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edits
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SW: →U of C auditor's report: Add quotes about other payments
The report did not arrive at any definitive conclusions on any of these allegations. But it did note a number of other concerns. It found that Barry Cooper (referred to as the "researcher" in the report) overstepped his signing authority in approving payments of more than $100,000 of payments to [[APCO Worldwide]] and more than $25,000 each to Morten Paulsen Consulting and Paulsen's current employer, PR and lobbying firm Fleishman-Hillard. The report also states that proper approvals were not obtained for the hiring of family members as research assistants.
The report confirmed that APCO Worldwide "produced, promoted and distributed" the 2005 FOS video, and was paid just over $170,000, and also noted that some invoices were addressed to FOS instead of the University.:
''"There were payments from the Accounts to Apco Worldwide totaling $170,881.68. Two of the invoices
from Apco were addressed to FOS and paid from the Accounts. Apco Worldwide was engaged by the U of
C to provide strategic communications services relating to the U of C's project "'Research on Climate Change Debate"'. This included advice regarding video production, promotion of the video, distribution of the video, media relations services and other services."'' Other large payments and irregularities pertaining to them were also noted: ''"Payments were made to Fleishman Hillard of $43,537.43 in fiscal 2007, to Morten Paulsen Consulting$54,211.06 in fiscal 2006 and Directors Chair of $30,991.20 in fiscal 2005. Some of these invoices were addressed to FOS but were paid from the Accounts. Payments to these vendors exceeded $25,000 in total and therefore there should have been written quotes. No evidence of written quotes was found in Business Operations' files."''
In an accompanying press release, the University noted that it had "advised Elections Canada and Canada Revenue Agency of its concerns regarding the accounts, Friends of Science and the ongoing auditor’s review."