Western Economic Diversification Canada
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Audit and Evaluation

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Evaluation of the Innovation Activity

Evaluation Report - April 2012
Management Response and Action Plan - October 2012

Evaluation of the Western Economic Partnership Agreements

Audit Report - May 2012
Management Response and Action Plan - October 2012

Audit of Financial Reporting Controls

The audit of Financial reporting Controls was conducted to provide assurance that Western Economic Diversification Canada has designed and maintained a system of internal control over financial reporting that is adequate and effective and that the controls were operating as intended.


Audit of Departmental Performance Measurement

The audit of Departmental Performance Information was conducted to assess the processes and internal controls that the department has in place over the development of departmental performance measures and targets, and the reporting on and use of performance results.


Audit of Year-End Procedures

The audit of Year-End Procedures was conducted to assess controls and procedures related to payables, commitments, budgetary management and financial reporting at fiscal year-end.


Audit of Information Management and Technology Governance

The Audit of Information Management and Technology (IMT) Governance was conducted to provide assurance that Western Economic Diversification Canada has in place an effective IMT governance framework and practices that meet Government of Canada and departmental policy requirements and that the controls were operating as intended.


Audit of Project Performance Information

The audit of Project Performance Information was conducted to assess the procedures and controls that the department has designed and implemented over the collection and use of project performance information.


Follow-up on Outstanding Audit Recommendations

A comprehensive summary of follow-up on all outstanding recommendations for completed audits.


Audit of Monitoring and Payments

The audit of Monitoring and Payments was conducted to provide assurance that Western Economic Diversification Canada has sound monitoring controls in place to manage grants and contributions and that the controls were operating as intended.


Evaluation of Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Program

The evaluation of the Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Program assessed the relevance and performance of the department’s investments in programming for western Canadians with disabilities.  The report presents the findings, conclusions and recommendations, and outlines the department's planned actions to implement the recommendations.  The report spanned the six fiscal years from 2005-06 to 2010-11.


Evaluation of Mountain Pine Beetle Program

This report presents the findings of the Evaluation of the Mountain Pine Beetle Program. The evaluation assessed the performance and relevance of the Mountain Pine Beetle Program to determine the extent to which the program achieved its objectives. The evaluation spanned the three fiscal years from 2007-08 to 2009-10.


Audit of Regional Operations – Manitoba Region

The audit of Regional Operations-Manitoba Region was conducted to provide reasonable assurance that the region has in place sound governance, planning, budgeting, forecasting and reporting processes to support effective decision-making.


Audit of Regional Operations – Alberta Region

The audit of Regional Operations-Alberta Region was conducted to provide reasonable assurance that the region has in place sound governance, planning, budgeting, forecasting and reporting processes to support effective decision-making.


Audit of Regional Operations-Saskatchewan Region

The audit of Regional Operations-Saskatchewan Region was conducted to provide reasonable assurance that the region has in place sound governance, planning, budgeting, forecasting and reporting processes to support effective decision-making.


Audit of Regional Operations - British Columbia Region

The audit of Regional Operations-British Columbia Region was conducted to provide reasonable assurance that the region has in place sound governance, planning, budgeting, forecasting and reporting processes to support effective decision-making.


Evaluation of Loan and Investment Program

This report presents the findings and recommendations of the evaluation of the Loan and Investment Program.  The evaluation assessed the relevance and performance of the Loan and Investment Program over the five fiscal years from 2002-03 to 2008-09.


Audit of Information Technology Security

The audit of Information Technology Security was conducted to provide assurance whether WD has in place effective information technology security framework and practices that meet the Government of Canada Management of Information Technology Security standards and that these comply with departmental Information Security policy.


Evaluation of the Centenaries Program

This report presents the results of the Evaluation of the Centenaries Program.  The evaluation assessed the performance and initial relevance of the Centenaries Program to determine the extent to which program objectives were realized. The evaluation spanned the four fiscal years from 2004-05 to 2008-09 and the results can help guide the development of future similar programs.


Audit of the Project Management of the Project Gateway

The audit of the Project Management of Project Gateway was conducted to provide assurance that an adequate control framework is in place for the project management of Project Gateway investments and to assess that Project Gateway is being designed to meet key business needs.


Audit of Integrated Risk Management

The audit of the Integrated Risk Management at WD was conducted to provide assurance that the framework was adequate and effective.  The audit examined the extent that risk is integrated into governance, direction setting and decision making structures at WD.


Evaluation of Urban Development Agreements

The evaluations of the Saskatoon/Regina and Vancouver Agreements assessed the relevance and performance of the department’s investments in Urban Development Agreements implemented in western Canada. These agreements exist between federal, provincial, and municipal governments and address broad issues through partnerships and shared goals. Separate evaluations were conducted for the Saskatoon/Regina Agreements and the Vancouver Agreement. The report presents the findings, conclusions and recommendation from the evaluations, and outlines the department's planned actions to implement the recommendation.


