Parliamentary Oversight – Committees and Relationships

A Guide to Strengthening Public Accounts Committees

This Guide explores Public Accounts Committees in Canada. It updates research from the 2006 guide and includes insights from interviews and roundtable discussions. It also suggests a framework of core powers and practices that support effective PACs.

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Attributes of an Effective Public Accounts Committee

To support the continual progress of Public Accounts Committees, this guide gives examples from Canadian jurisdictions and shows how they relate to each attribute. It includes information collected in the 2013 survey of PAC chairs, vice-chairs and support staff.

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Guide for Witnesses

This generic guide can be used as a reference to prepare witnesses for a hearing and can be localized by PACs in Canada and abroad to reflect their unique mandates and legal powers.

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Guidance on Reporting and Follow-up

This guide can be used to understand the purpose and content of PAC reports and the importance of follow-up. Like the other guides in this set, it can be used as a reference to prepare a localized document on a jurisdiction’s process.

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Preparation for Hearings & Frequently Asked Questions

This guide can help PAC members and staff prepare for a hearing, from the planning process to the actual hearing date. It provides generic potential questions that could be used for several different report types and issues.

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