Thursday, March 28, 2024
ADVT 
National

New auditor general says office narrowing focus on federal COVID-19 programs

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 19 May, 2020 08:00 PM
  • New auditor general says office narrowing focus on federal COVID-19 programs

The auditor general's office is narrowing its focus for an audit of key spending the Liberals have rolled out to cushion the economic blow from COVID-19, MPs were told as the government expanded a loan program to address concerns from small businesses left out of the aid.

Karen Hogan, the nominee to be Canada's next auditor general, said the focus of the COVID-19 audit will be on how prepared federal officials were for a pandemic, and she wants to cast a critical eye on the federal response that will provide the most value for Canadians and parliamentarians.

She acknowledged the potential for fraud in some emergency aid programs rushed out over the past few weeks, which may expand the scope of audit work that the office is trying to manage with employees working remotely and limited budget resources.

The office has delayed multiple reviews of federal programs to look at the Liberals' $187-billion infrastructure program and now $151.7 billion in pandemic-related aid, plus tens of billions more in loans and tax deferrals.

Hogan said other work might have to fall by the wayside if the auditor general's office can't get millions more in funding.

MPs on the public accounts committee have been told the current need is about $10.8 million. The office has an annual budget of about $90 million.

"We will do our best," Hogan told MPs vetting her candidacy, "and I commit to getting information to Parliament as quickly as we can so that we can begin to see if there are any lessons learned or changes that we can make to better prepare ourselves and the government should we have to go through (a COVID-19-like event) again."

At almost the same moment as Hogan was testifying, the Liberals made changes to expand a small-business loan program after weeks of criticism of its design.

The Canada Emergency Business Account provides interest-free loans of $40,000 for eligible small businesses to cover ongoing costs like rent and utilities, with the possibility of forgiving one-quarter of the amount if the balance is paid off by the end of 2022.

The program has lent out $24 billion, but had, until now, left out companies that couldn't show they had traditional payrolls, such as family-run businesses that pay themselves in dividends and companies that employ only contractors.

In announcing the change, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the government was working on ways to provide loans to business owners and entrepreneurs who use a personal, rather than business account, or haven't yet filed a tax return.

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business said it was critical for the Liberals to quickly roll out the expanded loan program because some excluded companies have gone two months with little help.

The group, which represents small businesses nationwide, called for more changes to help companies hurting from the pandemic, including expanding the forgivable portion of the loan.

"With many provinces now looking towards reopening their economies, small businesses will need ongoing support to get through the months ahead," CFIB president Dan Kelly said in a statement. Customers might not flood back even though businesses' costs go back up again.

NDP small business critic Gord Johns called it good news that some of the smallest and hardest hit businesses would finally get some help.

"But we are worried that this good news has come too late for many small businesses who were forced to close their doors permanently while they waited and waited for the government to finally step up," he said.

MORE National ARTICLES

Trudeau hopes government can help Air Canada following announcement of layoffs

Trudeau hopes government can help Air Canada following announcement of layoffs
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the government will work closely with Air Canada to see if any more help can be offered after the airline announced mass layoffs yesterday. Air Canada will lay off more than half of its 38,000 employees next month as it grapples with the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Trudeau hopes government can help Air Canada following announcement of layoffs

Overdoses 'sadly normalized' in British Columbia: addictions minister

Overdoses 'sadly normalized' in British Columbia: addictions minister
A rising death toll from overdoses in B.C. during the COVID-19 pandemic has advocates, government officials and health-care workers concerned about a public health emergency that has been overshadowed by the response to the virus. The BC Coroners Service says 113 people died in March of suspected illicit drug toxicity, the first time in a year that deaths from overdoses across B.C. exceeded 100.

Overdoses 'sadly normalized' in British Columbia: addictions minister

WorkSafe BC issues COVID-19 guidelines as businesses ready to reopen

WorkSafe BC issues COVID-19 guidelines as businesses ready to reopen
British Columbia's workplace safety agency released new guidelines Friday as businesses across the province get set to reopen.

WorkSafe BC issues COVID-19 guidelines as businesses ready to reopen

PMIS mystery illness with possible links to COVID-19 attacks children

PMIS mystery illness with possible links to COVID-19 attacks children
At the onset COVID-19 it appeared that young people were largely spared from the virus. Now, doctors believe that a rare, mysterious illness appearing in children, dubbed Pediatric Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome could be linked to the Virus. 

PMIS mystery illness with possible links to COVID-19 attacks children

Canada's real estate market experiences its worst for April since 1984

Canada's real estate market experiences its worst for April since 1984
Canada's real estate market has taken a serious hit with home sales taking a nose dive at 56 percent. The worst market for last month since 1984. 

Canada's real estate market experiences its worst for April since 1984

Optional, no pressure part-time return to B.C. schools June 1, says premier

Optional, no pressure part-time return to B.C. schools June 1, says premier
Students in British Columbia can go back to school June 1 on a part-time, optional basis with no pressure on parents to send their kids to class, says Premier John Horgan.

Optional, no pressure part-time return to B.C. schools June 1, says premier