into the regional government and a police investigation.
RCMP did not recommend fraud charges against Gill, but auditors recommended several changes at the regional district to reign in spending and keep credit card expenses in check.
The Canadian Taxpayers Federation, a non-profit organization, awarded Gill its municipal award. It also named provincial, federal and "lifetime achievement" award winners for 2022.
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