SAANICHNEWS The outsider
Lending a hand
Righthander Nathan McKinlay is Oak Bay’s man on the Saanich-laden Victoria Mariners. Sports, Page A19
Greater Victoria’s automotive community comes together to help a local family. In Motion, Page B1
Friday, April 27, 2012
Gray Rothnie
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Outgoing CAO to oversee new audit council Saanich’s retiring chief administrative officer won’t have much time off before starting his next job. Tim Wood, who’s been the municipality’s top civil servant since 2002, was named this week to the provincial government’s audit council. The council will oversee B.C.’s new office of the Auditor General for Local Government. Wood, along with four other council members, will first make a recommendation to the minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development as to who should be appointed the municipal auditor general. Oak Bay-Gordon Head MLA Ida Chong said criticism of the position when it was announced last year was a result of “confusion” about how the new auditor would operate. “It’s not about finding fault, not about imposing new rules,” Chong said as she introduced the audit committee Wednesday. “It’s about helping to find efficiencies.” PLEASE SEE: Audit council, Page A12
May flowers Pacific Horticulture College first year students Kim Rose, left, and Galaad Perrier check flowers that will be available at the Horticultural Centre of the Pacific annual spring plant sale Saturday and Sunday (April 28, 29), from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 405 Quayle Road. The sale will also include veggie starts, tomatos and herbs. Sharon Tiffin/News staff
Saanich taxpayers in for $100,000 to host Junos Kyle Slavin News staff
Saanich will contribute $100,000 to help Greater Victoria host the Juno Awards, though the money is contingent on a number of things falling into place. First, the money will only come if the region is named host. Second, Saanich will only give the money if the provincial government contributes “in the range of $1.5 million.” “We don’t have the (province’s financial) commitment in writing. … If we got that, and we put $100,000 in, the (economic) pay-
back of this would be tremendous,” Inside Esquimalt council also commitsaid Coun. Paul Gerrard at Monday ted $17,000 for the Junos this week, ■ Our View: night’s council meeting. while Oak Bay has only offered its The Capital Region Music Awards Supporting Junos “support” for the bid. Society has asked councils through- is not a difficult On the West Shore, Colwood out the region for a financial con- decision. has promised $16,000 while LangPage A10 ford said it will help with funding tribution of “$1 per citizen in your municipality.” While Saanich’s popuif all other municipalities are also lation is nearly 110,000, council felt most com- on board. View Royal and Highlands councils fortable committing to an even $100,000. have expressed support but neither is specifyCoun. Dean Murdock attempted to get his ing dollar amounts. colleagues’ support for that extra $10,000 If the Capital Region’s Juno bid is successby saying Saanich, as a bigger municipality, ful, the funds would come from each municiwould have an easier time contributing $1 per pality’s 2013-14 budgets. citizen than smaller communities. kslavin@saanichnews.com
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