TORONTO – Ontario’s Auditor General has released his annual value for money report looking at several crown corporations and how public money is being spent. Here are some of the key findings of his report:
Cancer Care Ontario (CCO):
– In 2011/12 CCO had total expenditures of $887m, $92m of which was spent on cancer screening programs.
– The Auditor found CCA needs to cast a wider net to have more high risk candidates participate in screenings.
– Between 2008 and 2010 only 27% of eligible women completed breast, cervical and colorectal screening tests.
– Women considered average risk for breast cancer waited up to 10 1/2 months for mammography screening.
Crown Prosecutors:
– Ontario has the highest rate of adult criminal charges withdrawn or stayed in Canada. 43% for Ontario, 26% for the rest of Canada.
– Auditor notes the number of Crown attorneys has doubled, but the system to track case management continues to be plagued by delays.
Ontario Diabetes Strategy:
– Only 3% of $741 million for Ontario Diabetes Strategy is earmarked for prevention strategies.
– The number of cases of diabetes in Ontario has doubled in the last decade to 1.2 million in 2010. That number is projected to be 1.9 million by 2020.
– Type 2 diabetes accounts for 90% of cases in Ontario and is largely preventable.
– $24.4 million in internal costs spent on eHealth diabetes registry that has now been cancelled because of repeated delays.
Drive Clean Program:
– 75% of reductions in vehicle emissions have nothing to do with Drive Clean, instead driven by better cars and cleaner fuel.
– Because owners do not incur repair costs if the repair estimate is above $450, about 18,000 vehicles were not repaired in 2011.
– 1/4 of vehicles with partial repairs ended up with worse emissions results after the repair.
– It’s estimated the Drive Clean program will generate $11m in revenue for the government by 2011/12 and $50m by 2018. The program is supposed to be revenue neutral.
Diagnostic Services:
– 50% of independent health facilities that perform CT scans and X-rays are owned by doctors, and the government has not looked into patterns of physicians referring patients to their own clinics.
– 30% of CT scans across Canada in 2009 provided no useful information.
– 20% of facility fee tests are likely inappropriate.
Long Term Care Beds:
– Since 2005 the number of Ontarians aged 75 and over has increased 20%, and the median wait time for a LTC bed has almost tripled.
– During 2011/12, 15% of people waiting for a bed died before getting into a LTC home.
Metrolinx:
– By the time it is fully developed, Presto will be the among the more expensive fare-card systems in the world.
– $700 million has already been paid to develop Presto, but in the regions only 6% of riders use it.
– Estimates of ridership of the new Air Rail Link between Union Station and Pearson Airport may overly optimistic. Break even may not be feasible.
Ontario Provincial Police :
– OPP expenditures continue to grow well over the inflation rate ($979m in 2011/12), despite the fact crime rates and serious motor vehicle accidents are declining.
– The same number of officers are deployed during slow early morning hours as during peak times.
– OPP officers are among the highest paid in Canada with better pensions and benefits than other Ontario public service employees.
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