How the Fraud and Waste Hotline helps keep the City accountable

Sent on behalf of the Auditor General for the City of Ottawa

The Office of the Auditor General (OAG) administers the City of Ottawa’s Fraud and Waste Hotline. The Hotline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and allows City of Ottawa employees and members of the public to confidentially and anonymously report any suspected instances of fraud, waste or serious wrongdoing involving City personnel, resources, operations or vendors in a confidential and anonymous manner.

The Hotline is a valuable tool used by the OAG to assist the City in ensuring it is accountable, responsible and engaged in sound ethical practices. The Hotline is operated independently by a third party and is accessible by phone or online. It provides the functionality to facilitate anonymous and confidential two-way communication that allows individuals to access their report after it has been submitted. When submitting a report, providing an email address is recommended in case there are follow-up questions related to the matter raised. All details are kept completely confidential. We encourage individuals to check the status of their report regularly as the OAG may reach out to request additional information or to ask clarifying questions. 

The OAG reviews each submitted report and, if necessary, will launch an investigation or refer the investigation to City management. Regardless of the outcome, all reports submitted will receive a response. 

For more information on the Hotline, visit the OAG’s website.