Jon Singleton
Encyclopedia
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.
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. 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.
In 2005, Singleton accused the former directors of the failed Crocus Investment Fund
of misleading investors and approving extravagant expenses. He also criticized the Doer government for not taking immediate action when concerns about the fund were first raised in 2001. Former executives of the fund challenged his claims.
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He is best known for his high-profile tenure as Auditor General of Manitoba from 1996 to 2006.
Singleton holds a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree from the University of Manitoba
University of Manitoba
The University of Manitoba , in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is the largest university in the province of Manitoba. It is Manitoba's most comprehensive and only research-intensive post-secondary educational institution. It was founded in 1877, making it Western Canada’s first university. It placed...
. He became a chartered accountant
Chartered Accountant
Chartered Accountants were the first accountants to form a professional body, initially established in Britain in 1854. The Edinburgh Society of Accountants , the Glasgow Institute of Accountants and Actuaries and the Aberdeen Society of Accountants were each granted a royal charter almost from...
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.
As Auditor General, Singleton frequently criticized the accounting practices of the provincial governments of Gary Filmon
Gary Filmon
Gary Albert Filmon, PC, OC, OM is a Manitoba politician. He was the leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba from 1983 to 2000, and served as the 19th Premier from 1988 to 1999.-Early life and municipal career:...
and Gary Doer
Gary Doer
Gary Albert Doer, OM is a Canadian diplomat and politician from Manitoba, Canada. Since October 19, 2009, he has served as Canada's Ambassador to the United States...
. He argued that both the Filmon and Doer governments used questionable accounting to present the province as having a surplus
Economic surplus
In mainstream economics, economic surplus refers to two related quantities. Consumer surplus or consumers' surplus is the monetary gain obtained by consumers because they are able to purchase a product for a price that is less than the highest price that they would be willing to pay...
budget. In response to criticism, the Doer government announced in 2005 that it would adopt Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
Generally Accepted Accounting Principles refer to the standard framework of guidelines for financial accounting used in any given jurisdiction; generally known as accounting standards...
. When he retired the following year, Singleton described this as his greatest accomplishment in office.
In 2005, Singleton accused the former directors of the failed Crocus Investment Fund
Crocus Investment Fund
The Crocus Investment Fund was a Labour Sponsored Venture Capital Corporation in Manitoba, Canada.In 2004-05, the company stopped trading and was forced into receivership following allegations that it misled shareholders and overvalued its assets...
of misleading investors and approving extravagant expenses. He also criticized the Doer government for not taking immediate action when concerns about the fund were first raised in 2001. Former executives of the fund challenged his claims.