Work in Progress

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major economic impact on B.C., leading to job losses, business closures, and disruptions to supply chains. In September 2020, the province announced $1.5 billion in funding for a variety of programs to help promote a sustainable economic recovery. This includes the Community Economic Recovery Infrastructure Program – Community Economic Resilience stream (CERIP-CER). 

This audit will determine whether the Ministry of Municipal Affairs administered the CERIP-CER funding stream according to government financial policies and program guidelines. 

The audit looks at the following aspects of CERIP-CER: 

• How the program was developed to support B.C.’s economic recovery to the COVID-19 pandemic,
• The assessment of applications for CERIP-CER funding,
• The distribution of funding to successful applicants, and
• The ministry’s oversight of funding in the first year. 

For more information, watch the auditor general's announcement video.

Updated: December 2021

This audit will examine whether the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) provides Indigenous clients with mental health and/or substance use disorders with access to related health services while incarcerated. 

We will look at whether the PHSA: 

• screens people for mental health and substance use disorders during intake,
• provides access to services that address a clients’ mental health and substance use needs during incarceration,
• plans for clients’ release by identifying health services and making referrals. 

This audit will focus exclusively on access to existing mental health and substance use services from intake to discharge. It will not examine the quality of these services or whether they are culturally appropriate for the population served.  

For more information, watch the auditor general's announcement video.

Updated: May 2022

In March 2020, the Government of British Columbia declared a public health emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The health system’s resources were engaged in managing two public health emergencies: COVID-19 and the toxic illicit drug supply. 

At the request of Vancouver Coastal Health, and based on consultations with the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions, our office agreed to postpone our audit work related to substance use services at that time. 

We have now resumed planning this audit and expect to release a report in 2023.  

Updated: March 2022

In 2016, our office completed an audit to determine if the B.C. government’s compliance and enforcement activities in the mining sector adequately protected the province from significant environmental risks. The audit found that government’s activities were inadequate.

We are currently conducting an audit that focuses on the actions the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation has taken to address the key environmental risks identified in the 2016 audit. This includes examining whether the ministry has adequate policies and procedures supporting: 

• Enforceable language in permits,
• Compliance and enforcement activities,
• Evaluation, continuous improvement and reporting, and
• Reclamation.

The audit will also examine whether the ministry has an adequate framework to manage the environmental risks of abandoned major mines.  

For more information, watch the auditor general’s announcement video.