Standing Committee on Public Accounts

Comité permanent des comptes publics

For immediate release

Ottawa, June 20, 2022 -

The Office of the Auditor General of Canada reported in 2021 that Canada’s regional development agencies rapidly designed and delivered the Regional Relief and Recovery Fund to mitigate financial pressures on businesses and organizations as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the economy. However, several weaknesses in program management lessened its efficiency, fairness, and transparency—which might be the consequences of the quick program delivery.

The weaknesses affected the regional development agencies’ capacity to mitigate risks and ensure compliance with government requirements and policies. Also, although the agencies had put some reporting mechanisms in place, those mechanisms did not ensure accurate reporting on program results.

A report by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Accounts, which was presented today by Committee Chair John Williamson, made four recommendations to Canada’s seven regional development agencies: the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario, the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, Prairies Economic Development Canada, Pacific Economic Development Canada, and the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency.

The Committee recommendations relate to the setting of targets for levels of support to under-represented groups, the adoption of practices to ensure programs are efficient, effective and fair, the harmonization of processes to produce accurate results reporting, and follow-up work on ineligible expenses paid and loan repayment.