Minister, I think the following question is relevant to everyone here as witnesses. It deals with the accountability of accounting officers within the framework of ministerial accountability. This is our law. I'm quoting from the statute:
...the accounting officer of a department...is accountable before the appropriate committees of the Senate and the House of Commons for
(a) the measures taken to organize the resources of the department to deliver departmental programs in compliance with government policies and procedures;
(b) the measures taken to maintain effective systems of internal control in the department;
(c) the signing of the accounts that are required to be kept for the preparation of the Public Accounts pursuant to section 64;
As we heard from the Parliamentary Budget Officer, and have heard repeatedly from others as well, there is significant frustration within the departments at not actually being able to give full information. Based on this, those accounting officers must have that detailed information available, but they are not in a position, or have not been able, to give that information required by law.
Is it not inappropriate to be putting public servants in that type of position when they know what their obligations are to us as parliamentarians and to the Canadian people, but are being prevented from...arguably for political reasons? Do you not believe that's putting the civil servants in a very difficult position?