Thank you Mr. Chairman.
You have asked several questions in your question. I will try to respond as fully as possible.
The points that were raised by the audit were in fact identified by Treasury Board Secretariat. That is why, over the evaluation period we reviewed and redrafted the evaluation policy. The policy now deals with evaluation in terms of program performance. I should point out the importance of data collection. That is why we put considerable effort into establishing data for measuring performance, because that was one of the deficiencies noted in Ms. Fraser's report.
We also provided for greater flexibility in the policy in terms of the type of evaluation, scope of coverage, as well as risk management, in other words their nature and importance. As Ms. Fraser pointed out, if these are programs that are going to change, then departments must be encouraged to focus on those questions.
We also started recruiting staff, as I pointed out in my opening remarks. We have created two recruitment pools at the intermediate entry level. There are approximately 1,500 individuals in these pools. We represent, in terms of the evaluation function, more than 500 individuals throughout government. Last year evaluation coverage was on average 15% for programs. In terms of grants and contributions programs, we have achieved more than 65% coverage.
I would say therefore that although not everything is perfect, we have made progress. We are now working in a very concrete and practical fashion with the evaluation community and with departments.