Annual Report: 2006-2007

CHAPTER VII:

Corporate Services

 

Corporate Services provides financial, human resources, information management/information technology, and general administrative services to support the work of the Office of the Information Commissioner. As well, Corporate Services oversees systems of management control and accountability.

During the reporting year, Corporate Services took steps to develop an internal audit capacity and to put in place a plan for coming into compliance with new responsibilities contained in the Federal Accountability Act.

Internal Audit

The Treasury Board of Canada’s responsibilities and powers under the Financial Administration Act, as amended by the Federal Accountability Act, now includes all matters relating to internal audit in the federal public administration.

The Treasury Board of Canada’s new Policy on Internal Audit (the Policy) came into effect on April 1, 2006, and requires that its implementation be phased in between April 1, 2006 and April 1, 2009. The objective of the Policy is to strengthen public sector accountability, risk management, resource stewardship, and good governance by reorganizing and bolstering internal audit on a government-wide basis.

The Policy requires that the Information Commissioner, for the first time, establish an internal audit function, establish an independent audit committee, appoint a chief audit executive, and approve an internal audit plan. The Commissioner will comply.

Consequently, the Commissioner’s office is preparing a Treasury Board Submission for additional funding associated with this initiative.

Federal Accountability Act Compliance

The Office of the Information Commissioner (OIC) was advised, on February 22, 2007, by the President of the Treasury Board, that it, as well as the other Officers of Parliament, would be subject to the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act as of April 1, 2007.

The legal and operational requirements necessary to comply with both Acts have been put in place. An Access to Information and Privacy Coordinator has been appointed, with full delegation to answer access requests.

As well, the OIC has established a process whereby complaints under the Act against the Information Commissioner can be independently investigated. Former Supreme Court of Canada Justice, the Hon. Peter Corey, has agreed to undertake the role.

Upon implementation of the above-named Acts, the OIC will also become subject to the Library and Archives of Canada Act. Arrangements are being made to meet the requirements of the National Librarian and Archivist on the management of information. OIC Personal Information Banks are being registered with the Treasury Board.

Consequently, the Commissioner’s office is preparing a Treasury Board Submission for additional funding associated with this initiative.

Financial Performance and Tables

The tables in the following section contain summaries of financial information under the following headings:

• Main Estimates - the OIC budget levels as set out in the 2006-2007 Main Estimates;

• Planned Spending - the planned spending at the beginning of the fiscal year as set out in the 2006-2007 Report on Plans and Priorities;

• Total Authorities - for the 2006-2007 reporting cycle, the "total authorities" column refers to total spending authorities received during the fiscal year; as well as funding received from 2006-2007 Supplementary Estimates;

• Actual – the column refers to what is printed in the Public Accounts of Canada for the same fiscal year.

Please note that, in all four of the following tables, the 2006-2007 figures for Total Authorities and Actual Spending do not include final year-end adjustments.

Table 1: Comparison of Planned-to-Actual Spending (including FTEs)

This table offers a comparison of the Main Estimates, planned spending, total authorities, and actual spending for the most recently completed fiscal year, as well as historical figures for actual spending.

($ thousands)	Actual 2004-2005	Actual 2005-2006	2006-2007
			Main Estimates	Planned Spending	Total Authorities	Actual
Assess, investigate, review, pursue judicial enforcement, and provide advice	5 556	5 891	8 181	8 181	8 270	6 652
Total	5 556	5 891	8 181	8 181	8 270	6 652
Plus: Cost of services received without charge	882	831	1 137	1 137	1 137	820
Total Departmental Spending	6 438	6 722	9 318	9 318	9 407	7 472
Full Time Equivalents	52	53	78	78	78	54

Table 2: Resources by Program Activity

The following table provides information on how resources are used for the most recently completed fiscal year.

($ thousands)		2006-2007
Program Activity		Budgetary
		Operating	Total
Assess, investigate, review, pursue judicial enforcement,and provide advice
	Main Estimates	8 181	8 181
	Total Planned Spending	8 181	8 181
	Total Authorities	8 270	8 270
	Total Actual Spending	6 652	6 652
Total
	Main Estimates	8 181	8 181
	Total Planned Spending	8 181	8 181
	Total Authorities	8 270	8 270
	Total Actual Spending	6 652	6 652

Table 3: Voted and Statutory Items

This table explains the way Parliament votes resources to the department and basically replicates the summary table listed in the Main Estimates. Resources are presented to Parliament in this format. Parliament approves the voted funding, and the statutory information is provided for information purposes.

 

 

($ thousands)		2006-2007
Vote or statutory item	Truncated Vote or Statutory Wording	Main Estimates	Planned Spending	Total Authorities	Actual
40	Operating Expenditures	7 188	7 188	7 277	5 917
(S)	Contributions to Employee Benefit Plans	993	993	993	735
Total		8 181	8 181	8 270	6 652

Table 4: Services Received Without Charge

This table is designed to show the actual costs of services received without charge by a department.

($ thousands)	2006-2007
Accommodation provided by Public Works and Government Services Canada	430
Contributions covering employers’ share of employees’ insurance premiums and expenditures paid by the Treasury Board of Canada	303
Office of the Auditor General - audit services	87
Total 2006-2007 Services Received Without Charge	820