A Message from Our Honorary Chair

As the Comptroller General of Canada, it is my pleasure to serve as Honorary Chair of the Financial Management Institute’s Professional Development Week 2006.

The Financial Management Institute is the preeminent source in Canada for best practices related to the management of public sector resources. The annual Professional Development Week offers members from both the public and private sectors a forum for education, information sharing and professional development.

The theme of this year’s four-day event is Spotlight on Accountability.  This theme speaks of the challenges faced throughout government, be it municipal, provincial or federal. Canadians expect a lot of their public sector.  Accountability is the foundation on which Canada's system of responsible government rests. It is key to assuring Elected Officials and Canadians that governments are using public resources efficiently and effectively, and that it answers for its actions.

In order to sustain their accountability and to increase the confidence of Canadians in their governments, governments are looking at a variety of ways to improve excellence in reporting and decision-making processes, to strengthen public sector management and to improve service to Canadians.  With this in mind, the federal government has been focusing its attention on a number of major initiatives such as increased use of the Management Accountability Framework, strengthening the Financial Administration Act, introduced the Federal Accountability Act and Action Plan, Departmental Audited Financial Statements readiness, streamlining and updating its Policies, strengthening, retaining and developing it’s professional workforce, shared Initiatives on Systems and Services, and shared IM/IT architectures.  Special challenges for the financial management and internal audit communities include higher standards for training, certification and performance, through the implementation of the proposed Chief Financial Officer Model and certification and efforts to strengthen internal audit.

The organizing committee of this year’s Professional Development Week has developed an excellent program of sessions covering a wide range of issues that bear on this year’s theme. As well, you will find workshops that have been specifically tailored to give you the practical tools you need to deal with key operational requirements. Furthermore, free seminars are offered to participants. This program will interest all those who want first-hand information on current issues and future trends. I encourage you to review the program and take full advantage of the learning opportunities offered by FMI * IGF PD Week 2006.  I look forward to meeting you at the Ottawa Congress Centre in November.

Charles-Antoine St-Jean, FCA,
Comptroller General of Canada