Media Advisory—The Auditor General will release her first reports related to COVID‑19 and her report on Investing in Canada Plan—Thursday, 25 March 2021
Ottawa, 15 March 2021—On Thursday 25 March 2021, Karen Hogan, Auditor General of Canada, will deliver 4 performance audit reports to the House of Commons, including 3 reports related to COVID‑19 and 1 report on the Investing in Canada Plan. Tabling is expected at approximately 2:00 pm (eastern daylight timeEDT). Titles and descriptions of the reports are provided below.
Embargoed reports
If you are a journalist accredited by a recognized media organization and wish to receive embargoed electronic copies of the reports at 10:30 am (eastern daylight timeEDT) on 25 March 2021, please email Infomedia@oag-bvg.gc.ca to receive instructions to register for the media preview. Registration must be completed by 5:00 pm (eastern daylight timeEDT) on 23 March 2021. Please note that print copies of the reports are not available for distribution due to pandemic restrictions.
News conference
Journalists registered for the media preview can also take part in an embargoed news conference with Auditor General Karen Hogan, from 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm (eastern daylight timeEDT), via teleconference or in person (Room 200 – 144 Wellington Street, Ottawa). To attend the news conference in person, you must be accredited by the Canadian Parliamentary Press Gallery and follow all public health requirements.
Interviews
To book an interview, please call 1-888-761-5953 or email infomedia@oag-bvg.gc.ca.
The 2021 Reports of the Auditor General of Canada included in this release are:
Report 6—Canada Emergency Response Benefit. This audit focused on whether Employment and Social Development Canada and the Department of Finance Canada provided analysis to support the initial design and subsequent adjustments to the Canada Emergency Response Benefit. This audit also focused on whether Employment and Social Development Canada and the Canada Revenue Agency designed mechanisms so that the Canada Emergency Response Benefit would support eligible workers who suffered a loss of income for reasons related to COVID‑19, including limiting attempts to abuse the benefit.
Report 7—Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy. This audit focused on whether the Department of Finance Canada provided analysis on the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy, taking into account the Government’s objective of providing financial relief to employers and facilitating a return to economic activity. This audit also focused on whether the Canada Revenue Agency administered the program to limit abuse by establishing appropriate controls.
Report 8—Pandemic Preparedness—Surveillance and Border Control Measures. This audit focused on whether the Public Health Agency of Canada was prepared to effect a pandemic response that would protect public health and safety and would be supported by accurate and timely public health surveillance information. This audit also focused on whether the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Canada Border Services Agency implemented and enforced border control and mandatory quarantine measures to limit the spread of COVID‑19 in Canada.
Report 9—Investing in Canada Plan. On 29 January 2020, the House of Commons passed a motion asking the Auditor General to conduct an audit of the Investing in Canada Plan. This audit focused on whether Infrastructure Canada and key federal organizations could demonstrate that the Investing in Canada Plan was meeting its objectives and whether they were providing complete, reliable, and timely reporting about the plan to Canadians.
Reports of the Auditor General of Canada are made available on the Office of the Auditor General of Canada website immediately following tabling.
- 30 -
Please visit our Media Room for more information.