The BC Civil Liberties Association says the provincial government is refusing to release the results of an audit of RCMP services.
The association says the audit was done as talks continue with the Mounties on a new 20-year policing contract for the province to replace the current deal that expires in 2012.
"The province was wise to do an audit, but we're not sure why they'd keep the fact that they did an audit, as well as the audit results, secret," said association President Robert Holmes in a news release.
"This is a multi-billion dollar, untendered contract. The secrecy around it is unacceptable."
He says the government has so far refused to release audit documents, claiming that would hurt law enforcement and the current contract talks, but Holmes said the information should be made available before a deal is signed in order to ensure public confidence.
"Public confidence grows better in sunshine than in the dark. That applies to law enforcement as much as anything else," Holmes said.
The pending RCMP contract in B.C. has been the subject of debate within the Liberal government, with former solicitor general Kash Heed raising concerns a new deal would not hold the Mounties accountable to the communities they serve.
But current Attorney General Mike de Jong has insisted accountability is a key part of the talks, saying he's looking for a "cultural shift" in attitude from the Mounties before agreeing to a new deal.
