ARCHIVED - Infrastructure Canada

• Previous Page
• Table of Contents
• Next Page

This page has been archived.

Table 10: Response to Parliamentary Committees and External Audits

Response to Parliamentary Committees

There were no recommendations to Infrastructure Canada from Parliamentary Committees in 2008-2009.

Response to the Auditor General (including to the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development)

• Response to the Auditor General: Nothing to report for the period of 2008-2009.
• Response to the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development (CESD):
  1. Chapter 03 - Sustainable Development Strategies Case Studies, October 2003:
     • Update to Recommendation 3.42 - The Infrastructure Canada Program (ICP) is nearing completion and operates under a Federal Governance and Accountability Framework that identifies roles and responsibilities. The ICP funds are more the 95% committed.
       
       With respect to reporting on the environmental performance of the Infrastructure Canada Program, Infrastructure Canada will identify benefits by category of project activity.
       
       A summative evaluation will take place within twelve months of the completion of the program in March of 2011. The summative evaluation will assess the full range of results from outputs through immediate and intermediate outcomes and ultimately, where possible, the ultimate outcomes. The summative evaluation will provide thorough reporting on the environmental benefits and will assess the full range of results. The framework for the ICP evaluation is currently under development. Taking into account the timeline of March 2011, the results of this summative evaluation will also be taken into consideration in the context of future programming.
     • Update to Recommendation 3.44 - Project selection processes administered by Infrastructure Canada ensure that the project review criteria are fully considered in the identification of projects that contribute to environmental sustainability.
       
       The Framework Agreements signed with provinces and territories provide for the development of a framework for reporting to the public on results of infrastructure investments made under the Building Canada Fund.
       
       Infrastructure Canada will be able to report on specific positive contributions made by the BCF and, to a very limited degree, the Provincial-Territorial Base Fund (PT Base), to infrastructure objectives which are of particular interest to the Government of Canada, namely economic growth, a healthy and sustainable environment, and stronger and healthier communities.
       
       The Accountability, Risk and Audit Framework (ARAF) for the Building Canada Fund currently indicates that reporting will be done. Examples of Key performance issues include:
       • The extent to which BCF funded projects will advance Canada�s priorities as defined in the project review criteria; and
       • The extent to which BCF approved projects support environmental priorities.
     • Examples of Key Indicators corresponding to the above issues include:
       • Number and reach of BCF funded projects that set targets to meet the criteria defined in the program terms and conditions and agreed to provide a report on Project Outcome Results;
       • Number and reach of approved projects that have received environmental approvals;
       • Number and reach of approved projects that will result in environmental enhancements;
       • Number of initiatives under accepted PT Base Annual Capital Plans that are in categories that normally result in environmental enhancements; and
       • INFC is continuing to work with federal delivery partners to review and refine business processes that capture reporting of benefits for ICP, MRIF and CSIF. It must be recognized, however, that these programs are distinct in need, scope, approach and implementation. Measures that are developed must reflect the needs and capacities of federal partners, and particularly the unique needs and capacities of municipalities.
     • Program Operations is planning to develop an initiative that can draw on lessons learned from the ICP projects and program, as well as other infrastructure programs. This initiative will be used to �harvest� knowledge gained, and support future decision-making on infrastructure projects.
  2. Climate Change Audit:
     Advised January 22, 2009, that the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development (CESD) would be starting a horizontal performance audit on Climate Change Adaptation and Governance, for reporting by the CESD in spring 2010.
     
     Representatives from Infrastructure Canada�s Internal Audit and Program areas met with the CESD audit team on May 11, 2009 to commence the audit and exchange information and documentation required to assist the CESD audit team in their planning work and development of an Entity Plan Summary.

External Audits (Note: These refer to other external audits conducted by the Public Service Commission of Canada or the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages)

An external audit was conducted by the Public Service Commission (PSC), titled Audit of Infrastructure Canada. The audit was a human resources (HR) audit that examined the HR staffing practices at Infrastructure Canada.

Infrastructure Canada�s People Management Committee has reviewed and validated the draft audit findings on May 22, 2009, and is awaiting the draft audit report from the Public Service Commission. The Management Response to the draft audit report will follow.

• Previous Page
• Table of Contents
• Next Page