Audit of Accounts Receivable

The audit of Accounts Receivable was conducted to provide assurance that receivables from contributions, allowances for bad debts, write offs, recoveries and interest charges at WD are managed in compliance with Treasury Board and WD policies.


Audit of Third Party Delivery Arrangements

The audit of Third Party Delivery was conducted to provide assurance that the risk management framework, governance and controls in place at WD for delivery of programs and projects by third parties were adequate to ensure the achievement of intended results.


Audit of Community Adjustment Fund and Recreational Infrastructure Canada

The audit of the Community Adjustment Fund and Recreational Infrastructure Canada was conducted to provide assurance that the program design and new control frameworks were effective to enable successful delivery of the two initiatives in the four western Canadian provinces.


Audit of Western Diversification Program

The audit of the Western Diversification Program was conducted to provide assurance that the program has adequate overall delivery, operations and review control processes in place and that they are working effectively.


Evaluation of Policy, Advocacy and Coordination Functions

The evaluation of the Policy, Advocacy and Coordination Functions assessed the relevance, design and delivery, success and cost-effectiveness of the functions within Western Economic Diversification Canada. Policy, Advocacy and Coordination is identified as one of the strategic outcomes of the department. Activities within this strategic outcome are intended to result in effective strategies, policies and programs that support the development of western Canada. The report presents the findings, conclusions and recommendations from the evaluation, and outlines the department's planned actions to implement the recommendations.


Audit of Community Futures Program

The Audit of Community Futures Program was conducted at Western Economic Diversification Canada to provide assurance on the existence and effectiveness of management practices and controls and to assess compliance to appropriate Treasury Board authorities and departmental policies.


Audit of Infrastructure Programs

The audit of Infrastructure Programs was co-delivered by Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD). This is a follow-up internal audit to provide assurance that WD has fulfilled its roles and responsibilities, and applied its expertise and resources in the delivery of infrastructure programs in western Canada in accordance with underlying Provincial Agreements and Memoranda of Understanding. The scope of the report covers the period April 2006 to March 2008.


Audit of Integrated Human Resource Planning

The Audit of Integrated Human Resource Planning was conducted to provide an opinion as to the adequacy, effectiveness and completeness of the human resource planning and policy framework at Western Economic Diversification.  The audit primarily covered the 2007-08 planning cycle.


Evaluation of the Western Diversification Program- Western Economic Partnership Agreements

The evaluation of the Western Economic Partnership Agreements (WEPA) provides an independent examination of their relevance, effectiveness, and success to assist in determining whether or not the department should renew the agreements. The evaluation report summarises WEPA evaluation findings from data generated from the recently completed Western Diversification Program evaluation. The scope of the report covers the period of 2003 to 2007.


Evaluation of the Community Futures Program in Western Canada

The evaluation of the Community Future Program assessed the relevance, design and delivery, success and cost effectiveness of the program in western Canada. Western Economic Diversification Canada uses service delivery agreements with 90 community futures in the four provinces of western Canada to provide capital loan funds, business services and community economic development services in non-metropolitan regions. The report presents the findings, conclusions and recommendations from the evaluation, and outlines the department's planned actions to implement the recommendations.


Evaluation of the Western Diversification Program

The evaluation of the Western Diversification Program is an independent examination and assessment of the relevance, success, cost-effectiveness, and design and delivery of the program in order to report on the impacts of the program and to provide recommendations for its future design. The scope of the evaluation covers the period from 2003 to 2007.


Audit of Financial Management Controls

An Audit of Financial Management Controls was conducted at Western Economic Diversification Canada to provide assurance on the existence and effectiveness of financial management practices and controls and to assess compliance to appropriate Treasury Board and departmental policies.


Audit of Contracting

The Audit of Contracting was conducted to provide assurance that Western Economic Diversification Canada's contracting function is operating efficiently, economically and effectively, and in accordance with both Treasury Board and departmental policies and directives


Audit of Governance and Performance

The Governance and Performance audit is an internal audit assurance report on governance and performance management controls existing at Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) for the period April 2006 to September 2007.


Audit of International Trade Personnel Program

The audit of the International Trade Personnel Program (ITPP) is an internal audit assurance engagement to report on management controls used to deliver ITPP, and to identify any opportunity for improvement that could be applied to future programs.


Audit of First Jobs in Science and Technology

The audit of First Jobs in Science and Technology (FJST) is an internal audit assurance engagement to report on management controls used to deliver FJST, and to identify any opportunity for improvement that could be applied to future programs.


Audit of Loan and Investment Program

This audit was conducted to provide assurance on the control environment framework and administration of the Loan and Investment Program. The audit assessed the program funding purposes, monitoring processes, agreements with recipients and the overall compliance with terms and conditions approved by Treasury Board Secretariat.


Audit of the Women's Enterprise Initiative

An audit of the Women’s Enterprise Initiative (WEI) was conducted to determine the adequacy of the control framework of the WEI. The audit covered the control framework in place at Western Economic Diversification Canada and the frameworks in place at each of the four western provincial Women’s Enterprise Centres.