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PACP Committee News Release

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Standing Committee on Public Accounts
house of commons
HOUSE OF COMMONS
CHAMBRE DES COMMUNES
OTTAWA, CANADA
K1A 0A6

Comité permanent des comptes publics

For immediate release


NEWS RELEASE


IMMEDIATE ACTION NEEDED TO IMPROVE INTERNAL AUDIT IN THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA

Ottawa, June 09, 2005 -

Today, Mr. John Williams, MP, and Chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Accounts, tabled the Committee’s report on internal audit in the government of Canada (15th Report, 38th Parliament, 1st Session).

For over 40 years efforts to create effective internal audit in government departments and agencies have produced disappointing results. The quality of internal audit varies between departments and some deputy ministers have yet to fully recognize its value. In a recent example, Public Works and Government Services Canada failed to use internal audit results to put an early stop to problems that eventually led to abuses under the Sponsorship Program.

In its Report, the Committee calls on the government to improve support for internal audit, give overall authority and leadership over internal audit to the Comptroller General of Canada, and ensure that internal audit meets all professional standards. If these recommended improvements occur, senior departmental managers will benefit from an internal audit function that can reduce costs and improve efficiencies.

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For more information, please contact:
Elizabeth Kingston, Clerk of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts
Tel: (613) 996-1664
E-mail: PACP@parl.gc.ca