Upcoming reports

Upcoming audits

Find topics and dates of upcoming reports to Parliament, Northern Legislative Assemblies, and Crown corporations. Click on the triangle for more information about these upcoming audits. Information is regularly posted / updated. Please note that audit topics and dates are subject to change.

Performance Audits of Government Services and Programs

Report titles
Anticipated publication: 2023
Benefits Delivery Modernization

Entities: Employment and Social Development Canada, Shared Services Canada, Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, Public Services and Procurement Canada

Context
Each year, the government provides more than $100 billion in Canada Pension Plan and Old Age Security benefits to about 6 million elderly Canadians who rely on these payments. Any interruption or error in the amount they receive can significantly affect their ability to meet their daily needs, such as buying food or paying rent.

Employment and Social Development Canada reported that in the 2021–22 fiscal year, it made $1.47 billion in overpayments to Employment Insurance and Old Age Security recipients. In addition, the department estimates that $2.5 billion in Employment Insurance, Canada Pension Plan, and Old Age Security benefits are unclaimed each year.

The Benefits Delivery Modernization programme plans to transform how Employment Insurance, Canada Pension Plan, and Old Age Security benefit services are delivered to Canadians.

Audit objective
This audit seeks to determine whether Employment and Social Development Canada, with the support of the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, Shared Services Canada, and Public Services and Procurement Canada, is delivering the Benefits Delivery Modernization programme to ensure continuity of Old Age Security, Canada Pension Plan, and Employment Insurance benefits and to support the transition of information technology systems and business processes to deliver accurate and timely benefits for all Canadians.

Anti-racism, Equity, and Inclusion in the Federal Public Service

Entities: Canada Border Services Agency, Correctional Service Canada, Department of Justice Canada, Public Prosecution Service of Canada, Public Safety Canada, Public Service Commission of Canada, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat

Context
The introduction of the Employment Equity Act in 1986 was an important step in formally recognizing the responsibility to develop a representative public service. More recently, the Call to Action on Anti‑Racism, Equity, and Inclusion in the Federal Public Service was an important public statement from the Clerk of the Privy Council regarding the expectations for all public service leaders to deliver on meaningful change.

As an employer, the public service is mandated to ensure that its employees are representative of the people it serves. In keeping with this mandate, the Government of Canada must offer an inclusive, respectful environment that addresses systemic racism and discrimination.

This audit will examine the systems, controls, and practices that affect the organizational culture of selected organizations regarding the inclusion of racialized employees and progress achieved in increasing their representation, participation, and influence in the workplace. This audit will examine past results using disaggregated data at the lowest possible levels for racialized employees (referred to as “visible minorities” in the Employment Equity Act) and assess actions taken to address racial discrimination.

Audit objective
This audit seeks to determine whether selected organizations acted to correct the conditions of disadvantage in employment experienced by racialized employees and demonstrated progress toward creating an inclusive organizational culture.

Antimicrobial Resistance

Entities: Public Health Agency of Canada, Health Canada, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Context
Antimicrobial resistance is recognized as a growing threat to public health in Canada. The World Health Organization has declared it as one of the top 10 global public health threats facing humanity. It occurs when microbes (for example, bacteria, viruses, fungi) become resistant to the antimicrobial used to treat them.

Audit objective
This audit seeks to determine whether the Public Health Agency of Canada, Health Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada delivered actions to address antimicrobial resistance, to provide comprehensive surveillance, and to preserve the effectiveness of medically important antimicrobials.

Processing Immigration Applications

Entity: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

Context
Each year, Canada welcomes permanent residents with the aim of driving economic growth, reuniting families, and upholding humanitarian values. Increasingly higher targets for new permanent resident admissions were set under Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s Immigration Levels Plan. The COVID‑19 pandemic presented significant challenges to the department’s operations.

By September 2022, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada reported that its application inventory had grown to more than 2 million applications with processing delays across all programs. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada committed to improving the speed at which applications are processed.

Audit objective
This audit seeks to determine whether Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada processed applications for permanent residence in a prompt and efficient manner to support economic, family reunification, and humanitarian objectives.

