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 operations of 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 Sustainability, Transparency and Accountability Act, 2019, 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
2021-22

Estimates
2020-21

Difference
between
2021-22
and
2020-21

Actual
2019-20

Operating expense

2501 Office of the Auditor General Program $25,427,300 $25,561,700 ($134,400) $25,592,020
  Total operating expense to be voted $25,427,300 $25,561,700 ($134,400) $25,592,020
  Statutory Appropriations $522,100 $522,100 - $509,071
  Total operating expense $25,949,400 $26,083,800 ($134,400) $26,101,091
  Total including consolidation & other adjustments $25,949,400 $26,083,800 ($134,400) $26,101,091
  Total operating and capital including consolidation and other adjustments (not including assets) $25,949,400 $26,083,800 ($134,400) $26,101,091

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 Sustainability, Transparency and Accountability Act, 2019, 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 operations of the Environmental Bill of Rights.

Vote summary

Item number Item

Estimates
2021-22

Estimates
2020-21

Difference
between
2021-22
and
2020-21

Actual
2019-20

Operating expense

1 Office of the Auditor General $25,427,300 $25,561,700 ($134,400) $25,592,020
  Total operating expense to be voted $25,427,300 $25,561,700 ($134,400) $25,592,020
S The Auditor General Act $522,100 $522,100 - $509,071
  Total statutory appropriations $522,100 $522,100 - $509,071
  Total operating expense $25,949,400 $26,083,800 ($134,400) $26,101,091

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 $16,310,600
  Employee benefits $4,436,000
  Transportation and communication $471,600
  Services $3,751,800
  Supplies and equipment $384,800
  Transfer payments  
  CAAF-FCAR Inc. $72,500
  Total operating expense to be voted $25,427,300
  The Auditor General Act  
Statutory The Auditor General Act $522,100
  Total operating expense for Office of the Auditor General Program $25,949,400