Procurement in Three B.C. School Districts

Date: June 16, 2026

Our new audit report was delivered to the Legislative Assembly today and it’s about procurement in the Abbotsford, Coquitlam and Saanich school districts.

Effective procurement frameworks (including polices and procedures) help ensure that school districts and other public sector organizations are fair, transparent, and get value for the millions of dollars they spend each year on goods and services. That’s why our office will continue to focus on procurement in the years ahead.

Our audit found that Coquitlam school district implemented, with minor exceptions, a procurement framework that met the spirit and intent of principles set out by the Province of B.C., which are included in its Core Policy and Procedures Manual.

Abbotsford and Saanich incorporated elements of those standards. However, there were gaps and inconsistencies that meant the two districts did not meet the spirit and intent of the province’s principles.

We made several recommendations to improve procurement activities in each of the districts.