Government accepts auditor general recommendations on emergency planning, cites progress on fraud risk management

The provincial government says it will adopt all recommendations from the auditor general on emergency management, while also pointing to progress in strengthening fraud risk oversight across government.

Forestry, Agriculture and Lands Minister Pleaman Forsey said the government accepts all 10 recommendations from the audit on emergency management and business continuity planning.

Forsey said his department, which recently assumed responsibility for Emergency Services, has already begun addressing several issues raised in the report. Work underway includes updating and monitoring business continuity plans across departments, overseeing municipal emergency management plans and revising the provincial emergency management plan.

He acknowledged that responses to events such as the 2025 wildfires and flooding in Badger have at times diverted attention from administrative planning, but said the government intends to follow the auditor general’s guidance to improve.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Craig Pardy said progress has been made in response to a separate audit on fraud risk management.

Pardy said the Office of the Comptroller General has updated and strengthened the government’s fraud management policy and established clearer expectations for fraud prevention, reporting and annual risk assessments across departments and public entities.

He said mandatory fraud awareness training has been introduced for government employees, alongside enhanced oversight and reporting requirements. Additional audit resources have also been put in place to improve monitoring of fraud-related activity.

Pardy said work to strengthen fraud risk management will continue over the next year.