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Below you will find news releases from the Office of the Auditor General of Ontario. You can browse through them by year.

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Index

2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007

2024

Shelley Spence takes office as Ontario’s new Auditor General. (January 8, 2024).

Announcement

2023

2023 Annual Report (December 6, 2023)

News releases and summaries

News Release: Ontario Auditor General Office’s 2023 Report

Driver Training and Examination

Emergency Departments

Hospitals in Northern Ontario: Delivery of Timely and Patient-Centred Care

Long-Term Care Homes: Delivery of Resident-Centred Care

Management of Aggregate Resources

Metropolitan Toronto Convention Centre and Ottawa Convention Centre

Public Health Ontario

Science Centres

Tourism Support Programs

Travel Industry Council of Ontario

York University Operations and Capital

Operation of the Environmental Bill of Rights, 1993

2023 Annual Follow-Up on Value-for-Money Audits

Summary: 2023 Annual Follow-Up on Value-for-Money Audits

Follow-Up on Reports Issued by the Standing Committee on Public Accounts

Summary: Follow-Up on Reports Issued by the Standing Committee on Public Accounts

Auditor General releases the Special Report on Changes to the Greenbelt (August 9, 2023)

Auditor General releases the report, What Gets Measured Gets Managed: Ministries’ Performance Measurement, Program Evaluation and Annual Reporting (June 20, 2023)

Auditor General releases the report on The State of the Environment in Ontario (May 16, 2023)

Historical Access to Auditee Information Restricted Due to Court Ruling that Language in the Auditor General Act is Unclear: Auditor General (May 1, 2023)

News Release

2022

2022 Annual Report (November 30, 2022)

News releases and summaries

Audit at a Glance: The Public Accounts of the Province of Ontario

Audit at a Glance: Office of the Corporate Chief Information Officer

Operation of the Environmental Bill of Rights, 1993 (December 7, 2022)

Auditor General releases the Special Report on Laurentian University (November 17, 2022)

Auditor General Releases the Review of the Pre-Election 2022 Multi-Year Fiscal Plan (May 2, 2022)

News Release: Ontario Auditor General Finds Corporate Tax Estimates in Budget’s Three-Year Fiscal Plan Too Low, Contingency Funds Overly Cautious

Auditor General releases the Preliminary Perspective on Laurentian University (April 13, 2022)

News Release: Laurentian Refused Provincial Funds That Could Have Prevented Immediate Cuts to Programs: Auditor General

2021

2021 Annual Report (December 1, 2021)

News releases and summaries

Audit at a Glance : Public Accounts of the Province of Ontario

Audit at a Glance: Financial Reporting of School Boards in Ontario

Audit at a Glance: Ontario’s Provincial Comptrollership Framework

Auditor General releases the Annual Report of Environment Audits (November 22, 2021)

News releases and summaries

Summary: Annual Report of Environment Audits

Auditor General of Ontario Appoints Commissioner of the Environment (October 7, 2021)

News Release: Auditor General of Ontario Appoints Commissioner of the Environment

COVID-19 Preparedness and Management Special Report (May 12, 2021)

News release and summary

COVID-19 Preparedness and Management Special Report (April 28, 2021)

News release and summary

Auditor General of Ontario Appoints Acting Commissioner of the Environment (February 1, 2021)

News Release: Auditor General of Ontario Appoints Acting Commissioner of the Environment

2020

2020 Annual Report (December 7, 2020)

News releases and summaries

Summary: Public Accounts of Ontario

Summary: Value-for-Money Audit: Information Technology (IT) Systems and Cybersecurity at Metrolinx

Summary: Business Case Development in the Ontario Public Service

News Release: Government Spending More on Advertising: Auditor General

COVID-19 Preparedness and Management Special Report (November 25, 2020)

News releases, summaries and videos

News Release: Auditor General Special Report: Ontario’s COVID-19 Response Faced Systemic Issues and Delays

2020 Annual Report of Environmental Value-for-Money Audits and the Operation of the Environmental Bill of Rights (November 18, 2020)

News releases, summaries and videos

Ontario’s Costs for Services Provided to Irregular Border Crossers—July 8, 2020

News Release: Minister Provided with Overstated Costs Associated with Irregular Border Crossers—July 8, 2020

