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<\/p>\nA Mississauga city councillor is calling on the provincial government to require that all cities in Ontario with a population greater than 500,000 hire an auditor general to ensure accountability to the public.<\/p>\n
In a news release issued Wednesday afternoon following a decision by Mississauga city councillors earlier in the day to not yet go the route of appointing an auditor general, Ward 7 Coun. Dipika Damerla said her colleagues \u201clet down residents by voting against transparency and safeguards against waste and fraud at City Hall.\u201d<\/p>\n
A motion from Damerla at today\u2019s general committee meeting calling on the City of Mississauga to hire an auditor general received no support from other councillors, several of whom stated they\u2019re not necessarily opposed to the idea, but simply want to further consider such a move.<\/p>\n
An auditor general is an independent official who examines government operations and spending in an attempt to ensure accountability, transparency and proper use of public funds.<\/p>\n
Given the cities of Toronto, Ottawa and Hamilton already have such an official in place and that the only other Ontario urban centres housing more than half-a-million people are Mississauga and Brampton (though London is close), Damerla\u2019s call on the province amounts to a push to have Peel\u2019s two largest municipalities each mandated to hire an auditor general.<\/p>\n
Peel Region recently brought an auditor general on board to look over its operations and expenditures for the first time.<\/p>\n
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Ward 7 Coun. Dipika Damerla.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs Ontario\u2019s third-largest city, Mississauga should have hired an auditor general long ago. Today was an opportunity to fix that,\u201d Damerla said in her news release, adding \u201ctoday was a loss for transparency and respect for the property taxpayer. This doesn\u2019t end here today. Mississauga residents deserve an independent auditor general.<\/p>\n
\u201cResidents deserve the highest level of transparency and accountability when it comes to how their tax dollars are spent.\u201d<\/p>\n
A number of residents\u2019 associations also appeared before councillors at Wednesday\u2019s meeting to express their desire that the city hire an auditor general.<\/p>\n
A report from senior city staff tabled on Wednesday for discussion offered councillors four options to consider for undertaking \u201cvalue-for-money audits\u201d of city operations and spending:<\/p>\n
Maintain status quo with existing internal audit staff.
\nIncrease internal audit staff complement to complete an annual value-for-money audit.
\nHire an external consultant to complete ad hoc value-for-money audits.
\nHire an independent auditor general.<\/p>\n
All councillors but Damerla chose the second option and also agreed to expand the city\u2019s Whistleblower Program to include members of the public.<\/p>\n
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Mayor Carolyn Parrish.<\/p>\n
Mayor Carolyn Parrish told residents in attendance that while she knows their intentions are good, the city has to take such matters slowly and consider what\u2019s best for all.<\/p>\n
She said the new auditor general at Peel Region \u201cwas absolutely necessary; none of us (councillors) hesitated (in voting in favour).<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are hesitating here,\u201d Parrish continued, \u201cbecause we\u2019ve got to watch how this unfolds at the region, we have to look at making small changes to the (city\u2019s) audit committee and see if that makes an improvement, but rushing into (hiring) an auditor general just because 70, 80, 90 people say \u2018Gee, that\u2019s a good idea\u2019 \u2026 our staff is not recommending that and I have more faith in them than I do in a hundred, 200, 300 people coming in and complaining \u2026 and it\u2019s not easy to say no to you, but we have to make the best decision we can based on all the facts we\u2019ve got, based on our staff recommendation, who are professionals.\u201d<\/p>\n
The report, prepared by City Manager Geoff Wright, also noted that:<\/p>\n
The city has established a strong governance model aligned with the Global Internal Audit Standards, ensuring the Internal Audit Division maintains its independence.
\nExpanding the city\u2019s Whistleblower Program to the public and transferring oversight to Internal Audit would further strengthen Internal Audit\u2019s independence, transparency and accountability to residents.
\nHiring an auditor general provides for full independence and statutory powers, but involves significant financial and operational commitments and would cost the city $2 million.<\/p>\n
The report\u2019s conclusion stated, in part, that \u201cthe city\u2019s approach to value-for-money audits is supported by an established audit committee and an Internal Audit Division, both committed to upholding independence and accountability through strong governance structures.\u201d<\/p>\n