City of Ottawa auditor general pauses LRT probe
Ottawa’s auditor general is pausing her probe into the city’s light rail transit system because a provincial inquiry will cover similar material, she announced Wednesday.
Nathalie Gougeon said in a memo to council that she and her team have reviewed the scope of the province’s work and determined it would be best to “press pause” on the work her office has started.
“This would allow us to alleviate any excess burden placed on the City’s administration caused by two, very large, concurrent reviews of similar nature,” she said in the memo.
“It will also ensure we do not duplicate work performed by the Commissioner through the course of the provincial inquiry.”
City council voted in October to ask the auditor general to investigate the procurement and implementation of LRT Stage 1, in light of two derailments in six weeks and other problems with the project since its Sept. 2019 launch.
The move was instead of launching a judicial inquiry, which some councillors had been pushing for.
However, the province later stepped in and announced it would launch a public inquiry into Stage 1.
Last week, they announced appeal court judge Justice William Hourigan would lead the inquiry, which will examine “the commercial and technical circumstances that led to the breakdown and derailment” of Stage 1.
Gougeon said she will reassess in the coming months whether any items that the provincial inquiry doesn’t cover will need to be reviewed by her office.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
From outer space? Sask. farmers baffled after discovering strange wreckage in field
A family of fifth generation farmers from Ituna, Sask. are trying to find answers after discovering several strange objects lying on their land.
Broadcaster and commentator Rex Murphy dead at 77: National Post
The National Post is reporting that Rex Murphy, the pundit and columnist who hosted a national call-in radio show for decades, has died.
Pearson gold heist suspect arrested after flying into Toronto from India
Another suspect is in custody in connection with the gold heist at Toronto Pearson International Airport last year, police say.
Millions of cyberattacks per hour as B.C. government investigates multiple breaches
Careful attention to government statements and legislation is required to get a handle on the level of risk British Columbians’ information is under, as investigators probe multiple breaches under a continued barrage of attacks.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Debate on abortion rights erupts on Parliament Hill, Poilievre vows he won't legislate
A Conservative government led by Pierre Poilievre would not legislate on, nor use the notwithstanding clause, on abortion, his office says, as anti-abortion protesters gather on Parliament Hill.
Justin and Hailey Bieber are expecting their first child together
Hailey and Justin Bieber are going to be parents. The couple announced the news on Thursday on Instagram, both sharing a video that showcases Hailey Bieber's growing belly.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
New 'Lord of the Rings' film coming in 2026
The Oscar-winning team behind the nearly US$6 billion blockbuster 'Lord of the Rings' and 'The Hobbit' trilogies is reuniting to produce two new films.