March 28, 2024

NDP say AG can still provide audit despite court ruling

BC's Auditor General may have been halted in his mission to shed light on the province's six-million-dollar legal payout related to the BC Rail scandal.  But the NDP says that doesn't mean he still can't provide a good audit as to why taxpayers were forced to pickup the tab for the two former Liberal staffers who pleaded guilty in the affair. … [Read more...]

Audit aside, Translink still faces major issues

The Chair of the Mayors Council for Translink says Provincial audit aside, major problems with transit funding and governance remain unsolved.  District of North Vancouver Mayor Richard Walton says 139 million per year in audit savings still falls short of what's needed to improve the transit system, "The Minister, I think, alluded to the fact … [Read more...]

Union passed over by Provincial audit

The union representing bus drivers is warning the results of a Provincial audit into Translink will just mean service cuts and fewer buses. Canadian Auto Workers Local 1-11 President Don MacLeod says the 139-million a year in savings are in part a result of trimming services. MacLeod says transit in Metro Vancouver is already short of where it … [Read more...]

Chair of the mayors council for Translink gives audit findings a frosty reception

The new Translink savings found in a provincial government audit are not carved in stone according to the chair of the mayors council. Richard Walton says cutting service to create savings is simply not ideal. "Eleven million dollars worth of savings from decreasing routes that aren't full and very often those are on weekends and late at night and … [Read more...]

Secretive legislative committee to meet after damning audit

The B.C. legislative committee that looks after the House's fiscal governance has spoken out after a damning report by the Auditor General. The committee, known as LAM-C, says it will meet next Tuesday to address the audit that found its records in a complete and utter mess. Committee chair and Speaker of the House Bill Barisoff says John … [Read more...]

Taxpayers Federation wants Transit Police included in Translink audit

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation wants BC's Transit Police to be included in an upcoming audit. Director Jordan Bateman says the officers have made several what he calls 'head-scratching' spending decisions, such as high overtime. And he says the only way to have them included in Translink's looming audit is to lobby the government to have its … [Read more...]

Transit Police audit released

An audit of Transit Police is painting a rosy picture...The review was done by the Vancouver Police Department - and makes 30 recommendations.When it comes to violent crime, the review cites a 6.8% drop between 2008 and 2010.Tt also finds fare enforcement reached an all-time high in the second quarter of last year.Chief Officer Neil Dubord is happy … [Read more...]

Lekstrom reveals details of Translink audit

  Details into the upcoming audit of Translink are finally being released. Transportation Minister Blair Lekstrom has written a letter to the Mayors' Council, saying the process will be conducted by the Ministry of Finance, and will be similar to audits of BC Hydro and ICBC. As for future sources, Lekstrom says the public needs to be part of … [Read more...]

BCCLA won’t get to see RCMP audit

The BC Civil Liberties Association's attempts to get a copy of the province's RCMP audit has been thwarted because the cabinet and Treasury Board haven't seen it yet.Executive Director David Eby says it's astonishing, considering the province is on the verge of signing a multi-billion dollar, 20-year contract with the force. He … [Read more...]