Supplementary Table - Response to Parliamentary Committees and External Audits

Chapter 1 of the Auditor General's 2011 Status Report of June 2011 on Financial Management and Control and Risk Management was a follow up to audit work conducted by the Office of the Auditor General in 2004. It examined progress made by departments in developing policies, frameworks and guidance on internal controls and implementing risk management measures. The audit also looked at progress by government in implementing accrual-based budgeting and appropriations. The audit noted that progress made by departments is satisfactory. One recommendation with respect to departmental financial reporting controls was directed to seven departments including Transport Canada. The Department is committed to working towards completing the risk-based assessments of its design and effectiveness of its financial reporting controls. Once completed, a summary of the Department's risk-based assessments will be provided to the Office of the Comptroller General. The audit report published on the Office of the Auditor General’s website includes departmental management responses to the recommendations.

As part of Chapter 3 of the Auditor General's 2011 Status Report, Transport Canada was included in the Audit of Internal Audit with respect to the establishment of audit committees comprising external members. The audit looked at the independence of audit committees, the compliance of the Audit Committee Charter with the government's Policy on Internal Audit, the training of audit committee members, the development of the audit committees and their impact on the internal audit function government-wide. Audit findings, published on the Office of the Auditor General’s website, were positive for Transport Canada, and there were no recommendations directed at the Department.

Chapter 1 of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development's 2011 October Report looked at the government's progress in implementing its climate change plans and meeting Canada's greenhouse gas emission targets under the Kyoto Protocol. It also examined whether the climate change plans included all the information required by the Kyoto Protocol Implementation Act. Transport Canada's programs contributing to the Protocol targets were reported as being on track in the 2011 Climate Change Plan released in May 2011. Environment Canada as the lead responsible department responded to the audit's five recommendations on behalf of the Government of Canada. The report and management responses to the recommendations are available on the Office of the Auditor General’s website.

Chapter 1 of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development's 2011 December Report examined how the Department determines whether regulated organizations have complied with legislation for the transportation of dangerous goods and whether they have prepared emergency response plans. As part of Transport Canada's detailed action plan to address key elements of the audit findings, the Department will put in place a national risk-based inspection planning process and will update its policies and procedures for the review and approval of emergency response assistance plans. The report and management response to the recommendation are available on the Office of the Auditor General’s website.

Chapter 6 of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development's 2011 December Report, published on the Office of the Auditor General’s website, reported on the number, nature and status of petitions received by departments and their responses to the petitions. Transport Canada had three responses due during the reporting period, all of which were responded to on time without any request for extensions.