'Culture of fear' at LU when it comes to talking with auditor general, court documents say
Ontario Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk said in court documents that Laurentian University has created a "culture of fear" among its staff when it comes to speaking with her office.
Lysyk made the comment in a factum with the Ontario Superior Court of Justice filed Nov. 12. She is taking LU to court next month in an attempt to settle a dispute regarding which documents her office can access.
Lysyk is conducting a value-for-money audit for the Ontario government to gain insight into why the university filed the institutional version of bankruptcy in February. She is looking at operations between 2010 and 2020.
Laurentian officials say they have cooperated with her office in all areas except when it comes to privileged documents, which covers such items as correspondence between the university and its lawyers, or other documents in which LU receives a legal opinion.
Lysyk argues that the Auditor General Act of Ontario explicitly gives her the right to access any document when she is conducting an audit. But Laurentian argues the act gives them the option of handing over the documents, but does not compel them.
In her Nov. 12 factum, Lysyk doesn't mince words.
"Laurentian University has created a culture of fear to talk to the OAGO (Office of the Auditor General)," she wrote.
"The Laurentian University situation is important to everybody. The value-for-money audit is not to impede Laurentian University, it is to help the university."
In addition to finding out what happened, Lysyk said her job is also to ensure that it doesn't happen again.
CTV News contacted Laurentian for a response to the auditor's comments and received this statement:
"Laurentian has been cooperating with the Auditor General’s audit. The university has authorized and encouraged all staff to participate in interviews with the auditor general. We have also granted her office direct access to our entire financial database, enrollment system, as well as all requested, non-privileged documents."
And in his response to the court filing last month, LU president Robert Haché argued the university has the option, not obligation, to disclose the documents.
"The Auditor General Act allows, but does not require, an entity under audit to disclose privileged information to the auditor general," Haché wrote.
"The act provides that, if such disclosure occurs, it is not a waiver of privilege, but, again, does not entitle the auditor general to such disclosure. Of course, the university may choose to disclose privileged information to the auditor general, but that decision is the university’s to make.”
Lysyk described that argument as "absurd."
She said the act imposes a secrecy obligation on her office when it comes to privileged information. Why would the act require that if the intent wasn't for them to access those files?
"These safeguards demonstrate that the Legislature intended to pierce the privileges," she wrote.
Read Lysyk's entire factum here.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.