Evidence of meeting #41 for Indigenous and Northern Affairs in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was aboriginal.
A recording is available from Parliament.
12:35 p.m.
Senior Associate Deputy Minister, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
We will also have teams of volunteers going into the communities who will be able to explain in the local language what this is about.
12:35 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Colin Mayes
Thank you very much for that explanation.
Is there anything else, committee members? Mr. Bagnell.
12:35 p.m.
Liberal
Larry Bagnell Liberal Yukon, YT
I have one short question for Mr. Wernick.
You were mentioning your responsibility related to the Accountability Act. Could you tell me what has changed? What are the benefits we've received from that change?
12:35 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
There's some debate about that in the public accounts committee, which I think you may be alluding to.
My understanding is that it essentially codifies the principles and practices we're always under. It makes it very clear that there's a zone the minister is responsible for in terms of political direction and priorities and there's a zone of administration that I'm responsible for as a deputy head. It codifies that and makes it very clear. I'm responsible for the efficient management of resources, internal controls, and for the running of the department under the direction of the minister.
I think it's easier for you, as parliamentarians, to decide what to hold me to account for and what to hold the minister to account for. That works well for both of us.
12:35 p.m.
Liberal
12:35 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
Yes. As I said, it actually has made it very clear what I have to answer for: I have to answer for the statement of internal control of the department; I have to sign the financial statements; if there are glitches or boo-boos in the financial presentation, I'm the one you should be interrogating, not the minister; and so on.
So it has given all deputies a very powerful incentive to move on having a chief financial officer look at the financial policies in the department, strengthen their audit shops, and so on. That was the intended effect of the legislation, and I can assure you that it's happening at INAC.
12:35 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Colin Mayes
A good reason for this topic for you to be here, rather than the minister, quite frankly.
12:35 p.m.
Liberal
12:35 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Colin Mayes
I appreciate the witnesses. Thank you. It was very informative. I think you answered all of our questions, and so I excuse you now.
I'll take a two-minute break, and then we're just going to cover a couple of items that we need to deal with as far as the subcommittee meeting tomorrow is concerned.
Where are we with the motion by Madam Neville?
12:35 p.m.
Liberal
12:35 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Colin Mayes
Okay.
Is there anything else?
Okay, then. I'll just give notice that on Wednesday, from 3:30 to 5:30, there's a subcommittee. We'll be looking at witnesses. We have a few challenges for Tuesday, because the witnesses we had notified couldn't make it. So we'll talk about it then.
This meeting is adjourned.
