Every year the Auditor General (AG) releases an annual report on selected departments and programs. And year after year, the CTF profiles the AG's work in commentaries and news releases. The feds were particularly adept this year at deflecting attention from the release of the AG's report by holding key votes or releasing important reports on the same day.

This agenda manipulation minimized media coverage of the AG's important work. So, as a public service, we offer some of the "lowlights" from the 29 chapters included in the AG's 1998 report.

Ch. 7 - Federal Laboratories for Human and Animal Health Building Project. The feds are building a world-class diagnostic, research and training facility in Winnipeg to be used for food inspection, disease control, etc. But "the Winnipeg facility currently has space that exceeds its planned program needs and the amount approved by Treasury Board, and that has added to a national inventory of surplus laboratory capacity." As for cost concerns, "the project is 12 months behind schedule and could have been delivered for at least $5 to $10 million less."

Ch. 8 - Department of Finance: Effectiveness Measurement and Reporting. "We found gaps in reporting to Parliament on results achieved relative to objectives. Our findings are consistent with - a number of audits - undertaken by this Office over the past six years. The picture -is one of known shortcomings, and insufficient attention to measuring effectiveness and reporting results to Parliament and the public." Finance accounts for $66 billion a year or 43 percent of planned federal expenditures.

Ch. 14 - Indian and Northern Affairs (INAC) - Comprehensive Land Claims. "INAC has not demonstrated that it has always exercised adequate rigour in determining the nature and amount of assets that may be ultimately included in final settlements, including - the amounts of cash, land and other resources."

Ch. 20 - Preparedness for the Year 2000: Government-Wide Mission-Critical Systems. The feds are not ready for the Millenium computer bug. Indeed, "- as of June 1998, various government systems supporting mission-critical functions remained at risk. With 18 months left, we are very concerned that some essential government services may be interrupted at the start of (the year) 2000."

Ch. 27 - Grants & Contributions: Selected Programs in Industry Canada and Canadian Heritage. "In about 1/3rd of the projects we audited (multiculturalism), there was little evidence that the Department had exercised due diligence in approving funding. We are also concerned -performance expectations are ambiguous; clarification is needed to avoid duplicating the efforts of other departments and of provincial governments.

But the biggest sin in government waste and mismanagement was the management of the SIN (Social Insurance Number) itself. The AG found (Ch. 16) that there are nearly 4 million more active SIN numbers than there are Canadians aged 20 or older. SIN numbers are used "to verify entitlements to a wide array of social benefits and to assess taxes owed. The amounts involved are so huge (approximately $100 billion - for all levels of government) that even a low incidence of fraud and abuse could represent significant costs to government."

The office of the AG has identified billions of dollars in waste and mismanagement. His CD is a shocking testament to ten years of blatant contempt for hard-earned taxpayer dollars. Sounds like the perfect stocking stuffer for the Finance Minister who says he has no room to maneuver and give Canadians tax relief.