2019

2019 Annual Report (December 4, 2019)
News releases and summaries

Summary: 3.01 Acute-Care Hospital Patient Safety and Drug Administration

Addictions-Related Treatment Wait Times, Emergency Department Visits and Deaths Rising Despite Increased Spending: Auditor General

Summary: 3.02 Addictions Treatment Programs

Better Co-ordination of Services for Chronic Kidney Disease Patients Needed: Auditor General

Summary: 3.03 Chronic Kidney Disease Management

More Oversight of Commercial Vehicles Needed to Improve Road Safety in Ontario: Auditor General

Summary: 3.04 Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement

Long-Term-Care Homes Don’t Consistently Follow Residents’ Plan of Care: Auditor General

Summary: 3.05 Food and Nutrition in Long-Term-Care Homes

Few Risks in Ontario Food Supply But Some Improvements Needed: Auditor General

Summary: 3.06 Food Safety Inspection Program

Province Could Do More with Repeat Violators to Improve Unsafe Working Conditions: Auditor General

Summary: 3.07 Health and Safety in the Workplace

Lack of Management Oversight Compromises Death Investigations: Auditor General

Summary: 3.08 Office of the Chief Coroner and Ontario Forensic Pathology Service

ODSP Costs Up 75% in 10 Years: Auditor General

Summary: 3.09 Ontario Disability Support Program

Province Could Save Millions: Auditor General

Summary: 3.10 Ontario Financing Authority

Lack of Information for Legislators on Discretionary Grants: Auditor General

Summary: 3.11 Oversight of Time-Limited Discretionary Grants

Horse-Racing Industry Lacking in Public Transparency and Accountability: Auditor General

Summary: 3.12 Provincial Support to Sustain the Horse-Racing Industry

OLG’s IT Systems Need Improved Security: Auditor General

Summary: 3.13 Technology System (IT) and Cybersecurity at Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation

Volume 2, Summary: 2.00 Operation of the Environmental Bill of Rights, 1993

Province’s Plan to Address Climate Change Not Yet Supported by Sound Evidence: Auditor General

Volume 2, Summary: 3.00 Climate Change: Ontario’s Plan to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Adult Correctional Institutions Not Equipped for Rising Numbers of Inmates on Remand and Those with Mental-Health Issues: Auditor General

Volume 3, Summary: 1.00 Adult Correctional Institutions

Slow Pace of Modernization Contributes to Growing Delays in Ontario Courts, More Transparency of Court Systems Needed: Auditor General

Special Audit of the Tarion Warranty Corporation—October 30, 2019

Tarion’s Complex and Confusing Processes Left Some New Homeowners Without Assistance: Auditor General—October 30, 2019

Auditor General of Ontario Appoints Commissioner of the Environment—July 8, 2019

Auditor General of Ontario Appoints Commissioner of the Environment—July 8, 2019

Office of the Auditor General Ready for Expanded Environmental Responsibilities—April 1, 2019

Office of the Auditor General Ready for Expanded Environmental Responsibilities—April 1, 2019

Auditor General Prepares for Expanded Environmental Responsibilities—March 15, 2019

Auditor General Prepares for Expanded Environmental Responsibilities—March 15, 2019

2018

2018 Annual Report (December 5, 2018)
News releases and summaries

Summary: 2.00 Public Accounts of the Province

Ontario Overpaying for Assistive Devices

Summary: 3.01 Assistive Devices Program

Darlington Refurbishment Project Being Diligently Monitored by OPG, But Still Faces Future Risks

Summary: 3.02 Darlington Nuclear Generating Station Refurbishment Project

Health Quality Ontario Lacks Ministry, LHINs Support to Accomplish its Mandate

Summary: 3.03 Health Quality Ontario

Ontarians Often Face Steep Costs for Medical Care Outside the Province

Summary: 3.04 Interprovincial and International Health Services

Legal Aid Ontario Spends Millions on Ontario Disability Support Program Cases

Summary: 3.05 Legal Aid Ontario

Selection of GO Stations Lacked Transparency and Accountability

Summary: 3.06 Metrolinx—GO Station Selection

Changes to Metrolinx LRT Projects Cost Millions, Caused Delays

Summary: 3.07 Metrolinx—LRT Construction and Infrastructure Planning

Most Pressing Cases Get Timely MRI and CT Scans—But Location a Key Factor in Wait Times

