2012-2013
Departmental Performance Report - Supplementary Information Tables
Response to Parliamentary Committees and External Audits

Response to Parliamentary Committees

On November 27, 2012, the Standing Committee on Natural Resources (RNNR) tabled in the House of Commons a report arising from its study on Resource Development in Northern Canada. The report, entitled "Resource Development in Northern Canada," contained ten recommendations, two of which had implications for Infrastructure Canada.

Specifically, Recommendation 6a suggested that the Government of Canada continue to address infrastructure challenges in northern Canada, particularly with regard to transportation and energy infrastructure, in order to improve the region's economic development potential. Recommendation 8a recommended that the Government of Canada continue to support capacity-building and infrastructure in northern communities, in order to help these communities meet the growing demand for essential services and to improve community access.

Pursuant to Standing Order 109 of the House of Commons, the RNNR requested a response to its report within 120 calendar days.

Natural Resources Canada led the government response, which included input from Infrastructure Canada, Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, Finance Canada and Justice Canada. The government response was prepared under cover of a Memorandum to Cabinet, co-signed by the Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs and submitted to the Privy Council Office for Cabinet Committee consideration and approval.

The final approved government response was tabled in the House of Commons on March 27, 2013. The government response to Recommendations 6a and 8a highlighted the Government commitment to support economic growth and prosperity, and provided several examples of initiatives undertaken to address infrastructure challenges in northern Canada by investing in the region's economic development potential and by enhancing community access.

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

Public Accounts of Canada 2012

The Office of the Auditor General's Audit of Public Accounts for 2012 was tabled in the House of Commons on October 30, 2012.

The audit found that the transactions and financial information of Infrastructure Canada were, in all material respects, in accordance with the stated accounting policies of the Government of Canada.

There were no recommendations addressed to the Department.

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)

Follow-up Audit of Infrastructure Canada

The Public Service Commission of Canada (PSC) tabled its Follow-up Audit of Infrastructure Canada in October 2012.

The objective of this follow-up audit was to determine whether Infrastructure Canada had implemented corrective actions that adequately addressed the recommendations from the October 2009 PSC's audit of the human resources staffing practices at Infrastructure Canada.

The audit found that Infrastructure Canada made substantial progress since the initial 2009 PSC Audit Report. The Department adequately addressed the report's six recommendations and put in place additional systems and practices to ensure that staffing activities and related decisions adhere to the requirements of the Public Service Employment Act, the Public Service Employment Regulations and other governing authorities. As a result, the PSC removed the additional terms and conditions to delegation that it imposed in 2009, and the Deputy Minister signed a new standard Appointment Delegation and Accountability Instrument. There were no recommendations addressed to the Department.