Standing Committee on Public Accounts

Comité permanent des comptes publics

For immediate release

Ottawa, February 13, 2017 -

The Privy Council Office (PCO), in collaboration with federal departments and tribunals, must improve the timeliness of Governor in Council (GIC) appointments to administrative tribunals to avoid lengthy vacancies that affect the continuity of service to Canadians, and implement better succession planning, according to a report of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts tabled today in the House of Commons by Ms. Alexandra Mendès, Vice-Chair of the Committee.

In Spring 2016, the Office of the Auditor General of Canada (OAG) released a performance audit entitled Report 3 – The Governor in Council Appointment Process in Administrative Tribunals in which it examined whether timely appointments of qualified candidates were being made to selected tribunals. The audit also looked at areas for improvement identified in its 2009 audit of the same process, including guidance provided by PCO, vacancies, and communication to appointees about reappointments.

The OAG concluded that there continues to be concerns regarding the timely appointment of qualified individuals to selected tribunals, which led to many lengthy vacancies. Additionally, the OAG found that PCO guidance on the appointment process was not available on its website and was not comprehensive in scope – for example, regarding exceptions to the process, such as the appointment of judges to tribunals. Also, PCO needs to better support departments and tribunals with succession planning.

In this report, the Committee made four recommendations that seek to ensure that the Privy Council Office, in collaboration with departments and tribunals, properly address each of the issues identified in this performance audit.