Auditor General releases list of projects for next three years – Office of the Auditor General of British Columbia

Press Release

January 31, 2019

Auditor General releases list of projects for next three years

VICTORIA – The Office of the Auditor General of British Columbia has released its annual performance and financial statement audit coverage plans. The plans list in-progress audits as well as those that the office anticipates starting over the next three years.

“Sharing our audit intentions publicly is an important part of maintaining transparency and engaging with our stakeholders,” said Auditor General Carol Bellringer.

This year, new performance audit topics include mental health and addictions, capital planning, and programs that impact Indigenous peoples. The plan also reflects work the office has started over the past year, which includes audits of the avalanche program, resource roads and wetlands. Other audits are nearing completion, with reports scheduled to be released this year, including: an audit of the oversight of contracted residential services for children and youth, and an audit of managing the environmental risks of non-operating oil and gas sites.

The office endeavours to undertake work that is relevant and reflects the realities of people living in B.C. To do this, the office considers several performance audit topics each year from a variety of sources and uses a robust planning and consultation process to determine which audits to undertake. Considerations include the significance, risk, relevance, timing and impact on both taxpayers and those being audited. The office aims to make the best use of its resources and choose audits with the greatest value to MLAs and the people of British Columbia.

For instance, while the office was finalizing its plan, allegations surfaced about administrative processes in the legislative assembly. The office has commenced an audit in this area in light of the issues brought to its attention and the concerns that the office previously raised in 2007, 2012 and 2013.

As well as performance audits, the office is responsible for the overall financial statement audit of government. Financial audits provide assurance to legislators, credit rating agencies and the people of British Columbia as to whether the financial statements present fairly the financial position and operating results of government.

The office’s financial statement audit coverage plan is approved by the Select Standing Committee on Public Accounts each year and shows which of the nearly 150 government organizations are audited by the office or a private-sector firm. Each of these individual audits are rolled up into the office’s annual audit of government’s Summary Financial Statements, which is the largest financial audit in the province.

“One of the goals of our Financial Statement Audit Coverage Plan is to ensure that we have the right depth and breadth of knowledge about the business of government so that we can focus our efforts on risk areas, while also fulfilling our role as the independent audit office of the province,” said Bellringer.

Both coverage plans are available on the Office of the Auditor General’s website at www.bcauditor.com/pubs. Auditor General Carol Bellringer will answer questions pertaining to these plans via a news conference.

News Conference Date: January 31, 2018

Time: 11:30 a.m. (Pacific time)

Dial-in Information:

From Vancouver: 604 681-0260

From elsewhere in Canada and the USA: 1 877 353-9184

Participant Pass Code: 44848#

During question and answer period, to ask a question: Press 01

During question and answer period, to exit the question queue: Press #

About the Office of the Auditor General of British Columbia

The Auditor General is a non-partisan, independent Officer of the Legislature who reports directly to the Legislative Assembly. The Auditor General Act empowers the Auditor General and staff to conduct audits, report findings and make recommendations.

Contact us:

To speak to the Auditor General, call Hannah English: 250-419-6260

For general questions, call Colleen Rose, Manager, Communications: 250-419-6207

www.bcauditor.com

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