PACP Committee News Release
If you have any questions or comments regarding the accessibility of this publication, please contact us at accessible@parl.gc.ca.
|
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
MORE ACTION IS NEEDED TO DEAL WITH RISKS TO AGING INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS
Ottawa, February 02, 2011 -
The federal government needs to do more to ensure that aging information technology systems do not fail, according to a report of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts presented to the House of Commons today.
In May 2009, the Office of the Auditor General released an audit on aging information technology (IT) systems. The audit found that aging IT has been identified as a significant risk by the five government organizations examined, and the costs to renew these systems are significant—the shortfall in planned funding for just three organizations is $2 billion.
In its report, the Committee notes that while aging IT systems may be functioning, many of them are at risk of breaking down, which could have significant consequences. The Committee wants to see more action taken to deal with aging IT.
Modernizing and upgrading aging IT systems will take a significant amount of effort and funding. The Committee believes that departments should ensure sound decision-making by developing business cases for their planned investments. Also, the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat should set specific goals and priorities of how it will work with departments to develop a coordinated approach to IT.
If any of these aging IT systems do fail, the Committee will want to know whether the government made sufficient efforts to manage the risks associated with its aging systems.
- 30 -
|