four doctors leaving PAGE A3
Friday, March 13, 2015
dementia care in quesnel PAGE A16
VOL. 101 NO. 55
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Purple Day underway at Quesnel Bakery The public is encouraged to drop by the Quesnel Bakery for the pretty flower-shaped purple cookies for the entire month of March. Mayor Bob Simpson, right and epilepsyQuesnel’s Natasha Wasmuth, centre enjoy a cup of coffee and a purple cookie with Quesnel Bakery owner Gerd Teetzen as the community gears up for Purple Day, March 26 where several locations around the community will be offering cookies and bracelets for sale, information to read and other activities honouring Purple Day. All proceeds from eQuesnel’s fundraising are for additional beds in the Seizure Investigation Unit at Vancouver General Hospital. The SIU is the only facility of its kind in the province serving adults with epilepsy and currently has only two beds. Annie Gallant photo
MLA Coralee Oakes in the hot seat AUTUMN MacDONALD Observer Reporter
A leaked report has the opposition pointing fingers at government, more specifically Cariboo North MLA and Minister Coralee Oakes. The document, stemming from the BC Liberals’ Auditor General for Local Government (AGLG) was brought to the legislation by NDP opposition, who questioned Oakes and
the premier after stating the auditor’s office has “wasted” more than $5 million. “The auditor general’s role is to look at value for money,” New Democrat on local government spokesperson Selina Robinson said. “What? So now we need another auditor to audit the auditor?” The premier initially set up the new auditor general to ensure taxpayers
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were receiving value for money and to oversee best practices on a local government level. Unlike an independent auditor general the AGLG report to a governmentappointed council and is accountable to a minister. That minister is Cariboo North MLA and Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development Coralee Oakes. “She’s responsible for
what comes out of that office,” Robinson said. Oakes said reports have been “misleading” pointing to the fact the auditor’s office also works extensively with local government preparing audit reports on how municipalities can initiate best practices. However, the opposition questioned Oakes and the premier on the validity of the AGLA at a cost of $5.2 for two years operation
and the production of one audit, when it had promised 18 a year. “Reading through this report, it is clear there is almost no support for the auditor’s leadership,” Robinson said. “It’s clear that the B.C. Liberals had no idea what they were getting into in creating this office. “After two years of effort and $5.2 million in costs, the office is still wrestling with issues that should
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have been addressed in the first month of operation.” Oakes acknowledged government was “disappointed they haven’t seen more audits having been completed” but said they continue to support the AGLG. An independent review of the office was announced this week and will look to address questions on performance.
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