Edmonton councillors say more transparency needed after police commission refuses audit plan
CBC
The Edmonton police commission's decision to not co-operate in providing information for an audit and program service review plan has some city councillors calling for more transparency.
The audit matter was discussed during a council meeting on Wednesday as the Edmonton Police Commission presented the 2024 operating reserve deficit for the Edmonton Police Service.
Council passed a motion 11-1 to allow the reserve to be replenished by expenditures from 2024 to 2026.
EPS reported a net deficit of $1.414 million, which carried over from the 2023 fiscal year.
Considering a surplus of $312,000 in the operating reserve, chair John McDougall said the commission is confident in EPS' ability to repay the deficit over the next three years per city policy.
"This deficit is very small, and we feel it is manageable without any need for program or resource adjustments," he said.
Councillors discussed the potential for an audit and review at the meeting, with some asking for more details, but the commission had already informed council by email that no audit was needed.
When asked by CBC for reasons why the commission declined the audit plan, communications advisor John Statton provided email correspondence that was sent to council on Friday.
"The commission holds primary oversight of the audit process for the police service and information from this process ensures we are able to deliver on our governance responsibilities under the Police Act in a professional, apolitical way," the commission said.
The commission asserts that "a public-facing audit program will diminish overall effectiveness."
The Edmonton police commission is tasked with four overarching roles: overseeing EPS, responding to public concerns about policing, helping develop the annual policing plan and budget, and working with community partners.
With Edmonton property owners being charged 8.9 per cent more in taxes this year, some councillors are asking for increased scrutiny of how entities like EPS are spending funding.
Coun. Michael Janz, the only councillor to object to the motion, raised concerns about what he says is a lack of transparency.
"It's still the principle of good governance, fiduciary duty, and being able to have confidence for the public and for council that ... $1 spent [is] results achieved," Janz said during the council meeting.
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