The permanent resident programs covered by this audit are the following:

  • Economic class: Federal Skilled Worker, Quebec Skilled Worker Program, and Provincial Nominee Program
  • Family class: Sponsored spouse and Partner Program and Dependent Children program
  • Humanitarian class: Government-Assisted Refugees program and Privately Sponsored Refugee program
ArriveCAN

Entities: Canada Border Services Agency, Public Health Agency of Canada, Public Services and Procurement Canada

Context
Developed by the Canada Border Services Agency and Public Health Agency of Canada, ArriveCAN is a web tool and mobile app that allows travellers to provide their customs and immigration declarations in advance of their arrival to Canada. The tool also allows travellers to provide their vaccination status information when required.

On 2 November 2022, a motion called on the Auditor General of Canada to conduct a performance audit of ArriveCAN, including payments, contracts, and subcontracts for all aspects of the ArriveCAN tool.

Audit objective
This audit seeks to determine whether the Canada Border Services Agency, Public Health Agency of Canada, and Public Services and Procurement Canada managed all aspects of the ArriveCAN tool, including procurement and expected deliverables, with due regard for economy, efficiency, and effectiveness.

Modernizing Information Technology Systems

Entities: Office of the Chief Information Officer under the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, Shared Services Canada

Context
The gap between the current state of technology components and their optimal state of operation creates significant risks in terms of security, performance, user experience, and service delivery to Canadians.

Since our 2010 audit report, Link opens a PDF file in a new browser windowAging Information Technology Systems, the Government of Canada has identified about 7,500 business applications in production. According to the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, only 35% of them are in good condition. The other 65% require attention because of poor technical condition, low business value, or insufficient funding.

In 2022, the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat released the Government of Canada’s Digital Ambition 2022 with the goal of enabling government service delivery in the digital age by providing modernized and accessible information technologyIT tools and services to all Canadians.

Audit objective
This audit seeks to determine whether the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat and Shared Services Canada led and supported the efficient and effective modernization of IT systems across government.

Report titles
Anticipated publication: 2024

Professional Services Contracts

Combatting Cybercrime

Culture Change in National Defence

Transportation Corridors and Supply Chain

Youth Employment and Skills Strategy

Obtaining a Criminal Record Suspension

Programs to Assist Seniors

Digital Credentials

Follow-up on Pandemic Preparedness

Industrial and Technological Benefits

Establishing a New Fiscal Relationship With First Nations

Immigration Detention

Housing on First Nations Reserves

Policing in Indigenous Communities

Environmental and Sustainable Development Audits

Report titles
Anticipated publication: 2023
Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program

Entity: Natural Resources Canada

Context
In 2020, transportation accounted for approximately 24% of greenhouse gas emissions in Canada. By replacing vehicles powered by fossil fuels with zero-emission vehicles, it is expected that greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced.

Since 2016, the federal government has allocated funding for the deployment of electric vehicle chargers and hydrogen refuelling stations across Canada. Natural Resources Canada is responsible for implementing the Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program.

In Budget 2022, the federal government committed to contributing to the deployment of an additional 50,000 new zero-emission vehicle chargers and hydrogen refuelling stations by 31 March 2029.

Audit objective
This audit seeks to determine whether Natural Resources Canada designed and implemented the Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program to support the deployment of accessible and reliable electric vehicle charging infrastructure for light-duty vehicles throughout Canada.

Monitoring Fisheries Catch

Entity: Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Context
According to Fisheries and Oceans Canada, fish and seafood exports were worth $8.7 billion in 2021 in Canada. According to the Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators, as of 2021, only 31% of Canada’s key fish stocks were considered healthy and data gaps exist for 43% of them.

In the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development’s 2016 report, Sustaining Canada’s Major Fish Stocks, we found that Fisheries and Oceans Canada did not have national standards for fishery monitoring in Canada, leading to inconsistencies and data quality issues that affected Canada’s ability to sustainably manage fish populations.

In November 2019, Fisheries and Oceans Canada approved and committed to implementing its first Fishery Monitoring Policy with the aim of addressing the critical need to gather dependable data on the number of fish and marine mammals removed from the oceans as a result of fishing activities.

Audit objective
This audit seeks to determine whether Fisheries and Oceans Canada obtained dependable and timely fisheries catch monitoring information and whether the department used this information to support its decisions to sustainably manage the harvesting of commercial marine fisheries.

