‘Ottawa’ City Fraud Hotline Heats up in 2015
The city’s whistleblower program racked up a record number of reports last year, according to council’s audit boss.
Kanata South Coun. Allan Hubley, the chair of council’s audit committee, said Wednesday the fraud and waste hotline recorded more than 400 reports in 2015. That’s a record for a single year, Hubley said.
Council started a confidential tipline in 2005. Since then, there have been yearly tales of thievery, fraud and unsavoury behaviour.
The city has recently started making the results of a fraud and waste hotline an annual event, separate from the regular audits.
Hubley was mum, however, on the contents of next report, which is scheduled for release in June.
Hundreds of tips on fraud and waste aren’t necessarily a cause for concern at city hall, Hubley said. Instead, they show that people are aware of the hotline and are using the service, he said.
“We’re viewing this as good news,” Hubley said.