The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) and Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) held a press conference at Winnipeg’s city hall today with retired auditor Graham Lane to dispel the myth that an audit of the police headquarters would take a year to complete and cost a fortune. (Photo news conference of CTF and CUPE calling for audit of Winnipeg's police headquarters)

Lane, a chartered accountant and past chair of the Public Utilities Board noted that an audit could easily be completed, tabled at council and released publicly before this fall’s election.

“The bottom line is, if Council wants the audit completed and made public before the election this fall, it can easily be done,” said Lane. “Unlike other audits the City has engaged, such as the one for the four fire halls and several real estate transactions, an audit of the police headquarters’ construction process is for a single project.”

“Some have suggested an audit will cost a small fortune and take a year to complete, but that’s simply not true,” said CTF Prairie Director Colin Craig. “An audit can be delivered for a reasonable cost and within a short time frame if council and the administration make it a priority.”

"City council just approved an operating budget that calls for cuts in city services and implements unpaid days for city employees next Christmas. Yet to the mayor and some councilors, the $75 million in cost over runs seems to be no big deal," said Mike Davidson, President local 500. "Clearly the citizens have a right to have an audit conducted and completed before the next civic election."

Following the press conference, the group will be meeting with Councillor Havixbeck and any other councilors interested in learning more about how an audit can be procured in a cost effective and time sensitive manner.

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