PACP Committee News Release
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Standing Committee on Public Accounts |
HOUSE OF COMMONS CHAMBRE DES COMMUNES OTTAWA, CANADA K1A 0A6 |
Comité permanent des comptes publics |
For immediate release
NEWS RELEASE
Public Accounts Committee Calls on the Government to Have the Auditor General Audit Departmental Financial Statements
Ottawa, December 08, 2010 -
The Government of Canada must follow through with their commitment to have the Auditor General audit the financial statements of all departments and agencies, according to a report of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts presented to the House of Commons today.
Despite making this commitment in 2004, the Government has not implemented the policy, instead focusing on internal controls improvements.
However, according to the Deputy Auditor General, John Wiersema, the benefits of an annual audit of departmental financial statements include improvements in internal controls and more reliable financial information both for internal management purposes and external review by Parliament.
The Committee agrees with the Office of the Auditor General and has made a strong recommendation to the Government to permit the Auditor General to audit the financial statements of the largest 22 departments, representing 90% of government expenditures.
In its report, the Committee also expressed concern that the Budget 2010 commitment to freeze departmental operating budgets, including the budget of the OAG, may make it difficult for the OAG to conduct important audit work. It committed to monitor this matter to ensure that Parliament continues to receive excellent independent audit reports from the OAG.
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