Federal Government Not Prepared For Emergency: Auditor General

As the government struggles to efficiently distribute vaccine in the midst of an H1N1 flu outbreak, the federal agency responsible for dealing with various emergencies, including pandemics, has received a failing grade from Auditor General Sheila Fraser.

Public Safety Canada, created in 2003, has the important task of responding to federal emergencies, such as pandemics, natural disasters, blackouts and terror attacks, but the agency still has no firm crisis plan in place, Fraser charged in her latest report, released Tuesday.

Click here to read the full document.

This finding comes as public anger grows over the delayed rollout of the H1N1 vaccine. Health officials on all levels of government have admitted the overwhelming demand for the shot caught them off-guard.

Canadians may feel even more uneasy to know the agency in charge of coordinating various government departments in dealing with such events is still drafting policies and rules about what it’s supposed to do.

“Public Safety Canada has taken the first step by developing the interim Federal Emergency Response Plan, which it considers to be final although it has not been formally approved by the government. Nor does the Plan include updated or completed definitions of the roles, responsibilities, and capabilities needed for an integrated, coordinated approach to emergency response,” the report states.

Fraser said she doesn’t know why Public Safety has failed to nail down an emergency plan.

Tuesday’s report also highlighted problems with the federal government’s controversial immigration reforms that politicians promised would speed up the time skilled immigrants can start working in Canada and fill gaps in the country’s labour force.

Critics charge the new rules introduced in 2008 give the immigration minister the power to cherry-pick which skilled immigrants will be fast-tracked or turned away. Fraser said the move has made very little change to the amount of new applications flooding in and hasn’t reduced backlog or the up to seven-year wait time.

Some highlights from Fraser’s report:

• Health Canada unable to force the recall of lead-tainted kids’ jewelry;

• Tax rulings failed to find their way into legislation;

• Too many shortcuts in getting military vehicles to soldiers in Afghanistan;

• Environmental concerns going unchecked on Indian reserves