PACP Committee News Release
If you have any questions or comments regarding the accessibility of this publication, please contact us at accessible@parl.gc.ca.
|
Standing Committee on Public Accounts |
|
Comité permanent des comptes publics |
For immediate release
NEWS RELEASE
Better Public Reporting and Timely Evaluations Needed for Transfer Payments to the Aerospace Sector
Ottawa, June 17, 2013 -
OTTAWA – The federal government’s transfer payments to the aerospace sector are managed appropriately, but improvements are needed in public reporting on program results and the timeliness of evaluations, according to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts’ report presented today in the House of Commons by Committee Chair David Christopherson.
Canada’s aerospace sector is the fifth largest in the world and is a significant contributor to the Canadian economy. The federal government currently supports the sector through the Strategic Aerospace and Defence Initiative and the Bombardier CSeries Program, while also managing the Defence Industry Productivity Program and Technology Partnerships Canada, which are both in the repayment phase.
In its Fall 2012 Report, the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) released a performance audit of Industry Canada’s transfer payments to the aerospace sector. The OAG found that Industry Canada is managing most aspects of its programs in an appropriate manner—it conducts due diligence before signing contribution agreements, ensures that projects meet eligibility criteria, reviews claims before issuing payments and takes appropriate steps to obtain repayments.
The OAG also noted that some improvements can be made. Industry Canada should be more diligent in its collection of performance information, conduct evaluations according to its plans and report publicly on program recipients, results and accomplishments.
In line with these findings, the Committee recommends – in its report – that Industry Canada provide a report to the Committee on its progress in implementing the OAG’s recommendations, consider the possibility of advancing the timing of its evaluations, report publicly on the results of its aerospace sector support programs, and report publicly on the amounts disbursed to and repaid by transfer payment recipients, as well as on estimates of future repayments.
- 30 -
|