OGGO Committee Report

LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS

RECOMMENDATION 1

That the Government of Canada adopt full accrual accounting for budgeting and appropriations.

RECOMMENDATION 2

That the Government of Canada include a note in the financial statements and in the estimates documents on its infrastructure and heritage asset liabilities.

RECOMMENDATION 3

That, for the purpose of greater transparency, explanatory notes to the financial statements and budgetary documents should record any changes in the accounting treatment of military goods and equipment.

RECOMMENDATION 4

That, for the purpose of greater transparency, explanatory notes to the financial statements and budgetary documents should record any changes in the accounting treatment of any government goods and equipment.

RECOMMENDATION 5

That the Government of Canada introduce a double-appropriation system for environmental liabilities, which would include a statutory appropriation for the valuation of liabilities and an annual voted appropriation for the expenses related to remediation and site management.

RECOMMENDATION 6

That explanatory information relating to potential environmental liabilities be included in the financial statements and the estimates documents prepared by the government.

RECOMMENDATION 7

That the Government of Canada provide in the Estimates for voted appropriations on the acquisition costs of capital assets and statutory appropriations on the related amortization expenses.

RECOMMENDATION 8

That the Government of Canada introduce multi-year appropriations, of up to 5 years, into its budgeting and expenditure cycle.

RECOMMENDATION 9

That the government of Canada establish a Project Implementation Office with a clear mandate and responsibilities for implementing accrual accounting in budgeting and appropriations.

RECOMMENDATION 10

That the government of Canada develop a training and communications plan for its financial officers and that it make its program managers aware of the new possibilities afforded by accrual accounting through an emphasis on the management of public resources, assets and  liabilities.

RECOMMENDATION 11

That the government of Canada organize information sessions for Members of Parliament so that they may become familiar with the general principles of accrual accounting and the changes it brings about in the budgetary and estimates documents.

RECOMMENDATION 12

That the government of Canada complete the implementation of accrual-based accounting for budgeting and appropriations within five years and report annually to the House of Commons on its progress and the costs involved.

RECOMMENDATION 13

That the government of Canada develop, in consultation with members of Parliament, a format for presenting information about appropriations in the estimates documents.