Upcoming External Audits

Summary:

The following audits performed by the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) of Canada, the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development (CESD), on behalf of the OAG, and the Public Service Commission (PSC) touch on the Transport Canada (TC) portfolio:

  • CESD audit of Zero Emission Vehicles
  • PSC audit on System-Wide Staffing
  • OAG Audit of Transportation Corridors and Supply Chains 
  • OAG audit on Accessible Transportation for Persons with Disabilities – TC is involved only through the Crown Corporations subject to the audit  
  • OAG Special Examination of the Laurentian Pilotage Authority (LPA) – TC has no direct involvement

Overview:

CESD audit of Zero Emission Vehicles (also involves ECCC, NRCan, and ISED)

  • This audit is still in the planning phase and the specific scope has not been shared with TC yet. This will be presented in the audit plan summary, which is expected in early March 2023. 
  • The timing for the audit is expected to be between January and June, with a tabling of the report planned for November 2023.

PSC audit of System-Wide Staffing (involves a number of other departments)

  • The objective of this audit is to determine whether appointments and appointment processes comply with legislative and policy requirements. The audit will also assess whether hiring managers adhere to the DM-established direction on choice of process (use of advertised or non-advertised). 
  • For TC, PSC looked at a random sample of 22 appointments made between December 1, 2020 and September 30, 2021.
  • The audit is currently in the examination phase, with a report expected in the spring or summer of 2023.

OAG Audit of Transportation Corridors and Supply Chains 

  1. This audit is still in the planning phase and the specific scope has not been shared with TC yet. This will be presented in the audit plan summary, which is expected in March-April 2023.  

  1. The timing for the audit is expected to be between April and October 2023 and the tabling of the report is currently planned for March 2024. 

OAG audit of Accessible Transportation for Persons with Disabilities

  • This audit sought to determine whether VIA Rail, the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) and the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) identified and removed existing barriers and worked towards preventing transportation barriers for persons with disabilities.
  • The audit report is being finalized for tabling in March 2023.
  • TC is not directly involved in this audit but is kept in the loop through the Crown Corporation Secretariat.
  • Tabling of the report is planned for March 2023.

OAG Special Examination of the LPA

  • Special examinations are carried out directly with the Crown corporation concerned and focus on whether there exists reasonable assurance that assets are safeguarded and controlled, financial, human and physical resources are managed economically and efficiently, and operations are carried out effectively.
  • The special examination is currently in the conduct phase and TC has no direct involvement.
  • A draft report to the LPA Board is expected to be delivered in March 2023.
  • The Board will have 30 days to submit the report to the Minister and the President of the Treasury Board and 60 days to make it public (through the corporation’s website).