INQUIRY (continued from page 1)
An initial estimate put the cost at $135 million. The price climbed to $214 million, including flood damage and security upgrades. The building was completed in 2016.
An external audit found the project was severely mismanaged. A lengthy RCMP investigation into fraud and forgery allegations did not result in any criminal charges.
The main contractor, Caspian Projects, paid a $28-million settlement for fraud and construction deficiency lawsuits this year.
The city received a $1.15-million payment from former chief administrative officer Phil Sheegl, due to a court ruling that he accepted a $327,000 bribe from Caspian. Sheegl denied accepting a bribe before and during the inquiry.
The two legal challenges were originally part of one lawsuit that was later split up.
Klein, a city councillor from 2018 to 2022, and a former provincial Tory cabinet minister, said he hopes the inquiry report identifies whether processes at city hall were “wrong,” or if they have since changed or improved.
Incumbent mayoral candidate Scott Gillingham said Thursday he welcomes the release of the report.
“I imagine that perhaps one of the other contenders here in the mayoral race may want to try to assign it to me, whatever happens, but let’s remember this police headquarters matter happened before I was ever elected to council,” he said.
“I was one of the earliest councillors at the time, to call for a police headquarters inquiry.”
The city conducted several audits and implemented recommendations, said Gillingham, who was the councillor for St. James from 2014 until he was elected mayor in 2022.
— with files from Joyanne Pursaga