Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
Madam Auditor General, the act is the Accountability Act, and in both the Gomery Commission report and your reports there were indications of systemic breakdowns that occurred as a result of the lack of checks and balances and the completion of the accountability loop. I'm sure the committee would agree with you that the audit is not the sole methodology with respect to closing the accountability loop, but to paraphrase something--and it's probably totally wrong in context--the audit is still our best protection against the worst that could happen in administrations that are huge and complex.
This legislation suggests that the deputy minister will be the accountable finance officer in each ministry. Would it be possible for you to give an overview with respect to your relationship with the internal audit committees, how this interfaces with your perception of ministerial oversight, and what your role is with respect to audits, both internal and external, that may point to systemic weaknesses and what the role of the Comptroller General is with respect to closing that accountability loop?
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.