Parliamentary Committees

Finance Committee issues report on 2017 statutory office budgets

MEDIA RELEASE

December 8, 2016

Legislative Assembly - Provinice of British Columbia

VICTORIA – The all-party Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services today released its unanimous report on the budgets of British Columbia’s eight independent statutory offices.

The Legislative Assembly assigned the annual oversight of the budgets of these offices to the committee in 2001. In 2014, the committee expanded its oversight to include a better exchange of detailed financial information, and more opportunities for statutory officers to present updates and raise other matters of importance.

“These important offices report to the Legislative Assembly, support the work of members of the Legislative Assembly, and play an important role in government accountability,” said committee chair, Wm. Scott Hamilton. “We are pleased with the co-operation the committee has received from statutory offices in strengthening our oversight of statutory office budgets and expenditures, and ensuring accountability for the use of taxpayers’ funds.”

“All British Columbians depend on the statutory offices to administer elections, report on government financial management, investigate complaints about administrative actions, and ensure compliance with various provincial laws,” added committee deputy chair, Carole James. “The committee’s annual review includes a broad and public discussion of budget priorities, and gives the statutory officers opportunities to provide updates and address new issues.”

The independent statutory officer positions are: the Auditor General; the Ombudsperson; the Conflict of Interest Commissioner; the Information and Privacy Commissioner, who also serves as the Registrar of Lobbyists; the Chief Electoral Officer; the Police Complaint Commissioner; the Merit Commissioner; and the Representative for Children and Youth. The eight offices have a combined budget of over $50 million.

The committee’s report is available at: www.leg.bc.ca/cmt/finance

The members of the committee are:

Wm. Scott Hamilton, MLA (Delta North), chair;
Carole James, MLA (Victoria-Beacon Hill) deputy chair;
Dan Ashton, MLA (Penticton);
Robin Austin, MLA (Skeena);
Eric Foster, MLA (Vernon-Monashee);
Simon Gibson, MLA (Abbotsford-Mission);
George Heyman, MLA (Vancouver-Fairview);
Jennifer Rice, MLA (North Coast);
Jackie Tegart, MLA (Fraser-Nicola);
John Yap, MLA (Richmond-Steveston).

For further information:
Kate Ryan-Lloyd
Deputy Clerk and Clerk of Committees
Room 224, Parliament Buildings
Victoria, B.C., V8V 1X4
Telephone: 250 356-2933 (collect)
Toll-free: 1 877 428-8337
Fax: 250 356-8172
Email: FinanceCommittee@leg.bc.ca

 


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