Premier David Eby promised his government would release the findings of a potentially damaging forensic audit into BC Housing as soon as possible without giving a date.
害羞草研究所淢y commitment to this House was that we would release as much of the report as the law allowed us to do,害羞草研究所� Eby said during Question Period Monday (March 27). 害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e working on that, and we害羞草研究所檒l do it as soon as possible. I害羞草研究所檒l keep that commitment.害羞草研究所�
Eby made that comment during the first QP in the provincial legislature after a two-week break. The BC Liberals led by Kamloops-North Thompson MLA Peter Milobar demanded its immediate unredacted release.
害羞草研究所淔rankly, that害羞草研究所檚 just not good enough,害羞草研究所� Milobar said in response to Eby害羞草研究所檚 initial answer. 害羞草研究所淭he government has been sitting on this report for the last couple of weeks without taking actions on it.害羞草研究所�
Milobar was referring to comments from Minister of Housing Ravi Kahlon made Sunday while announcing housing for Vancouver害羞草研究所檚 Downtown Eastside.
害羞草研究所淕overnment received the report a couple of weeks ago,害羞草研究所� Kahlon said. 害羞草研究所淚 only received my copy Monday (March 20). I was away the week prior with my family害羞草研究所 read the report. The information bulletin went on Friday and I can say after reading the report, it is my belief that it is in the public害羞草研究所檚 interest to be released with as little redaction as possible. 害羞草研究所�
He added that lawyers have told government to follow the process under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
害羞草研究所淎t this stage, it depends on how that process goes,害羞草研究所� he said.
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B.C. Housing is the Crown corporation responsible for developing, managing and administering subsidized housing. Eby, then minister responsible for housing, ordered the forensic audit last July after an Ernst and Young assessment of its finances and operations.
The public first heard of this in late November 2022, shortly after Eby became premier, but months after he had fired the BC Housing board shortly after receiving the EY report.
BC Liberals used this timeline to argue it reveals what BC Liberal Karin Kirkpatrick, MLA West Vancouver-Capilano called a 害羞草研究所減attern of evasiveness害羞草研究所� around BC Housing.
害羞草研究所淭he Premier has the ability to release the full report in the public interest,害羞草研究所� Milobar said. 害羞草研究所淏ut his refusal to do so only raises more questions of what this government is trying to hide.害羞草研究所�
Eby responded by saying that Milobar knows of these reports because they have been released publicly.
害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝e committed to this place that we will release as much of it as the law allows,害羞草研究所� Eby said. We害羞草研究所檙e working on that. We害羞草研究所檒l do it as quickly as possible. It害羞草研究所檚 a serious matter. I agree with the member that the public deserves to know.害羞草研究所�
The initial report by EY found problems within several areas, including oversight over spending decisions and risk management.
害羞草研究所淩oles and responsibilities are unclear 害羞草研究所� both with the government shareholder as well as within BC Housing,害羞草研究所� it reads. 害羞草研究所淩ecommendations have been made to strengthen governance and oversight and create greater alignment between BC Housing and its shareholder.害羞草研究所�
BC Housing had a budget of nearly $2 billion and delivers between 80 and 85 per cent of its services through non-profit housing providers.
害羞草研究所�(Current) oversight processes for these providers are manual in nature with limited ability to objectively assess provider performance (financial and non-financial) and manage overall risk,害羞草研究所� it reads.
wolfgang.depner@blackpress.ca
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