CANADIAN COUNCIL OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEES


IMPROVING ACCOUNTABILITY: CANADIAN PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEES
AND LEGISLATIVE AUDITORS
-- Continued


41.  Legislation make specific provision for the confidentiality of the Auditor's working papers. (p.63)
IMPLEMENTED SOMETIMES
IMPLEMENTED
NOT YET
IMPLEMENTED
Alberta
Newfoundland
House of Commons
Prince Edward Island
Manitoba
Yukon
New Brunswick
British Columbia
Nova Scotia
Ontario
Saskatchewan


Explanatory Notes

Manitoba -- Through the Freedom of Information Act
Northwest Territories -- Auditor General of Canada performs audit for the N.W.T.
Saskatchewan -- S.26 Provincial Auditor Act of Saskatchewan.
Yukon -- Not applicable.




42.  Auditors be given legislative authority to obtain any information or documents they require from crown organizations or their auditors, an to conduct any further examinations that they deem necessary. (p.66)
IMPLEMENTED SOMETIMES
IMPLEMENTED
NOT YET
IMPLEMENTED
Alberta New Brunswick Newfoundland
House of Commons
Nova Scotia
Manitoba
Yukon
Ontario
Prince Edward Island
Saskatchewan
British Columbia


Explanatory Notes

Northwest Territories -- Auditor General of Canada performs audit for the N.W.T.
Quebec -- Several constitutent public group laws designate an auditor other than the Auditor General. The latter does not therefore have jurisdiction on all public groups. For several years, he calls for a frame of law for specifying and harmonizing the imputable mechanisms of unity of public groups.
Saskatchewan -- S.24 Provincial Auditor Act of Saskatchewan.
Yukon -- Not applicable.




43.  Given a sufficient improvement in the timeliness of completing government accounts, auditors work toward the goal of completing their annual reports within six months after the fiscal year end, and have their opinions and comments on the financial statements incorporated in the public accounts. (p.68)
IMPLEMENTED SOMETIMES
IMPLEMENTED
NOT YET
IMPLEMENTED
House of Commons Alberta Newfoundland
Manitoba Prince Edward Island Nova Scotia
New Brunswick British Columbia Ontario
Ontario
Saskatchewan
Yukon


Explanatory Notes

British Columbia -- Efforts are continuing. Audit opinions are incorporated in the Public Accounts, but other comments can be made only in the Auditor General's annual report.
Northwest Territories -- Auditor General of Canada performs audit for the N.W.T.
Prince Edward Island -- Report must be tabled within 15 days from the commencement of the Session.
Saskatchewan -- S.12 (1.2) Provincial Auditor Act of Saskatchewan [no six-month limit; no incorporation in the Public Account].




44.  Auditor's annual reports be released to members of the legislature and to the public as soon as they are available, regardless of whether they have been tabled in the legislature. (p.70)
IMPLEMENTED SOMETIMES
IMPLEMENTED
NOT YET
IMPLEMENTED
Alberta
House of Commons
Manitoba
Newfoundland
New Brunswick
Ontario
Nova Scotia
Prince Edward Island
Yukon
Saskatchewan
Northwest Territories
British Columbia


Explanatory Notes

Yukon -- Released to MLA's but not to the public.




45.  The auditor's annual report be presented to the Speaker, who shall table it in the legislature at the earliest opportunity. (p.71)
IMPLEMENTED SOMETIMES
IMPLEMENTED
NOT YET
IMPLEMENTED
House of Commons Prince Edward Island Alberta
Manitoba
British Columbia
New Brunswick
Newfoundland
Northwest Territories
Nova Scotia
Ontario
Saskatchewan
Yukon


Explanatory Notes

Alberta -- Auditor General Act S.19 (4) - Chairman of Standing Committee on Legislative Offices required to table.
Manitoba -- Provincial Auditor's Act requires the Auditor's annual report to be provided to the Lieutenant Governor in Council who is to lay it before the Assembly.
Prince Edward Island -- Minister of Finance may also table report in the House.
Saskatchewan -- S.14 Provincial Auditor Act of Saskatchewan.




46.  Wherever possible and appropriate audit reports incorporate responses by the audited organizations to the auditor's comments and recommendations. (p.72)
IMPLEMENTED SOMETIMES
IMPLEMENTED
NOT YET
IMPLEMENTED
British Columbia Alberta New Brunswick
House of Commons Prince Edward Island Newfoundland
Manitoba
Saskatchewan
Northwest Territories
Nova Scotia
Ontario
Yukon


Explanatory Notes

Alberta -- The Auditor General's annual report does occasionally include comments, but as an exception rather than the rule.




47.  Legislation provide that auditors need not report matters that, in their opinion, are inconsequential. (p.73)
IMPLEMENTED SOMETIMES
IMPLEMENTED
NOT YET
IMPLEMENTED
Alberta
New Brunswick
British Columbia
Newfoundland
House of Commons
Manitoba
Nova Scotia
Ontario
Prince Edward Island
Saskatchewan
Yukon


Explanatory Notes

Alberta -- Auditor General Act S.25.
Northwest Territories -- Auditor General of Canada performs audit for the N.W.T.
Saskatchewan -- S.12(3) Provincial Auditor Act of Saskatchewan
Yukon -- Not applicable.




48.  Auditors follow up the recommendations made in their reports and ensure that the responses are made known to the public accounts committees. (p.75)
IMPLEMENTED SOMETIMES
IMPLEMENTED
NOT YET
IMPLEMENTED
British Columbia Alberta Nova Scotia
House of Commons New Brunswick
Manitoba
Newfoundland
Ontario
Prince Edward Island
Saskatchewan
Yukon


Explanatory Notes

Alberta -- The follow-up by Auditor General takes place and responses are made known if Committee follows-up with Auditor General.
Northwest Territories -- Auditor General of Canada performs audit for the N.W.T.
Quebec -- The work sessions and the in camera sessions are not registered or transcribed in the debate Journal (Hansard). A committee can, at anytime, retain the services of a judicial stenographer.




49.  Statutory provision be made for auditors to make special reports to the legislature on matters of urgency and importance. (p.76)
IMPLEMENTED SOMETIMES
IMPLEMENTED
NOT YET
IMPLEMENTED
Alberta
New Brunswick
British Columbia
Newfoundland
House of Commons
Nova Scotia
Manitoba
Prince Edward Island
Ontario
Saskatchewan
Yukon


Explanatory Notes

Alberta -- Auditor General Act S.20
Northwest Territories -- Auditor General of Canada performs audit for the N.W.T.
Saskatchewan -- S.13 Provincial Auditor Act of Saskatchewan.




50.  Legislation clearly establish auditors as officers of the legislature. (p.77)
IMPLEMENTED SOMETIMES
IMPLEMENTED
NOT YET
IMPLEMENTED
Alberta
Newfoundland
House of Commons
Nova Scotia
Manitoba
Prince Edward Island
New Brunswick
Yukon
Ontario
Saskatchewan
British Columbia


Explanatory Notes

Alberta -- Auditor General Act S. 3
Northwest Territories -- Auditor General of Canada performs audit for the N.W.T.
Saskatchewan -- S.3 (2) Provincial Auditor Act of Saskatchewan
Yukon -- Not applicable

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