Finance
June 11, 2015

Responsible Decisions to Ensure Long-Term Prosperity

Minister of Finance Comments on Auditor General’s Annual Report

The Auditor General today released his 2015 Annual Report. The report includes a total of 10 items related to Provincial Government departments and government entities.

“Our government recognizes the important oversight role of the Auditor General and welcomes his insight. We carefully consider all recommendations and comments of the Auditor General. Our goal is to ensure long-term sustainability of our programs and services through prudent cost management. We illustrated this commitment through Budget 2015 where we set out a clear plan to return this province to a surplus position through innovation in our existing program and service delivery model and the creation of a culture of cost management. The Auditor General’s work will only strengthen that goal and assist us further as we remain focused on the priorities of the people of the province.”
- The Honourable Ross Wiseman, Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board

Highlights and outcomes of the report include:

• The Auditor General highlighted areas where cost management could be strengthened, including the Labour Market Development Agreement. The departments involved have committed to putting procedures in place to ensure more effective program delivery.
• The Auditor General acknowledged that, in programs designed to provide financial assistance to business, processes are in place to ensure program compliance and identified opportunities for increased evaluation and monitoring.
• The Auditor General noted that the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) should better monitor project costs and timelines.
• Officials with the Department of Transportation and Works will work with relevant departments to ensure that the use of external consultants is better managed.

“We will continue to work across all departments to address issues and improve practices where necessary and required. In some areas work has already begun, for example the OCIO has already implemented new practices to ensure better oversight of IT related projects. Strong fiscal management is vital to the continued delivery of programs and services throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. We are proud of our sustained record of effective fiscal management and we will continue to ensure we are focused on long-term sustainability of our programs and services.”
- Minister Wiseman

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador continues to have a proven track record of carefully considering all recommendations of the Auditor General and making changes where appropriate in as timely a manner as possible. In the Auditor General’s most recent Update Report, departments and agencies have fully or partially implemented 93 per cent, or 549 of the 588 recommendations made from 2009 to 2012.

QUICK FACTS

• The Auditor General’s 2015 Annual Report includes a total of 10 items related to Provincial Government departments and government entities.
• The Provincial Government recognizes the important oversight role of the Auditor General and is carefully considering all recommendations and comments in the most recent report.
• The Provincial Government continues to ensure long-term sustainability of our programs and services through prudent cost management. Budget 2015 set out a clear plan to return the province to a surplus position through innovation in the existing program and service delivery model and the creation of a culture of cost management.
• In the Auditor General’s most recent Update Report, departments and agencies have fully or partially implemented 93 per cent, or 549 of the 588 recommendations made from 2009 to 2012.

- 30 -

Media contact:

Jennifer Tulk Director of Communications Department of Finance 709-729-6830, 728-4104 jennifertulk@gov.nl.ca

2015 06 11                             3:40 p.m.