Highlights from the auditor general's 2018 fall reports

In his 2018 fall reports, the auditor general finds the level of service taxpayers receive from CRA too often depends on where they live, while rural and remote Canadians still don't have reliable internet because there hasn't been a plan.

AG finds fighter jet replacement plan and military's handling of sexual assault cases lacking

The Canadian Press · Posted: Nov 20, 2018 10:49 AM EST | Last Updated: November 21, 2018

Auditor General Michael Ferguson has tabled his 2018 fall reports, including audits of the federal government's fighter jet replacement plan, the military's handling of sexual abuse cases and Canada Revenue Agency's compliance activities. ( The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick)

Here are highlights from the auditor general's 2018 fall reports, tabled in the House of Commons Tuesday.

New planes, no pilots

Canada's $500-million purchase of used CF-18 fighter jets from Australia will be hamstrung by the ongoing problem that the air force does not have enough pilots to fly them or technicians to keep them in the air. The military has warned the government about this for years.

Auditor general trashes Liberal plan to keep CF-18s flying until 2032

Watch Power & Politics take a look back at the ups and downs of Canada's fighter jets

Military more aware of sexual assaults but supports lacking

The Canadian Forces are doing better at encouraging members to report instances of sexual misconduct but help for people who've suffered in the ranks is inadequate.

Victims of sexual misconduct not treated in 'respectful manner' by military, says auditor

Unprotected embassies and consulates

About half of Canada's diplomatic corps works in places where there's danger from terrorism, espionage or armed conflict. Spot-checks of Canada's missions abroad found all of their security plans are lacking in some way, from outdated or nonexistent threat assessments to missing or broken equipment.

Canada's embassies and diplomats poorly protected despite warnings, auditor says

Heritage buildings unprotected

Three federal bodies that are responsible for more than two-thirds of the government's historic structures don't have adequate plans to protect them. National Defence, Fisheries and Oceans, and Parks Canada don't even have a handle on what buildings they own, let alone resources and strategies for conserving delicate heritage sites.

Federal government doesn't know what historic buildings it owns, AG warns

No budget for high-speed rural Internet means no plan

Governments have talked for years about extending broadband internet to almost every inhabitant of Canada but with no budget to put behind a plan, none has ever been developed. Rural and remote areas risk being left behind by the digital economy.

With no budget for rural internet, nobody's made a plan, auditor general says

CRA treats different taxpayers differently

The level of service you get from the Canada Revenue Agency depends on which regional office you deal with, with months-long delays varying from place to place.

How CRA treats you depends on where you live, auditor reports

Parolees aren't getting out on parole

A shortage of community-supervision options means that federal inmates who are entitled to parole aren't getting out because there's nowhere approved for them to go. Sometimes the delays stretch into months.