Why would the government want to remove the most effective watchdog of public finances we have had for many years?
Perhaps we could have a sample referendum on the Internet to show how the public feels about John Doyle staying as auditor general for another six years.While we are about it we could also ask if B.C. taxpayers are happy to pay the legal costs of government political staff who pleaded guilty to corruption concerning the sale of B.C. Rail. Remember, we the taxpayers have paid the legal costs, not the party in power.
Obviously the people who authorized the payments would prefer that the taxpayers not know who made that decision to spend their money. That is why we need a taxpayers’ advocate, and that tenacious watchdog is in danger of being removed.
The superb job done by many journalists in Vancouver and Victoria has helped to prevent the summary removal of Doyle. The next step is to see that he is fully reinstated for a job well done. Having a non -partisan overseer of public finances is essential in a democracy.
Gary Jones
Victoria
