CBE AUDIT DELAYED
Co-operation of board lacking
Amid growing controversy around the ability to speak freely to auditors investigating the Calgary Board of Education, a UCP MLA is considering helping a recently resigned trustee have her say in front of a provincial committee.
The new offer comes after fresh accusations from the province that the independent auditor, Grant Thornton, has been delayed because the CBE is being “less co-operative” than expected.
Jeremy Nixon, MLA for Calgary-klein, told Postmedia on Tuesday that he may bring forward a motion to the Alberta legislature asking that former trustee Lisa Davis go before the standing committee on families and communities after she resigned last week over concerns she could not speak freely.
“Ms. Davis should be allowed to communicate freely and openly with the government-appointed auditor,” said Nixon, who sits as a member on the committee tasked with reviewing policies on families, health and education.
“But if she feels she can’t have her voice heard because of legal threats or intimidation, this is another option for her voice to be heard.”
Nixon said standing policy committees allow more legal freedoms when providing information publicly than would a private conversation with an auditor.
Davis, who was elected as a rookie trustee in 2017 on a platform of openness and transparency, resigned her position after a motion was passed in a secret CBE meeting saying that anyone speaking to a provincially appointed auditor must have a CBE lawyer present.
Davis said that motion would not allow her to speak freely, and while she has quit her job with the CBE she still hopes to have her say with the auditor.
“In terms of the auditors, I would say publicly that I will be pleased to fully co-operate with them when they contact me,” Davis said, adding that she won’t comment on whether she would speak in front of a committee until the province contacts her.
The CBE and Alberta Education have been at loggerheads since the release of the provincial budget last fall, which resulted in up to $48 million in cuts to the Calgary board.
Trustees openly criticized the funding cuts, estimating they would have to lay off up to 300 teachers, but then rescinded that decision after the province freed up $15 million in one-time maintenance and infrastructure funding.
The province has criticized the CBE for what officials called irresponsible budgeting and politicizing job cuts, and launched an independent audit of the board’s finances and governance.
But hours before Davis was to sit down with the provincial auditor, the other CBE trustees passed a motion to ensure legal counsel be present.
On Tuesday, CBE chair Marilyn Dennis thanked Davis for her service and insisted that in the 15 out of 16 interviews that have so far been conducted with the auditor, no one with the CBE has had any issues with having lawyers present.
“The expectation of individuals going into those interviews is to be open, honest and transparent,” Dennis said.
“Everyone has answered all of the questions asked of them, and we have been very responsive in providing all documentation requested.”
But Colin Aitchison, press secretary to Education Minister Adriana Lagrange, disagreed, saying
Tuesday that the CBE has not been entirely co-operative and, as a result, an audit that was expected to be completed by the end of January has now been delayed.
“Due to the CBE being less co-operative than we would have liked, we have approved a request by Grant Thornton for an extension,” Aitchison said.
“It is our expectation that Grant Thornton will meet with Ms. Davis, and that the CBE will allow her to freely speak her mind.”
But Nixon added if for any reason Davis does not feel able to speak freely, he will attempt to bring her in front of his committee.
“Any elected positions, elected by the people, you should be able to speak openly and hear from and communicate to those who elected you.
“It’s a critical component of transparency.”