A report released by BC’s Auditor General today does not shine a favourable light on the province’s Liquor Distribution Branch.
In their recent audit of the LDB, the Auditor General’s Office found a gross lack of compliance with government procurement processes.
Government standard, outlined in the Core Policy and Procedures Manual, are intended to inspire fair and open competition amongst contract contenders.
Over the course of the audit, the Office looked in to 74 contracts directly awarded by the Branch to support its business.
Of those files, they found that 55 percent did not meet the exceptional circumstances required by the CPPM to directly award a contract.
Furthermore, 73 percent of the files did not demonstrate non-preferential treatment of customers.
As a government entity, the Branch is only supposed to award direct contracts to suppliers under exceptional circumstances.
