Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will continue on with the report.
The Department of Municipal and Community Affairs is mandated by municipal legislation to conduct annual municipal inspections. Section 189 of both the Cities, Towns and Villages Act and the Hamlets Act requires that every municipal corporation must at least once a year and at any other time that the Minister may require, have its records, books and accounts examined; management and administration reviewed and financial affairs examined by a municipal inspector.
With greater municipal empowerment anticipated, the department needs to know on a regular basis how well municipalities are doing, not just financially, but administratively as well. Effective monitoring and evaluation form the basis for accountability in the use of development resources. The resulting increased transparency may improve the management and implementation of current and future municipal responsibilities.
In the committee's review, there is a need for closer attention to the accurate monitoring and evaluation of municipal management information, both to support the ongoing implementation of municipality objectives and to feed back into the design of new initiatives. More detailed regular municipal inspections will result in a reliable flow of information to the department and to the municipalities, enabling the participants to keep accurate track of progress and adjust operations based on experience.
The standing committee emphasizes the need for comprehensive guidelines and qualified inspection staff to accurately evaluate municipal responsibilities and perform on a regular, preferably annual, basis.
The department informed the committee that inspections are carried out according to the needs identified by the department; community operations are becoming increasingly more difficult to monitor; and more commitment is needed by the municipal councils to get feedback from the department. The department also monitors value-added programs and services in addition to the fiscal bottom line.
The committee notes that some of the department's concerns may be due to a shortage of qualified staff and resources, as well as the interplay of political influences in some municipalities.