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1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Purpose

Environment Canada’s (EC’s) Internal Audit Division, Audit and Evaluation Branch, conducted a review of the financial information provided to the Services to Marine Transportation (SMT) program. This project was included in the 2010-2011 departmental annual Risk-Based Audit and Evaluation Plan, which was approved by the Deputy Minister in early Spring 2010 as recommended by the External Audit Advisory Committee. This report presents the findings and recommendations originating from the review performed by the Internal Audit Division.

1.2 Background

EC provides two services to assist in marine transportation. The first is marine weather information, which provides warnings of ongoing weather conditions and extreme weather events that pose a threat to life and property at sea. This weather service is part of the Meteorological Service of Canada (MSC) within EC.

The second service provides information about ice conditions, and is delivered as a partnership between EC (specifically the Canadian Ice Service (CIS)) and Fisheries and Oceans (FO) (specifically the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG)). The CIS, a division of EC’s MSC, is the leading authority for information about ice in Canada's navigable waters. The partnership between the CIS and the CCG is operated through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and a Partnership Agreement with FO.

In addition, a third department Transport Canada (Marine Safety, National Aerial Surveillance Program and Aircraft Services Directorate), has two MOUs to provide the CIS with the policy and regulatory framework for a safe and competitive transportation sector in Canada.

Within EC, the MSC delivers the SMT with the assistance of two other branches which provide personnel and resources. The Atmospheric Science and Technology Directorate of the Science and Technology Branch is a key contributor to meteorological research and development, and the Chief Information Officer Branch1 performs activities related to information management and information technology.

The following table summarizes information on EC’s program expenditures from 2007-08 to 2010-11, including costs for all three branches (Meteorological, Science and Technology, and Chief Information Officer). The financial information is presented by Program Activity Architecture (PAA) elements. The table shows that the total expenses stayed relatively stable in recent years. This financial information was not audited.

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1 As of 30 May 2011, the new Corporate Services Branch integrates the former Chief Information Officer

Branch with the Assets, Contracting and Environmental Management Directorate.

Paulette Palladini

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