Summary: 3.08 MRI and CT Scanning Services

Public Guardian Cannot Fully Demonstrate Main Mandate Being Met

Summary: 3.09 Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee

Non-Repayable Student Grant Costs Rise Dramatically—But Not Enrolments Yet

Summary: 3.10 Ontario Student Assistance Program

Ontario Works Not Meeting Mandate to Help Recipients Obtain Employment and Become Self-Reliant

Summary: 3.11 Ontario Works

Inconsistent Availability and Use of IT in Schools

Summary: 3.12 School Boards—IT Systems and Technology in the Classroom

TSSA Lacks Effective Licensing and Inspection Processes Required to Protect Public Safety and the Environment

Summary: 3.13 Technical Standards and Safety Authority

Costly Consultants Used for Work that Permanent Employees Could Do For Less

Summary: 3.14 Use of Consultants and Senior Advisors in Government

Structural Factors Kept Waterfront Toronto From Effectively Delivering Its Revitalization Mandate

Summary: 3.15 Waterfront Toronto

Weak Governance and Operational Practices at NPCA: Auditor General—September 27, 2018

Weak Governance and Operational Practices at NPCA: Auditor General—September 27, 2018

Statement by the Auditor General of Ontario—September 21, 2018

Statement by the Auditor General of Ontario—September 21, 2018

Government Statement on Finances “Not Reasonable”: Auditor General—April 25, 2018

Government Statement on Finances “Not Reasonable”: Auditor General—April 25, 2018

2017

2017 Annual Report (December 6, 2017)
Volume 1 news releases and summaries

Summary: 2.00 Public Accounts of the Province

Large Backlogs Mean Long Delays for Property Owners Awaiting Board Decisions

Summary: 3.01 Assessment Review Board and Ontario Municipal Board

Most Cancer Patients’ Needs Being Met—With Exceptions

Summary: 3.02 Cancer Treatment Services

Community Health Centres Model Needs More Study To Inform Future Health-Care Planning

Summary: 3.03 Community Health Centres

Ontario Not Fully Prepared to Respond to Large-Scale Emergencies

Summary: 3.04 Emergency Management in Ontario

Some Farm Support Programs Not Meeting Farmers’ Needs

Summary: 3.05 Farm Support Programs

Lack of Action by IESO Costs Ratepayers Millions

Summary: 3.06 Independent Electricity System Operator—Market Oversight and Cybersecurity

Province Missed Out on Millions in Laboratory Savings

Summary: 3.07 Laboratory Services in the Health Sector

School Board Funding Formula Last Fully Reviewed in 2002

Summary: 3.08 Ministry Funding and Oversight of School Boards

Room for More Savings on Generic Drugs

Summary: 3.09 Ontario Public Drug Programs

Success of Public Health Programs in Preventing Chronic Diseases Unknown

Summary: 3.10 Public Health: Chronic Disease Prevention

Government Pays Millions for Hundreds of Buildings That Sit Empty

Summary: 3.11 Real Estate Services

Employee Sick Days Up Significantly at School Boards

Summary: 3.12 School Boards’ Management of Financial and Human Resources

Ministry Settlement Funding for Newcomers Needs Better Oversight

Summary: 3.13 Settlement and Integration Services for Newcomers

Social and Affordable Housing Needs Growing While Supply Has Been Declining

Summary: 3.14 Social and Affordable Housing

Chapter 4

Summary: 4.00 Toward Better Accountability

Government Spending on Advertising at 10-Year High

2017 Annual Report Volume 2 news release

Progress Continuing on Implementation of Audit Recommendations

Auditor General Says Provincial Government Plans to Obscure the Financial Impact of Electricity Rate Cuts—October 17, 2017

Ontario Government Understates Annual Deficit and Net Debt: Auditor General—September 7, 2017

Ontario Government Understates Annual Deficit and Net Debt: Auditor General—September 7, 2017

Remarks by Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk to The Standing Committee on Justice Policy on Bill 132 Ontario Fair Hydro Plan Act, 2017—May 24, 2017

Remarks by Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk to The Standing Committee on Justice Policy on Bill 132 Ontario Fair Hydro Plan Act, 2017—May 24, 2017

Submission to Committee

Auditor General to Government: ‘Show Me the Letter’ (February 16, 2017)

Auditor General to Government: ‘Show Me the Letter’

2016

2016 Annual Report (November 30, 2016)
Volume 1 news releases and summaries

Summary: 3.01 Child and Youth Mental Health

Ontario’s Cap and Trade Will Not Significantly Lower Emissions Within the Province by 2020

