Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Implementation

During the public review, the Auditor General stated that he wants the audits done by his office to have real and meaningful outcomes for citizens. He made the pointed observation that, for this to happen, it is important for the Department to stay focused not only on the actions it is implementing in response to the audit, but on whether those actions are achieving the desired outcome of having real, meaningful impacts on community residents. He further observed that doing so aligns with the department’s vision of “responsible, responsive governments,” and its client-centred focus.

The Auditor General also was of the view that, in order to achieve this goal, the department should include indicators in its action plan as a way of measuring how the actions it is taking are resulting in positive changes at the community level. The Committee concurs with the Auditor General’s assessment and, accordingly, makes the following recommendation:

Recommendation 5

The Standing Committee on Government Operations recommends that the department include indicators in its action plan which measure progress in implementing identified actions as a means of achieving improvements in essential service delivery at the community level.

Drinking Water (paragraph 41)

The committee acknowledges the Auditor General’s finding that department’s support to communities was acceptable with regard to drinking water. The committee commends the department for this achievement, but questions whether success in this area was achieved at the cost of poorer progress in the other three key essential services.

The committee views the department’s success in this area as proof that it has the potential to improve results in support for the other three essential services addressed in the audit. The committee reiterates the Auditor General’s observation in the public review that the department needs to take a comprehensive approach to the support it provides to communities. By better marshalling its resources, the department can strike the balance needed to ensure all essential services receive adequate and appropriate attention.

Contribution Agreements with Designated Authorities (paragraph 109)

Contribution agreements are, in essence, a contract between MACA and the designated authorities for the provision of essential services. The proper execution of contribution agreements, recommended by the Auditor General, will ensure that expectations are clearly set out and the circumstances identified under which the department may intervene in a Designated Authority’s activities.

MACA should be diligent about ensuring that provisions contained in contribution agreements are being enforced.

The committee urges MACA to make a distinction between the proper execution of contribution agreements and the larger issue of relationship building with Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada, which involves addressing the currently existing legislative gap which leaves the department without the authority to unilaterally intervene in a Designated Authority’s business.

The committee acknowledges the explanation provided by the deputy minister at the Public Review that the department considered the responses to the recommendations at paragraph 109 and 112 together, which explains the similarity in the responses. The deputy went on to suggest that the Action Plan might better reflect the department’s intentions if the responses were identical and repeated in both.

The committee strongly discourages this approach; the recommendations are distinct from one another and were designed that way by the Auditor General for a reason. The committee challenges the department to craft an approach that is responsive to the intent of each recommendation. The committee suggests that one way to achieve this would be to move Priority Action items 109.3 through 109.5 to the response to recommendation 112, as they are specific to that recommendation.

Recommendation 6

The Standing Committee on Government Operations strongly recommends that the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs simplify its approach in responding to the Auditor General’s recommendations at paragraphs 109 and 112, such that the proposed actions are responsive to the purpose and intent of each recommendation;

Further, that the department subsequently adjust its 2019-20 target date, identified under proposed Priority Action 109.6 to allow for a more timely response.

Mr. Speaker, the Chair of Standing Committee on Government Operations, the honourable Member for Kam Lake will conclude the presentation of this report. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.