Thank you for inviting us to appear before the committee on chapter 4 of the Auditor General's fall report on managing conflict of interest.
The secretariat welcomes this report and agrees with the two recommendations concerning us.
Of course, values and ethics, including conflict of interest, are not new concepts. They've been embedded in the public service culture for over a century. However, in 2003 the public service values were codified in policy and were also formally included in our leadership competencies and in our management system. Not only are they codified, they are measured. Values and ethics is one of the six indicators measured every year in our management accountability framework assessment of deputy heads.
The code itself is a condition of employment for all employees and is featured extensively in training for public servants offered at the Canada School of Public Service.
Mr. Chair, let me add that deputy heads have the primary responsibility for managing conflict of interest within their organizations. The secretariat, through my office, supports deputy heads in that role. My officials meet regularly with departmental values and ethics practitioners and champions to share best practices and tools.
Our attention is very focused on these issues, especially since we are developing a new values and ethics code for the public sector and a new policy on conflict of interest and post-employment, which are expected to come into effect in spring 2011.
The new code will apply to all federal government organizations, including separate employers and crown corporations. Departments and agencies are also developing their own codes of conduct to address their individual operational environments and unique risks. The secretary will tell you more about this in a moment.
Concerning the report, the Auditor General found that departments generally have measures in place to manage conflicts of interest. However, she recommended that the secretariat work with deputy heads to identify their common needs for policy advice, guidance, and related training on conflict of interest and that we support deputy heads in meeting those needs. We agree with these recommendations.
My office has worked, and continues to work, with deputy heads, first, to identify where deputies need guidance on conflict of interest and the best ways to provide it, and second, to identify, in partnership with the Canada School of Public Service, the course material needed to support the new policy on conflict of interest and post-employment and the new code.
Mr. Chair, the government is committed to ensuring that Canadians are served by a public sector guided by strong ethical standards, and we are pleased to respond to the Auditor General's recommendations with the constructive and positive actions I have outlined here.
This concludes my opening remarks.
Thank you.