The Internal Audit Committee (AC) is an essential component of the internal audit regime established within OPC and reflective of both the Treasury Board Policy on Internal Audit which came into effect on April 1, 2006 and the Joint Agreement of the Working Group of Officers of Parliament. The latter reinforces OPC's status as an Officer of Parliament.

The AC is advisory to the Commissioner. The Committee provides objective advice and recommendations to the Commissioner regarding the sufficiency, quality and results of assurance on the adequacy and functioning of the department's risk management, control and governance frameworks and processes.

To give the Commissioner this support, the AC exercises active oversight of core areas of OPC control and accountability in an integrated and systematic way, such that the results of internal audits may be incorporated into the OPC priority-setting and strategic planning processes. Hence, the work of the Committee reinforces the quality and reliability of the financial and other performance information used by OPC managers for decision-making and reporting and, in so doing, contributes to enhanced managerial accountability. The AC also serves to reinforce the independence, effectiveness and accountability of the Chief Audit Executive.

Membership

There are two external members who are not currently members of the Federal Public Service and the Commissioner is an ex-officio member. The Chief Audit Executive (CAE)/Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and a secretariat member also attend all meetings.

External Members

• Ms. Laurel Murray has been a chartered accountant since 1989. She is a Corporate Director at the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO), the Chair of the LCBO Audit Committee and a member of the Audit Committee of the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages. Ms. Murray is also the President of Murray Management Consulting Inc. (a management consulting firm specializing in helping strengthen public sector management and accountability). Ms. Murray was also the lead in developing the Treasury Board Secretariat's Guidebook for Departmental Audit Committees. Prior to starting her own firm, Ms. Murray was a senior manager with the Ontario Government's Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and previous to that she was a manager with KPMG, one world's largest public accounting firms.
• Ms. Jocelyne Côté-O'Hara, President of The Cora Group, has been a leader in developing strategic directions in both the private and public sectors. She has spent the last 20 years as a corporate director, executive and CEO in the telecommunications and high tech industries. Prior to this, she held several positions in the federal government.

Related Documents

• Terms of Reference for the Independent Audit Committee (updated)
• Internal Audit Charter (updated)
• Risk-Based Internal Audit Plans (updated)
• Multi-Year Plans of the Internal Audit Committee (updated)
• Agendas of the Internal Audit Committee meetings
• Minutes of the Internal Audit Committee meetings
• Reports on Plans and Priorities (RPPs) and Departmental Performance Reports (DPRs)
• Audited Financial Statements