Appendix C1 - Benchmark Index by Function - Intergovernmental

General Accountability

Is accountable for providing advice on the evolution of fiscal and economic federalism in Canada, including tax sharing, tax collection arrangements and equalization payments; providing advice on the expenditure level in the Social Development envelope and the Justice and Legal Affairs envelope; providing advice on the financial, fiscal and economic implications of the broad range of policy and program components of these envelopes; overseeing the preparation of legislation; and promoting the establishment of an environment conducive to harmonious intergovernmental and interdepartmental relations.

Organization Structure

This is one of five positions at the first level reporting to the Deputy Minister. The other four are Assistant Deputy Minister, Fiscal Policy and Economic Analysis; Assistant Deputy Minister, International Trade and Finance; Assistant Deputy Minister, Economic Programs and Government Finance; and Assistant Deputy Minister, Tax Policy and Legislation.

Specific functions of the three positions reporting directly to the Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM), Federal-Provincial Relations and Social Policy, are as follows:

Director General, Federal-Provincial Relations and Social Policy, (staff of 19) provides specialized policy advice and analysis; is accountable for the operation of the Conference Organization Unit and for the Intergovernmental Taxation Centre; and assists the ADM in the management and planning of Branch activities.

Director, Federal-Provincial Relations, (staff of 14) manages research and analysis and provides policy advice on the operation of Canadian federalism and federal-provincial fiscal arrangements; administers several provincial transfer programs; and negotiates those arrangements.

Director, Social Policy, (staff of 12) manages the research and development of policy alternatives in cooperation with the provinces; undertakes major studies; and provides policy advice relating to the overall economic, fiscal and financial objectives of government programs relating to income security, direct employment, cultural and labour policies.

Nature And Scope

The Federal-Provincial Relations and Social Policy Branch is the main channel of communication and advice between the Department and the provincial and territorial departments of finance with respect to financial and fiscal arrangements between the two levels of government; between the Department and other departments and agencies with respect to financial, fiscal and federal-provincial implications of their policies and programs; and between the Department and the Privy Council Office (PCO), the Department of Justice and the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) on all fiscal and financial aspects of constitutional reform.

The incumbent is accountable for developing policy advice on ways to strengthen the Canadian economic union through unimpeded mobility of people, goods, services and capital; the prevention of discriminatory laws and treaties by governments; and mechanisms to harmonize the fiscal and economic policies of the two levels of government. The incumbent is also accountable for developing policy advice on the fiscal and economic aspects of constitutional reform, providing that advice to the Minister of Justice and the Prime Minister, and for negotiating constitutional fiscal policies with the provinces on behalf of the Minister of Justice and the Prime Minister.

The exercise of these responsibilities requires a high degree of judgment and sensitivity to current economic conditions and the ability to determine the best combination of elements and formulate acceptable solutions. The ADM is accountable for the soundness of the analyses provided, which have a significant impact on the allotment of funds to the envelope, and in turn, on the health of federal-provincial relations and the social and economic well-being of Canadians.

The ADM is responsible for providing advice and analysis to the Minister and senior management on the government's broad social agenda, especially from the perspective of the relationship between social policy and economic policy. The incumbent provides advice on overall expenditure levels in the Social Development envelope, which directly impact the nature, scope and affordability of new social programs and the government's social policy agenda. The incumbent represents the Department on the Board of Directors of the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) and directly influences the development and administration of housing policy in Canada.

The incumbent carries out these responsibilities while keeping in mind the existence of fiscal and economic disparities among people and provinces and the inevitable disagreements and tensions, both among provinces, territories and federal departments, and between the two levels of government, on how these fiscal resources should be used. In this context, one of the greatest challenges for the incumbent is to develop and maintain an effective network of contacts in departments and at the provincial and territorial levels to be able to anticipate and prevent problems from emerging and to facilitate their resolution if they do emerge.

The incumbent is accountable for undertaking negotiations with provinces on the revision of federal-provincial fiscal arrangements. Several important considerations need to be taken into account during these negotiations, such as the fiscal and financial positions of the federal and provincial governments, the need to strengthen the economic union, and the need to balance what is technically desirable and economically feasible with the need to meet the federal government's economic and social policy objectives.

In carrying out these duties, the incumbent has contact with a broad range of senior federal government officials and provincial and territorial officials. The purpose of these contacts is to resolve problems, find agreement on policy issues and balance divergent interests involving a number of federal departments and provincial governments. The incumbent also chairs federal-provincial and interdepartmental committee meetings.

