The Office of the Auditor General of Canada (OAG) released its Commentary on the 2023–2024 Financial Audits. This is not an audit report, but it highlights observations and themes from the OAG’s financial audits of federal organizations, including the government’s consolidated financial statements, which are contained in the Public Accounts of Canada. The Commentary on the 2023–2024 … Read more
Auditor General Karen Hogan tabled Report 8—Canada Emergency Business Account, which concludes that while the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) program worked to quickly provide Canadian small businesses with loans during the COVID‑19 pandemic, overall, the program was not managed with due regard for value for money. “Unlike other COVID‑19 programs, CEBA is a loan program with repayments that will be ongoing for several … Read more
Report 6—The Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy, released by Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development Jerry V. DeMarco, found that Natural Resources Canada did not do enough analysis to weigh the benefits of increasing Canada’s supply of critical minerals against impacts on the environment and Indigenous communities, which have been and continue to be affected by mining activities. “Moving … Read more
Report 5—Professional Services Contracts found that federal organizations showed a frequent disregard of federal contracting and procurement policies and guidance when awarding 97 professional services contracts to McKinsey & Company between 2011 and 2023. The value of contracts that departments, agencies, and Crown corporations awarded to McKinsey & Company during this period totalled $209 million, and $200 million of that was spent. “While this audit focuses on contracts … Read more
Report 1—Contaminated Sites in the North, released by Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development Jerry V. DeMarco concludes that contaminated sites in northern Canada have not been managed to reduce the financial liability under the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan and the Northern Abandoned Mine Reclamation Program. Although 18,000 sites across Canada have been closed, gaps remain in … Read more
Report 2—Housing in First Nations Communities, tabled by Auditor General Karen Hogan, found that Indigenous Services Canada and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation have made little progress in improving housing conditions for First Nations. This is the fourth time since 2003 that the Office of the Auditor General of Canada has raised concerns about unsafe and unsuitable housing … Read more
Report 1—ArriveCAN, from Auditor General Karen Hogan, was tabled in the House of Commons concludes that the Canada Border Services Agency, the Public Health Agency of Canada, and Public Services and Procurement Canada failed to follow good management practices in the contracting, development, and implementation of the ArriveCAN application. The application was created to digitally collect … Read more
Report 6—Canadian Net Zero Accountability Act—2030 Emissions Reduction Plan, released by the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development Jerry V. DeMarco, concluded that Canada’s 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan is insufficient to meet its 2030 target to reduce emissions by 40 per cent to 45 per cent below the 2005 level by 2030. This was the first plan developed under the new Canadian Net‑Zero Emissions Accountability Act. “The federal … Read more
A report released by Auditor General of Canad Karen Hogan concludes that Export Development Canada’s Environmental and Social Review Directive was narrowly applied so that only 0.4 per cent of loans provided were subject to review under the directive. The directive is intended to help Export Development Canada assess the environmental and social impacts of initiatives … Read more
The Office of the Auditor General of Canada (OAG) has decided to conduct an audit on how Sustainable Development Technology Canada is financing sustainable development technologies within the portfolio of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada. This decision comes in response to recent discussions with the Department and information received by the OAG. The audit … Read more