Summary: 3.02 Climate Change

eHealth Still Unfinished After 14 Years and $8 Billion

Summary: 3.03 Electronic Health Records’ Implementation Status

Better Information Needed If Employment and Training Programs are to be Effective

Summary: 3.04 Employment Ontario

Environmental Approval Process Not Effective in Regulating Polluters

Summary: 3.05 Environmental Approvals

Environmental Assessment Process Has Not Kept Up With the Times

Summary: 3.06 Environmental Assessments

More Attention Needed to Placement of High-Needs Individuals in Mental-Health Housing and Supportive Services

Summary: 3.07 Housing and Supportive Services for People with Mental Health Issues (Community-Based)

After Admission, Patients Experiencing Long Waits at Large Community Hospitals for In-Patient Beds and Surgery

Summary: 3.08 Large Community Hospital Operations

Metrolinx’s Oversight of Consultants and Contractors Not Always Ensuring Value for Money

Summary: 3.09 Metrolinx—Public Transit Construction Contract Awarding and Oversight

Substandard Asphalt Leads to Early Cracking of Provincial Highways

Summary: 3.10 Ministry of Transportation—Road Infrastructure Construction Contract Awarding and Oversight

Ministry Needs to Improve Oversight of Physician Billing and Payment Models

Summary: 3.11 Physician Billing

Ontario Lacks Comprehensive Provincial Mental-Health Standards

Summary: 3.12 Specialty Psychiatric Hospital Services

Ministries Generally Following Prudent Procurement Practices

Summary: 3.13 Supply Chain Ontario and Procurement Practices

Public Appointments and Re-Appointments to Agencies, Boards and Commissions not Timely

Summary: 4.02 The Provincial Public Appointment Process

Information and Information Technology General Controls

Summary: 4.03 Information and Information Technology General Controls

Government Using Public Funds to Do More Self-Promotion

2016 Annual Report Volume 2 news release

Generally Good Progress Being Made In Implementing Audit Recommendations

Statement by the Auditor General on Tabling of Public Accounts of the Province (October 6, 2016)

Statement by the Auditor General on Tabling of Public Accounts of the Province

Auditor’s Response to Government’s Release of Unaudited Financial Statements (October 3, 2016)

Auditor’s Response to Government’s Release of Unaudited Financial Statements

2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games (June 8, 2016)

2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games a Success, But Cost Ontario More than Initially Planned, Auditor General Says in a Special Report

Government Payments to Education-Sector Unions (May 18, 2016)

Government Funding to Unions Covered More Than Just Bargaining Costs, Auditor General Says in Special Report

2015

2015 Annual Report news releases (December 2, 2015)

Presentation: Chapter 2 Public Accounts of the Province

Five Years After Last Audit, Home Care Problems Linger: Auditor General

Presentation: 3.01 Community Care Access Centres—Home Care Programs

Children’s Aid Societies Need to Better Adhere to Protection Standards and May Be Closing Cases Too Soon, Auditor General Says

Presentation: 3.02 Child Protection Services—Children’s Aid Societies

Province Can’t Ensure Effective Oversight of Children’s Aid Societies, Auditor General Says

Presentation: 3.03 Child Protection Services Program—Ministry

Business Support Funding Lacks Transparency, Overall Strategy and Assessment of Results: Auditor General

Presentation: 3.04 Economic Development and Employment Programs

Legally Required Technical Electricity Plan Never Fully Reviewed or Approved: Auditor General

Presentation: 3.05 Electricity Power System Planning

Hydro One’s Transmission and Distribution Systems Becoming Less Reliable, Yet Costs are Increasing: Auditor General

Presentation: 3.06 Hydro One—Management of Electricity Transmission and Distribution Assets

Ontario Needs to Better Prioritize Infrastructure Investments: Auditor General

Presentation: 3.07 Infrastructure Planning

LHINs’ Marching Orders Not Clear Enough and Performance Gaps Widening, Auditor General Says

Presentation: 3.08 LHINs—Local Health Integration Networks

Backlog and Delays in Critical-incident and Complaint Inspections of Long-term-care Homes: Auditor General

Presentation: 3.09 Long-term-care Home Quality Inspection Program

No Co-ordinated Provincial Plan to Prioritize the Cleanup of Contaminated Sites: Auditor General