Specific Accountabilities

1. Promotes stability in the Canadian economy and the social union by formulating and negotiating a wide range of policies, legislation and funding programs affecting major sectors of the economy that have a significant impact on federal-provincial and territorial relations.
2. Advises the Deputy Minister and the Minister of Finance on the timing and content of meetings of federal-provincial and territorial Ministers of Finance.
3. Represents the Minister at Cabinet committee meetings to ensure that the Department's position is communicated properly, and chairs a variety of federal-provincial and interdepartmental committee meetings.
4. Advises the Minister of Justice and the Prime Minister on the economic and fiscal aspects of constitutional reform.
5. Represents the Department as a member of the Board of Directors of CMHC.
6. Manages the operations of the Federal-Provincial Relations and Social Policy Branch to ensure that they are effectively coordinated with the operations of the Department as a whole.

Evaluation Rationale

Assistant Deputy Minister, Federal-Provincial Relations and Social Policy

Know-How

G

Mastery of concepts, theories, techniques and practices in the fields of economics, finance, social policy and related constitutional reform matters; comprehensive knowledge of economic and social conditions in the provinces and territories, broad government objectives and the range of constitutional, political, social, environmental, economic and financial factors impacting the social and economic union.

IV

Coordination and integration at a government-wide level of policy formulation and the provision of advice on a wide range of government programs, federal-provincial fiscal arrangements and social policies.

3

Achievement of objectives requires providing advice and recommendations on strategic directions; and leading and participating in discussions and negotiations with the federal, provincial and territorial governments.

1056

Highest number indicates mastery in the fields of economics and fiscal and social policy in directing the development of the government's global fiscal and social policy strategy and maintaining effective federal-provincial and territorial relations in support of the government's broad social and fiscal agenda and priorities.

Problem Solving / Thinking

G

Thinking is done within general federal policy frameworks and goals in an environment of rapid economic and social change, involving a wide range of government policies and programs, including fiscal transfers to provinces and broad social policy initiatives.

4

Analytical, constructive thinking is needed to provide advice and formulate recommendations involving the development of new concepts and imaginative approaches on a wide variety of complex and significant matters, such as the formulation of new fiscal arrangements with the provinces.

(66) 700

Higher percentage reflects a tendency toward creative thinking that requires the application of more innovative approaches, usually under some pressure, in formulating government social policy and successfully promoting and maintaining federal-provincial relations.

Accountability / Decision Making

G

Reporting to the Deputy Minister of Finance, is subject to general guidance in formulating recommendations and providing advice on the broad social, fiscal and financial implications of government transfer payments to the provinces and territories, and the effective coordination of other government policies and programs on the social union of Canada.

6C

Position has a contributory impact on the Social Development envelope, Program Policy and Payment Administration and the Justice and Legal envelope. The proxy selected consists of activities reflected by the three envelopes valued at $6.08 billion (constant).

920

Highest number reflects the size of the envelopes and transfer payments, and the impact on the Canadian economy and social union.

Summary

Figure: 10 – D – 1 - Text version

Benchmark Number: 10 – D – 1

Assistant Deputy Minister, Federal-Provincial Relations And Social Policy

The subject position is at the first managerial level reporting to the deputy head, and there are 4 peer positions at the same reporting level.

Reporting to the Assistant Deputy Minister, Federal-Provincial Relations and Social Policy are 2 Directors and 1 Director General.

Linear organisation chart:

Deputy Minister (Departmental deputy head)

• Assistant Deputy Minister, Fiscal Policy and Economic Analysis
• Assistant Deputy Minister, International Trade and Finance
• Assistant Deputy Minister, Economic Programs and Government Finance
• Assistant Deputy Minister, Tax Policy and Legislation
• Assistant Deputy Minister, Federal-Provincial Relations and Social Policy
  • Director General, Federal-Provincial Relations and Social Policy
  • 2 Directors for :
    • Social Policy
    • Federal-Provincial Relations

Executive Group Benchmark Number: 7-D-1

Position Title: Director General, Intergovernmental Affairs

General Accountability

Is a corporate focal point for formulating and managing the Department's federal-provincial-territorial (FPT) relations framework, priorities and objectives aimed at defining and advancing its role in the Social Union Framework Agreement intended to help Canadians maintain and improve their health.

Organization Structure

This is one of eight positions at the second managerial level reporting to the Assistant Deputy Minister, Health Policy and Communications. The others are the Director General, Health Care; the Director General, Policy, Planning and Priorities; the Director General, International Affairs; the Director General, Communication and Consultation; the Director, Women's Health Bureau; and the Executive Director, Nursing Policy.

