THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON AUDIT AND OVERSIGHT

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Wednesday, December 6, 2023
(25)

[English]

Pursuant to the order of the Senate of December 9, 2021, the Standing Committee on Audit and Oversight met in camera this day in room B30, Senate of Canada Building and with videoconference, at 1:33 p.m. ET, the chair, the Honourable Marty Klyne, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Dupuis, Klyne and Wells (3).

Members of the committee present by videoconference: The Honourable Senator Deacon (Nova Scotia) (1).

External members of the committee present by videoconference: Hélène F. Fortin and Robert Plamondon (2).

Participating in the meeting: Stéphanie van Beek, Procedural Clerk and Brigitte Martineau, Administrative Assistant, Committees Directorate; Lindsay McGlashan and Rosemonde Samedy, analysts, Library of Parliament; Amipal Manchanda, Chief Audit Executive, Office of the Chief Audit Executive; Pierre Lanctôt, Chief Financial Officer and Ronald Prud’homme, Senior Advisor, Planning, Performance and Risk Management, Finance and Procurement Directorate.

Pursuant to rule 12-7(4), the committee continued its consideration of the Senate’s internal and external audits and related matters.

Pursuant to rule 12-16(1)(d), the committee discussed in camera a draft agenda (future business).

At 1:36 p.m., Pierre Lanctôt and Ronald Prud’homme were invited to join the meeting.

At 2:23 p.m., Pierre Lanctôt and Ronald Prud’homme were excused from the meeting.

It was agreed that the Chief Audit Executive be authorized to proceed with the hiring of a casual employee for a period up to June 30, 2024.

It was agreed that the committee request the Finance and Procurement Directorate to transfer $30,000 from the committee's budget envelope to that of the Office of the Chief Audit Executive for the current fiscal year, as well as an additional $20,000 for the 2024-25 fiscal year.

Pursuant to rule 12-7(4)(a), it was agreed that the committee request the Finance and Procurement Directorate to issue a request for proposals to retain the services of an external auditor for the audit of the Senate's financial statements, even though the total estimated value of the contract could meet or exceed the $125,000 threshold set out in the Senate Procurement Policy.

At 3:38 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Maxime Fortin

Clerk of the Committee