The council order — or ministerial order — reveals that “several” municipalities could come under scrutiny, but names just one: Westlake-Gladstone, which recently urged residents to refrain from slanderous accusations about its chief executive after the theft nearly $450,000 in “cyber.” scam.” The government document, published online on Thursday, says the municipal relations department has heard concerns from citizens in these boroughs about “respect for council governance, financial management, oversight and public accountability”. The department deemed appropriate a special audit of the municipalities. Manitoba Auditor General Tyson Shtykalo is not required to pursue the request if the independent office believes it would interfere with his primary responsibilities. The office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The province’s request to control multiple municipalities at the same time appears to be unusual. Between 2008 and 2018, five municipalities were investigated, but multiple audits were not initiated at the same time. Cam Blight, president of the Association of Manitoba Municipalities, said he welcomes the results of any audit by the auditor general into the conduct of municipalities. (Submitted by the Association of Municipalities of Manitoba) The president of the Association of Manitoba Municipalities said it would not be appropriate to prejudge the investigation. “It’s really hard for me to comment when I don’t know the scope and exactly what the concerns are,” said Cam Blight, who is also the mayor of the rural borough of Portage la Prairie. He said there may be “an investigation that will be conducted by the auditor general and once we receive the results of that investigation, we will look at the report and then try to implement best practices.” The province canceled a scheduled CBC interview with the municipal relations minister on Thursday, following government protocols for a period of mourning following the death of a monarch. If audits continue, the scope may include whether all financial and administrative provisions have been followed and whether the form and content of financial information documents are sufficient and appropriate, the board’s order states. The Municipality of Westlake-Gladstone is the only municipality highlighted in the review request. The leadership did not respond to questions from CBC News over two days.
Questions about theft of $450,000
Earlier this summer, the township sought to allay residents’ concerns about its chief executive’s conduct after a “cyber security breach” from late 2019 to early 2020 took nearly $450,000 from its coffers. . Attorneys representing Westlake-Gladstone in the pair of lawsuits over the loss of funds urged residents in a July press release to refrain from making “slanderous or defamatory allegations” about or to the CAO. “We can advise the residents and ratepayers of Westlake-Gladstone that there is no evidence that the administrator took or misappropriated the funds or participated in any way in connection with the taking of the funds,” the statement attributed to DD West said. LLP, the law firm with a Winnipeg office. “Cybercrime is rampant and unfortunately, the municipality and Stride Credit Union have fallen victim.” The council’s order does not specify whether the CAO’s complaints have anything to do with the province’s audit request. The municipality launched legal action after failing to get its money back. It is suing Stride over its computer system and loss of funds, as well as Western Financial Group and Travelers Indemnity Company over their insurance policies and the denial of claims under those cyber security policies, it says the solicitors’ newsletter.
