Procurement Gaps Identified
B.C. Auditor General Finds Gaps in Three School Districts' Procurement Frameworks
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British Columbia's auditor general found mixed results after examining how three school districts — Abbotsford, Coquitlam, and Saanich — manage their combined $150 million in annual procurement spending. Financial Post reported the findings were released on June 16, 2026, with auditors identifying gaps and inconsistencies in how each district awards contracts for goods and services.
Assistant Auditor General Bridget Parrish stressed the stakes involved. "Effective procurement processes ensure contracts are awarded fairly, mitigate fraud, and achieve best value for public money," she said. The audits compared each district's policies against B.C.'s Core Policy and Procedures Manual — the provincial gold standard for how public money should be spent.
Coquitlam Leads But Still Falls Short
Of the three districts, Coquitlam's School District 43 came out on top. Auditors found its procurement framework reflected the "spirit and intent" of B.C.'s provincial principles, The Whig reported. That's a meaningful distinction — it means Coquitlam's overall approach to fair and open bidding is sound.
But even Coquitlam wasn't off the hook. Auditors flagged gaps in documentation — meaning staff weren't always recording why certain decisions were made. Board Chair Michael Thomas acknowledged the findings. "We acknowledge the need for better documentation of our decision-making processes," he said. In public procurement, undocumented decisions raise red flags for fraud investigators.
Abbotsford and Saanich Face Bigger Policy Gaps
Abbotsford's School District 34 was flagged for significant gaps around high-value contracts. The province's Core Policy and Procedures Manual sets clear thresholds: competitive bidding is required for goods above $75,000 and construction above $200,000. Auditors found districts sometimes bypassed these rules through direct contract awards — skipping open competition entirely.
Saanich's School District 63 faced similar criticism. Board Chair Tim Dunford pointed to resource constraints in smaller districts as a factor. He pledged to centralize procurement oversight going forward. Abbotsford's Chair Stan Petersen committed to a "full review of procurement thresholds" to align with provincial standards. All 10 of the auditor's recommendations were accepted by all three districts.
No District Fully Documented Conflict-of-Interest Contracts
One finding stood out across all three districts. Auditors sampled contracts that involved a potential conflict of interest. Not one district had complete documentation for every file reviewed — a result of zero out of three, Prince George Post reported. That gap is where fraud risk is highest, according to the Auditor General's office.
The audit covered a two-year period from April 2021 to March 2023. During that window, B.C.'s 60 school districts collectively spent around $800 million per year on procurement. Auditors said even a 2–3% efficiency gain through better competitive bidding could save the province $16 million to $24 million annually — money that could flow back into classrooms.
Pressure Grows for Province to Mandate Uniform Rules
The audit has sparked a broader debate. B.C.'s opposition parties used the report to push the Ministry of Education to stop merely recommending the Core Policy and Procedures Manual and start requiring it. Right now, school districts are not legally bound to follow every rule in the manual — leaving room for wide variation across the province's 60 districts, The Observer reported.
The Auditor General's office signaled that more districts will face audits in the 2025–2027 cycle. Districts argue they lack the large procurement teams that provincial ministries have. But Parrish's office pushed back: size does not excuse a lack of transparency. The message was clear — the "spirit" of the rules is not enough without the paperwork to back it up.
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