Summary

The Auditor General, who is an Officer of the Assembly, conducts independent audits of government programs, the financial statements of the Province and numerous agencies of the Crown, broader public-sector organizations, and reviews under the authority of the Auditor General Act and various other statutes and authorities. The results of these audits and reviews provide assurance, objective information and advice to the Legislative Assembly. In doing so, the Office of the Auditor General assists the Assembly in holding the government, its administrators, and grant recipients accountable for their stewardship of public funds and for the achievement of value-for-money in the delivery of services to the public.

On April 1, 2019, Restoring Trust, Transparency and Accountability Act (the “Act”) was proclaimed. The Act amends the Environmental Bill of Rights, 1993 to transfer some of the responsibilities of the former Office of the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario to the Office of the Auditor General of Ontario. The Office’s expanded responsibilities include reporting annually on the government’s compliance with the Environmental Bill of Rights.

Additionally, under the Government Advertising Act, 2004, the Auditor General is required to review specified types of advertising and certain printed matter proposed by government offices to determine whether they meet the standards required by that Act.

Under the Acts, the Auditor General reports the results of the work conducted each year directly to the Legislative Assembly.

As required by the Fiscal Transparency and Accountability Act, 2004, in an election year the Auditor General is also required to review and report on the reasonableness of a Pre-Election Report prepared by the Ministry of Finance.

Program summary

Vote

Program

Estimates
2019-20

Estimates
2018-19

Difference
between
2019-20
and
2018-19

Actual
2017-18

 

Operating expense

 

 

 

 

2501

Office of the Auditor General Program

$25,796,000

$20,116,100

$5,679,900

$18,680,684

 

Total operating expense to be voted

$25,796,000

$20,116,100

$5,679,900

$18,680,684

 

Statutory appropriations

$522,100

$497,100

$25,000

$660,430

 

Total operating expense

$26,318,100

$20,613,200

$5,704,900

$19,341,114

 

Total operating and capital including consolidation and other adjustments (not including assets)

$26,318,100

$20,613,200

$5,704,900

$19,341,114

Office of the Auditor General Program - vote 2501

The Auditor General conducts independent value-for-money and financial statement audits under the authority of the Auditor General Act and various other statutes and authorities. As well, under the authority of the Government Advertising Act, 2004, the Auditor General is required to review government advertising and certain printed matter proposed by government offices to determine if the advertising or printed matter meet the standards required by that Act. As required by the Fiscal Transparency and Accountability Act, 2004, in an election year the Auditor General is also required to review and report on the reasonableness of a Pre-Election Report prepared by the Ministry of Finance. As of April 1, 2019, the Auditor General is also required to annually report on the government’s compliance with the Environmental Bill of Rights.

Vote summary

Item number

Item

Estimates
2019-20

Estimates
2018-19

Difference
between
2019-20
and
2018-19

Actual
2017-18

 

Operating expense

 

 

 

 

1

Office of the Auditor General

$25,796,000

$20,116,100

$5,679,900

$18,680,684

 

Total operating expense to be voted

$25,796,000

$20,116,100

$5,679,900

$18,680,684

S

The Auditor General Act

$522,100

$497,100

$25,000

$660,430

 

Total statutory appropriations

$522,100

$497,100

$25,000

$660,430

 

Total operating expense

$26,318,100

$20,613,200

$5,704,900

$19,341,114

Standard account by item and sub-items

Vote-
item
number

Standard account by item and sub-items

Amount

 

Operating expense

 

2501-1

Office of the Auditor General

 

 

Salaries and wages

$15,830,300

 

Employee benefits

$3,975,000

 

Transportation and communication

$471,600

 

Services

$5,061,800

 

Supplies and equipment

$384,800

 

Transfer payments

 

 

CCAF-FCVI Inc

$72,500

 

Total operating expense to be voted

$25,796,000

 

The Auditor General Act

 

Statutory

The Auditor General Act

$522,100

 

Total operating expense for Office of the Auditor General Program

$26,318,100