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Table 6: Response to Parliamentary Committees and External Audits

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

The March 2008 Report of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development (CESD) - Chapter 9: Management Tools and Government Commitments - Strategic Environmental Assessment.

This audit included an assessment of selected courses offered by the Canada School of Public Service to determine whether they now cover strategic environmental assessment (SEA) as well as an assessment of the progress made in addressing a recommendation made in 2004.

In a 2004 report by the CESD - Chapter 4, it noted that more training was needed to support SEA efforts and recommended that, "The Canada School of Public Service assess how the Cabinet Directive on the Environmental Assessment of Policy, Plan and Program Proposals could be referenced in the courses it offers to senior managers in the federal public service. At the very least, all policy courses should refer to the directive."

The 2008 report concluded that progress in addressing the recommendation to improve training on SEAs is satisfactory and that training and guidance on SEA has increased and is accessible in courses delivered by the Canada School of Public Service. No further recommendations were made to the Canada School of Public Service.

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)

The Canada Public Service Agency - Audit of Communications with and Services to the Public in Both Official Languages in Offices Within Alberta

This audit, conducted by the Canada Public Service Agency, covered 33 offices and facilities in 12 federal institutions located in Alberta. The audit examined their compliance with and performance against the Policy on the Use of Official Languages for Communications with and Services to the Public, the Directive on the Use of Official Languages on Web Sites, and the Directive on the Use of Official Languages in Electronic Communications as it pertains to communications with and services to the public.

The audit made three recommendations to the Canada School of Public Service for which corrective measures have been implemented. The recommendations and corrective measures are as follows:

Recommendation: Take action in the Calgary office to ensure that the public is greeted in both official languages when arriving on site

Response: The Calgary office is not a walk-in access office; typical traffic consists of individuals scheduled for an appointment or actively taking a course. All officers at the Calgary office have been reminded by email to greet all visitors (appointment or ad hoc) in both official languages. Employees are bilingual where necessary and services are available in both official languages.

Recommendation: Take steps to ensure that all signs posted in the Edmonton office for the safety and security of the visiting public are in both official languages

Response: All permanent signs in the Edmonton office are in bilingual format. The Exit/Sortie signs have always been in place. Signs are provided by building maintenance through Public Works and Government Service Canada (PWGSC) and SNC Profac (building management); the School will ask them to ensure all signs, including temporary signs, are in bilingual format.

Recommendation: Translate the Alberta course catalogue and ensure its availability in both official languages.

Response: The Alberta course catalogue has always been a bilingual product; the same version is distributed to both the Edmonton and Calgary offices. However, the receptionist at that time may not have been aware the catalogue was in a bilingual format. Staff has since been reminded via email that the catalogue is bilingual and that copies are available in print and electronic formats.