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2015–16 Departmental Performance Report

Response to Parliamentary Committees and External Audits

Response to parliamentary committees

No recommendations received in the fiscal year 2015–16.

Response to the Auditor General (including to the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development)

No recommendations received in the fiscal year 2015–16.

Response to external audits conducted by the Public Service Commission of Canada or the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages

Audit conducted by the Public Service Commission of Canada (PSC)

In January 2016, the PSC's Audit and Data Services Branch assessed Elections Canada's staffing program to gauge the level of readiness for the PSC's new staffing policy and oversight framework, also known as the "New Direction in Staffing." This assessment consisted of a review of documents relating to the agency's appointment sub-delegation program and monitoring practices, as well as a review of staffing files. Meetings also took place between the auditors, the acting Chief Human Resources Officer and the Manager of Staffing Operations. The staffing assessment was completed on June 13, 2016.

Audit conducted by the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages (OCOL)

In the summer of 2014, the OCOL conducted an audit of Elections Canada to determine whether the agency met its official languages obligations towards electors. In the summer of 2015, the OCOL unveiled its findings in a final report, which outlined nine recommendations for the agency. The recommendations focused on the agency's internal governance and policy framework with respect to official languages, as well as the need to develop an action plan to support the recruitment of bilingual election officers and the provision of bilingual services from all of its points of service. Following the issuance of the Final Audit report, Elections Canada provided a management response to the OCOL which outlined the commitments it would make prior to and following the 42nd general election to address the recommendations.

Audit conducted by the Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC)

In the fall of 2015, the CHRC examined Elections Canada's workforce analysis data as part of its cyclical organizational audit program. The four designated Employment Equity (EE) groups were well represented in the agency's workforce as compared to other organizations in the federal public service and it was determined that no further audit activities were needed within the cycle. 

In the agency's EE Status Report, issued in November 2015, the CHRC noted that Elections Canada had done "excellent" work to increase its representation of women since the previous audit cycle. The agency was also commended for its ability to maintain the representation of the other three designated EE groups in its workforce.