'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
Pedestrian, baby injured after stroller struck and dragged by vehicle in Squamish, B.C.
Police say a baby and a pedestrian suffered non-life-threatening injuries after a vehicle struck a baby stroller and dragged it for two blocks before stopping in Squamish, B.C.
Senate expenses climbed to $7.2 million in 2023, up nearly 30%
Senators in Canada claimed $7.2 million in expenses in 2023, a nearly 30 per cent increase over the previous year.
Demonstrators kicked out of Ontario legislature for disruption after failed keffiyeh vote
A group of demonstrators were kicked out of the legislature after a second NDP motion calling for unanimous consent to reverse a ban on the keffiyeh failed to pass.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
RCMP uncovers alleged plot by 2 Montreal men to illegally sell drones, equipment to Libya
The RCMP says it has uncovered a plot by two men in Montreal to sell Chinese drones and military equipment to Libya illegally.
Government agrees to US$138.7M settlement over FBI's botching of Larry Nassar assault allegations
The U.S. Justice Department announced a US$138.7 million settlement Tuesday with more than 100 people who accused the FBI of grossly mishandling allegations of sexual assault against Larry Nassar in 2015 and 2016, a critical time gap that allowed the sports doctor to continue to prey on victims before his arrest.
Man wanted in connection with deadly shooting in Toronto tops list of most wanted fugitives in Canada
A 35-year-old man wanted in connection with the murder of Toronto resident 29-year-old Sharmar Powell-Flowers nine months ago has topped the list of the BOLO program’s 25 most wanted fugitives across Canada, police announced Tuesday.
Doctors ask Liberal government to reconsider capital gains tax change
The Canadian Medical Association is asking the federal government to reconsider its proposed changes to capital gains taxation, arguing it will affect doctors' retirement savings.
Pro-Palestinian protests roiling U.S. colleges escalate with arrests, new encampments and closures
The student protests of Israel's war with Hamas that have been creating friction at U.S. universities escalated Tuesday as new encampments sprouted and some colleges encouraged students to stay home and learn online, after dozens of arrests across the country.