Auditor General Karen Hogan and Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development Jerry V. DeMarco

🏗️ Climate Resilience & Infrastructure

Commissioner Jerry DeMarco expressed deep concern over the federal government’s slow response to protecting its own physical assets—valued at roughly $100 billion.

• Federal Assets at Risk: The audit found “significant gaps” in the Treasury Board’s oversight of the Greening Government Strategy. Departments like National Defence and Fisheries and Oceans have been slow to adapt infrastructure (such as bridges and buildings) to extreme weather.
• Outdated Flood Mapping: Efforts to map high-risk flood areas are behind schedule and often fail to account for future climate projections. The audit noted that current data is frequently insufficient for making long-term decisions on where to safely build homes or infrastructure.

⚕️ Public Health: The Avian Influenza Response

One of the more striking findings involved the management of medical supplies during the avian flu outbreak.

• Vaccine Waste: The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) was criticized for allowing 95% of its avian influenza vaccines to expire after purchasing far more doses than necessary.
• Preparedness Gaps: Despite the lessons of COVID-19, the audit found continued failures in data collection and decision-making processes, which hindered the efficiency of the response.

🤝 Indigenous Services & Reconciliation

Auditor General Karen Hogan focused on the “New Fiscal Relationship” between the federal government and First Nations.

• Funding Oversight: While over $6.5 billion has been distributed via 10-year grants to provide predictable funding, Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) failed to monitor whether recipients remained eligible or if the funding was actually closing socio-economic gaps.
• Stalled Progress: Hogan noted that without better monitoring, the government is falling short of its commitments to advance reconciliation and improve outcomes for First Nations communities.

♿ Accessibility in the Public Service

While there has been progress in hiring people with disabilities, the “internal machinery” is struggling.

• Accommodation Delays: The audit of seven federal organizations found that employees with disabilities wait an average of 24 to 310 days for workplace accommodation requests to be fulfilled.
• Representation vs. Inclusion: While representation goals are being met—particularly at the executive level—the slow administrative processes remain a significant barrier to full inclusion.

“As Canada warms at twice the global average, accelerating efforts to protect federal assets and services will sustain communities and save taxpayers’ money over time.” — Jerry V. DeMarco

The government has reportedly accepted all recommendations from these audits, promising to improve data integration and oversight frameworks.

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