2025 Special Examination—Atlantic Pilotage Authority
Ottawa, November 20, 2025—The Atlantic Pilotage Authority has released the report of a special examination completed by the Office of the Auditor General of Canada. The special examination examined how the Atlantic Pilotage Authority implemented its corporate management practices and managed its pilotage services between January 1, 2024 and November 30, 2024.
The corporation provides marine pilotage services in and around the 4 Atlantic provinces and Chaleur Bay in Quebec. Certain ships must either have a valid pilotage certificate holder on board or use the services of a Canadian marine pilot dispatched to the vessel.
The audit found that while the Atlantic Pilotage Authority had some good systems and practices for managing pilotage services—for example, related to planning, pilotage certificates, and pilot dispatching—there was a significant deficiency in the measures to mitigate risks to the safety of pilots and pilot boat crew members. For instance, the Authority did not implement certain emergency drills, monthly inspections, and daily routine maintenance of pilot boats. The audit also found weaknesses in the training of some pilots and in assessing the performance of casual pilot boat crew employees and some pilots.
In examining corporate management practices, the audit found good systems and practices related to strategic planning and risk management, but found weaknesses in systems and practices related to corporate governance, performance measurement, and risk mitigation.
Under the Financial Administration Act, federal Crown corporations are subject to a special examination by the Auditor General of Canada at least once every 10 years. These audits examine the systems and practices that are key to providing the Crown corporation with reasonable assurance that its assets are safeguarded and controlled, its resources are managed economically and efficiently, and its operations are carried out effectively. Special examination reports are therefore a source of important information that parliamentarians can use to hold Crown corporations to account.