- News Release
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada … An audit of Alberta Infrastructure’s project management of a continuing care health facility capital project in Fort McMurray highlights the importance of good processes in the planning and design phases of a project.
As of June 2018, health facilities was one of the largest portfolios of capital projects managed by Alberta Infrastructure, involving 20 health facility projects with a total approved project budget of about $5.4 billion. To assess the capital planning and design processes of these facilities, Auditor General Doug Wylie examined the project management processes for the $110 million Fort McMurray Residential Facility-Based Care Centre, Willow Square. As research shows that planning is associated with a project’s success, the audit focused only on the planning and design phases for the Willow Square facility.
The audit found Alberta Infrastructure had adequate project management systems in place for the planning and design phases of the Willow Square facility, however it can improve certain project management processes, including:
- Improving the robustness and timeliness of its project management plan to guide the project
- Ensuring key stakeholders formally approve critical project deliverables used for managing scope
“While we did note that Alberta Infrastructure has made several improvements to its project management processes in recent months, the recommendations made in this audit, when implemented, will improve Alberta Infrastructure’s project management processes and performance measurement system for its portfolio of capital projects,” Wylie said. “As the Willow Square facility is expected to be completed in 2020, Alberta Infrastructure can apply the key learnings from this audit to other capital projects it manages.“
The February 2020 Report of the Auditor General on Fort McMurray Residential Facility-Based Care Centre (Willow Square) Project Management is available at www.oag.ab.ca.
Appointed under Alberta’s Auditor General Act, the Auditor General is the legislated auditor of every provincial ministry, department, and most provincial agencies, boards, commissions, and regulated funds. The audits conducted by the Office of the Auditor General report on how government is managing its responsibilities and the province’s resources. Through our audit reports, we provide independent assurance to the 87 Members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, and the people of Alberta, that public money is spent properly and provides value.
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For more information, please contact:
Val Mellesmoen
Executive Director, Stakeholder Engagement
Telephone: 780.644.4806 | Mobile: 780.909.5841
Email: vmellesmoen@oag.ab.ca
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