Net-Zero Emissions Accountability

Entities: Environment and Climate Change Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Privy Council Office, Department of Finance Canada

Context
The Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act enshrines in legislation the Government of Canada’s commitment to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The act provides a framework of accountability and transparency to deliver on this commitment.

In March 2022, the government published the 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan, the first plan under the act. The plan includes implementation measures to meet the target of a 40% to 45% reduction in Canada’s annual total greenhouse gas emissions below the 2005 level by 2030.

Audit objective
This audit seeks to determine whether Environment and Climate Change Canada, in consultation with key departments, designed a credible and inclusive 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan and whether responsible entities implemented selected measures to meet the greenhouse gas emission reduction targets.

Export Development Canada’s Environmental and Social Review Directive

Entity: Export Development Canada

Context
Export Development Canada is a Government of Canada Crown corporation and Canada’s export credit agency. The corporation’s mandate is to facilitate the international business activities of Canadian companies, both large and small, in every industry across the country.

The corporation’s Environmental and Social Review Directive is one of the processes through which the corporation manages environmental and social risks as they pertain to project-related reviews.

Audit objective
This audit seeks to determine whether the design of Export Development Canada’s Environmental and Social Review Directive is suitable, whether its requirements are being implemented, and whether it is aligned with Government of Canada environmental and social commitments.

Departmental Progress in Implementing Sustainable Development Strategies

Environmental Petitions Annual Report

Context
This annual report will inform Parliament and Canadians about the number, nature, and status of petitions and responses received from 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023, as required by section 23 of the Auditor General Act. The Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development administers the environmental petitions process on behalf of the Auditor General of Canada.

Read last year’s report to see what it’s all about.

Report titles
Anticipated publication: 2024

Agriculture and Climate Change

Single-use Plastics

Industrial Strategies

Contaminated Sites

Green Procurement

Climate Change Accountability Activities

Critical Minerals and Batteries

Assessment and Reassessment of Species at Risk

Federal Sustainable Development Strategy

Departmental Progress in Implementing Sustainable Development Strategies

Environmental Petitions Annual Report

Audits of Northern Territories

Yukon

Report titles
Anticipated publication: 2023
COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution

Entities: Department of Health and Social Services, Department of Community Services, Executive Council Office

Context
In Yukon, about 75% of the population lives in the capital, Whitehorse, and the remainder of the population live in 15 rural communities. These rural communities are geographically remote (1 is accessible only by plane), and they face distinct challenges in accessing health and social services, which are more readily available in Whitehorse or outside of Yukon. It is within this context that the OAG decided to conduct this audit to examine whether vaccine distribution was delivered effectively and equitably to Yukon residents.

Audit objective
To determine whether the Department of Health and Social Services, the Department of Community Services, and the Executive Council Office managed the rollout of the COVID‑19 vaccines in an effective and equitable manner to protect the health and well‑being of Yukon residents.

Report titles
Anticipated publication: 2024

Yukon Contracting and Procurement

Northwest Territories

Report titles
Anticipated publication: 2023
Stanton Territorial Hospital Renewal Project

Entities: Department of Finance, Department of Infrastructure, Department of Health and Social Services, Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority

Context
Located in Yellowknife, the Stanton Territorial Hospital is the largest hospital in the Northwest Territories, serving patients from all regions of the Northwest Territories and the Kitikmeot region of Nunavut.

In 2014, the Government of the Northwest Territories approved the procurement of the Stanton Territorial Hospital Renewal Project under a public-private partnership to expand and improve the original Stanton Territorial Hospital to meet the current and future health care needs of residents of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.

Audit objective
This audit seeks to determine whether the departments of Finance, Infrastructure, and Health and Social Services and the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority delivered on their responsibilities and commitments for the Stanton Territorial Hospital Renewal Project, including whether this project provided good value for money for the government and residents of the Northwest Territories.

Nunavut

Report titles
Anticipated publication: 2024

Nunavut Public Housing

Audits of Crown Corporations

Crown Corporations
Anticipated publication: 2023

Royal Canadian Mint

Canadian Museum of History

Laurentian Pilotage Authority

Crown Corporations
Anticipated publication: 2024

Canada Lands Company Limited

Pacific Pilotage Authority

Destination Canada

Canadian Air Transport Security Authority