Background

To pay for delivery of services to the public, the government provides funding to individuals (e.g. disability support payments), organizations (e.g. hospitals, non-profits) and other governments (e.g. municipalities). This is what’s known as a transfer payment. Transfer payments make up approximately 82% of the government’s total expenses.

Ministries and provincial agencies who oversee transfer payments must follow the rules laid out in an internal document called the Transfer Payment Accountability Directive (TPAD). TPAD lays out the government’s rules for overseeing transfer payments and ensures that taxpayer dollars are spent accountably.

These rules do not apply to the organizations that receive transfer payments but do affect the processes they must follow.

About the survey

From June 14, 2016 to July 12, 2016 we consulted, through an online survey, about the rules ministries and provincial agencies have to follow when providing transfer payments.

All feedback:

  • was reviewed and assessed by the Treasury Board Secretariat
  • helped inform the final directive
  • helped clarify definitions and requirements
  • helped make the document more user-friendly

Consultation results at a glance

From June 14 to July 12, 2016, we received 120 responses through our online survey.*

  • 57 responses from the Ontario government ministries
  • 44 responses from non-profit organizations
  • 12 responses from the Broader Public Sector
  • 4 responses from Indigenous/First Nations/Métis/Inuit organizations
  • 3 responses from municipalities
  • 1 response from an academic institution
  • 1 response from industry (e.g. food, agriculture)

*Survey respondents could self-identify with more than one sector or organization type.

Summary of online survey results:

  • 86% of participants agreed that the principles in the revised draft TPAD were appropriate for guiding how the government oversees transfer payments
  • 74% of participants agreed that the rules in the revised draft TPAD were the correct rules the government should follow when providing transfer payments
  • 82% of participants wanted to be consulted on future draft documents that set out rules for government
  • some participants suggested the revised draft TPAD could be improved by:
    • improving clarity throughout the TPAD by simplifying language and content
    • making the risk requirements match the level of recipient oversight
    • making ministry and provincial agency requirements clear
    • explaining the transfer payment categories clearly

To address some of these concerns we clearly defined and explained:

We also: