BC housing record keeping, financial transactions under the microscope in financial audits

The forensic audit delved into BC Housing’s recordkeeping and financial transactions over the past seven financial years.

An audit examining the British royal family’s decision-making and procedures for funding its housing suppliers has been underway for some time, Prime Minister David Evey said Wednesday.

The audit, with results expected early next year, was conducted by Ernst & Young and overseen by BC’s General Accounts Office, which is responsible for the overall quality and integrity of the state government’s financial management system.

“I assure every member of the House of Representatives that, upon receipt of it, I will release all documents to the extent possible to the extent that the law permits the opposition and the public,” Eby said during the question period on Wednesday. Stated.

A redacted copy of the audit’s terms of reference, shared with Global News on Thursday, had auditors conduct a risk-based analysis of cash outflows to ‘selected housing providers’, conducted by BC Housing We are instructing you to conduct limited data analysis on your payments. Be aware of potential fraud risks.

With the Director’s approval, auditors are permitted to interview “persons who, in their expert opinion, can contribute information relevant to the matter.” Terms of reference may also be required by state records, ministries, agencies, and certain service her providers.

Eby said the forensic audit was ordered as a result of a May report on BC housing by Ernst & Young, which made 26 findings and 44 recommendations. According to the report, Crown Corporation’s organizational structure resulted in siled service delivery, its system did not meet the needs of “functional areas,” and 80-85% of its services were delivered through non-profit providers. and the manual was limited to the monitoring process.

In a question period on Thursday, the BC Liberal Party characterized the development as “previously unannounced” and criticized Eby for not releasing the May report until just before the Canada Day long weekend.

Eby was also in the hot seat earlier this week when the official opposition circulated a leaked report outlining widespread mismanagement at the Atira Women’s Resources Society, whose main funder is BC Housing. . Atira provides residential services in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, Burnaby, Surrey and White Rock.

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The report, by BDO Canada LLP, found that the nonprofit board made decisions based on “inaccurate, incomplete, or misleading information” and applied “inconsistent accounting practices across the portfolio.” , claims that it “operated on the assumption that BC housing would cover the excess.” on that budget.

BC Liberal leader Kevin Falcon calls Prime Minister for burying Attila report during Evie’s ‘complete lack of accountability’ when he was housing minister and attorney general (BC housing reports) accused the

The BC Liberal Government was the government that commissioned BC Housing and Attila to conduct financial investigations. A 65-page document summarizing the findings and recommendations was sent to nonprofits in November 2018.

Attila’s mismanagement of its finances has caused staff to seek ways to relieve pressure on cash flows, it said, resulting in “other downstream implications”. 11 recommendations, including clarification of the relationship and budget approval process between Atira and BC Housing, clarification of the procurement and purchase process, improved tracking of commitments and payments, review of the competencies and capacities of key roles under supervision The we. , operations, finance and human resources teams.

“The BC Housing Board and Atira have worked to address the recommendations, including a range of new communication protocols designed to share information and assist in financial reporting and recordkeeping,” BC Housing said. said Thursday in response to leaked findings.

Global News has also reached out to Atira for comment.

Prime Minister told 980 CKNW jas johar show On Tuesday, he “to the best of his knowledge” had not seen Attila’s report, but corrected himself in parliament Wednesday.

“I didn’t recognize the report that (Johar) was explaining to me. I am familiar with that report,” he said. “Actually, this was a report on what happened to him in BC housing under the BC liberal government, missing important details.”

The Atira review was first reported by globe and mail When Thailand Earlier this year. Includes a review of nonprofit financials for the fiscal years ending March 2009 and March 2017, and March 2018.

The BC liberal government held onto a housing portfolio from 2001 until mid-2017, when John Hogan ousted Christy Clark as prime minister.

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