Accountability Improvement Act, 1996

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The purpose of this bill is to enable the Provincial Auditor to conduct audits of organizations and other bodies such as school boards, hospitals, universities in respect of payments received from the Consolidated Revenue Fund or government agencies.

Bill1996

An Act to amend the Audit Act to improve the

accountability of hospitals, school boards,

universities and colleges, municipalities and other

organizations which receive payments from the

government

Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

1. The Audit Act is amended by adding the following section:

Definition

9.1 (1) In this section,

"government agency" means an organization or body with ongoing responsibilities which is controlled by the government, either by the government appointing a majority of the members of its governing board or by holding, directly or indirectly, 50 per cent or more of the issued and outstanding voting shares of any corporation;

"payment" includes any grant, subsidy, assistance or allowance.

Audit

(2) The Auditor may audit, to the extent he or she considers necessary, any organization, corporation, association, foundation, institution or other body that receives payments directly or indirectly from the Consolidated Revenue Fund, a ministry or a government agency in respect of such payments.

Commencement

2. This Act comes into force on a day to be named by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor.

Short title

3. The short title of this Act is the Accountability Improvement Act, 1996.