Fulfilling the potential : Réaliser les potentialités: examen de la pratique de vérification en matière d'environnement et de développement durable du Bureau du vérificateur général du Canada

Jim Mitchell Ken Ogilvie Chair of the Panel Fulfilling the Potential 9 Part One—Report of the Independent Green Ribbon PanelEXECUTIVE SUMMARY Background This report presents the results of a review of the environment and sustainable development practice of the Office of the Auditor General of Canada. [...] We reviewed the reports prepared by the Office of the Auditor General, with special attention paid to the work of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development. [...] Fulfilling the Potential 13 Part One—Report of the Independent Green Ribbon PanelFULFILLING THE POTENTIAL I. The Environment and Sustainable Development Practice of the Office of the Auditor General of Canada The current practice and its origins In 1995, the Auditor General Act was amended to help strengthen parliamentary oversight of the federal government’s efforts to protect the environment and [...] The Environmental Auditor General would monitor and report annually to the public on how successfully federal programs and spending were supporting the move to sustainable development.7 After the election, the Liberal government asked the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development to examine the concept.8 • The Standing Committee concluded that the most appropriate way to meet t [...] Letter from the Honourable Sheila Copps to the Chairman of the House Standing Committee on the Environment and Sustainable Development, October 1994 Amendments to the Auditor General Act establishing the position of Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development received royal assent in December 1995, and the first Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development was appoin