This HillStudy has two objectives: to gain better insights into the types of issues identified by the Auditor General of Canada (AG) in performance audits of federal programs and to examine trends in the frequency of these issues.
An analysis of the 244 reports on performance audits conducted between 2005 and 2024 identified 1,810 issues related to program administration. These issues were assigned to 54 categories, which were then grouped into nine classes: 1) planning; 2) data and information; 3) resources; 4) access and accessibility; 5) delivery; 6) oversight; 7) analysis; 8) results and costs; and 9) public communication.
The three issues identified most frequently in AG reports over the period under review fall into the following classes: “planning” (22% of issues identified), “oversight” of costs, compliance with various directives, etc. (15% of issues identified), and “analysis” of effectiveness, processes, eligibility, etc. (14% of issues identified). With regard to specific categories of issues, the category “delays or poor results” (delays in relation to service standards and poor results in relation to objectives) does not represent a significant proportion (3.4%) of the issues identified, but this is partly because this aspect of programs is not always measurable, measured or reviewed. This issue was nevertheless noted in 25% of the reports tabled.
Read the full text of the HillStudy: Issues Identified by the Auditors General of Canada in Performance Audits Tabled Between 2005 and 2024
By André Léonard, Library of Parliament