The IOG's work in this area, both in Canada and internationally, follows from our belief that accountability lies at the heart of governance.
Citizens grant sweeping powers to the political executive.
They entrust it with responsibility for critical decisions about the design and implementation of public policy, and use of public funds. In turn, citizens want to guard against abuse by the executive of these powers. They also want to ensure that the executive uses its power wisely, effectively and efficiently, and that it will be responsive to demands by citizens to change the ways in which it carries out its functions. We are also interested in the art and science of performance measurement, a technique that helps make accountability possible. The Role of the Auditor General, by Prof. Peter Aucoin, Dalhousie University.