Jon Singleton (accountant)
Jon Singleton is a public servant in Manitoba, Canada. He is best known for his high-profile tenure as Auditor General of Manitoba from 1996 to 2006.
Singleton holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Manitoba. He became a chartered accountant in 1976, and a certified information systems auditor in 1982. Before being appointed as Auditor General, he was vice-president (finance) for the provincial Crown Corporations Council.[1]
As Auditor General, Singleton frequently criticized the accounting practices of the provincial governments of Gary Filmon and Gary Doer. He argued that both the Filmon and Doer governments used questionable accounting to present the province as having a surplus budget.[2] In response to criticism, the Doer government announced in 2005 that it would adopt Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. When he retired the following year, Singleton described this as his greatest accomplishment in office.[3]
In 2005, Singleton accused the former directors of the failed Crocus Investment Fund of misleading investors and approving extravagant expenses.[4] He also criticized the Doer government for not taking immediate action when concerns about the fund were first raised in 2001.[5] Former executives of the fund challenged his claims.[6]
Footnotes
- ^ Bud Robertson, "A new auditor named to post", Winnipeg Free Press, 9 July 1996, A7.
- ^ David Kuxhaus, "PCs fudging the books, auditor says", Winnipeg Free Press, 29 September 1998, A3; Daniel Lett, "Auditor faults NDP's books", Winnipeg Free Press, 9 January 2003, A3; "Manitoba misled public, Auditor-General says", Globe and Mail, 6 January 2005, A12.
- ^ Martin Cash, "Singleton content as he leaves job", Winnipeg Free Press, 10 July 2006, A4.
- ^ Paul Egan, "'How could this happen?' Lavish expenses rung up while shares tumbled", Winnipeg Free Press, 31 May 2005, A1.
- ^ Martin Cash, "Auditor slams NDP", Winnipeg Free Press, 18 January 2006, A1.
- ^ Carrie Tait, "Former bosses at Crocus hit back at auditor: Say expenses were justified", National Post, 1 June 2005, FP5.