Specific functions of the position reporting to the Director General, Intergovernmental Affairs, are as follows:

Director, Federal-Provincial Relations, (staff of 12) is responsible for providing the departmental strategic policy and program analysis, as well as recommendations on policies, programs and issues affecting FPT relations and on matters related to the Social Union Framework Agreement and the Social Union.

Director, Canada Health Act, (staff of 38) is responsible for directing the administration of the Canada Health Act (CHA); overseeing the development of legislative refinements and policy options to enhance and revitalize the administration and interpretation of the Act; overseeing the monitoring and assessment of provincial and territorial programs and proposed policy and legislation for compliance with the Act; managing the preparation of the CHA Annual Report to Parliament; developing and sustaining the legislative and regulatory frameworks to preserve Medicare; and overseeing the design, implementation and maintenance of a national CHA information infrastructure and information system.

Nature And Scope

The Department's mission is to help the people of Canada maintain and improve their health. Its mandate, underpinned by a solid information and knowledge base, covers three broad areas: national health policy and systems, including health care; health promotion and protection, including disease, illness and injury prevention; and First Nations and Inuit health.

The CHA is the key legislation governing the conditions for annual transfer of Canada Health and Social Transfer monies to the provinces and territories. The Director General is the recognized expert on the Act and is responsible for monitoring and ensuring compliance with the Act and recommending action in the event of non-compliance.

The Director General is responsible for providing department-wide support and coordination in articulating and advancing the Department's strategic framework for managing FPT relations related to health care issues. The incumbent is also the lead advisor to the Minister, the Deputy Minister, the Associate Deputy Minister and the Assistant Deputy Minister on implications of, and strategies for managing, the Department's participation in the Social Union Framework Agreement, which defines the main principles governing federalism in Canada. A major challenge for the Director General is to provide leadership in establishing an atmosphere in dealings with the provinces, which is non-adversarial and which facilitates the identification of solutions and the avoidance of disputes where there may be divergence between provincial and federal government policy and where considerable compromise may be necessary.

In meeting this challenge, the Director General acts as a corporate catalyst and strategist for developing new approaches to renewing existing and traditional FPT arrangements and agreements with a proactive orientation on the health system renewal process. This challenge also requires the incumbent to lead the coordination of the Department's contacts with provincial authorities, because there are over 100 FPT points of contact (committees, working groups and others) within the Department.

The Director General oversees the analysis of national health care issues and the development of CHA-related policy options that support the multi-staged federal strategy to advance health care renewal issues. The incumbent is responsible for developing and advancing strategies, approaches and options in order to keep the Department and the federal government in the best position possible. The incumbent must steer a course for the Department through the current FPT political, public and media environment, in which there are many divergent views on the appropriate approach to health care issues. The challenge is to ensure that, as provisions of the CHA become more defined, their interpretations do not constrain the provinces within an antiquated model of health care delivery that impedes necessary and appropriate renewal efforts. In meeting this challenge, the incumbent must ensure that the Directorate has the capacity to identify and address all professional, technological, social and political developments that bear upon such financing and the criteria and conditions of the CHA.

The Director General is responsible for developing a framework to monitor and enforce provincial compliance with the program criteria and conditions of payment under federal legislation. In addition, the incumbent provides the Assistant Deputy Minister, the Associate Deputy Minister, the Deputy Minister, and the Minister with monitoring, issue analysis, briefings, strategies and activities that support the federal government's role as national leader in the health field and as guardian of Medicare. The incumbent also recommends to the Minister the appropriate deductions to take from the transfer payments to provinces that are considered to be in contravention of the Act, and administers the imposition of discretionary non-compliance penalties on these provinces.

The Director General establishes and maintains extensive consultative linkages with the corporate Branches and the Regions to ensure the maximal flow of information and data between all components of the national FPT relations portfolio. The incumbent is called upon to develop strategies, approaches and initiatives to establish coherence in the Department's strategic FPT relations policy and program orientation and effort. The incumbent, as the recognized expert, acts as a senior federal spokesperson and representative at all national health care fora and maintains effective liaison with the leadership and senior staff of organizations, such as the Canadian Medical Association, the Canadian Nurses Association and the Canadian Hospital Association, as well as with provincial Ministers, Deputy Ministers and other senior officials, in ensuring that the federal position is fully and properly set forth and explained in evolving health care issues.

