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1.  BACKGROUND

This audit was initiated at the request of the Chief Legislative Counsel.  The overall objective of the audit was to review and assess the framework within which the Legislative Services Branch delivers services to the Government and to recommend improvements.  The audit was carried out in two phases.  Phase I of the audit covered the operations and activities of the Legislative and Regulations Sections.  This report comprises Phase II of the audit, and covers the Legislative Editing and Publishing Section, Jurilinguistic Services and Informatics Services.

The specific objectives of the Phase II audit were to examine the management framework of these sections in terms of:

	The policies, practices and procedures relating to planning, organizing, controlling, directing and communicating.
	The arrangements in place regarding the management of financial, human and materiel resources.
	The reliability of information systems for decision-making and accountability purposes.
	The adequacy of protection afforded public funds and assets.
	The extent of compliance of systems, procedures and practices with legislation, regulations and key central agency or departmental policies.
	The level of client satisfaction with the services provided.
	The appropriateness of interfaces with other organizations, including the Legislation and Regulations Sections.

The key issues examined included:

	The appropriateness of arrangements in place regarding the creation and use of information as a corporate resource.
	The appropriateness of roles and responsibilities within the sections under review.
	The appropriateness of mechanisms to ensure consistent approaches to service delivery by editors and revisors located in satellite units of the Regulations Section.
	The extent to which opportunities exist to expand the role of paralegals in the preparation of statutes and regulations.
	The consistency of approaches in providing jurilinguist services in the preparation of both French and English drafts of legislation.

Information for the audit was gained through interviews with the Chief Legislative Counsel, the heads of the relevant sections, selected counsel in the Legislation and Regulations sections, revisors and jurilinguists, and through a review of various pertinent documents.

The fieldwork relating to this phase of the audit was conducted in the late fall of 1999 and in early 2000.

The management response to the recommendations contained in this report was provided by L. Levert, Chief Legislative Counsel, Legislative Services Branch on January 31, 2001. An updated management response was also provided by K. MacCormick, newly appointed Chief Legislative Counsel, Legislative Services Branch on May 23, 2001.

 

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