PACP Committee News Release
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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
SENSITIVE GOVERNMENT INFORMATION AND ASSETS PUT AT RISK
Ottawa, April 14, 2010 -
The government may be putting sensitive information and assets at risk when it contracts with the private sector for goods and services, according to a report of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts presented to the House of Commons today.
In October 2007, the Office of the Auditor General released an audit on the federal government’s ability to safeguard its information and assets when contracting for goods and services. The audit found that there are serious weaknesses at almost all levels in the government’s processes, and many who play a role in industrial security are not sure of their responsibilities. In at least one major project, there was a willingness of officials to circumvent key security-related procedures in order to reduce costs and avoid project delays.
While the Public Accounts Committee initially started its study of this matter in February 2008, the Committee wanted to complete its report due to the serious nature of the findings. The Committee was alarmed that security would not have been taken more seriously by government departments, especially given today’s heightened awareness of the importance of security.
The Committee is encouraged that Public Works and Government Services Canada and Defence Construction Canada have taken steps to improve their security practices. While the Department of National Defence has also made improvements, the lack of security safeguards during the initial construction of a NORAD facility and the placement of sensitive blueprints in the garbage indicate a casual, if not careless, attitude toward security. The Committee recommended that the Department undertake a thorough assessment of security issues before constructing new facilities.
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