Liberal MP Francis Scarpaleggia wants answers on how the Canadian Northern Development Agency tracks its money.
Earlier this month, Scarpaleggia questioned Leona Aglukkaq, the minister responsible for the agency, about a Radio Canada report that detailed how an internal audit of the agency revealed severe financial mismanagement.
“This is a draft audit,” Aglukkaq told Parliament. “We take all audits very seriously.
“I look forward to receiving the final audit and we will address the issues based on the audit.”
But that doesn’t give Scarpaleggia much comfort.
“The preliminary audit is so scathing that I can’t see that the final audit would somehow be 180 degrees different,” he said. “Why wouldn’t the preliminary audit be accurate.
“These are not partisan people, they’re professional auditors.”
The federal agency, which manages about $75 million per year, was set up in 2009 to bankroll Northern economic development.
In the last two years, the agency has went through five financial officers.
That raises some red flags for Scarpaleggia.
“The fact that they have so much turnover is very problematic,” said Scarpaleggia “There’s something wrong there.”
Cannor wouldn’t comment directly on the accusations leveled in the Radio Canada report.
However, officials did confirm that an audit was taking place.
“The results of the audit are currently being finalized and are considered draft working paper,” said Wanda Thompson the agency’s director of communications. “Cannor will post the results of he internal audit on the agency’s internet site in a timely manner in accordance with treasury board guidelines.”
Contact Josh Kerr at joshk@yukon-news.com