Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Minister Abernethy.

Thank you, Madam Chair. We agree with recommendation 11 and work is already in process.

The department has established an audit schedule and requires action plans to address deficiencies that are identified, and the department is monitoring the implementation.

Based on the Auditor General’s recommendations and our response and the departmental response, we are planning and intend to work with the health and social services authorities to develop a more formal audit schedule and process. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Abernethy. To the motion.

Question is being called. The motion is carried.

---Carried

Ms. Bisaro.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that internal compliance audits and action plans designed to address deficiencies prepared by regional authorities be forwarded to the Standing Committee on Social Programs.

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. To the motion.

Question is being called. The motion is carried.

---Carried

Mr. Dolynny.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that internal compliance audits and action plans designed to address deficiencies prepared by regional authorities be modified for privacy considerations and tabled in the Legislative Assembly; and further, that internal audits include updates on indicators associated with Exhibits 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the Auditor General’s report. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. The motion is in order. To the motion. Minister Abernethy.

Thank you, Madam Chair. With respect to recommendation number 12, I’d be happy to discuss with the Standing Committee on Social Programs the appropriate format and time in providing updates on a regular basis. I will say that it may not always be appropriate to forward some of these internal work plans, depending on the level of detail about staff and clients. Some of the work plans may include client-specific information, so it may not be appropriate to provide those as we may need releases and other pieces of information. But I’m happy to have further discussion with the Standing Committee on Social Programs with respect to that.

Thank you, Minister Abernethy. To the motion.

Question is being called. The motion is carried.

---Carried

Mr. Dolynny.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that the director of child and family services report annually to the Minister of Health and Social Services, as required under the Child and Family Services Act. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. The motion is in order. To the motion. Mr. Dolynny.

Thank you, Madam Chair. As much as this motion is simplistic in design, its lack of performance, I believe, has caused the complexity that we see here before us today, and I think that was echoed loud and clear through the Auditor General’s findings.

Moreover, I think members of this committee and I think the public at large are still quite perplexed that there was no reporting function, which is a statutory requirement of the department on this child and family services area, for well over a decade.

Again, without that information, it’s very confusing and a bit daunting that a department is able to guide themselves through the rigours of trying to satisfy the needs of our most vulnerable in society.

So this motion, again, as simple as it is, clearly states a statutory obligation to which we hope that, moving forward, the department sees as an important part of the legislative process. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. To the motion. Mr. Abernethy.

Thank you, Madam Chair. We agree with the intent of recommendation number 13; however, rather than tabling individual audits, it may be more practical and more appropriate to amend the format of the annual director’s report to include the information that’s outlined in the Standing Committee on Government Operations’ recommendation number 15. I have already committed to tabling that report, so it may be more practical for us to modify the content of that report rather than individual audit reports. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Minister Abernethy. To the motion.

Question is being called. All those in favour? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Mr. Dolynny.