Presentation: 3.10 Management of Contaminated Sites

Province Could Do More to Encourage Mining Development in Ontario; Long-Term Plan for Inspecting and Rehabilitating Abandoned Mine Sites Needed

Presentation: 3.11 Mines and Minerals Program

Social-assistance IT System (SAMS) Launched Prematurely with Serious Defects: Auditor General

Presentation: 3.12 SAMS—Social Assistance Management System

Province Could do More to Further Minimize Risks to Students being Transported to and from School, Auditor General Says

Presentation: 3.13 Student Transportation

Impact of Provincial Funding for University Research Not Evaluated: Auditor General

Presentation: 3.14 University Intellectual Property

Government Late to Release Annual Reports of its Agencies: Auditor General

Presentation: Chapter 5 Toward Better Accountability

Community Care Access Centres—Financial Operations and Service Delivery (September 23, 2015)

Hard Look Needed to Improve CCAC Service Delivery Model, Auditor General Says

Statement from Ontario’s Independent Legislative Officers (May 14, 2015)

Statement from Ontario’s Independent Legislative Officers

The Government’s Proposed Amendments to the Government Advertising Act, 2004 (May 12, 2015)

Government Ads Could Become Partisan, Auditor General says in Special Report

Budget Bill Guts Government Advertising Act (April 29, 2015)

Budget Bill Guts Government Advertising Act, Auditor General warns

Winter Highway Maintenance (April 29, 2015)

Savings Achieved, But Winter Highway Maintenance Deteriorated, Auditor General Says in Special Report

2014

2014 Annual Report news releases (December 9, 2014)

2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games Security (November 26, 2014)

Main Pan Am Security Contract Handled Properly; Security Co-ordination Needs Improvement, Ontario Auditor General Says

Education Sector Collective Agreements (September 1, 2012–August 31, 2014) (November 19, 2014)

Government’s projected savings were reasonable, Ontario Auditor General says in Special Report on Education Sector Collective Agreements

Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation’s Modernization Plan (April 28, 2014)

OLG Modernization Plan “Overly Optimistic,” Auditor General says in Special Report

2013

2013 Annual Report news releases (December 10, 2013)

Divestment of Ontario Northland Transportation Commission (December 10, 2013)

ONTC Divestiture Impact Understated, Ontario Auditor General Says in Special Report

Oakville Power Plant Cancellation Costs (October 8, 2013)

Oakville Cancellation Costs Higher Than Necessary: Auditor General

Mississauga Power Plant Cancellation Costs (April 15, 2013)

Mississauga Plant Cancellation to Cost $275 Million

2012

2012 Annual Report news releases (December 12, 2012)

Ornge Air Ambulance and Related Services (March 21, 2012)

Oversight of Ornge Clearly Inadequate

2011

2011 Annual Report news releases (December 5, 2011)

The Auditor General’s Review of the 2011 Pre-Election Report on Ontario’s Finances (June 28, 2011)

Government Spending Forecasts “Optimistic”

2010

2010 Annual Report news releases (December 6, 2010)

Consultant Use in Selected Health Organizations (October 20, 2010)

More Care Needed in Hiring & Managing Health-care Consultants

OLG’s Employee Expense Practices (June 1, 2010)

OLG Should Spend More Prudently, Auditor General say in Special Report

2009

2009 Annual Report news releases (December 7, 2009)

Ontario’s Electronic Health Records Initiative (October 7, 2009)

Electronic Health Record: Running Late, Too Many Consultants

2008

2008 Annual Report news releases (December 8, 2008)

Prevention and Control of Hospital-acquired Infections (September 29, 2008)

Hospital-acquired Infections: More To Do, Auditor General Says

AgriCorp—Farm Support Programs (July 15, 2008)

Auditor General Recommends Changes to Help Ontario Farmers

Follow-up of 2006 Audits of the Child Welfare Services Program and Four Children’s Aid Societies (January 29, 2008)

Good Progress Made, But More Still Needs to be Done

2007

2007 Annual Report news releases (December 11, 2007)

Good Decisions Require Good Information

Year-end Grants Provided by the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration (July 26, 2007)

Auditor General’s Special Review of Grants Awarded by the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration Completed

The Auditor General’s Review of the 2007 Pre-Election Report on Ontario’s Finances (June 18, 2007)

Auditor General Releases Review of Ontario Government’s Pre-Election Report