government agency operations and political pressures towards privatization would change the way DCC did business— and, on occasion, bring its continued existence into question again.
A civil engineer, Lorne Atchison joined DCL in 1959 and took on major construction projects as Engineer in Charge. He was appointed DCL’ s third President in 1985.
In 1984, Bill C-24 created a control and accountability regime for federal Crown corporations. For DCC, the new legislation brought a number of changes. Although DCC was no longer subject to the Government Contracts Regulations, the Minister of National Defence( who was responsible for DCC) directed that the company’ s contracting activities continue to follow those regulations. Submissions to Treasury Board were no longer required for contract activities— they were replaced by ministerial delegations that reflected the Minister of National Defence’ s program authority of $ 10 million. Corporate plans and operating and capital budgets— approved by various agencies and tabled in the House of Commons and the Senate— now had to be prepared. Audit committees were also now mandatory— DCC had instituted one in 1976, but changed it to meet the new requirements.
The effect of these changes was to transfer some of the shareholder responsibilities to the government and to make the Boards of Directors more responsible and accountable for their corporations.
Driving change from the inside out: a new President In January 1985, Lorne Atchison became DCC’ s third President, as Joe Bland retired. Lorne had been with DCL from 1959 to 1973, and had left to pursue his career in the private sector. His last stint with the Corporation had been as Senior Project Engineer in Valcartier, and he returned as Vice-President( Construction) in 1982.
BREAKING NEW GROUND DEFENCE CONSTRUCTION CANADA
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