Award for Excellence in Annual Reporting by Crown Corporations

In 1994, the Office of the Auditor General of Canada launched the Award for Excellence in Annual Reporting by Crown Corporations. The program aimed to promote enhanced accountability through improved disclosure of information on corporate performance by recognizing Crown corporations that do this well. Awards were presented in two categories based on corporation size.

Annual reporting is a critical vehicle for accountability. Although Crown corporations are distinct legal entities and have their own boards of directors, they are assigned mandates and powers by Parliament, and are ultimately accountable to Parliament through the responsible minister. Corporate plan summaries and annual reports for Crown corporations are tabled each year in Parliament. The corporate plan summary provides an indication of future plans and expected performance; the annual report subsequently provides the corporate results in relation to goals and objectives set out in the plans.

Information on financial results alone does not adequately address the full range of stakeholders’ interests and information requirements. Improved performance reporting is especially important in the case of Crown corporations, because they deliver a mix of public policy and commercial objectives.

In 2006, the Office transferred the administration of the Award for Excellence in Annual Reporting by Crown Corporations to the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants, which has incorporated it into its own awards program.

Award Recipients

2005

Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation (Group A)
Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation (Group B)

2004

Export Development Canada (Group A)
Canadian Commercial Corporation (Group B)

2003

Export Development Canada (Group A)
Canadian Commercial Corporation (Group B)

2002

Canadian Commercial Corporation

2001

Farm Credit Corporation (Group A)
Defence Construction (1951) Limited (Group B)

2000

Export Development Corporation (Group A)
National Capital Commission (Group B)

1999

Farm Credit Corporation (Group A)
National Capital Commission (Group B)

1998

Export Development Corporation (Group A)
International Development Research Centre (Group B)

1997