Auditor general’s report requires swift action By: Editorial Posted: 7:00 PM CDT Thursday, Mar. 23, 2023

Opinion

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This article was published 23/03/2023 (902 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The province’s auditor general has expressed disappointment in the government’s apparent inaction on implementing his office’s recommendations related to a wide range of departments and issues.

It’s a concern that should be shared by Manitobans — and, in a broader context, by Canadians, as well.

In a media release made public last week, provincial auditor general Tyson Shtykalo said Manitoba’s current government has acted on only about 10 per cent of the recommendations in his office’s reports in recent years.

Auditor general decries government inaction on key issues

In relation to seven reports released between November 2019 and October 2020, only 20 of 209 recommendations had been implemented.

“We strive to promote government accountability and public administration excellence for Manitobans,” Mr. Shtykalo said. “The primary way we do this is through our audit work and recommendations. It’s important that audited entities be held accountable for implementing these recommendations.”

He’s right. The role of auditors general is to dig deep into the workings of governments and public service to ensure the public’s interests are protected and served in the best ways possible.

Traditionally, the people entrusted with these positions have been held in high regard, with their reports and recommendations viewed as essentially sacrosanct. During her 10-year tenure (2001-11) as Canada’s auditor general, Sheila Fraser — who was recognized in one poll as among the five most trusted Canadians — issued reports on the federal government’s sponsorship scandal, Canada’s mission in Afghanistan and Canada’s correctional system that had major impact on political processes.

In recent years, however, the inclination of governments has been to grudgingly accept and then largely ignore the findings in auditors general’s reports. In 2018, federal auditor general Michael Ferguson accompanied the release of his spring audits with an observation that the office’s efforts felt largely for naught.

“We always get the department agreeing to our recommendation but then somehow we come back five years later, 10 years later and we find the same problems,” he said in a radio interview. “It almost is like the departments are trying to make our recommendations and our reports go away by saying they agree with our recommendations.”

The fact he’s not alone in feeling ignored should offer little comfort to Mr. Shtykalo, or to Manitobans. The recommendations in the auditor general’s reports should be acted on swiftly in order to assure the public that government is doing its job.

Mr. Shtykalo rightly pointed out that some of the shortfalls in implementing recommendations should be excused because of the logistical challenges created by pandemic-related workflow changes and staffing challenges. But even as public service slowly recovers from pandemic impacts and returns to normal functioning, it is incumbent on the provincial government to redouble its efforts to implement recommendations in order to restore public confidence in the integrity of the auditor general’s processes.

The auditor general should insist that government recommit to respecting the office and its recommendations, as a good-faith commitment to honouring one of the fundamental aspects of our political process.

In his statement, Mr. Shtykalo suggested the legislature’s public accounts committee should summon top public servants from offending entities to explain their failures in enacting recommendations. Such a demand amounts to an overreach that could undermine the impartial functioning of the public service by thrusting non-political officials into what would inevitably be political confrontations.

Instead, the auditor general should insist that government recommit to respecting the office and its recommendations, as a good-faith commitment to honouring one of the fundamental aspects of our political process.

In response to Mr. Shtykalo’s concerns, the Stefanson government said it respects the independent authority, transparency and recommendations of the auditor general, and “will review the recent report in-depth and will work to address the highlighted concerns.”

The text of the province’s statement would have been well served by the addition of a well-placed “immediately.”