PACP Committee Report

Mr. David Christopherson, M.P.
Chair of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario  K1A 0A6

Mr. Christopherson:

On behalf of the Government of Canada, I am pleased to respond to the Tenth Report of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, entitled Chapter 8, Meeting Needs for Key Statistical Data–Statistics Canada, of the Spring 2014 Report of the Auditor General of Canada.

I would like to thank the Committee for its work in reviewing this Chapter.  As the Committee points out, the Auditor General (AG) found that Statistics Canada has a sound quality assurance framework.  I am pleased that the AG concluded that the Agency meets its two main objectives that are to provide statistical information and analysis about Canada’s economic and social structure, and to promote sound statistical standards and practices.  Statistics Canada ensures the quality of its programs, efficiently uses its resources, and effectively identifies and implements its priorities.

As noted by your Committee, recommendations for improvements were proposed and accepted by Statistics Canada, as the Agency is committed to ongoing excellence and innovation.

At the time of the Committee’s October 2014 meeting, the Chief Statistician was pleased to report through the Agency’s action plan that it had implemented three of the AG’s five recommendations.  For example, starting April 1, 2014, and going forward, Statistics Canada is ensuring that in all its consultation activities, the full range of users, including those from the private sector, municipalities and non-governmental organizations are consulted where appropriate, and the results of these consultations are documented and analyzed.  The other two recommendations were fully implemented in January 2015.

Statistics Canada will continue to ensure the quality of its statistical programs and is committed to maintaining the integrity of national data sources, as this is a key factor in decision making at all levels of government.  As always, our government will continue to publish reliable statistical data while maintaining the privacy of Canadians.

I would like to thank you and the other members of the Committee for your interest in Statistics Canada’s key statistical programs and for reinforcing the important findings of the AG.  In closing, and further to the recommendation contained in the Committee report, I would like to assure you that the Agency has accepted the AG findings and that these have been fully implemented.

Sincerely,

The Honourable James Moore, P.C., M.P.