B.C. legislature Speaker Darryl Plecas has questioned financial reports signed off by Auditor General Carol Bellringer, leaving her unable to audit her own work, opposition MLAs say.
Plecas has promised a “forensic audit” of the books of the B.C. legislature but hasn’t shared his reasons for doing so, B.C. Liberal house leader Mary Polak said in a memo tabled at the legislature management committee meeting Wednesday.
“In order to re-establish public confidence in our legislature, this forensic audit bust be undertaken immediately and with great care, and with guidance from the Auditor General,” the memo states. “However, we must bear in mind that the statements from the Speaker call into doubt previous audits conducted by the Auditor General herself, putting her into a most difficult position, as she cannot conduct a forensic audit on her own work.”
Plecas arranged for the suspension of Clerk of the House Craig James and Sergeant at Arms Gary Lenz Nov. 20, citing unspecified suspicions about the operation of the legislature’s $70 million operating budget.
RELATED: B.C. legislature clerk, sergeant at arms suspended amid investigation
Chairing a meeting of the legislature’s finance and audit committee meeting Wednesday, Plecas said MLAs should deal with the budget first, and his suspicions about finance operations can be discussed at a meeting of the full management committee in January.
Polak said Plecas’ allegations reflect on the operations of the legislature, and passing a budget without discussing them does not make sense.
“We can’t go on pretending that the chair of this committee hasn’t made allegations of financial wrongdoing,” Polak said.
The NDP and B.C. Green majority voted down a series of B.C. Liberal motions to delay the process, including seeking a briefing from independent prosecutors appointed to examine the situation.
@tomfletcherbctfletcher@blackpress.caLike us on Facebook and follow us on <a href=
“http://twitter.com/BlackPressMedia” target=”_blank”>Twitter.
