Province introduces legislation on Auditor General for Local Government (AGLG)

CityHallWatch watches with interest the progress being made toward creation of an Office of the Auditor General for Local Government (AGLG). Premier Christy Clark announced on November 24, 2011, that Ida Chong (Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development) would be introducing legislation that afternoon. See below for backgrounder of the official media release from the Office of the Premier. 

Media coverage: Union of BC Municipalities convention (in Vancouver this week)

Tip: Go to http://news.google.ca/ and search for UBCM.

• Opposition is growing against smart meters
• $930-million smart meter rollout not flowing smoothly as B.C. residents start making waves
• B.C. Hydro skirts real concerns over smart meters. Mocking radiation worries diverts attention from high cost of program
• Chong’s word that auditor won’t meddle in civic matters questioned
• Municipal politicians in Vancouver for UBCM, minus Gordon Campbell
• More…

CityHallWatch welcomes Union of BC Municipalities, calls for municipal auditor general

CityHallWatch welcomes delegates to the annual convention of the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) starting today at the Vancouver Convention Centre. The UBCM calls itself “the voice of BC local government.” The theme of the convention is “Rethink, Replace & Rejuvenate: The New 3Rs.” For mayors and councillors, this annual convention (paid for by us taxpayers) is their best opportunity to meet directly with cabinet ministers and the senior bureaucrats who “make things happen.” The UBCM website and program info are here:
http://ubcm.ca/EN/main/convention/2011_Convention/theme.html
The page on resolutions and policy is here:
http://ubcm.ca/EN/main/convention/2011_Convention/resolutions-and-policy.html

A hot-button issue: “Municipal Auditor-General” proposal

[Update 11-Aug-2011] Media coverage is growing on the topic of a creating a provincial auditor-general as a watchdog on municipalities, starting with an initial attack by Vaughn Palmer in the Vancouver Sun on August 9, 2011. The same day, The  Straight online edition carried a story by Charlie Smith, titled “Bravo to Christy Clark for trying to create a municipal auditor general.” He raises important points and already  there are many comments. This proposal is certainly worth good consideration in the coming days and weeks. Below we will continue to add further coverage (Vancouver Sun, The Straight, The Province) and comments noted or received by CityHallWatch.