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Federal Budget Looks to Restore Auditor General’s Access to Privileged Information
The budget would also let the auditor general appoint an external auditor and aims to reduce legal uncertainty after a 2023 court ruling.
- In Thursday's federal budget, Ottawa proposed updating the Auditor General Act to "clarify and modernize" the Auditor General's access to privileged information held by organizations under audit.
- A 2023 Ontario Court of Appeal ruling prompted the changes after the court found existing legislation did not explicitly require Laurentian University to disclose privileged records to the Ontario Auditor General.
- The Ontario Court of Appeal wrote that while privilege can be abrogated by statute, "the language of any statutory provision must be explicit and demonstrate a clear and unambiguous intent to do so."
- Finance Minister Philippe Champagne's office confirmed the amendments aim to restore access while introducing provisions to protect information and allow the Auditor General to appoint an external auditor.
- A spokesperson for the Office of the Auditor General declined to elaborate on Friday, citing the "budget blackout period" when federal agencies must forward budget questions to the Department of Finance.
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The federal government wants to restore the Auditor General's access to confidential information.
·Montreal, Canada
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Federal budget looks to restore auditor general’s access to privileged information
OTTAWA — The federal government is looking to restore the auditor general's access to privileged information. In Thursday's federal budget, a line item in a list of proposed legislative changes indicated Ottawa plans to update the Auditor General Act "...
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Total News Sources37
Leaning Left28Leaning Right0Center7Last UpdatedBias Distribution80% Left
Bias Distribution
- 80% of the sources lean Left
80% Left
L 80%
C 20%
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