Annual Report: 2004-2005

The Corporate Services function provides administrative services (financial, human resources, information technology, and general administration services) to the Information Commissioner’s office. Its objective is to support those who administer the program.

As has been mentioned in several OIC publications, including the Information Commissioner’s annual reports, the office has been in a resource crisis for the past several years. Consequently, financial services worked closely with the Director General, Corporate Services, as well as program managers, to ensure that the program functioned as efficiently as possible and that overhead costs were kept to a minimum – to the extent possible – consistent with good quality service.

Also, in 2004-05, the Office of the Information Commissioner underwent its second external audit, conducted by the Office of the Auditor General (OAG).

One of the key activities for Human Resources during 2004-05 was to work toward understanding and implementing the new requirements of the Public Service Modernization Act.

During the period under review, the Office of the Information Commissioner was audited by the Office of the Auditor General and the Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC).

The CHRC audit found the OIC to be in compliance with all twelve of the statutory requirements of the Employment Equity Act. Additionally, the OAG audit revealed that the OIC’s Human Resources files were well maintained.

Efficient technology is needed to track, store and report upon the status of enquiries, complaints and their related events on a case-by-case basis. During the period covered by this annual report, the Information Technology Branch upgraded its Records Documentation Information Management System (RDIMS); its Integrated Investigations Application (IIA), which is its main case tracking system; and its Legal Tracking System (LTS).

In addition, the Information Technology Branch increased the office’s internet security through the introduction of anti-spam and anti-spyware.

In order for the commissioner to be able to effectively and efficiently carry out his responsibilities as mandated by the Access to Information Act, it is important that information under the control of his institution (OIC) be properly managed.

Significant work has been undertaken to build and deploy electronic document management systems and work continues on improving practices, tools and facilities.