Judge orders Hamilton city auditor to testify at Red Hill inquiry

A judge has ruled that a city auditor must testify at a Red Hill Valley Parkway judicial inquiry.

Council requested an inquiry in 2019 after finding a report showing poor friction on the collision-prone parkway that was inexplicably buried for years. Justice Herman Wilton-Siegel is tasked with determining why the report was hidden, who knew about it and whether its delayed release was a public safety risk.

More than 76 witnesses have been called to testify at ongoing public hearings - including Domenic Pellegrini, an investigator with the office of the city auditor who was doing a parkway value-for-money audit at the time the infamous Tradewind Scientific report was discovered.

Emails made public via the inquiry suggest the city delayed handing over friction and asphalt studies to frustrated auditors based on legal advice.

The city auditor opposed forcing Pellegrini to testify, arguing it would undermine the office's arms-length independence.

A judge, however, ruled this week the auditor must testify on some topics. Pellegrini's testimony is now scheduled for Friday and can be viewed from a link at rhvpi.ca.

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