Auditor General of Canada

Location

Who We Are

The Auditor General of Canada is an Officer of Parliament who audits federal government departments and agencies, most Crown corporations, and many other federal organizations, and reports publicly to the House of Commons on matters that the Auditor General believes should be brought to its attention. The Auditor General of Canada is also the auditor for the governments of Nunavut, the Yukon, and the Northwest Territories, and reports directly to their legislative assemblies. The Auditor General’s powers and responsibilities are set forth in legislation passed by Parliament.

Established in 1878, the Office of the Auditor General of Canada has a long history of dedicated service to Parliament and Canadians. Today, Auditor General, Sheila Fraser, leads an organization staffed by about 650 employees.

What We Do

The Office of the Auditor General of Canada audits federal government operations and provides Parliament with independent information, advice, and assurance regarding the federal government’s stewardship of public funds. While the Office may comment on policy implementation in an audit, it does not comment on policy itself.

We are in the business of legislative auditing. We conduct performance audits of federal departments and agencies, annual financial audits of the government’s financial statements, and special examinations and annual financial audits of Crown corporations. We also audit the governments of Nunavut, the Yukon, and the Northwest Territories.

Since 1995, the Office has also had a specific environmental and sustainable development mandate, established through amendments to the Auditor General Act.

Our audit findings which include good practices, areas requiring attention, and recommendations for improvement—are reported to Parliament. The Auditor General’s reports may be reviewed by Parliamentary committees, which conduct hearings and make recommendations for action. Legislative assemblies provide the same oversight in the Territories. The government has the opportunity to respond to the findings, and may implement recommended changes.

Environment and Sustainable Development

Since 1995, the Office of the Auditor General of Canada has had a specific environment and sustainable development mandate. It was established through amendments to the Auditor General Act that encourage stronger performance by the federal government in these important areas.

The amendments to the Auditor General Act created the position of Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development. They added environmental effects to the considerations the Auditor General takes into account when determining what to report to the House of Commons. They require ministers to prepare sustainable development strategies and update them every three years. They also authorized the Auditor General to receive petitions on environmental and sustainable development matters, and required ministers to respond to them.

The Office implements its environment and sustainable development mandate in a variety of ways:

• We conduct performance audits that look at whether activities designed to respond to federal environment and sustainable development policies are being implemented effectively and are delivering results. We also monitor departmental progress on recommendations from past audits, and conduct follow-up audits of activities reported on previously.
• We manage the environmental petitions process, which ensures Canadians can get timely answers from federal ministers on specific environmental and sustainable development issues that involve federal jurisdiction. Petitions have prompted action by federal departments, including new environmental projects, follow-up on alleged violations, and changes to or clarifications of policies and practices.
• We monitor sustainable development strategies, which are key tools for government. We assess the quality of the strategies prepared and updated by designated departments and agencies, and monitor and report on departments’ and agencies’ progress in meeting selected commitments made in them. Under the Federal Sustainable Development Act, we will now monitor and report on the extent to which departments have contributed to meeting the targets and goals that will be set out in the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy. The Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development will also provide comments to the Minister of the Environment on whether the targets and goals in the draft Federal Sustainable Development Strategy can be assessed, and report to Parliament on the fairness of the information in the federal government’s progress report on the implementation of the strategy.

Contact:
Auditor General of Canada
Phone: (613) 995-3708
Fax: (613) 954-8042
E-mail: communications@oag-bvg.gc.ca
Website: http://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/

People who visit "Auditor General of Canada", also find interest in followings listings . . .

• ARC Publications

  Dr. John A. Chenier is a founding principal and president of ARC Publications.

• Agrodev Canada (SRD Sustainable Resource Dev.)

  Agrodev Canada is an employee-owned firm providing professional and management services to private and public sector clients in the field of international development.

• Canada Lands Company

  Canada Lands Company CLC Limited is a federal Crown corporation that was created to optimize the financial and community value obtained from surplus properties no longer required by the Government of

• Biocap Canada Foundation

  The BIOCAP Canada Foundation engaged diverse stakeholders in developing integrated solutions to address major challenges of the 21st century: climate change and clean energy.

• CANADIAN ARCTIC RESOURCES COMMITTEE

  CARC is a citizens' organization dedicated to the long-term environmental and social well being of northern Canada and its peoples.

• GOL Communications Inc.

  GOL Communications Inc. helps all levels of government reduce costs and increase revenues by leveraging the best technology to provide better services.

  GOL Communications does this by:
• Canada Gazette (PWGSC Info Svcs, Publications. ca)

  As the official newspaper of the Government of Canada published since 1841, the Canada Gazette is one of the vehicles that Canadians can use to access the laws and regulations that govern their daily lives.

  Government departments and agencies as well as stakeholders from the private sector are required by law to publish certain information in the Canada Gazette. The official newspaper is published under the authority of the Statutory Instruments Act and of the Statutory Instruments Regulations.

  The Canada Gazette contains formal public notices, official appointments, proposed regulations, regulations and public Acts of Parliament from government departments and agencies. It also contains miscellaneous public notices from the private sector.