March 30, 2001
Ottawa, Ontario
Prime Minister Jean Chrétien today announced that, pursuant to subsection
3(4) of the Auditor General Act, Sheila Fraser, FCA, of Ottawa, Ontario,
has been appointed temporarily to perform the duties of Auditor General of
Canada upon the expiry of the term of the current Auditor General of Canada,
Denis Desautels, on March 31, 2001.
The selection process for identifying the next Auditor General of Canada is
well advanced. However, in view of the responsibilities of the Auditor General
of Canada, it is important that the office not be vacant for any period of time.
This interim appointment will ensure that the office functions effectively until
the selection process for the next Auditor General has been finalized.
Sheila Fraser is currently Deputy Auditor General of Canada, a position she
has held for the past two years. From 1972 to 1998 she held a variety of
auditing positions of increasing responsibility at Ernst & Young, starting
out as a staff accountant in the Montreal office and becoming a Partner in 1981.
The Auditor General of Canada, an independent agent of Parliament, aids
government accountability by conducting independent audits of federal government
operations. The Office of the Auditor General audits most areas of the Canadian
government. This includes a vast range of activities: health, culture, the
environment, finance, agriculture, transportation, and scientific research, to
name a few. The Auditor General reports directly to the House of Commons,
through the Speaker.
This interim appointment is effective April 1, 2001.
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PMO Press Office: (613) 957-5555
