When we first turned our attention to this matter, Mr. Chair, we focused on two objectives, as Ms. Faille so aptly pointed out. We wanted to strengthen control systems and increase the reliability, so to speak, of financial information. As these mechanisms and policies were developed, we completed phase one of the process, as Mr. Ralston said, which was the production of financial statements. These statements were first produced in 2005-2006.
We then focused on developing an internal audit policy. We struck committees, made up of independent members, for each department.
We then turned our attention to control measures, because to sustain the audit process, we also require control mechanisms. Hence a policy on controls was drafted.
These various measures were taken to sustain the audit process. The need to be audit-ready is reflected in the policies adopted. We asked ourselves what the value added would be if we put in place all of these mechanisms which, getting back to the Auditor General's comments, are designed to help us achieve our true primary objectives, namely better controls and transparent, reliable financial statements.