Coming soon – 2014 Spring Report of the Auditor General of Canada

The 2014 Spring Report of the Auditor General of Canada is expected to be tabled in the House of Commons on Tuesday, 6 May 2014.

Media lock-up:

6:00 a.m.–9:45 a.m. (ET)
Office of the Auditor General of Canada, 240 Sparks Street, Ottawa
(for journalists accredited by the Canadian Parliamentary Press Gallery only).

When you arrive, please go to the OAG’s desk on the main floor and someone from the OAG will greet you. Please bring a photo ID.

Journalists must respect the media embargo until the report is tabled in the House of Commons shortly after 10:00 a.m. However, journalists will be allowed to leave the media lock-up at 9:45 a.m. Internet access will be available for filing stories once the report has been tabled.

News conference:

11:30 a.m.–12:15 p.m. (ET)
National Press Theater, 150 Wellington Street, Ottawa

Interviews:

To book an interview, please call 613-952-0213 extension 6292.

The following is a brief description of the chapters contained in the Report:

Chapter 1—Public Sector Pension Plans. Our audit focused on the three main public sector pension plans for the public service: the public service pension plan, the Canadian Forces pension plan (excluding the Reserve Force), and the RCMP Pension Plan. We examined whether the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, the RCMP, National Defence, and the Department of Finance Canada, in keeping with their respective responsibilities, considered the relevant information, analyses and scenarios that could affect the plans’ costs and thereby impact their sustainability. We also examined whether the entities carried out selected key aspects of their governance and management responsibilities with regard to the pension plans.

Chapter 2—Procuring Relocation Services. We examined whether Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC), National Defence, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat fulfilled their responsibilities in awarding the 2009 contract for the Integrated Relocation Program in accordance with the Treasury Board Contracting Policy, government contracting regulations, and the PWGSC Supply Manual.

Chapter 3—Aggressive Tax Planning. We examined how the Canada Revenue Agency manages the Aggressive Tax Planning (ATP) program and how the Department of Finance Canada responds to requests for legislative changes to address ATP issues the Agency identifies. There are many different ways that a taxpayer can structure an aggressive tax plan. We selected four aggressive tax plans for the purposes of this audit.

Chapter 4—Expanding the Capacity of Penitentiaries—Correctional Service Canada. On the basis of cost estimates to facilitate a growing offender population and maintain aging infrastructure, Correctional Service Canada (CSC) received approval in 2009 for $2.1 billion in funding over five years to expand its existing institutions and to plan for the construction of new ones. We examined whether CSC had increased the capacity of its correctional facilities in a manner that met its needs and was cost-effective. We did not examine the procurement process for the construction of new facilities.

Chapter 5—First Nations Policing Program—Public Safety Canada. We examined whether Public Safety Canada’s First Nations Policing Program, including legacy First Nations policing programs, is designed to deliver and provides policing services to First Nations on reserves in a manner that is consistent with selected principles of the First Nations Policing Policy. We also examined measuring and reporting of program performance.

Chapter 6—Transfer Payment Programs—Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency. We examined whether the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, created in 2009, manages and delivers selected economic development transfer payment programs in accordance with key requirements of the Policy on Transfer Payments. We assessed the management framework in place to deliver transfer payment programs, as well as a selection of agreements with individual recipients. We also examined whether the Agency has established the organization to deliver its overall mandate.

Chapter 7—Outsourcing Building Management Services—Public Works and Government Services Canada. We examined whether, when outsourcing building management services, Public Works and Government Services Canada had adequate controls to monitor that the service provider complied with contract terms and conditions—work that supports the Department (and other government departments) in ensuring that the following selected government obligations related to building management would be met: environment and health and safety, building security, operational building continuity, accessibility, and fairness when subcontracting.

Chapter 8—Meeting Needs for Key Statistical Data—Statistics Canada. We examined whether Statistics Canada ensures the quality of key socio-economic information it produces, and generates this information efficiently and in response to priority user needs. Our examination of quality and the efficient use of resources was focused on four data products that provide important information on Canada’s economic and social conditions: the Consumer Price Index, the Labour Force Survey, the National Household Survey, and the Survey of Employment, Payrolls and Hours.

Chapter 9—Special Examinations of Crown Corporations—2013. We report annually on the special examinations transmitted each year. Since our 2013 Spring Report, the Office of the Auditor General issued reports, which have been made public, on special examinations of the following Crown corporations: