Thank you. Mr. Ootes.

The process we follow is in the financial administration manual, Mr. Chairman, and we will provide you with a copy of that.

Thank you. Total operations and maintenance. Mr. Ootes.

Thank you. Mr. Todd.

Yes, Mr. Chairman, that is what our audit bureau does. Thank you.

Thank you. Total operations and maintenance. I have Mr. Steen.

Thank you. Mr. Todd.

I will ask Mr. Voytilla to provide clarity to that because perhaps his response was not fully understood. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Voytilla.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I can understand the question that has arisen in Mr. Steen's mind. Obviously, if there were some significant inquiry or significant seizure of records that would give rise to some concerns on the part of

the government certainly, if such an event occurred, the individual who was most directly involved with the request from the RCMP or with the appropriation of documents would be obligated to inform his management and brief management on what occurred. We would hope that it would not engage in a lot of speculation about what might underlie it because that speculation is something that we would not want people to do. Usually the RCMP, if they are investigating and they are acquiring documents of that nature, they would be limited in the information that they share with the government. However, we would fully expect management to be apprised, and if the event was significant, then management would normally seek advice and counsel, probably both, from the Department of Justice, as well as from the office of the Comptroller General.

Mr. Steen. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Voytilla.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Anything of that nature would be significant enough to be called to the deputy minister's attention. In our organization and under our Financial Administration Act, the Comptroller General is given the responsibility and authority to deal with those situations. If there was a fraud investigation or whether there was some seizure that was of particular concern or signified that there might be a reason for concern, that would come to myself, as Comptroller General, and I am obligated under the Financial Administration Act to deal with it and act within certain parameters. That is the level in the organization at which these things are generally dealt with. At the deputy minister level, at the Comptroller General level, we would pursue the investigation to resolution. These things are not, in the normal course of events, brought to the political level, which is the Financial Management Board. They are dealt with under the authority in the act at the Comptroller General's level. However, once a year, I do provide a report called the Comptroller General's Report to the Financial Management Board which details all events that gave rise to fraud or embezzlement or any misappropriation funds.

Thank you. Total operations and maintenance. Mr. Steen.

Thank you. Mr. Voytilla.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I think what I have tried to convey is there could be a situation where documents were seized, or obtained where that would not have been brought to the Comptroller General's attention. I would expect that in those circumstances, it would have made its way to the deputy minister of that department, but depending on the circumstances, may not have been reported in accordance to the financial administration manual to the Comptroller General because there was no suspicion of fraud or irregularity. In that way, there could be documents obtained that did not come to my attention.

I just reiterate, Mr. Chairman, when those events do come to my attention, I am obligated to deal with them in accordance with the Financial Administration Act, and that is not, in the normal course of events, taken to the Financial Management Board. So, I think Mr. Steen has made several references to the Financial Management Board being aware of that. It would be the staff officials who serve under the board, but the board itself would not be directly involved.

Mr. Steen.