Auditor general retires

The man who's been Alberta's auditor general for the past eight years retired Friday.

Fred Dunn's tenure was marked by several notable reports chastising the government over how energy royalties were calculated, how safe its computer systems were against hackers, and how seniors were cared for in a number of provincial facilities.

"All the work that we do, and all the recommendations that we make really aren't of much use unless they get implemented," said Dunn.

"And we're very fortunate within this jurisdiction that there's a high degree of acceptance of the recommendations."

The most challenging situation, Dunn said, arose five years ago when the Alberta Securities Commission sued his office before it had even begun an audit. The auditor general's office prevailed, leading to an audit that Dunn believes improved the ASC.

Dunn had some advice for whomever becomes his successor.

"Stick to the legislation and remember that you work for all members of the legislature, and sometimes when the going gets tough you've got to stick to your principles. Don't be shy and don't back down," he said.

A committee of MLAs is searching for Dunn's replacement and is expected to name the successful candidate within a couple of months.