Auditor General of Ontario


The role of the Auditor General of Ontario is to aid accountability by conducting independent audits of Ontario provincial government operations. The office was created in 1869.

Office

The Auditor General is appointed by the Legislative Assembly of Ontario for a 10-year term. Removal of the Auditor General requires approval by the legislature.

History

The auditor's office was created in 1869.
Before 1886, the auditor's office was an adjunct of the Treasury Department. Since the passage of the 1886 Audit Act, the office has evolved into an independent provincial agency. With the passage of the 1978 Audit Act, the auditor general no longer submits his or her findings to the provincial cabinet, but to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.
Following the abolition of the Office of the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario by the provincial government of Premier Doug Ford in 2019, responsibilities for the enforcement and administration of the Environmental Bill of Rights were transferred to the Auditor General's office.
The office is based in Toronto, Ontario. The most recent auditors general are chartered accountants by profession, but early appointees did not necessarily have an accounting or audit background.

List of Auditors General of Ontario/Provincial Auditors

A separate office created in 1791 to ensure check land granting process in Upper Canada was adhering to the laws by other offices and departments. The position was eliminated in 1835 and passed over to the Executive Council Office.
Holders of the office: