Tip of the Iceberg

Audit targets two B.C. officials
$10,000 cheque sparks probe of married couple

Kelly Sinoski , CanWest News Service
Published: Saturday, July 21, 2007

Two senior civil servants with the B.C. government are on mandatory leave while provincial investigators probe an allegation of financial impropriety involving a cheque from a consultant for almost $10,000.

The married couple -- Ron and Joan Danderfer -- have senior positions in two ministries. Ron Danderfer is an assistant deputy minister for knowledge management and technology division in the Ministry of Health. His wife Joan is a senior manager with the Ministry of Children and Family Development.

The Ministry of Finance's internal audit branch is conducting an audit.

The investigation will look into whether the cheque issued to Joan Danderfer by a consultant working for Ron Danderfer was appropriate and adhered to ministry policy.

The investigation was ordered after deputy health minister Gordon Macatee "received information about the possible actions of a senior staff person at the Ministry of Health which requires answers," he said in written statement Friday.

While on mandatory leave, the Danderfers do not have access to office records or the government computer system.

"Such reviews are standard practice within government any time questions are raised regarding the conduct or actions of staff," Macatee said in a statement.

"We expect a report will be done as quickly as possible, which will tell us whether there are concerns which would require further action.

"We take all such matters seriously and we are committed to maintaining the integrity of the public service."

The Vancouver Sun has learned that the consultant in question is connected with a Web-based health technology company. The company has done work for several health authorities.
Government spokesman Kelly Gleeson said the allegations may prove to be groundless.NDP health critic Adrian Dix called for the government to act quickly on determining whether something improper has been going on.

"Clearly, we expect more information and that the government will come clean quickly on this," he said. "There's a lot at stake. It's important the public confidence is maintained."

Ron Danderfer joined the ministry more than 25 years ago and on Oct. 31, 2003 assumed the role of assistant deputy minister. According to a federal government website, his key role was the strategic development, implementation and evaluation of the information resource management plans of the ministry.

Danderfer provides leadership and ensures the Internet technology strategies, policies, standards and initiatives support the integrated delivery of system-wide health information management, the website said.

He was previously chief executive officer of the B.C. Vital Statistics Agency and is B.C.'s representative on the advisory committee on information and emerging technologies and a board member of the Canadian coordinating office for health technology assessment.

Vancouver Sun
© CanWest News Service 2007