Board Committees

The Conseil d'administration of the Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ board of directors) must establish a governance, ethics and human resources committee and an audit committee.

It may also establish other committees to examine specific issues or facilitate the smooth functioning of RAMQ. On March 11, 2009, it created an information technology committee.

The main responsibilities of the committees created by the Conseil d'administration are described below.

Governance, Ethics and Human Resources Committee

A Comité de gouvernance, d'éthique et de ressources humaines (governance, ethics and human resources committee) has been established by the Conseil d'administration.

Generally speaking, the committee's mission is to provide the Conseil d'administration with proposals for new governance practices and evaluate existing practices in areas including the functioning of the Conseil d'administration.

Among other responsibilities, the committee provides the Conseil d'administration with a proposal for a code of ethics applicable to the board members, develops expertise and experience profiles to be used in appointing board members and the president and chief executive officer, and proposes initiation and ongoing training programs for board members.

The committee thus focuses primarily on governance practices, ethical issues involving public organizations and officers, the composition of the Conseil d'administration and its committees, relations between RAMQ governance stakeholders, and evaluating the performance of the Conseil d'administration, its members and its committees.

The Comité de gouvernance, d'éthique et de ressources humaines has three members: Martyne-Isabel Forest, Denyse Côté-Dupéré and Solange Côté. The committee is chaired by Martyne-Isabel Forest.

Audit Committee

A Comité de vérification (audit committee) has been established by the Conseil d'administration. By law, it includes members with accounting or financial expertise. At least one committee member must be a member of one of the professional orders of accountants governed by the Professional Code.

The functions of the Comité de vérification include recommending the approval of the financial statements by the Conseil d'administration, approving the annual internal audit plan and making sure that a risk management process is put in place.

The committee thus ensures compliance with sound management practices, as well as laws, regulations and policies.

By virtue of the Act respecting the governance of state-owned enterprises, the Direction de la vérification interne (internal audit branch) carries out its activities under the authority of the Comité de vérification.

The Comité de vérification has has three members: Suzanne Delisle, Réjean Bellemare and René Gagnon. The committee is chaired by Suzanne Delisle.

Information Technology Committee

The Conseil d'administration has also created a Comité des technologies de l'information (information technology committee).

Its mission is to advise the Conseil d'administration about general orientations in the area of information technology. Among other responsibilities, the committee assesses the broad IT strategies proposed by management, examines the annual IT investment plan and studies requests for acquisitions of IT goods and services requiring the approval of the Conseil d'administration.

The committee thus focuses primarily on links between IT and strategic planning, IT investment projects, IT risks and operational continuity.

The Comité des technologies de l'information has three members: Patricia Gauthier, Dr. Gaétan Barrette and Dr. Louis Godin. The committee is chaired by Patricia Gauthier.