Appendix

STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2011

MARCH 31, 2011

Statement of Operations

Expenses	2010-2011	2009-2010
	($000)	($000)
Salaries and employees benefits	2,611	2,884Footnote 1
Professional Services	261	244
Office removal an relocation	–	29
Operating expenses	67	95
Information and communication	27	46
Materials and supplies	53	38
Paid to BC Ombudsman	–	27
Corporate services paid to PWGSC	405	536
Services from Audit Services Canada	–	84
Total	3,424	3,983

NOTES TO THE STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2011

1. Authority and objective

The Office of the Procurement Ombudsman (OPO) was established by amendments to the Public Works and Government Services Act. OPO is an independent organization with a government-wide mandate, which is defined in the Federal Accountability Act. Its overall objective is to ensure the fairness, openness and transparency of government procurement.

2. Parliamentary authority

The funding approved by the Treasury Board for the operation of the Office of the Procurement Ombudsman is part of Public Works and Government Services Canada's (PWGSC's) A-base and consequently, the Office is subject to the legislative, regulatory, and policy frameworks that govern the Department. It is recognized, however, that it is implicit in the nature and purpose of the Office of the Procurement Ombudsman that it carries its mandate in an independent fashion, and be seen to do so, maintaining an arm's length relationship with PWGSC in its day-to-day operations. Its budget is approved by the Treasury Board.

3. related party transactions

The Office has a memorandum of understanding whereby PWGSC provides corporate services to the Office in the areas of finance, human resources and information technology. In 2011, the Office incurred expenses of $405 thousand for these services, which are broken down as follows:

Corporate services provided by PWGSC	2010-2011
	($000)
Finance	67
Human resources	123
Information technology	215
Total	405

4. Comparative figures

In 2010-2011, the office was subject to the departure of the Ombudsman. The new Ombudsman was not appointed until January and there were also two positions at the executive level that remained vacant for a period of three months or more.

The Office of the Procurement Ombudsman invested in training for its personnel, increasing the amount of Professional Services.

Date modified:

2018-11-01