Rescinded [2019-10-11] - Policy on Investment Planning - Assets and Acquired Services

1.1 This policy is effective as of December 10, 2009.

1.2 It replaces the 2007 version of the Treasury Board Policy on Investment Planning - Assets and Acquired Services and the Treasury Board Policy on Long-term Capital Plans.

1.3 The transition period for the policy requirements began on April 1, 2007 and terminates on April 1, 2012.

2.1 This policy applies to all departments as defined in section 2 of the Financial Administration Act, unless specific acts or regulations override it.

2.2 The provisions in sections 6.2.2 and 7.1 relating to the role of the Treasury Board Secretariat in monitoring compliance and directing measures to be taken in response to non-compliance do not apply with respect to the Office of the Auditor General, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner, the Office of the Information Commissioner, the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, the Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying, the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages and the Office of the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner. The deputy heads of these organizations are solely responsible for monitoring and ensuring compliance with this policy within their organizations, as well as for responding to cases of non-compliance in accordance with any Treasury Board instruments providing principles and guidance on the management of compliance. When seeking Treasury Board approval of investment plans as required under section 6.1.4, the deputy heads of these organizations shall provide the Treasury Board Secretariat with any information required for this purpose.

3.1 Departmental investment planning is the function of allocating and reallocating resources to new and existing assets and acquired services that are essential to program delivery. Departmental investment planning is a key element in achieving value for money and sound stewardship.

3.2 Effective investment planning ensures resources are allocated in a manner that clearly supports program outcomes and government priorities, and is characterized as being:

• Essential and responsive to government priorities and effective program delivery;
• Affordable, productive and financially sustainable;
• Reflective of an appropriate balance of risk, benefits and return between the Crown and third parties;
• Safe, secure and compliant with relevant laws, regulations and policies, and codes of conduct;
• Protective of Canadian heritage and the environment;
• Reflective of departmental, portfolio, horizontal and government-wide perspective while taking into account strategic government-wide initiatives, as appropriate.

3.3 Investments in assets and acquired services have significant strategic, public policy, operational, risk and financial implications. Investment planning is founded in an effective regime for planning, decision-making and governance. It underpins a department's ability to manage investments of highest priority and greatest risk to the government.

3.4 Deputy heads are responsible for the effective management of the investment planning function within their departments. Effective management includes developing a departmental investment plan, exercising oversight in the implementation of the investment decisions and ensuring appropriate, ongoing measurement of investment performance. This responsibility will include the provision of ongoing advice to ministers on their investment plans, prior to Treasury Board consideration and at least annually thereafter. This advice would flag substantive changes if any, affecting content, capacity, performance, resource allocation and/or the requirement for Treasury Board approvals.

3.5 This policy is issued pursuant to section 7 of the Financial Administration Act.

3.6 This policy reflects the principles set out in the Policy Framework for the Management of Assets and Acquired Services and is implemented in conjunction with related Treasury Board policies governing assets and acquired services. These include the Policy on the Management of Projects, the Policy on Managing Procurement, the Policy on Management of Real Property, and the Policy on Management of Materiel.

3.7 Treasury Board has delegated to the Secretary of the Treasury Board of Canada the authority to issue such operational directives, standards and guidelines as necessary to support this policy except with respect to the powers or functions of the President of the Treasury Board or the Secretary of the Treasury Board.

4.1 Acquired services (services acquis)

Services obtained through formal arrangements, such as contracts, memorandum of understanding and letters of agreement, to support internal or external clients or stakeholders in achieving specific outcomes.

4.2 Assets (actifs)

Are tangible and intangible items of value that have a future life beyond one year, whether they are Crown-owned, -leased or accessed through other arrangements.

4.3 Investment (investissement)

Is the use of resources with the expectation of a future return, such as an increase in output, income or assets, or the acquisition of knowledge, or capacity.

Please refer to the Treasury Board Secretariat's Guide to Investment Planning – Assets and Acquires Services and the Investment Planning and Management of Projects Glossary for more information and examples.

7.1 Based on the assessment of departmental planning performance, Treasury Board Secretariat will make appropriate recommendations to the deputy head of a department or to Treasury Board Ministers. Consequences of non-compliance can range from informal requests from TBS, and audits to formal direction on corrective measures including any measure allowed by the Financial Administration Act that the Treasury Board would determine as appropriate and acceptable in the circumstances.

Legislation

• Financial Administration Act

Related Treasury Board policies and documents

• Policy Framework for the Management of Assets and Acquired Services
• Policy on Alternative Service Delivery
• Government Security Policy
• Integrated Risk Management Framework
• Policy on Management of Information Technology
• Management, Resources, and Results Structure Policy
• Policy on Delegation of Authorities
• Policy on Internal Audit
• Contracting Policy
• Policy on Management of Real Property
• Policy on Management of Materiel
• Policy on Managing Procurement *
• Policy on the Management of Projects
• Standard for Organizational Project Management Capacity
• Standard for Project Complexity and Risk
• Procurement Administrative Directive*
• Directive on Management of Information Technology*
• Guideline to Implementing Budget 2011 Direction on Public-Private Partnerships

Further information

Treasury Board Secretariat will maintain up-to-date information on best practices on its website. Additional background information supporting the implementation of the policy will also be available on the Treasury Board Secretariat's website.

Please direct enquiries about this policy instrument to the organizational unit in your department responsible for this subject matter. For interpretation of this policy instrument, the responsible organizational unit should contact: TBS Public Enquiries.