The Heat is On...

Two B.C. officials under audit quit
Married couple may be under investigation by RCMP over cheque

Jonathan Fowlie, Vancouver Sun. Published: Friday, October 19, 2007

VICTORIA -- Two senior government officials whose financial dealings were being audited both quit their jobs this week, and an NDP MLA said Thursday that the RCMP might now be investigating their affairs.

The married couple -- Ron and Joan Danderfer -- held senior positions in different ministries, and were already on leave following an allegation of financial impropriety involving a $10,000 cheque.

NDP health critic Adrian Dix asked Health Minister George Abbott during question period Thursday whether an audit of the couple's dealings had been completed, and to "confirm that the audit ... is now the subject of a police investigation."

Abbott said the audit was continuing and confirmed the police has talked to the government about the case, but would not say whether there was a police investigation. "I am advised that we were contacted by the RCMP in respect of the matter, but I cannot provide any further advice as to the status of that file," he said.

Ron Danderfer was an assistant deputy minister for knowledge management and technology in the Ministry of Health. He also sat on the ministry's eHealth initiatives committee. Joan Danderfer was a senior manager with the Ministry of Children and Family Development.

The audit is being run by the Ministry of Finance's internal audit branch, and involves looking into whether a $10,000 cheque -- issued to Joan Danderfer by a consultant working for her husband -- was appropriate and adhered to ministry policy.

RCMP "E" division spokeswoman Const. Annie Linteau said Thursday she could not confirm or deny if police were investigating the couple. "If there are allegations, they would be looked into, but I can't confirm or deny anything," she said.

Abbott told reporters his ministry had been contacted by the RCMP in July about the matter, but said he did not know what they wanted. Abbott said Ron Danderfer officially left his job on Monday, and was not given severance. Another government official said Joan Danderfer had retired from her job on Wednesday. No one answered the phone at the Danderfer home Thursday.

jfowlie@png.canwest.com
© The Vancouver Sun 2007