Response to parliamentary committees and external audits
Response to parliamentary committees
In 2023-24, National Defence supported the work of multiple parliamentary committees. This included support to both committee studies and Government Responses related directly to the work of the Defence Team, as well as those to which National Defence contributed to whole-of-government efforts. Key examples can be found below.
House Standing Committee on National Defence (NDDN)
House Standing Committee on National Defence prepared four reports related to National Defence in Fiscal Year 2023-24.
On April 24, 2023, the Committee tabled the following report: A Secure and Sovereign Arctic. The report identified 26 recommendations and focused on continental defence, search and rescue capabilities, procurement, and the modernization of Arctic infrastructure.
The Government Response was tabled on September 18, 2023.
On June 21, 2023, the Committee tabled the following report: The Cyber Defence of Canada. In the report, the Committee listed 37 recommendations, and highlighted key themes including cybersecurity infrastructure, global engagement, logistical support issues in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), as well as duties and responsibilities for the CAF and the Communications Security Establishment.
The Government Response was tabled on October 19, 2023.
On November 24, 2023, the Committee tabled the following report: Canadian Armed Forces Health Care and Transition Services. The report identified 33 recommendations including in areas such as wait times for CAF members, gender-based analysis, and supports for CAF members and their families.
The Government Response was tabled on March 22, 2024.
A Government Response is currently being prepared following the tabling of NDDN's report: On the Frontlines of Democracy: Canada and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Responding to Russia's Aggression in Europe on February 26, 2024. The report summarized the committees' findings from their trip to Europe from 19 to 27 August 2023. No recommendations were made.
Senate Standing Committee on National Security, Defence and Veterans Affairs (SECD)
On February 27, 2024 the Senate adopted the sixth report of SECD: Arctic Security Under Threat: Urgent needs in a changing geopolitical and environmental landscape. The report identified 23 recommendations focusing on continental defence, search and rescue capabilities, Arctic infrastructure, and Arctic sovereignty. A Government Response is being prepared.
House Standing Committee on Public Accounts (PACP)
National Defence produced several updates to the Committee throughout the yearFootnote 1.
Response to audits conducted by the Office of the Auditor General of Canada (including audits conducted by the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development)
Zero-Emission Vehicles – Report 7 | 2023 Reports of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development to the Parliament of Canada
The objective of this audit was to determine whether the selected federal entities contributed to meeting the target of zero-emission vehicles in the federal administrative fleet under the Greening Government goal in the 2019–2022 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy and related to target 12.7 (to promote public procurement practices that are sustainable) under the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), as applicable to each entity. The Auditor General concluded that National Defence contributed minimally to meeting the government's target of 80 percent zero-emission vehicles in the federal administrative fleet by 2030.
The report's recommendations and the responses of National Defence are as follows:
Recommendation: Strategic approaches to decarbonizing fleets should be developed, and their implementation should be expedited. These approaches should leverage the potential of telematics information to adapt fleet size and composition to meet operational needs and reduce emissions.
Response: National Defence accepts the recommendation and will develop its strategic approach through the Department's Defence Energy and Environment Strategy, outlining the Department's commitment to implementing Government of Canada obligations. National Defence will expedite efforts and the implementation of fleet rationalization where operationally viable. Telematics continue to be analyzed and tested; however, current methods for collecting fleet management data provide greater fidelity and accuracy to gather the necessary information to meet the goals outlined in the strategy.
Recommendation: Departments should report in their Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy the numbers and percentages of zero-emission vehicles (including battery electric, plugin hybrid electric, and hydrogen fuel cell electric) and conventional hybrid vehicles in their administrative fleets separately, in addition to the yearly procurement totals of these types of vehicles. Such reporting would better demonstrate their progress toward the target of 80 percent of vehicles being zero-emissions and the short-term milestone of 75 percent of their vehicle purchases being zero-emission or conventional hybrid vehicles.
Response: National Defence accepts the recommendation and will report vehicle types and inventories to Parliament in an annual Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy progress report. National Defence will also continue to engage with partners and central agencies to achieve better alignment and sequencing of Federal Sustainable Development Strategy performance reporting.
Response to reviews conducted by the Office of the Procurement Ombud
Procurement Practice Review of Contracts Awarded to McKinsey & Company – March 2024
This review was undertaken to determine whether procurement practices pertaining to contracts awarded to McKinsey were conducted in a fair, open, and transparent manner. To make this determination, the Office of the Procurement Ombud examined whether these practices were consistent with Canada's obligations under national and international trade agreements; the Financial Administration Act and the regulations made under it; Treasury Board policy; and, where applicable, organizational policies and guidelines.
Of the report's five recommendations, one was directed at National Defence as follows:
Recommendation: Identified departments should implement procedural controls to ensure mandatory methods of supply are utilized when required and exemptions from Public Services and Procurement Canada are sought and documented, when applicable.
Response: National Defence accepts the recommendation and acknowledges the need for continuous improvement in its procurement processes and in ensuring mandatory methods of supply are utilized with appropriate documentation for exemptions. National Defence will take this opportunity to review and update, where necessary, internal policies, guidance, and training, and to ensure its contracting compliance framework aligns with the updated policies and procedures resulting from this action plan.
Response to audits conducted by the Public Service Commission of Canada or the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages
Public Service Commission of Canada (PSC):
There were no audits in 2023–24 requiring a response.
Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages (OCOL):
There were no audits in 2023–24 requiring a response.