2023 Reports 1 to 4 of the Auditor General of Canada to the Parliament of CanadaPublic Services and Procurement Canada kept Parliament’s rehabilitation program moving forward despite delayed decisions

Ottawa, 27 March 2023—A report from Auditor General Karen Hogan tabled today in the House of Commons found that Public Services and Procurement Canada used flexible approaches to effectively manage the planning, design, and early construction phases of the rehabilitation of Parliament’s Centre Block. In 2021, the cost of construction was estimated at $4.5 billion to $5 billion by the program’s completion date in 2030–31.

The audit found that decision making on some user requirements by the parliamentary partners—the House of Commons, the Senate of Canada, the Library of Parliament, and the Parliamentary Protective Service—remained fragmented. As a result, planning decisions on important user requirements, such as security, were delayed. To keep the rehabilitation program moving forward, Public Services and Procurement Canada used a flexible approach to manage the scheduling of activities. For example, despite not having a final decision about the size of the new Parliament Welcome Centre, the department got parliamentary partners’ agreement to begin excavation activities. The department also effectively managed costs through the initial phases of the rehabilitation program. Spending to date has been under approved amounts. The bulk of spending will take place in the coming years as construction work ramps up.

The audit also found that the department consulted with stakeholders, experts, and parliamentary partners to develop the scope of the rehabilitation program. This included consultations to incorporate sustainability, accessibility, and inclusivity elements while balancing the heritage attributes of the building and site, the visitor experience, the security, and the cultural and Indigenous values. Consultations are an important part of making sure that once renovated, the Parliament buildings and grounds are inclusive and capture the diversity of all of the peoples in Canada.

“Given the size and complexity of this undertaking, a streamlined decision-making process will be required to continue effectively managing the costs and timelines of the rehabilitation program, as construction work accelerates between now and the planned completion date of 2030–31,” said Ms. Hogan.

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The 2023 Reports of the Auditor General of Canada, Report 3—Rehabilitation of Parliament’s Centre Block—Public Services and Procurement Canada, is available on the Office of the Auditor General of Canada website.

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