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Response to Parliamentary Committees and External Audits
Response to Parliamentary Committees
- NIL
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 objective of the audit was to determine whether the responsible departments of the Government of Canada know if selected policy tools that are key to controlling air emissions are achieving results. Although Health Canada was mentionned in the audit along with other Federal Govenement departments as playing important roles, Health Canada was not specifically identified in the context of the findings. The audit work focused on three government organizations: the departments of Environment which has responsibility for air pollution matters, Transport, and Finance Canada.
For further information on this audit, visit: http://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, Health Canada responded to 27. While, no recommendations are made in this chapter, it highlights some good practices and opportunities for improvement.
For further information on this report, visit: http://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/English/parl_cesd_200812_05_e_31822.html
2009 March Report of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development
Chapter 1--Safety of Drinking Water
Summary: This audit is primarily a follow-up to the September 2005 Report of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development (CESD) on the same subject. The 2005 audit made a number of recommendations regarding: timelines for the development and review of drinking water guidelines, including the implementation of a work plan to address the backlog in development and review; the finalization of the guidance it has developed for providing safe drinking water in areas of federal jurisdiction; the update of this guidance and promotion to federal organizations; the application of measures to ensure the safety of potable water on aircraft; and the revision of the Potable Water Regulations for Common Carriers.
Overall, the 2009 follow up audit found that Health Canada has made satisfactory progress in addressing most of the 2005 recommendations. It now has a process in place to set priorities with plans and timelines for regularly updating the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality and to produce new guidelines as appropriate. The process also addresses the backlog of old guidelines in need of review. In addition, Health Canada has worked with other federal organizations to promote the guidance document it issued in late 2005 on providing safe drinking water at federal facilities.
The audit further notes that Health Canada has resumed routine inspection of drinking water on passenger aircraft belonging to the major Canadian airlines. However, gaps remain in its inspection coverage of public conveyances, and their ancillary services - facilities at railway stations, airports, and seaports that provide the food and drink for passengers.
The audit also looked at two federal departments (Correctional Services Canada and Parks Canada) to determine whether they were following Health Canada's guidance on safe drinking water.
The audit listed five recommendations, four of which apply to Health Canada.
Departmental Response: Health Canada agrees with all recommendations of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development.
For further information on this audit, visit: http://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/English/parl_cesd_200903_01_e_32285.html
Chapter 2--Air Quality Health Index--Health Canada and Environment Canada
Summary: This audit looked at how Health Canada and Environment Canada have followed up on their commitment to establish a Canada-wide air quality index based on health risks made at the 2001 Toronto Smog Summit and subsequently reiterated in responses to two environmental petitions.
The audit found that Health Canada and Environment Canada have made satisfactory progress in developing an air quality health index and therefore have met their commitment reiterated in responses to two environmental petitions on managing air pollution and cross-border pollution.
While there are no recommendations, the audit identified short-term and long- term challenges that will require attention.
For further information on this audit, visit: http://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/English/parl_cesd_200903_02_e_32286.html
2008 May Report of the Auditor General of Canada
Chapter 1--Management of Fees in Selected Departments and Agencies
Summary: Federal government fees can be charged to an individual or organization for a good, a service, or the use of a facility, such as a park campsite. Fees can also be charged for the right or privilege to use publicly owned or managed resources--the fee for a commercial fishing licence, for example. The audit selected thirteen such fees established by six federal organizations responsible for a major portion of the fee revenue reported by the government, including Health Canada. The audit examined how the organizations established the cost of the fee and determined the amount to be charged for the fee. The audit also looked at how the organizations measured, monitored, and reported on the performance of the fee-related activities.
Departmental Response: Health Canada agrees with the recommendations of the
Auditor General of Canada.
For further information on this audit, visit: http://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/English/parl_oag_200805_01_e_30697.html#hd5c
Chapter 5--Surveillance of Infectious Diseases--Public Health Agency of Canada
Summary: The Public Health Agency of Canada is the federal organization responsible for the surveillance of infectious diseases. It was created in 2004, following the outbreak of SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) in Canada.
The audit examined whether the Agency, in collaboration with its partners, has obtained, analyzed, and disseminated the information needed to help anticipate, prevent, and respond to threats of infectious disease. The audit also followed-up on concerns raised in previous audits in 1999 and 2002, when surveillance of infectious diseases was the responsibility of Health Canada.
The audit listed twelve recommendations, one of which applies to Health Canada.
Departmental Response: Health Canada agrees with the recommendation of the
Auditor General of Canada.
For further information on this audit, visit: http://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/English/parl_oag_200805_05_e_30701.html#hd3a
2008 December Report of the Auditor General of Canada
Chapter 1--A Study of Federal Transfers to Provinces and Territories
Summary: This study examined mechanisms used by the federal government to transfer funds to the provinces and territories. Health Canada was mentioned in the study but was not specifically identified in the context of the findings.
For more information on this study, visit: http://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/English/parl_oag_200812_01_e_31825.html
Chapter 8--Reporting on Health Indicators--Health Canada
Summary: In accordance with the First Minister's Accords on Health, every two years Health Canada publishes a report entitled Healthy Canadians, which tracks quantitative indicators of the health status of Canadians and health system performance. The Auditor General's audit found that while Health Canada met the specific reporting requirements that First Minister's health agreements required of it, the Healthy Canadians reports do not fulfill the broader intent of the agreements to provide the information Canadians need on the progress of health care renewal.
Departmental Response: Health Canada agrees with all recommendations of the Auditor General of Canada.
Efforts are already underway to make the report more useful to Canadians and more effective in its role as one of the accountability mechanisms for implementation of the Health Accords.
For further information on this audit, visit: http://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/English/parl_oag_200812_08_e_31832.html
Response to the Public Service Commissioner and the Commissioner of Official Languages
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 complied with the new Public Service Employment Act as well as other governing authorities and policies. Overall, the audit covered 53 federal organizations including Health Canada.
The audit examined 348 appointments across government and identified 47 unsatisfactory cases. The deputy heads of all audited organizations were provided with an opportunity to acknowledge and comment on the audit results, a summary this a summary of comments of which can be found by visiting: http://www.psc-cfp.gc.ca/adt-vrf/rprt/2008/ex/index-eng.htm#toc34