The auditor general is asking for clarification over a new communications policy that she feared would require her to get approval from the bureaucratic wing of the Prime Minister's Office before she could speak publicly.

Sheila Fraser told a parliamentary committee this week about a draft proposal for a new communications policy covering government departments and agencies that requires them to have their communications vetted by the Privy Council Office.

The policy, as written, would appear to include officers of Parliament, like the auditor general, along with the head of Elections Canada and the privacy, information, ethics and official languages commissioners.

"Well, I can tell you there is no way that my press releases about my report are going to go to Privy Council Office, or our communications strategies are going to be vetted by Privy Council Office," Fraser told the committee on Wednesday.

Currently, there is an understanding with the Treasury Board that the auditor general will not have to vet her communication strategies with the Privy Council. But Fraser wants this clarified in writing.

"I wanted to have it clear which parts of the policies are problematic, that it be expressly indicated that these things did not apply to us, and what compensating control or activity we would do to replace that," Fraser told the Globe and Mail.

"As auditor general," Fraser said, "we are always asking for clarity around these things."

Independence to be respected: Toews

Treasury Board president Vic Toews said Wednesday that the government respects the independence of parliamentary officers and would not violate that spirit of independence.

"I can assure you that we respect the independence of the officers of Parliament and this government would not do anything inconsistent with the independent role of those officers," he told Parliament.

In a statement later, his office said any policy changes implemented for federal employees will not apply to officers of Parliament if they conflict with their legal mandate.

"The auditor general is independent by law," a Toews spokesman told the Canadian Press on Wednesday. "[Treasury Board] policies don't trump the law."

Fraser said she's comforted by the assurance being given by Toews. She said it's important when the government issues a policy that it makes a distinction between officers of Parliament and other departments and agencies.

"Sometimes there are in the policies clauses that are inappropriate … for an independent agent," she told the Canadian Press.

But opposition MPs have said they're troubled by the policy and say it's further proof of the prime minister wanting to exert more control.

"We don't trust Stephen Harper or his team on this," NDP Leader Jack Layton said. "I have no doubt that there was a demand coming down from the Prime Minister's Office to vet communications strategies. But I'd just like to see the prime minister tangle with the auditor general."

"I think I know who's going to win."

With files from the Canadian Press