Ottawa, 14 November 2013—The 2013 Fall Report of the Auditor General of Canada, Michael Ferguson, will be tabled in the House of Commons on Tuesday, 26 November 2013.
7:00 a.m.–9:45 a.m. (ET)
Office of the Auditor General of Canada, 240 Sparks Street, Ottawa
(for journalists accredited by the Canadian Parliamentary Press Gallery only).
When you arrive, please go to the OAG’s desk on the main floor and someone from the OAG will greet you. Please bring a photo ID.
Journalists must respect the media embargo until the report is tabled in the House of Commons shortly after 10:00 a.m. However, journalists will be allowed to leave the media lock-up at 9:45 a.m. Internet access will be available for filing stories once the report has been tabled.
11:30 a.m.–12:15 p.m. (ET)
National Press Theater, 150 Wellington Street, Ottawa
To book an interview, please call 613-952-0213 extension 6292.
Chapter 1—Follow-up Audit on Internal Controls over Financial Reporting. This audit followed up on seven departments audited in 2011 to determine whether they were on track to meet their timelines for completing the assessments of their internal controls over financial reporting. The audit focused on whether Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Finance Canada, Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada, Transport Canada, and Veterans Affairs Canada had identified and addressed gaps and weaknesses in their internal controls over financial reporting, and whether they had implemented a program of ongoing monitoring. It also looked at what the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, including the Office of the Comptroller General, did to review departments’ implementation of the requirements of the Policy on Internal Control.
Chapter 2—Access to Online Services. As Canadians rely more on the Internet to conduct business, they expect the government to keep pace and provide them with online information and services that meet their needs. The audit examined whether the online services offered by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, the Canada Revenue Agency, Veterans Affairs Canada, and Industry Canada are client-focused and supported by service delivery strategies with defined and measured benefits. The audit also examined whether online services are secure, available and relevant to the users.
Chapter 3—National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy (NSPS). The NSPS establishes a strategic sourcing arrangement with two shipyards for the largest capital acquisition in Canada’s history, at a cost exceeding $50 billion over a time period of 30 years or more. The audit looked at whether the Strategy has been designed and managed in a way that will help sustain Canadian shipbuilding capacity and capability, including the process used to select shipyards and put in place subsequent agreements. The audit also examined whether National Defence and Public Works and Government Services Canada, in consultation with the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, has to date managed the acquisition of military ships to support the timely and affordable recapitalization of the naval fleet.
Chapter 4—Canada’s Food Recall System. The audit examined whether the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, with the support of Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada, had adequately managed the food recall system. The audit examined each main step of the food recall process, from when a food safety concern is first brought to the Agency’s attention to follow up actions taken to identify and correct the underlying cause of the recall.
Chapter 5—Preventing Illegal Entry into Canada. The audit examined whether selected systems and practices are working to prevent illegal entry into Canada. A variety of border controls were examined, such as the Canada Border Services Agency’s air passenger targeting, immigration lookouts, and inadmissibility decisions at ports of entry, as well as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police’s enforcement practices between ports of entry.
Chapter 6—Emergency Management on Reserves. First Nations communities are considered to be at risk when it comes to natural disasters and catastrophic events because of their remoteness and other factors that affect their ability to deal with emergencies. The audit examined the roles and responsibilities of key parties involved in supporting emergency management activities on reserves, the design and delivery of this support, and monitoring and reporting on results.
Chapter 7—Oversight of Rail Safety—Transport Canada. The audit examined whether Transport Canada had adequately overseen the management of rail safety risks by federal railways, with a focus on the Department’s regulatory framework, oversight activities, human resources, and quality assurance program.
Chapter 8—Disaster Relief for Producers—Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. The audit examined whether Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada had adequately managed the federal role in providing disaster relief to producers through AgriRecovery. The audit focused on the Department’s management of timeliness, communication to producers, compliance with AgriRecovery criteria, and lessons learned.
Chapter 9—Offshore Banking—Canada Revenue Agency. The audit looked at how the Canada Revenue Agency followed up on a list it received in 2007 of possible Canadian residents with accounts in a Liechtenstein bank. The audit examined whether the Agency adequately conducted compliance actions for those named on the Liechtenstein bank list and used the intelligence gained to confirm its detection and audit procedures for offshore banking.
The 2013 Fall Report of the Auditor General of Canada will be available on the Office of the Auditor General of Canada Website immediately following tabling.
-30-
