Ottawa, 3 April 2008-The May 2008 Report of the Auditor General of Canada, Sheila Fraser, will be tabled in the House of Commons on Tuesday, 6 May, 2008.
Media lock-up:
News conference:
Interviews:
9:00 a.m.-1:45 p.m. (ET), Main Hall, Government Conference Centre, 2 Rideau Street, Ottawa (for journalists accredited by the Canadian Parliamentary Press Gallery only).
Journalists must respect the media embargo until the Report is tabled in the House of Commons shortly after 2:00 p.m. However, they will be allowed to leave the media lock-up at 1:45 p.m.
12:30 p.m., Main Hall, Government Conference Centre, 2 Rideau Street, Ottawa, under lock-up conditions. Broadcast journalists may tape the news conference but no live broadcasts will be permitted.
The Auditor General will be available for interviews after 3:30 p.m. To book an interview, please call (613) 952-0213 ext. 6292.
The May 2008 Report contains the following chapters:
Chapter 1-Management of Fees in Selected Departments and Agencies-The chapter looks at thirteen fees established by six federal organizations responsible for a major portion of the fee revenue reported by the government. The audit examined: how these organizations established the cost of the fee-related activity and determined the amount to be charged for the fee. It also looked at how they measured, monitored, and reported on the performance of the fee-related activities. In addition, the audit looked at any related policy or guidance provided to departments and agencies by the Treasury Board Secretariat and at the scope and application of the User Fees Act passed in 2004.
Chapter 2-Support for Overseas Deployments-National Defence-The chapter looks at whether the National Defence supply chain has been able to respond to the needs of the mission in Kandahar, Afghanistan as the mission has evolved. The audit examined whether the supply system has been able to maintain adequate stocks for the repair and maintenance of military equipment, to track and control supplies as they move to Afghanistan through the supply chain, and to deliver items to those who need them when they are needed.
Chapter 3-Oversight of Air Transportation Safety-Transport Canada-The audit examined how Transport Canada has managed the transition to a new approach to air safety oversight. The new approach changes the Department's oversight role from a focus on direct inspection to primarily assessing the processes that aviation companies have in place to ensure safety. The chapter looks at how Transport Canada managed the transition by the first sectors to make the shift-airline operators and some aircraft maintenance companies.
Chapter 4-First Nations Child and Family Services Program-Indian and Northern Affairs Canada-The chapter looks at how the Department manages the program through which it supports the provision of child welfare services for on-reserve First Nations children and families. Pursuant to the federal policy, these services are expected to meet provincial legislation and standards, be reasonably comparable with those provided off reserves to children in similar circumstances, and be appropriate to the culture of First Nations people.
Chapter 5-Surveillance of Infectious Diseases-Public Health Agency of Canada-The Agency was created in 2004, following the SARS outbreak, to assume responsibility for collecting and using health data to guide timely public health action. The chapter looks at whether the Agency, in collaboration with its partners, obtains, analyzes, and disseminates the information needed to help anticipate, prevent, and respond to threats of infectious disease. The audit also followed up on some serious concerns raised by the Auditor General in 1999 and 2002, when surveillance of infectious diseases was the responsibility of Health Canada.
Chapter 6-Conservation of Federal Official Residences-The audit examined the management practices adopted by the National Capital Commission and Public Works and Government Services Canada to ensure the conservation of official residences. These include six residences in Ottawa-Gatineau and the Governor-General's secondary residence in Quebec City.
Chapter 7-Detention and Removal of Individuals-Canada Border Services Agency-Under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, officers of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) are authorized to arrest and detain permanent residents and foreign nationals who have breached or may have breached the Act. The Agency is also authorized to remove people who are inadmissible to Canada. The chapter examines whether the Agency manages the detention of individuals consistently, in compliance with its policies and standards, and with due regard to economy. The audit also looks at whether the Agency removes individuals from Canada based on the risks they present, in a cost-effective manner.
Chapter 8-Special Examinations of Crown Corporations-An Overview-At least once every five years, Crown corporations that fall under the Financial Administration Act (FAA) undergo a special examination-a type of performance audit-carried out by the Auditor General of Canada, as sole examiner in most cases and as joint examiner in a few cases. This chapter provides an overview of the Office's special examination practice, drawn from examinations carried out between December 2002 and February 2008. It also summarizes key findings of the 11 special examinations reported since January 2006.
The Report, along with news releases for each chapter, will be available on the Office of the Auditor General of Canada Web site immediately following tabling.
The Auditor General conducts independent audits and examinations that provide objective information, advice, and assurance to Parliament. The Office normally reports to Parliament up to four times a year.
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