Letter to the Auditor General from a Citizen

Dear Sir:

I would to like to offer my sincere apologies for the verbal tirade directed
at yourself and your office by one member of the legislative assembly, the
less-than-Honourable Pat Bell.

This member's juvenile behaviour was directed personally at yourself based
on the Office of the Auditor General's recent report, "Removing Private Land
from Tree Farm Licences 6, 19 & 25: Protecting the Public Interest?"

As a citizen of this great province, I felt ashamed at the behaviour
exhibited by an elected official who appears not to understand the role of
the Auditor-General's Office. I suggest that Mr. Bell inform himself of the
Auditor General Act. It is important that government, even in a democracy,
contain avenues where the people's business is conducted in a transparent
manner and that it be accountable. Systems of checks and balances are
important especially in an era where more government decisions are being
made by fewer elected officials, mainly its Cabinet, and more by unelected
government appointed officers residing in the Office of the Premier.

From my understanding the Auditor General reports to the Legislative
Assembly, which is comprised of 79 elected members, and although being part
of government, the work undertaken by the Office of the Auditor General
should be independent and not influenced by government.

I have watched with interest how the current government, first elected in
2001, with their majority, drastically reduced the budgets of two of the
government's oversight departments, The Office of the Auditor General and
the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner. These offices are
an essential part of modern democratic governance and they should monitor
the actions of government to ensure accountability and transparency. I am
hoping your office's report does not cause the government to take punitive
measures by reducing your office's future budgets.

I would like you to know that the current government promised the citizens
of BC both improved accountability and transparency as well as a commitment
to consult with the citizens when it campaigned in 2001.

I would think that the Honourable Pat Bell should commend your office for
doing the work that ensures that his government's promises are being
met.

Unfortunately, the reaction your office received in the matter of the above
mentioned report may be a response to information not favourable to the
current government and possibly the reaction was in fact a response to
information not first vetted through the Office of the Premier's Public
Affairs Division.

Although in the past, I have not always agreed with the conclusions made by
your office, I still respect its role in government.

I am encouraged that your office undertook its investigation into the
removal of private lands from tree farm licences in response to the many
requests of concerned citizens. I would hope the government would carefully
study the report and specifically address the issues in your comments,
namely:

-the decision was not adequately informed - it was based upon incomplete
information that focused primarily on forest and range matters and the
interests of the licensee, with too little consideration given to the
potential impacts on other key stakeholders;

-consultation was not effective and communication with key stakeholders and
the public about the decision was not transparent;

-and the impacts of previous land removal decisions were not monitored to
help inform future decisions.

Please take the time to commend your staff for the work they are doing not
only on behalf of the Legislature but on behalf of the citizens of BC.

Sincerely,

Phil Le Good
1507 Vidal Street
White Rock, BC