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The city could be buying loads of crummy asphalt, based on the results of an investigation by the auditor general.

In fact, the city wasn’t even testing asphalt for its small road projects outside the winter months to make sure the material was meeting contracted standards, the audit revealed.

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Auditors, who tabled their report during an audit committee meeting on Thursday, tested samples from two suppliers and neither met the requirements set in the city’s contract.

It might be only two samples, but the fact that both failed to meet the specifications is “concerning,” according to the audit.

The audit didn’t include winter maintenance contracts, but when the roads branch tested another asphalt sample as part of the 2016-2017 winter maintenance program, it found another substandard sample, prompting the branch to re-tender the contract.

Taking samples of asphalt for lab tests can cost $3,000 a shot, but auditors warn that not doing the tests could mean the city could be paying for bad asphalt.