VICTORIA: In light of a Vancouver Sun article that alleges a $50 million computer systems over-run at Vancouver General Hospital, the BC division of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) today wrote British Columbia's Auditor General Wayne Strelioff to request that he conduct three audits into the Vancouver General Hospital and the (former) Vancouver/Richmond Health Board (VRHB). The CTF also wrote Health Planning Minister Sindi Hawkins and Health Services Minister Colin Hansen to ask how they can guarantee the same cost over-runs won't crop up at the new Vancouver Coastal Health Authority.

"In the private sector, a $50 million over-run would see heads roll," said CTF-BC director Mark Milke. "What guarantee do taxpayers have that accountability means more than just words or just another paper re-organization "

Milke revealed that this past summer, the CTF informed the government about rumoured financial problems at Vancouver General Hospital and the Vancouver/Richmond Health Board, rumours passed on to the CTF by credible sources. The CTF chose not to make the allegations public because certain financial details could not be independently verified. The CTF makes no claim as to who is at fault for the overruns, but does insist an audit must happen and that accountability should be the result.

"Fifty million dollars could have paid for 800 nurses salaries for one year, "said Milke. "And now the hospital will spend $1.4 million next year on interest on unpaid bills, and $6.2 million by 2006. Second to fast ferries, if there was ever a boondoggle that cried out for an investigation by the province's Auditor General - this is it."

The CTF requests three separate audits into the computer systems cost over-run, and into the finances of the Vancouver General Hospital and the Vancouver Richmond Health Authority:

• A financial audit to provide independent assurance that the financial information provided to the provincial government by the Vancouver General Hospital and the Vancouver Richmond Health Authority was credible, integral, and used sound financial controls.

• A performance audit - to examine whether public money was spent wisely.

• A conduct of business audit to assess whether VHG and VRHB complied with legislation governing its activities.