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Table 10: Response to Parliamentary Committees and External Audits



Response to Parliamentary Committees
There were no Parliamentary Committee reports in 2008-2009.


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

2008 December Report of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development

Chapter 1: Managing Air Emissions

Summary: The audit examined tools that the Department uses to contribute to the reduction in air emissions. More specifically the audit examined Pollution Prevention Plan Notices, regulations on fuel blending, dispensing and content, economic measures and voluntary agreements.

The audit found that the Government did not have independent verification in place to know whether the results claimed by the private sector in the case of the Pollution Prevention Plan, fuel content and dispensing regulations, and voluntary agreements and estimated benefits, in the case of economic measures, are actually being achieved.

The audit recognized a number of good practices, including the Fuels Regulations Working Group and the enforcement database, two tools that the Department uses for assuring quality and consistency in the enforcement process.

The recommendations in this audit focus on revising the risk management strategy for acrylonitrile, assessing the implementation of the Benzene in Gasoline Regulationsand the Sulphur in Diesel Fuel Regulations, and identifying the community of retailers and wholesalers subject to the Gasoline and Gasoline Blend Dispensing Flow Rate Regulations and conducting compliance promotion and enforcement activities.

Departmental Response: The Department agreed with all recommendations, and action to address them has already been completed or is under way.

For more information on this audit, go to www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/English/parl_cesd_200812_01_e_31818.html.

Chapter 2: Managing Severe Weather Warnings—Environment Canada

Summary: The audit examined whether Environment Canada's systems and procedures adequately support the delivery of timely and accurate severe weather warnings to Canadians. The audit looked at the Department's management of its weather observation network, the implementation of a new, advanced forecaster workstation called NinJo, and the delivery and verification of severe weather warnings. The audit also examined the Department's planning process that supports the delivery of severe weather warnings.

The audit found a number of issues with Environment Canada's ability to deliver severe weather warnings to Canadians in a sustainable way.

The recommendations focus on the need for good long-term planning in terms of strategic directions and the capital planning necessary to sustain the monitoring infrastructure, full life-cycle management of that infrastructure, a national public alerting system, performance reporting, and good project management practices.

Departmental Response: The Department agreed with all recommendations, and action to address them has already been completed or is underway.

For more information on this audit, go to www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/English/parl_cesd_200812_01_e_31818.html.

Chapter 5: Annual Report on Environmental Petitions

Summary: This chapter informs Parliament and Canadians about the use of the petitions process, and describes the number, nature and status of petitions received, and the timeliness of responses from ministers. Of the 56 petitions received by the Government, Environment Canada responded to 45. The Department continues to receive the largest number of petitions in the Government. While, no recommendations are made in this chapter, it highlights some good practices and opportunities for improvement.

For more information on this report, go to www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/English/parl_cesd_200812_05_e_31822.html.

2009 March Status Report of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development

Chapter 2: Air Quality Health Index—Health Canada and Environment Canada

Summary: The audit, based upon Environment Canada's and Health Canada's responses to two environmental petitions on managing air pollution and cross-border pollution, examined whether the two departments could demonstrate that they had made reasonable progress on their commitment to develop a Canada-wide health-based air quality index.

The audit found that Environment Canada and Health Canada have made satisfactory progress in developing the index. While there are no recommendations, the audit notes short-term and long-term challenges and issues that will need to be addressed.

For more information on this audit, go to www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/English/parl_cesd_200903_02_e_32286.html.


Response to the Public Service Commission and the Commissioner of Official Languages

October 2008 Study by the Public Service Commission of Canada

Appointment Under the Public Service Employment Act Following Participation in Federal Student Employment Programs

Summary: The objective of the study was to determine what proportion of former students became employed under the Public Service Employment Act and to describe other significant trends about these appointments. The study involved 11 departments, including Environment Canada.

For more information on this study, go to www.psc-cfp.gc.ca/adt-vrf/rprt/2008/app-nom/index-eng.htm.

October 2008 Audit by the Public Service Commission of Canada

Government-wide Audit of Executive (EX) appointments

Summary: The objective of the audit was to determine whether executive appointment activities were in compliance with the new Public Service Employment Actand other applicable instruments. Environment Canada was included in this audit.

The audit examined 348 appointments across government and identified 47 unsatisfactory cases. Deputy Heads of all audited organizations were provided with an opportunity to acknowledge and comment on these results, a summary of which is included in the report.

For more information on this audit, go to www.psc-cfp.gc.ca/adt-vrf/rprt/2008/ex/index-eng.htm#toc34.

November 2008 Audit by the Commissioner of Official Languages

Bilingual Weather and Environmental Services Provided on the Environment Canada Automated Telephone Network

Summary: The objective of the audit was to determine whether Environment Canada, and more specifically the Meteorological Service of Canada (MSC), complies fully with its obligations under Part IV of the Official Languages Act as far as delivery of weather services in both official languages is concerned. The audit focused exclusively on weather services offered to the Canadian public on the MSC automated telephone network.

The audit found that the Department was not in compliance with certain provisions of the Official Languages Act.

The audit made eight recommendations covering issues such as the need for accountability frameworks for official languages and an action plan for official languages, including establishing performance measures for official languages in performance contracts, taking the appropriate measures to ensure the active offer of bilingual weather information and establishing monitoring measures concerning active offer.

Departmental Response: The Department agreed with the recommendations, and action to address them has already been completed or is under way.

For more information on this audit, go to www.ocol-clo.gc.ca/html/audit_verification_102008_e.php.