Premier Christy Clark and Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development Ida Chong were in Surrey, BC, today to announce that the new Auditor General for Local Government will be based in the province’s second-largest city.

I attended the news conference, along with a number of media folks, representatives from the BC Chamber of Commerce and Canadian Federation of Independent Business, and supportive municipal leaders such as Surrey Councillors Marvin Hunt, Barinder Rasode and Tom Gill, and Coquitlam Mayor Richard Stewart and Councillor Linda Reimer. Former BC cabinet minister Bill Reid was also on hand.

The legislation for the AGLG was introduced in the House today, and will be fully debated in the spring. The new AGLG will have responsibility for local governments, regional districts, and municipally-owned enterprises. Its core mandate, according to the news release:

• Conduct performance audits (also called "value-for-money" audits) in order to provide local governments with objective information and advice on achieving efficiencies in local government operations.
• Provide recommendations to the audited local government in the form of public reports.
• Issue recommended practices arising from performance audits.

As you know, the CTF has been a strong supporter of this office. While the $2.6 million annual price tag (picked up by the Province) is steep, and we are never comfortable with growing the size of government, we believe this office will provide savings to taxpayers in the long run, and increase the accountability at city halls and regional districts across BC. The office should be going by late spring 2012, said Minister Chong.

I tweeted the news conference live. For the uninitiated, Twitter restricts messages to 140 characters. @christyclarkbc is the Twitter name for Premier Christy Clark. @ida_chong is the Twitter name for Community Minister Ida Chong. And #bcpoli is a search term for BC politics. Here are my tweets from this morning, if you're interested in a little play by play recap:

AGLG news conference is under way! @Ida_Chong and @christyclarkbc are present. So are Richard Stewart and @BRasode. #bcpoli

@christyclarkbc thanks @Ida_Chong for her work with local gov. Also thanks @MayorWatts and Richard Stewart. #bcpoli

@christyclarkbc ran on this AG platform for leader. Cites spending growth. AGLG will be based here in Surrey. #bcpoli

@christyclarkbc wants AGLG to help keep property taxes under control. Yes please! #bcpoli

@christyclarkbc notes local gov opposition, but says AG independent review is necessary. Will focus on efficiency. #bcpoli

@christyclarkbc says AGLG long overdue. "it's going to make a difference." #bcpoli

@tomsgill speaking on behalf of @TheCityofSurrey, welcoming news that AGLG will be located here. First the future, now an AG. #bcpoli

@Ida_Chong and @christyclarkbc taking questions. #bcpoli

AGLG will have provincial cost of $2.6 million annually, but @christyclarkbc says savings to taxpayers make it worth it. #bcpoli

@christyclarkbc touts AG expertise and independence. #bcpoli

@christyclarkbc notes province will pick up AGLG tab. This pleases @cllrmarvinhunt, standing next to me. #bcpoli

AGLG cost is 0.005% of BC Gov budget. @christyclarkbc hopes office is up by late spring; appt will include local gov. #bcpoli

@christyclarkbc doesn't want more gov, but this is a unique position and worth it. #bcpoli