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(DARREN RATHWELL / iNFOnews.ca)

A whistleblower letter at the Thompson Nicola Regional District wasn't brought to the board until nearly two years after the board chair received it.

Regional district director Steven Rice is one of three on the board that have now called for Board Chair Ken Gillis to resign, and he's citing a lack of transparency from the top elected official to justify his call.

"He needed to be more transparent with us and with the public," Rice said. "It's about him making his decision on his own and that he didn't have to bring it to the board."

Rice said both concerns raised by the regional district's audit committee and a whistleblower letter were concealed from the board. The contents of the whistleblower letter have been discussed at in camera meetings and remain confidential. This is the foundation for calls for Gillis's resignation.

The letter was briefly mentioned in a forensic audit report. According to auditors BDO Canada, it explained "numerous allegations" against former chief administrative officer Sukh Gill, and auditors focused on its spending concerns.

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When asked whether two years was an appropriate time to wait before presenting a whistleblower letter to the 25 other board members, Gillis said he could not comment on its existence.

"Unfortunately I'm in a position where I'm not able to acknowledge whether or not there is such a letter," Gillis said, which was advised to him by legal counsel.

When asked about letters addressed to a board chair, Gillis said one could be bound to confidentiality unless otherwise specified by the author.

The regional district's own disclosure policy, which deals with whistleblower complaints, directs anyone with "serious complaints" about the chief administrative officer to report directly to the board chair.

It does not explain whether the board chair should bring a complaint to the rest of the board, but it does add that the person making the report should treat it as "strictly confidential." A policy for correspondence to individual board members stipulates the recipient can determine whether or not that letter should be shared with others.

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There was no previous policy regarding whistleblowers or correspondence, according to legislative services manager Deanna Campbell. Both were adopted in September 2020.

BDO Canada auditors recommended the regional district adopt a policy that gives whistleblowers an anonymous method to report their concerns.

On its ongoing checklist of auditor recommendations, the regional district lists the disclosure policy as completed, but adds that it will be revisited for possible updates or changes.

In the fallout of the forensic audit and RCMP investigation at the regional district sparked by allegations against former top employee Sukh Gill, directors Rice, Sally Watson and Dale Bass have called for Gillis's resignation as board chair.

Allegations against Gill include misspending of taxpayer funds and preferential treatment of vendors, among many others. The forensic audit also included a finding that more than $200,000 in spending attributed to Gill's corporate credit card over five years did not have itemized receipts.

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Rice explained that the 26 board members are working to restore public trust, adding that some changes are happening behind the scenes.

"As of right now, there are a lot of changes that aren't visible, but down the road they will be seen," Rice said. "It's going to take a while. It won't happen overnight."

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