International Journal of Government Auditing – January 2003
Canada
First Annual Status Report Issued
The Auditor General of Canada’s first annual Status Report, presented to Parliament in October 2002, offers a generally disappointing appraisal of the Canadian government’s efforts to correct problems in five high-cost and high-risk areas identified in previous Auditor General reports. These areas include protection of the integrity of the Social Insurance Number, the national health surveillance system, federal support of health care delivery, and management of the NATO Flying Training in Canada and the Canada Small Business Financing programs.
The 2002 Status Report, which Auditor General Sheila Fraser termed “a wake-up call for departments,” concluded that while some improvements have been made, “overall, the pace is too slow and the results often fall short.” It is the Auditor General’s hope that the annual status reports-the next one is planned for the spring of 2003-”will help motivate departments to act.”
Following up on previous recommendations has been part of the regular work of the Auditor General’s Office for many years, but the Status Report’s more selective approach focuses on high-cost and high-risk issues likely to be of most interest to Parliament.
The annual Status Report will become one of the four regular reports that the Auditor General can submit every year to the House of Commons. The launching of this new report coincides with the 25th anniversary of the Auditor General Act of 1977. This Act and its subsequent amendments in 1995 broadened the Auditor General’s mandate to include reporting on whether government policies are being implemented economically, efficiently, with adequate measures in place for judging their effectiveness, and with due regard for their environmental impact.
For further information, contact: the Office of the Auditor General of Canada, fax: ++1 (613) 957 4023; email: communications@oagbvg.gc.ca. The 2002 Status Report is available on the OAG’s Web site (www.oag-bvg.gc.ca).