Assembly audit finds lack of program implementation

February 15, 2012

Yellowknife, N.W. T. - There is still a lot of work for the GNWT to do in order to effectively deliver programs in the territory, but there has been progress in some places.

A status report from the Auditor General of Canada was tabled Feb. 14^th at the Legislative Assembly and it wasn't all bad news as there was praise for the work being done in the areas of the monitoring of education councils and strengthening contracting policies.

Still, there is the issue of a lack of information on implementing recommendations from 2006 and the assistant auditor general, Jerome Berthelette said that has to change and he used housing as an example.

“If you are going to be able to manage programs and services well then you need to have good information about what it is you are managing. The state of the housing stock for instance is a good example; you can't manage it if you can't measure it. If you want to be able to manage it you have to measure it."

Berthelette also said with 50% of programs being delivered by third-parties, better monitoring is needed to make sure the agreements are being lived up to.

“The departments need to do more work in terms of following up with third parties to make sure that in fact the programs and services that they want delivered, that the legislature has said should be delivered  to taxpayers, are in fact being delivered according to these regulations." 

Berthelette also wanted to see more detailed plans on when and how recommendations in reports will be implemented.

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