Entities: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, Natural Resources Canada

Context
Canada has identified 31 minerals as “critical minerals” and has prioritized 6 of them for their distinct potential to spur Canadian economic growth. These are considered essential minerals for the transition to cleaner energy technologies, such as batteries for electric vehicles or renewable energy generation from wind turbines or solar panels.

The Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy focuses on strengthening critical mineral value chains and supporting mining activities and projects.

Audit objective
This audit seeks to determine whether:

• Natural Resources Canada and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada developed an appropriate governance and reporting structure to implement the Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy in a manner that protects the environment and supports indigenous communities by identifying risks and mitigating effects
• Natural Resources Canada delivered on initial actions in support of the Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy under the Critical Minerals Geoscience and Data Initiative

Entities: Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Indigenous Services Canada, Natural Resources Canada

Context
The Federal Sustainable Development Strategy is the federal government’s primary vehicle for sustainable development, planning and reporting. In 2015, Canada also adopted the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which contains 17 Sustainable Development Goals. The federal strategy supports the 2030 Agenda and its goals.

For this year’s audit, the team will focus on whether a selection of organizations have contributed to the targets under the Clean Energy goal in the 2019–2022 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy.

Audit objective
This audit seeks to determine whether the selected federal organizations

• contributed to meeting the clean power generation and energy efficiency targets under the Clean Energy goal in the 2019–2022 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy
• reported on their results towards achieving related targets 7.2 (to increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix) and 7.3 (to double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency) under the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), as applicable to each organization

Entities: Canada Infrastructure Bank, Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Infrastructure Canada, National Research Council Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Privy Council Office, Transport Canada

Context
The Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act, which came into force on 29 June 2021, focuses on promoting transparency and accountability in the federal government’s efforts to ensure that Canada achieves net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

In March 2022, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change published the 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan, which details mitigation measures. This is the first plan under the act.

The act requires the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development to report on the government’s implementation of mitigation measures. Our first report was tabled in November 2023, and we will continue to report annually.

Audit objective
This audit seeks to determine whether selected federal entities have made progress toward effectively implementing selected measures to reduce Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions and whether Environment and Climate Change Canada has reported on progress in a transparent manner.

Entities: Environment and Climate Change Canada

Context
Under the Species at Risk Act, species status assessments are completed by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Environment and Climate Change Canada provides the committee with the assistance it needs to carry out its functions. Species status assessments are the first step in the process for protecting and recovering species at risk of extinction or extirpation from Canada.

In recent years, the backlog of species for the committee to reassess has grown. Without reassessments, Canadians may not know whether recovery efforts are working to recover species at risk of extinction.

Audit objective
This audit seeks to determine whether Environment and Climate Change Canada met requirements so that status assessments and timely reassessments for species at risk were completed.

Context
This annual report will inform Parliament and Canadians about the number, nature, and status of petitions and responses received from 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024, 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.

Entities: Department of Highways and Public Works

Context
The Government of Yukon considers procurement to be an important tool to help it deliver programs and services to Yukon residents.

In 2020, the Department of Highways and Public Works introduced an electronic system for managing bids and tenders. In February 2021, it updated the Government of Yukon’s procurement policy to include a new “Yukon First Nations Procurement Policy” section. Its goal is to enhance the economic outcomes of Yukon First Nations citizens and businesses. Collectively, both updates introduced significant changes in the way procurement and contracting activities occur within the Government of Yukon.

Audit objective
This audit seeks to examine whether Government of Yukon organizations created a competitive procurement environment and made procurement and contracting decisions that resulted in value for money for Yukoners.

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.