That the following Motion be added to the agenda for consideration pursuant to Subsection 89(3) of the Procedure By-law as the next Audit Committee is not anticipated until the fall of 2023.
WHEREAS the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) over the past 18 months has accepted numerous requests to audit various areas of the City including: the LRT Stage 1, the City’s, the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) and the OPS Board’s responses to the convoy protest, as well as Lansdowne 2.0 in addition to the very important audits included in the OAG’s workplan; and
WHEREAS the City is currently undertaking many transformation programs that would benefit from additional oversight by an independent body; and
WHEREAS members of Council have voiced their support for a more proactive approach and early engagement by the OAG and the benefits and assurance this provides to members of Council in their decision-making process; and
WHEREAS the OAG has advised the Chair and the Vice-Chair of the Audit Committee of resourcing constraints and their ability to continue to accept new audit/review consideration from Council with its existing resource mix; and
WHEREAS the Auditor General has identified the need for a minimum of 2 full-time equivalent employees (FTE) to continue to execute the workplan and additional requests made by Council, however, understands the current financial constraints faced by the City.
WHEREAS significant efficiencies and knowledge transfer can be gained by having work performed by staff in lieu of consultants; and
WHEREAS the Auditor General would like to request one additional FTE – Senior Auditor position funded by existing professional services budget dollars, thereby resulting in no budgetary impact for 2023, and postpone the request for a second FTE to be included as part of the 2024 budget process; and
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Audit Committee recommend Council approve the addition of 1 FTE to the OAG’s budget for 2023 onwards.