Audit probes $226,000 expenses by B.C. Justice Ministry bureaucrat

VICTORIA – More than $200,000 in expenses for a bureaucrat within the B.C. Justice Ministry are under review after a failure to produce expense receipts for over half of the bill.

Documents released under a freedom of information request say the unnamed bureaucrat was the subject of an internal review for spending $226,000, yet receipts couldn’t be found for $118,000.

The audit determined the bureaucrat spent $70,200 on rent in Vancouver, $23,200 for 17 international business trips, $7,100 for nine out of province trips, $64,500 for 100 trips between Victoria and Vancouver and $41,000 for in-province expenses.

The Finance Ministry’s Investigation and Forensic Office of the Comptroller General recommended government ministries strive to ensure the travel and expense documents of its bureaucrats are obtained, reviewed and retained.

The Justice Ministry responded, saying it agreed with the findings and stated it will address the control deficiencies found in the audit.

Opposition New Democrat open government critic Doug Routley says the audit speaks volumes about the government’s commitment to accountability.