2021 Reports of the Auditor General of Canada to the Parliament of CanadaThe Canada Emergency Response Benefit prioritized speedy payments

Ottawa, 25 March 2021—A report from Auditor General Karen Hogan tabled today in the House of Commons concludes that the Department of Finance Canada, Employment and Social Development Canada, and the Canada Revenue Agency worked quickly to analyze, design, and deliver the Canada Emergency Response Benefit to workers who lost income because of the COVID‑19 pandemic.

The audit found that despite having little time to perform analysis before launching the benefit, Employment and Social Development Canada and the Department of Finance Canada considered and analyzed key elements in the initial design and subsequent adjustments to the Canada Emergency Response Benefit.

The audit also found that as they prepared to launch the benefit, Employment and Social Development Canada and the Canada Revenue Agency decided to rely on personal attestations and automated pre‑payment controls to validate applicants’ eligibility. The department and the agency subsequently introduced additional pre‑payment controls to limit potential abuse of the benefit.

“With the decision to rely on personal attestations, post‑payment verification becomes very important. Employment and Social Development Canada and the Canada Revenue Agency are working to start their post‑payment verification efforts relating to the Canada Emergency Response Benefit this year,” said Ms. Hogan. “Their work in this area will be the subject of a future audit.”

The 2021 Reports of the Auditor General of Canada—Report 6—Canada Emergency Response Benefit is available on the Office of the Auditor General of Canada website.

- 30 -

Please visit our Media Room for more information.