B.C. auditor general Carol Bellringer resigns, cites personal reasons

VICTORIA – British Columbia’s auditor general has announced her resignation, citing personal reasons for the decision.

Carol Bellringer says she will step down at the end of the year and has sent a resignation letter to legislature Speaker Darryl Plecas.

Bellringer was appointed to an eight-year, non-renewable term in 2014.

She was not available for interviews on her decision on Wednesday.

Premier John Horgan says he is grateful for Bellringer’s many years of exemplary service.

Horgan adds in a statement that he’s pleased Bellringer will be staying through the end of the year to help with the transition to a successor.

“Her diligent work has informed improvements in the way our government is run and in the way programs and services are delivered to the people of this province.”

Bellringer’s most recent audit was into the spending practices of some of the legislature’s top officers, including the clerk, sergeant-at-arms and the Speaker.

It found weaknesses and gaps in expense policies in those offices and recommended the legislature set higher standards for expense reporting by top administrative officials.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 25, 2019.

Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version said Carol Bellringer was not available on Tuesday.