Specific Accountabilities

1. Acts as the corporate champion for the Department's overall FPT relations and CHA portfolio and, as such, provides a single window for corporate advice, guidance, intelligence (gathering and dissemination) and expertise for the Minister, the Assistant Deputy Ministers, senior departmental management, central agencies, other government departments and other clients and stakeholders in the context of FPT relations, networks and activities.
2. Plans, organizes and directs the ongoing administration of the CHA and the provision of support to legal council; and leads the development of interpretations under the Act.
3. Develops and implements a framework for monitoring and enforcing provincial compliance with the program criteria and conditions of payment under federal legislation.
4. Creates and manages the strategic framework for FPT relations policy and program activities, including extensive interface with the corporate program groups and regional offices; and takes the lead role on specific FPT policy files and initiatives to negotiate agreements and accords.
5. Develops and maintains the Department's repository of FPT agreements; and provides a corporate analysis and information capacity related to historical progression, current strategic indicators and evolving developments and trends for the FPT portfolio.
6. Oversees the monitoring and analysis of issues flowing from the Social Union Framework Agreement, including interdepartmental collaboration in support of a common Government of Canada position.
7. Makes recommendations to the Minister on the appropriate deductions to take from the transfer payments to provinces that are considered to be in contravention of the Act, and administers the imposition of discretionary non-compliance penalties on these provinces.

Evaluation Rationale

Director General, Intergovernmental Affairs

Know-How

G

Mastery of jurisdictional, cultural and technical aspects of the CHA and FPT relations and issues; expert professional knowledge of policy and regulatory development; expert professional knowledge of the policy positions and priorities of provinces and territories with respect to the delivery of health services; professional knowledge of the Established Programs Financing Act; and in-depth knowledge of professional, technical, social and political trends and developments that affect the financing and functioning of the national health care system.

III

Operational and conceptual management of the development of strategies and tactics relating to direct linkages with provincial, regional and territorial governments and organizations to further the Department's corporate, strategic FPT relations and objectives.

3

Critical human relations skills required to represent the government's interests and concerns related to the funding of health care with provinces and territories and at all national health insurance fora.

700

Mid-range number recognizes the breadth and depth of professional knowledge and the operational and conceptual management expertise to administer the CHA and to champion associated FPT relations.

Problem Solving / Thinking

F

Thinking is done within broad objectives for health care funding that takes place in a changing and often difficult public policy environment as the national health system undergoes significant adaptation, evolution and renewal.

4

Analytical and constructive thinking is required to identify, analyse and manage issues to support and advance the federal government's role as national leader in the health field and as guardian of Medicare. Innovative thinking is required to search for legislative and policy improvements that can continue to support the principles embodied in the Act.

(57) 400

Higher percentage reflects the lack of guidance or precedence available to the incumbent and the rapidly evolving socio-political environment. The position works within a general framework to achieve the Department's objectives in dealings with the provinces and the private sector, and faces numerous interest groups and diverse issues relating to health care.

Accountability / Decision Making

F

Reporting to the Assistant Deputy Minister, Health Policy and Communications, the Director General works within broadly defined Branch goals with limited direction to ensure the integrity of the national health care system. The incumbent makes recommendations to the Minister on the appropriate deduction to take from the transfer payments to provinces that are considered to be in contravention of the Act, and administers the imposition of discretionary non-compliance penalties on these provinces.

6C

Contributory impact on federal support provided to the national health care system. The proxy selected to represent these activities is the annual federal contribution to funding the national health care system, based on the CHA, of approximately $2.4 billion (constant dollars) in cash and tax credits.

460

Low number reflects the tendency toward indirect for the proxy selected, recognizing the relative contribution to federal health care funding decision making.

Summary

Figure: 7 – D – 1 - Text version

Benchmark Number: 7 – D – 1

Director General, Intergovernmental Affairs

The subject position is at the second managerial level reporting to the Assistant Deputy Minister, Health Policy and Communications Branch, and there are 6 peer positions at the same reporting level.

Reporting to the Director General, Intergovernmental Affairs are 2 Directors.

Linear organisation chart:

Assistant Deputy Minister, Health Policy and Communications Branch

• Director General, Health Care
• Director General, Policy, Planning and Priorities
• Director General, International Affairs
• Director General, Communication and Consultation
• Director, Women's Health Bureau
• Executive Director, Nursing Policy
• Director General, Intergovernmental Affairs
  • 2 Directors for :
    • Federal-Provincial Relations
    • Canada Health Act