Good Practice Library

The library is continually updated as new examples are added, so check back regularly.

To submit a clip to the library send the clip and a short description of what good practice it exemplifies to oversight@caaf‑fcar.ca.

GOOD PRACTICE: The PAC has a positive relationship with the legislative auditor

Prince Edward Island June 15, 2021 Meeting: Review of the Report of the Auditor General to the Legislative Assembly, dated March 8, 2021 Directly cites the auditor general’s report, looking for details on barriers to implementation of the recommendation.

Nova Scotia PAC April 3, 2013 Meeting: Department of Education November 2012 Report of the Auditor General Auditor general is at the hearing as an advisor. The committee seeks his perspective following statements from the ministry.

Québec February 13, 2018 Meeting: Audition du Vérificateur général du Québec sur sa gestion administrative et sur ses engagements financiers Discussion on how the committee and audit office can work together to promote the adoption of recommendations.

GOOD PRACTICE: The PAC is committed to cross-party collaboration

Nova Scotia July 14, 2021 Meeting: Review of two reports: June 2020 Report of the Auditor General – Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation, Phase I; May 2021 Report of the Auditor General – Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation, Phase II A member gives their time to another party so the deputy minister can finish answering the question.

New Brunswick October 7, 2021 Meeting: Report of the Auditor General of New Brunswick 2021, Volume 1—Performance Audit The Chair’s introductory remarks clearly set out the collaborative nature of the PAC, promoting cross-party collaboration and establishing zero tolerance for partisanship.

Ireland September 21, 2021 Meeting: Consideration of Financial Statements and Accounts. Social Democrat speaks up in support of the comments made by a Green Party member showing collaboration across parties.

GOOD PRACTICE: The PAC has constructive engagement with witnesses

Québec February 13, 2020 Meeting: Hearing of the Ministère de l’Éducation et de l’Enseignement supérieur as a follow-up to recommendation 3.2 of the 40th report on accountability of the Committee on Public Administration An elected official redirects a witness to stay on topic during testimony.

British Columbia November 7, 2019 Meeting: Consideration of the Office of the Auditor General’s August 2019 report on the BC Government’s International Directory Account Management. An elected official uses a clear line of questioning to gather information.

Australia July 2, 2020 Meeting: Cyber Resilience (Auditor-General's Reports Nos 1 and 13 (2019-20) The Chair needs to call the meeting to order. She seeks to have the witness address the questions directly, and to reduce interruptions from another member who is seeking clarity on answers.

Ireland October 1, 2021 Meeting: Special Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General on the Nursing Homes Support Scheme The deputy clearly asks for short responses to keep within time allotted.

GOOD PRACTICE: The PAC has members who understand their unique responsibilities

British Columbia March 31, 2021 Meeting: Review and consideration of the Office of the Auditor General report: Oversight of International Education Programs in Offshore and Group 4 Schools (November 2020) A member asks for clarification about the root cause of records management issues. Getting at the root cause is often the key to determining how to fix a situation.	Prince Edward Island February 9, 2021 Meeting: PAC briefing on the proposed changes to the Procurement of Goods Act and associated regulations The Chair, seeing no members on the speaker’s list, continues a line of questioning for clarification on legislative development.	New Brunswick February 24, 2021 Meeting:Report of the Auditor General – Volume I, Chapter 2 – June 2019 An elected official asks a series of questions drawing directly from two of the reports under review to clarify differences in the content.	Scotland November 19, 2020 Meeting: Data Collection and Planning for Outcomes (Key Audit Themes) A Labour MP follows up on a SNP MPs earlier question and pursues a line of questioning with the auditor general about root causes of issues in data collection, political will, and bureaucratic culture.
Northwest Territories April 4, 2017 Meeting: Government Operations public briefing on Public Accounts A member follows up on a previous recommendation that the committee had made relating to the protection of privacy for student loan forgiveness. The members request that the Comptroller General commit to meeting with the Privacy Commissioner.

GOOD PRACTICE: The PAC issues regular reports

Québec March 21, 2018 Meeting: Hearing of the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec on its administrative management A committee member draws attention to a similar recommendation made by the committee two years earlier.

British Columbia February 4, 2015 Meeting: Follow-up Process for Office of the Auditor General Reports The committee discusses how PAC recommendations work in consultation with expert witnesses and the Committee Clerk, and the Chair calls on all members to work collaboratively to reach recommendations.

GOOD PRACTICE: The PAC follows up on the implementation of recommendations

Nova Scotia October 24, 2018 Meeting: May 2018 Report of the Auditor General, Chapter 2: Correctional Facilities. A Member asks the witness about the department’s resistance to implementing a particular audit recommendation given the general support from Corrections for the auditor general findings and recommendations found in the report.

Québec February 19, 2021 Meeting: Hearing of the Auditor General on the annual report and financial statements A member pursues a line of questioning on different levels of implementation of auditor recommendations across the government.

Scotland January 17, 2019 Meeting: The 2017/18 audit of NHS Tayside A member questions the witness on the monitoring of audit recommendation implementation moving forward, as previous recommendations have not been implemented.

GOOD PRACTICE: The PAC examines its performance and impact

Nova Scotia March 10, 2021 Meeting: The clip takes place during the committee business section of a meeting focused on chapter 6 of the November 2015 Report of the Auditor General and chapter 3 of the July 2016 Report of the Auditor General. Members of the committee debate a motion to improve committee impact and performance by increasing the frequency of PAC meetings and permit the PAC to discuss a range of matters beyond auditor general reports.