VICTORIA, B.C.: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation delivered more than 10,000 petition signatures to the B.C. legislature calling on the provincial government to reinstate the auditor general for local governments. 

“Taxpayers are sick and tired of being ripped off by big-spending local governments,” said Carson Binda, B.C. Director for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. “Families and small businesses can’t afford to pay higher taxes because mayors are wasting too much money.” 

A number of high-profile spending scandals have shaken taxpayers’ faith in local government accountability. 

The City of Richmond has been unable to reconcile almost $300,000 worth of gift cards to high-end restaurants that were reportedly handed out to staff with no documentation or accountability. 

The North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant is $3 billion over budget and years behind schedule. 

B.C. used to have a dedicated municipal auditor general, but the NDP government closed it because municipal governments opposed the office. 

“Closing the auditor’s office because municipalities didn’t like being audited is like leaving the bank’s vault unlocked because the burglar doesn’t like it when it’s closed,” Binda said. “Now 10,000 B.C. taxpayers are all calling on Eby to bring accountability back to B.C. municipalities.”

Despite repeated requests, no one from the premier’s office agreed to accept the petition. Instead, B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad accepted the petitions. 

“It’s disappointing that the premier’s office couldn’t be bothered to hear from more than 10,000 taxpayers,” Binda said. “Rustad stepped up and showed leadership by listening to taxpayers who want an auditor general to keep an eye on municipalities.”