As Ms. Namiesniowski explained, for the cost-shared programs, the provinces are required to be accountable. Since they provide the funding, an evaluation is carried out every year for all those who receive funding in the provinces. Audits are conducted locally, with the provinces, to ensure that the funds are used wisely and in compliance with the agreement signed with the provinces. An audit is carried out for each program.
Right now, we are evaluating the public accounts. When the Auditor General comes to see us to check our financial data, he also sometimes communicates with the provinces to ensure that our numbers match theirs. That's usually the case for the more substantial amounts. Officials from the Office of the Auditor General of Canada will communicate with each province in turn for a period of five years.