There has always been implicit acknowledgement that the Canadian government, like any democratic government, is accountable to the public and must be able to justify its actions and decisions to Canadian citizens. However, the checks and balances in place to ensure that our government is held accountable for its actions and decisions have not always been error-proof. The Sponsorship Scandal was an example that showed that the system of governance and spending of money in Canada can be sorely abused and can go undetected despite sophisticated mechanisms designed to prevent such conduct.

View complete article - Managing the Risk of Fraud: Exploring the Impact of the Accountability Act.