WELLAND, Ont. (September 27, 2018)–After a 10 month process with the Auditor General’s office, The Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority (NPCA) is pleased to share that today the Auditor General officially tabled their report to the Legislature. In April 2017, the NPCA Board of Directors voted to engage the Auditor General to conduct a value for money audit, which they refer to as a “Special Audit”.
“On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank the Auditor General, Bonnie Lysyk, and her team, for their efforts over these last 10 months. I firmly believe any organization that is the recipient of public dollars should not be removed from the scrutiny of the Auditor General’s Office. The Auditor General provides an important independent lens for the benefit of Ontario residents, and her report will be a valuable tool in helping the NPCA move forward,” says NPCA Board Chair Sandy Annunziata. “While her report identifies areas for improvement at the NPCA between 2008-2017, her recommendations provide a template for all Conservation Authorities to follow. We look forward to working with our Ministry, Conservation Ontario and Municipal Partners in order to achieve the objectives outlined in the report, while also recognizing the importance of maintaining flexibility, and tailoring our programs and services to reflect local needs and priorities.”
NPCA staff has worked tirelessly to provide the Auditor General’s office with unfettered access to records and information for their report, the results of which are presented in their document, which offers 24 key findings, 18 of which are recommendations for NPCA and 6 of which are recommendations to the Province.
“NPCA concurs with, and is firmly aligned with, all of the recommendations of the Auditor General put forth in this report, most of which relate to process improvements and policy refinements,” said CAO Mark Brickell. “NPCA, on its own, had already identified many of the same shortcomings, and has taken decisive steps to address such deficiencies through its ongoing commitment to continuous improvement. We invite the people of the watershed to engage with us as we move forward with our exciting 2018-2021 Strategic Plan, which among other things will serve to strengthen our collective stewardship of the watershed, rebuild the tree canopy, and secure more land for conservation, recreation and wildlife habitat.”
NPCA will continue to work collaboratively with its Ministry partners and Conservation Ontario to ensure all 36 Conservation Authorities across the Province receive the funding they require to perform mandated responsibilities.
The full Special Audit Report will be received by the NPCA Board of Directors at its next Meeting in November.
For more information on the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority, visit www.npca.ca. Follow on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more updates.
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About NPCA:
The NPCA manages the impact of human activities, urban growth, and rural activities on the Niagara Peninsula watershed with programs and services that help keep people and their property safe from flooding and erosion, while helping to retain the safety of our drinking water.
NPCA manages 41 Conservation Areas, including Ball’s Falls, Binbrook, Long Beach and Chippawa Creek. These lands are held in public trust for recreation, heritage preservation, conservation, and education. NPCA’s Conservation Areas marry nature, culture and adventure to create limitless opportunities for discovery.
Questions related to the Auditor General’s Report should be directed to:
Bonnie Lysyk, Auditor General
Phone: 416-327-1326
Questions related to the above release should be directed to:
Krystle Caputo, (A) Manager, Communications
Mobile: 289-241-5190
kcaputo@npca.ca