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NDP to request audit of golf course deal

The Yukon NDP plans to write to the Auditor General of Canada to request an investigation into the Yukon government’s $750,000 bail-out of the Mountain View Golf Club in 2011.
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The Yukon NDP plans to write to the Auditor General of Canada to request an investigation into the Yukon government’s $750,000 bail-out of the Mountain View Golf Club in 2011.

The Official Opposition will write a formal letter to the auditor general in January, confirmed Francois Picard, the party’s chief of staff.

Back in 2011, the Yukon Party government hid the deal with the golf course from the public by making it look like a land purchase.

The details of the transaction came out only about a month ago, after documents were released through an access to information request.

Premier Darrell Pasloski was on the golf club’s board at the time, just a few months before his successful run for party leader.

It’s not unprecedented for the auditor general to launch an investigation at the request of opposition politicians, said Picard.

The review of Nutrition North, for example, was prompted by a letter from six NDP members of Parliament, he said.

On the last day of the Yukon Legislative Assembly’s fall sitting, NDP MLA Jim Tredger asked the Yukon Party to support an investigation of the golf club deal by the auditor general.

“Will this government support a call to have the office of the Auditor General of Canada look into this transaction so Yukoners can finally know the truth about this backroom deal?” he said on December 18.

Community Services Minister Brad Cathers responded that the government does not feel an audit is necessary, but would not thwart such an investigation.

“While we do not see it necessary for the auditor general to look into it, we also have absolutely no objection to the auditor general looking into that. If the auditor general deems that it’s appropriate to review, government will happily provide the auditor general with all information and assistance, just as we do on each and every matter the auditor general chooses to look into.”

Contact Jacqueline Ronson at jronson@yukon-news.com