Proceedings of the Standing Committee on
Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration
Issue 4 - Minutes of Proceedings - February 2, 2012
OTTAWA, Thursday, February 2, 2012
(13)
The Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration met this day, at 8:32 a.m., the chair, the Honourable David Tkachuk, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Carignan, Cordy, Demers, Di Nino, Downe, Furey, Kinsella, Marshall, Munson, Poulin, Runciman, Stewart Olsen, Stratton, Tardif and Tkachuk. (15)
In attendance: Mr. Gary W. O'Brien, Clerk of the Senate and other senior Senate officials.
IE/2012-02-02/102(P) — Adoption of Minutes of Proceedings
It was moved, by Senator Munson, that the minutes of proceedings of December 15, 2011, public portion, be adopted.
The question being put on the motion, it was resolved in the affirmative.
IE/2012-02-02/103(P) — Contract Renewal for the Provision of Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Services to the Senate
Further to the meeting held on December 15, 2011, the Director, Human Resources Directorate, provided additional information regarding usage of the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) by the Senate.
Ms. Linda Dodd answered questions.
After discussion, it was agreed that the Senate Administration be authorized to exercise the two option-year periods of the Morneau Shepell contract which will result in a cumulative cost that exceeds $100,000 over the extended contract period.
IE/2012-02-02/104(P) — Annual Report on Internal Audits 2012-2011
The chair informed the committee that in December 2010, this committee tabled in the Senate the first Annual Report on Internal Audits, 2009-2010. He indicated that the second Annual Report on Internal Audits, 2010-2011, before the Committee today, includes one further internal audit that was conducted in accordance with the Risk-Based Audit Plan, on the Long-Term Vision and Plan (LTVP), conducted by the firm KPMG.
Senator Tkachuk noted that all other audits scheduled for 2010-2011 were postponed to allow the Senate Administration to interact effectively with the OAG for the extensive performance audit of the Administration that they have conducted, and to allow our audit resources to provide effective support to that audit.
The Annual Report on Internal Audits, 2010-2011, therefore provides the text of the audit report on LTVP, together with a summary of management's implementation of the recommendations contained in that report to date. The report also contains an update on implementation of recommendations from the three audit reports cited in the 2009-2010.
After discussion, it was agreed that the Annual Report on Internal Audits 2010-2011 be approved and tabled in the Senate.
It was also agreed that semi-annual updates on audits and audit follow-up be presented to the committee.
At 9 a.m., the committee proceeded in camera.
At 10:03 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.
ATTEST:
Gary W. O'Brien
Clerk of the Senate and Clerk of the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration
Lucie Lavoie
Recording Secretary