Gov’t didn’t have all facts for Evergreen Line decision: AG

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VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – The latest report by BC’s Auditor General takes aim at the Evergreen SkyTrain line.

The project itself isn’t being criticized, but rather how the government came to its decision to build it in the first place. The province wasn’t given all the facts, according to John Doyle’s latest review.

Assistant Auditor General Russ Jones says there were gaps in the information.

“Treasury Board had a fair amount of information to make the decisions, but we felt they could have had some better information around risks and benefits that would have helped them,” explains Jones.

For instance, the review finds there wasn’t enough context behind the ridership projections.

“In this case, the one that was put forth in the business case was on the higher end versus the lower end,” says Jones.

In addition, he says the numbers rely on what happens elsewhere in the transit system, and that information wasn’t shared. That being said, the report concludes the SkyTrain extention was the best option.

The Transportation Ministry says it accepts the recommendations.

Jones will not be Assistant AG for much longer; an all-party legislature committee has named the veteran accountant our new Acting Auditor General to replace John Doyle in May.

His appointment will run until the committee finds a new permanent AG, which is expected to happen after the May provincial election.

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