Sheila
Fraser, FCA, of Ottawa, Ontario, as Auditor General of Canada.
Mrs. Fraser, who joined the Office of the Auditor General two years ago as
Deputy Auditor General of Canada, has been performing the duties of Auditor
General on an interim basis since April 1, 2001. From 1972 to 1998, she held a
variety of positions of increasing responsibility at Ernst & Young, becoming
a Partner in 1981. Mrs. Fraser is the first woman to be appointed to this
position.
Mrs. Fraser succeeds Denis Desautels, whose term expired on March 31, 2001.
On behalf of all Canadians, the Prime Minister took the opportunity to thank
Mr. Desautels for his dedication and professionalism during his tenure as
Auditor General of Canada, and to wish him well in his future endeavours.
This appointment is effective immediately. A biographical note is attached.
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PMO Press Office: (613) 957-5555
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SHEILA FRASER
Mrs. Fraser was born on September 16, 1950. She earned a Bachelor of Commerce
degree from McGill University in 1972. She became a Chartered Accountant in 1974
and an FCA in 1994.
Sheila Fraser was appointed Interim Auditor General of Canada effective April
1, 2001. She has been Deputy Auditor General, Audit Operations Branch since
January 1999.
Before joining the Office of the Auditor General, Mrs. Fraser enjoyed a
fruitful and challenging career with the firm of Ernst & Young, where she
rose to partnership in 1981. In the Quebec City office she was responsible for a
wide range of clients in both the private and the public sectors. She
participated in several assignments with the Auditor General of Québec as well
as with several departments of the Government of Québec.
Mrs. Fraser has always been active in her profession, at both the provincial
and national levels. For her noteworthy service to the auditing and accounting
professions, she was awarded the designation "Fellow" by the Ordre des
comptables agréés du Québec in 1994 and the Institute of Chartered
Accountants of Ontario in 2000. She is also a recipient of the Governor General’s
medal commemorating Canada’s 125th anniversary, and a member of the
Public Sector Accounting Board of the Canadian Institute of Chartered
Accountants.
