The Public Accounts Committee has heard that there is increased collaboration between the Internal Audit Office and the Office of the Auditor General.

And PAC has also heard that the Internal Audit Reports of Canada are public documents and can be accessed from the website.

According the Auditor General’s office public relations manager Ellen Chikale, Comptroller General of Canada Bill Matthews said this when the Zambian Public Accounts Committee called on him at his Office.

Matthews observed that as a result of this collaboration between the two offices there’s timely sharing of information for decision making.

He added that the degree of collaboration has improved to the extent that the his Internal Audit shares its work plans, working papers and reports with the Office of the Auditor General.

Meanwhile, the Committee has been told that when heads of institutions or controlling officers begin to take keen interest in the work of Internal Audit their profile will be raised.

Matthews said his Internal Audit office has earned the respect for their work because heads of institutions are keenly participating in the work of internal audits and its outcomes.

He said in the past years their work was not respected and their reports not taken seriously.

He was responding to a question by Kasempa Member of Parliament Ms. Brenda Tambatamba who wanted to know how their Internal Audit had overcome the aspect of their work not being taken seriously.