Close X
Sunday, November 24, 2024
ADVT 
National

Auditor makes recommendations for BC Housing

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 15 Mar, 2022 01:56 PM
  • Auditor makes recommendations for BC Housing

VICTORIA - B.C.'s auditor general says the provincial housing agency should ensure rooms it finds for women and children fleeing violence are held exclusively for their use.

In an audit of BC Housing's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, auditor general Michael Pickup says the Crown corporation did not have a process to ensure hotel and motel operators fulfilled their agreements for the space.

As a result, the audit found rooms leased by BC Housing at three hotels were rented out to others during the period that was assessed between April 1, 2020, and Sept. 30, 2021.

The recommendation is one of four made by Pickup, whose audit found that BC Housing "effectively managed" its program to provide additional safe spaces for women and children, but with "some exceptions."

B.C. Housing accepted all four recommendations.

Pickup also says there are gaps in the agency's response to situations where women were turned away because of a lack of space and suggests better data collection to determine why this happens.

The auditor general also suggests BC Housing collect more information on the physical ability, mental wellness, religious beliefs, sexual orientation and gender identity of its clients to monitor whether the spaces are accessible to all women.

As well, it recommended that BC Housing work to better understand and address the staffing needs of housing providers after it found three of the 12 organizations it interviewed had staffing shortages during the pandemic.

MORE National ARTICLES

B.C. adds conditions for Trans Mountain expansion

B.C. adds conditions for Trans Mountain expansion
The expansion is set to nearly triple the capacity of the existing 1,150-kilometre pipeline that carries 300,000 barrels per day of petroleum products from Alberta to B.C., which will significantly increase the number of tankers carrying oil for export.

B.C. adds conditions for Trans Mountain expansion

B.C. shifts vaccination order for health workers

B.C. shifts vaccination order for health workers
The new order differs from last month's announcement when provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said all regulated health professionals vaccinated with one dose before March 24 could continue to work only if they received a second dose within 35 days.

B.C. shifts vaccination order for health workers

Ukraine attack sparks fear of global food shortage

Ukraine attack sparks fear of global food shortage
Ukraine is one of the world's major wheat exporters and since Russia's attack, global wheat prices have risen to levels not seen since 2008. Sandra McCardell, an assistant deputy minister at Global Affairs Canada, told a Senate committee last week that there will be “a wide range of fallout” from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Ukraine attack sparks fear of global food shortage

997 COVID19 cases over 3 days

997 COVID19 cases over 3 days
There are 449 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19 and 63 are in intensive care. In the past 72 hours, 11 new deaths have been reported, for an overall total of 2,914.    

997 COVID19 cases over 3 days

Who else may run for Conservative party leadership

Who else may run for Conservative party leadership
With Sept.10 picked as the date for when the Conservative Party of Canada will have a new leader, time is ticking for prospective candidates and their teams to get into place. Those running have until April 19 to throw their hat into the ring and until June 3 to sell memberships.

Who else may run for Conservative party leadership

Trudeau opens door to more military spending

Trudeau opens door to more military spending
NATO figures estimate Canada spent 1.39 per cent of its GDP on defence last year. The 2017 defence plan Trudeau referred to promised to inject $535 billion over 20 years into the military, which would get spending to about 1.5 per cent of GDP.

Trudeau opens door to more military spending