B.C. premier plans to remove politics from auditor general selection process

VANCOUVER – B.C. Premier Christy Clark says the selection process for the province’s auditor general is tainted by politics and she’s moving to fix the issue.

The premier says the her government will introduce legislation this spring that extends the watchdog’s term from the current six years to eight and limits it to a single term.

She told reporters in Vancouver that as a result, she’s directing the Liberal members of an independent government committee to extend the current auditor general’s term by another two years.

The move comes in the midst of allegations that a legislative committee decided against reappointing John Doyle because his work has criticized the Liberal government.

After much reflection, Clark says she believes B.C.’s process is profoundly flawed, noting a similar controversy arose during the last discussion to renew the auditor general’s contract because it was also before an election.

Several of Doyle’s reports have been critical of the government on spending issues, and he has been spearheading a drive to uncover more information about a decision to pay three million dollars in legal bills for two former government aides who pleaded guilty to corruption charges.