Ottawa, 22 November 2011—Successful government programs and initiatives share some fundamental elements, says John Wiersema, Interim Auditor General of Canada, in his report tabled today in the House of Commons. They include clarity of purpose, committed and sustained leadership, predictable and stable funding, and sufficient and appropriate information for management. Mr. Wiersema’s comments are contained in Matters of Special Importance, which includes the Auditor General’s reflections on the Office’s work that he wishes to bring to Parliament’s attention.
“Most of the problems found by our audits over the years can be attributed to weaknesses in one or more of these key areas,” said Mr. Wiersema.
Clarity of purpose includes a long-term vision of what the program is intended to achieve and a strategic plan to guide activities. Where programs or initiatives involve more than one organization, roles and responsibilities must be clearly defined.
Sustained leadership is important in cases where the complexity of a program can mean years of work to achieve the desired results. This is often difficult to accomplish given the high rates of turnover in senior positions.
Predictable, stable funding contributes to the ability to manage a program strategically over the long term. While many programs can take years to show results, the government’s funding cycle is short-term and in many cases must be renewed periodically to allow programs to continue.
Finally, the report notes that poor management information is a widespread chronic problem in the federal government. Managers are not systematically collecting and using the information they need to manage their programs, and they are not held accountable for this. The government’s ability to serve the needs of Canadians relies on having the right kind of information and using it to manage well.
“I encourage government, as it undertakes the current review of spending, to ensure these core elements are in place to secure the success of continuing programs,” said Mr. Wiersema.
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The chapter “Matters of Special Importance” is available on the Office of the Auditor General of Canada website.
