VICTORIA — With the release of this week's Auditor General Report on public service, it is clear that the Campbell Liberals are failing not only British Columbians in the delivery of public service, but the sector's employees as well said Coquitlam-Maillardville MLA Diane Thorne.

"The Auditor General's report clearly states that having a strong public service requires a healthier work environment for those on the front lines," said Thorne. "A demoralized public sector means that government cannot deliver effective public service and the citizens of British Columbia have to pay the price through reduced service delivery."

One of the key results in the Auditor General's Report was that only about one-third of public service employees are satisfied with ministry leadership, and have confidence in the senior executive. Only a third believes that the executive leaders are aware of, and care, about employee concerns.

Diane Thorne sits on the Public Accounts Committee which is the body that reports to the Auditor General as the political financial watchdog of the Legislature.

"It is extremely difficult already to attract and then retain highly skilled people for public service work in our province," Thorne said. "The Campbell government must address the reports findings and recommendations immediately or the private sector will find itself without the skilled workforce it needs to deliver effective services to the people of British Columbia."

"The Auditor General first made recommendations on the demoralized public sector back in 2002," concluded Thorne. "Government hasn't fully acted upon those recommendations and the Auditor General has been forced to ask for them again. The BC Liberals have once again proven that they are failing to listen to, not only British Columbians, but to the Auditor General."

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Diane Thorne

Coquitlam-Maillardville

Diane Thorne was re-elected as the MLA for Coquitlam-Maillardville on May 12, 2009. She was first elected to the Legislature in 2005.