|
Appendix A to the Audit Report
Issuing a Disposition Authorization for the Information Resources of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
(30 April 2013) Appendix A – Management Action Plan
In his Spring 2013 Report, the Auditor General recommended that the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) of Canada and Library and Archives Canada (LAC) collaborate on the evaluation and disposition of the TRC’s information resources (recommendation 6.48). LAC agreed to work with the TRC to provide a disposition authorization before the conclusion of the TRC’s mandate in June 2014 and to provide any feedback requested by TRC on arrangements for records transfer to the National Research Centre. A detailed schedule is available in the Disposition Project Schedule - Appendix C. Description of Actions Issuing a disposition authorization for the records of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) begins with an analysis that is founded on an assessment of the importance of the TRC within Canadian society. This is done by analysing the TRC’s roles and responsibilities through LAC’s methodology and related tools for identifying records with historical value. Through its analysis, LAC has determined that the TRC has a unique role and responsibility within Canadian society relating to truth, healing and reconciliation activities. The TRC fulfils this role in part through the broad participation of stakeholders, including survivors of the Indian Residential Schools (IRS) system, First Nations’ more broadly, the churches and various levels of government. As a result, the TRC is a key setting for interactions between survivors of the IRS system, First Nations, the churches and various levels of government. Therefore, the TRC’s activities redefine the fundamental assumptions that govern the historic, contemporary and future interactions between aboriginal and non-aboriginal Canadians. LAC is currently collaborating actively with the TRC to translate this high-level assessment of the TRC’s importance into the identification of records with historical value. LAC has assigned an archivist with subject matter expertise in records relating to Aboriginal Canadians full-time to the project. The archivist draws on support from throughout LAC on an as-needed basis. The archivist is actively collaborating with the TRC. Both parties have collaboratively identified the following deadlines and deliverables. While these differ somewhat from earlier timelines, they reflect a mutual understanding of the scope and scale of the TRC disposition project. They also fall within the timelines identified for the issuance of a disposition authority for TRC information resources. Summary of Actions (details in Disposition Project Schedule - Appendix C) Initial Evaluation (end of June): This will include an assessment of the role of the TRC and a preliminary identification of information resources with enduring value. Additionally, questions for TRC staff that are intended to test this preliminary identification of records with historical value will be drafted. Final Evaluation (end of July): The LAC archivist will interview TRC officials on-site at the TRC’s Winnipeg offices. Interviews will ensure that LAC fully understands the way the TRC’s activities are documented in its information resources. Information gathered on site will then be incorporated into a final draft identification of information resources with enduring value. Final Disposition Authorization (Fall 2013): The final draft identification of information resources with enduring value will be presented to TRC and LAC senior officials for review, comment and approval. Appendix B – Risk ranking of recommendations
There is some overall risk to achieving the deliverables identified in the recommendation within the timeline. However, this risk is mitigated by the fact that LAC resources are already assigned to the evaluation project, the active on-going discussions with the TRC and that the timeline falls within LAC’s normal service standards for such projects. Activity 3 - TRC Site Visit for Evaluation of IREVs - is the only activity with a heightened risk ranking. This risk, which is low, relates to the possibility that the appropriate TRC officials will not be available for consultation during the on-site visit. This risk is greatly mitigated by LAC and TRC’s active collaboration to develop the schedule for the on-site visit. Appendix C – Disposition project scheduleThe following is a detailed step-by-step schedule, with deliverables for issuing a Disposition Authorization to the TRC
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||