Liberal government fails duty to ensure infrastructure gets built

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Regina, SK — The Hon. Andrew Scheer, Conservative Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Communities, issued the following statement in response to Infrastructure Canada’s newly released report titled, ‘Performance Results for the Internal Audit Function’:

“This report shows the failure of the Trudeau Liberal government to ensure oversight of the billions of taxpayer dollars for which it has been entrusted. Infrastructure Canada was responsible for almost $7 billion in the last fiscal year and they are unable to demonstrate that the minimum elements necessary for oversight are in place, are operating as intended, and are achieving results, as required by the Treasury Board.

“According to the report recently posted on the Infrastructure Canada website, only 45 per cent of staff hold an internal audit or accounting designation, and only 35 per cent of senior management consider the internal audits produced by the department to be of “good” usefulness. In fact, the internal audit performance has not been independently assessed, as required by Treasury Board policy, since 2017. It is disappointing that while Canadians contend with Justin Trudeau’s out-of-control inflation and housing costs, we are learning that the Liberal government has taken its eye off the ball and failed Canadians.

“It is painfully clear that the Liberal government is failing in its duty to manage Canadians’ hard-earned tax dollars with anything close to responsible stewardship. Time and again we see the evidence that such lack of transparency and accountability is the standard operating procedure for Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government.

“Canada’s Conservatives will continue to be the voice of those concerned with government spending and accountability. We are calling on the Liberal government to provide appropriate oversight over infrastructure dollars and meet the compliance standards of the Treasury Board. Canadians can’t afford more the same lack of care for Canadians’ hard-earned tax dollars from the Liberal government.”

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For more information:

Office of the Hon. Andrew Scheer, M.P.
Kenzie.Potter@parl.gc.ca