Alberta auditor general, child advocate face budget cuts

A legislative committee comprised mostly of Tory MLAs voted to cut about $1 million from six independent offices includingAlberta's auditor general and the province's child and youth advocate.

The ethics commissioner, information and privacy commissioner, ombudsman, and public interest commissioner will also be affected by the two per cent budget cut.

• Alison Redford used public money 'inappropriately,' AG says
• Premier Jim Prentice announces limits on government hiring, spending

The office of the chief electoral officer was the only one to keep its budget intact.

NDP MLA David Eggen sits on the Legislative Offices committee. He voted against the cuts but says he was overruled by a PC majority.

Eggen sees this as part of a disturbing trend in the government of Premier Jim Prentice.

They've just decimated the official opposition and now they're going after these independent offices that are required now more than ever to scrutinize the government, he said.

So I think Albertans should all be very concerned about this.

The provincial government has limited spending and hiring in the face of dropping oil prices. Prentice has said that tough choices will have to made in the next budget.

The cuts are:

• Information and privacy commissioner $140,000
• Ethics commissioner $19,460
• Ombudsman $67,000
• Public interest commissioner $25,480
• Child and youth advocate $264,640
• Auditor General $546,000

The cuts wont go into effect until they are approved by cabinet