Reports in progress

Procurement is the process through which goods and services are bought. In B.C., government organizations are accountable for complying with laws and regulations related to procurement.

There are various inter-provincial and international trade agreements that spell out general obligations for government organizations to meet when procuring goods or services. The province’s Core Policies and Procedures Manual also includes procurement principles that government organizations should follow.

Inadequate procurement policies and practices can undermine trade agreement obligations or the principles of transparency, value for money, or fair, open and non-discriminatory processes. Procurement policies are also essential to reducing the risk of fraud.

In that context, we plan to routinely audit government procurement policies and procedures. We are starting with three audits – to be included in one upcoming report – of the procurement policies of School District 34 (Abbotsford), School District 43 (Coquitlam), and School District 63 (Saanich).

School districts develop their own procurement and contract management policies and practices. They are also expected to follow the spirit and intent of the Core Policies and Procedures Manual.

Procurement policies that support procurement principles (e.g., value for money) help ensure school districts meet their operational and educational objectives.

Our work will determine whether the three school districts in our audit established comprehensive procurement frameworks that follow the spirit and intent of the Core Policies and Procedures Manual.

We plan to release our report in the spring of 2026.

We are examining the Province of British Columbia’s role in Lytton’s ongoing recovery from the Lytton Creek wildfire that started on June 30, 2021, and destroyed most of the village. More than 100 properties were lost and 80,000 hectares of land burned. Surrounding communities were also affected.

The Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness coordinates the provincial response to emergencies and disasters by working with other ministries to help local governments repair and restore affected communities. For example, recovery efforts may support environmental rehabilitation, infrastructure repairs, the return of evacuees, or the reopening of businesses and services.

Our examination focuses on three areas:

• The Province of B.C.’s roles and responsibilities for disaster recovery.
• The Province of B.C.’s support for Lytton, including the funding it contributed.
• The challenges faced in rebuilding Lytton, and the Province of B.C.’s opportunities for improvement.

We expect to issue our report in spring 2026.