An internal audit report by the Office of Audit and Evaluation (OAE) at National Research Council Canada (NRC) revealed that staff from a federal agency overseeing corporate subsidies during the COVID-19 pandemic complained of overwork due to the influx of applications for emergency funds. The report assessed the effectiveness and efficiency of the Innovation Assistance Program (IAP), an emergency wage subsidy for small- and medium-sized enterprises involved in research and development during the pandemic. According to the report, while the IAP was delivered effectively, it took a toll on the wellbeing and work-life balance of the public servants who processed the applications. The report noted that the program was finalized in just four days after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s announcement on April 17, 2020, and cost $373.8 million. Recipients of the subsidy also received other forms of government aid, and the IAP supported 26,581 jobs and 2,230 firms. However, an inquiry by Conservative MP John Williamson raised concerns about the grim outlook of the pandemic loan relief programs, with projected write-offs of bad debt or fraud totaling $2.4 billion.