On April 11, 2006, the Government of Canada introduced the Federal Accountability Act and Action Plan, delivering on its commitment to make government more accountable. The Federal Accountability Act received Royal Assent on December 12, 2006. This is one of a series of fact sheets describing proposed actions to respond to this commitment.
It is vital to government accountability that, within the framework of the minister’s overall responsibilities and his or her accountability to Parliament, the roles and responsibilities of deputy ministers are clear. In addition, independent, objective, and timely internal audit services within departments provide assurance to deputy ministers and reinforce good stewardship practices and sound decision-making.
These measures clarify the roles and responsibilities of deputy ministers and, together with a stronger internal audit capacity, help ensure that departments are well managed to meet the needs of Canadians.
To clarify roles and responsibilities and strengthen internal audit, effective December 12, 2006, the Federal Accountability Act:
Effective March 1, 2007, the Federal Accountability Act creates a new offence of fraud involving public funds, carrying a maximum term of five years in prison for fraud of $5,000 or less, a maximum term of 14 years in prison for fraud over $5,000, and automatic dismissal for any public servant convicted of this offence.
In addition, the Government is:
For more information on this specific measure, please refer to the relevant section of the Action Plan, or contact us.