After a bi-partisan committee bound by secrecy elected to seek a replacement for Auditor General John Doyle, a former BC Premier says the private nature of those committees is essential when it comes to making personnel decisions.

Ujjal Dosanjh says under the current process, committee members can be frank without worrying about destroying reputations.

"It's not just about political considerations, it's also about the consideration of the auditor general's future. You don't want to be saying things that harm him or harm someone else."

The legislative committee tasked with making the appointment started running newspaper ads for the position on Saturday.