The Issue
Handcuffing the watchdog is one way of hiding what you do. And if that does not work, you muzzle him too!
Budgetary constraints have forced the auditor general to cancel or postpone one-third of the audit projects that were to be performed between October 2008 and March 2010. As well, the auditor general is being told to stay away from certain issues, such as climate change and mental health issues. Take a look at Alberta watchdog told to butt out of Tory policy for more background information.
Why It's Important
The auditor general provides oversight for governmental spending, identifying waste and areas for improvement. Previous issues identified by the auditor general include:
- the loss of billions of dollars in royalty income
- the lack of control over, or protection for, Alberta's IT investments
- the inefficient use of government aircraft
By restricting the work of the auditor general, the government is better able to hide its excesses from Albertans.
What Should Be Done
The auditor general should receive sufficient funding to properly discharge its work. And there should be no constraints at what can be examined. By empowering the auditor general, can we ensure the information provided by the government is reliable and complete, our public resources are well managed, and opportunities for improvement are identified.
