VICTORIA — A report alleging "flagrant" overspending by two top officials at British Columbia's legislature has prompted a call for major accountability and transparency reforms.
B.C.'s information and privacy commissioner, the ombudsperson and merit commissioner together say the time has arrived to bring in modern transparency and accountability rules to monitor the legislature and its officials.
The three independent officers of the legislature made the call for reforms today in a joint letter to the Legislative Assembly Management Committee, which oversees financial management of the legislature.
Speaker Darryl Plecas is the chairman of the all-party committee.
A 76-page report released by Plecas last month alleges spending in the millions of dollars by suspended sergeant-at-arms Gary Lenz and clerk Craig James on overseas trips, payout packages and personal purchases.
James and Lenz, who are on administrative leave, have denied any wrongdoing.