VANCOUVER — Municipal leaders in British Columbia have voted to call on the province to scrap a controversial office that audits local governments.
A resolution to ask B.C. to eliminate the auditor general for local government was passed with 54.5 per cent support at the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention on Thursday.
North Saanich council had put forward the resolution, saying the office has cost taxpayers $5.2 million and was unnecessary because cities were already legally required to balance their books.
Mayor Alice Finall told local politicians gathered at the conference that the province brought in the position in 2012 without consulting with cities and it hasn't shown any obvious value.
But some communities that have been audited spoke in favour of keeping the office, with Sechelt mayor Bruce Milne saying his city benefited tremendously from the process.
The province fired its first auditor, Basia Ruta, in March amid complaints of inefficiency and wasted money and announced Wednesday that accountant Gordon Ruth would take on the role.
