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[Johnson Street Bridge REPLACEMENT] Funding discussion


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#1521 JohnsonStBridge

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Posted 19 December 2020 - 09:46 AM

Why can't the City hire their own audit firm? The local government auditor is not the only shop in town for this work. And there is a point that they were never the best candidate reviewing a specific project for a specific municipality. Their mandate was to produce reports and advice with broad appeal for all local governments of varying size and complexity. Capital management is going to look a lot different to Qualicum Beach planning for a new fire engine than Victoria embarking on tens of million dollar infrastructure replacement. 

 

If there is value for money (which I believe there is) in reviewing the project this should be priority #1 for the City before embarking further on the Crystal Pool project.



#1522 Nparker

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Posted 19 December 2020 - 10:29 AM

Why can't the City hire their own audit firm?

 Why would they? They've clearly dodged a bullet here. Also if the CoV hired its own audit firm, how can we trust that the results wouldn't be biased since the City is the one footing the bill?

 

...reviewing the [JSB] project...should be priority #1 for the City before embarking further on the Crystal Pool project...

Receiving any provincial or federal funding for a Crystal Pool replacement should be contingent upon the completion of a full external review of the JSB fiasco 


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#1523 JohnsonStBridge

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Posted 19 December 2020 - 01:54 PM

 Why would they? They've clearly dodged a bullet here. 

 

They've only dodged a bullet if you believe they didn't want the audit to happen. I don't see how that was the case. Lisa Helps committed to an audit (arising from her meeting with the Grumpy Taxpayers) and wanted it to happen to prevent the same problems on the pool or fire hall. Yes the bridge was a fiasco. An audit is the right thing to do and you have to give her credit for requesting one.

 

Also if the CoV hired its own audit firm, how can we trust that the results wouldn't be biased since the City is the one footing the bill?

 

Auditors are held to a code of conduct and professional standards that require them to be independent of the company/organization they are auditing. It is fundamental to their function and could be risking their professional designation if they are in a conflict of interest. It would have been convenient to have the provincial government foot the bill but the results would be just as reliable having a hired firm do the review. A hired firm would potentially provide more relevant advice and recommendations specific to the City as opposed to a provincial auditor whose recommendations would have needed to have broad application to all local governments. 



#1524 Nparker

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Posted 19 December 2020 - 02:52 PM

I don't believe for a second that Lisa Helps ever really wanted an independent audit of the JSB and I am even more certain it won't happen now.



 



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