Project management at the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) is falling short in budgeting, reporting, and oversight, according to a new audit by the city's auditor general, Nathalie Gougeon. The audit, released on May 13, 2026, examined the OPS's handling of strategic projects and found significant gaps across project life cycles.
Key Findings of the Audit
The audit aimed to provide 'reasonable assurance' that the OPS has appropriate project management policies in place. However, testing of five strategic projects revealed inconsistencies in resource evaluation and a lack of formal, approved budgets. 'Our testing confirmed inconsistencies in the evaluation of resources needed to execute projects,' the report stated. 'In addition, projects have not consistently had formal, approved budgets.'
Body-Worn Camera Project Issues
One notable example is the body-worn camera project. The audit found that phase 1 of this project did not identify key risks or issues related to project costing on its dashboard in late 2025. However, the cost to acquire required equipment increased by more than 25 percent after a revised vendor quote. 'This cost escalation could reasonably have been identified and reported as a risk on the dashboard but was not reflected,' the report noted.
Additionally, semi-annual project updates to the Ottawa Police Service Board historically failed to include key financial metrics. While this improved in December when financials were included, inaccuracies persisted in the most recent update. For instance, the phase 1 budget was reported as $1 million, but the approved budget was only $456,788.
District Revitalization Project
The District Revitalization Project (DRP), which aims to transition the OPS from a centralized structure to a district-based policing model, also faced budget issues. The audit highlighted that the project lacked a consistent, formalized budget throughout its lifecycle.
Need for Improved Reporting
The auditor general emphasized that effective project monitoring and reporting is critical for governance bodies to ensure projects remain on track and aligned with strategic objectives. 'Addressing budget inconsistencies, the audit stated reporting must be improved to ensure complete and accurate status reporting of strategic projects,' the report said.
The audit recommended that the OPS enhance its project management practices, including formal budget approvals and transparent risk reporting, to avoid cost overruns and ensure accountability.
