I am pleased to table the 2005 edition of the Annual Report to Parliament
on Crown Corporations and Other Corporate Interests of Canada, in
accordance with the provisions of the Financial Administration Act.
This report is a unique source of information for parliamentarians and for
Canadian taxpayers on the Government of Canada's corporate holdings. It provides
summary information on the activities of all Crown corporations and their wholly
owned subsidiaries, as well as those of other corporate interests of Canada.
Crown corporations address specific public policy objectives by operating
within a commercial environment, while remaining at arm's-length to the
Government of Canada. With this mixture of public policy and commercial
objectives, they play a vital role in areas where private enterprises are often
unwilling or unable to provide the necessary services to Canadians.
As public institutions, Crown corporations play an important role in the
economy of the country. Accordingly, Canadians expect these
organizations to be managed according to the highest standards.
Building the trust and confidence of Canadians in our federal institutions is
a key government priority. Improving the effectiveness of the overall governance
framework for Crown corporations is an important step in increasing transparency
and accountability to Parliament and ultimately to the Canadian taxpayer.
The end result for Canadian Crown corporations is to clearly distinguish
themselves as leaders in their respective environments, while serving the best
interests of Canadians.
The paper version was signed by
The Honourable John Baird, P.C., M.P.
President of the Treasury Board
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