News Release

Defence Minister Appoints Advisory Committee on Administrative Efficiency

NR-03.008 - January 30, 2003

OTTAWA - The Honourable John McCallum, Minister of National Defence, today announced the appointment of four external consultants to examine administrative efficiencies within the Department of National Defence.

"I am committed to ensuring that Canadian taxpayers get the best possible value for every dollar that Defence spends." Minister McCallum said. "My Department has already made significant progress in modernizing its business structures. Nevertheless, I have found, in my experience, that all large organizations can benefit from an outside perspective."

The Committee's mandate is to study and provide advice in two general areas:

• any issue(s) of administrative efficiency, broadly defined, within the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Forces that the Committee chooses to investigate; and
• the material acquisition and procurement process within the Department of National Defence.

The Minister of National Defence has appointed Harold Stephen as chair, and John D. McLure, Robert B. Winsor and Frederick R. Sutherland to the Committee. The four experts will work within the Department alongside Departmental officials to assess administrative practices, and will have regular access to the Minister of National Defence and Canadian Forces officials.

"Today we are appointing four highly qualified individuals with extensive experience in private and public sector administration, management and restructuring", noted Minister McCallum.

On the issues of materiel acquisition and the procurement process within the Department of National Defence, the Committee will work in partnership with the Department of Public Works and Government Services Canada.

The Committee will report its findings and recommendations to the Minister of National Defence within six months. The Committee may also bring forward recommendations on an interim basis and will be disbanded after six months.

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For more information on the Advisory Committee, please see the attached backgrounder or contact:

Media Liaison Office
Department of National Defence
(613) 996-2353 or 2354

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