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WD's programs encourage business development, innovation and community economic development, and are supported by the department's leadership and coordination role in furthering western interests and responding to western challenges.
WD works to improve the long-term economic competitiveness of the West and the quality of life of its citizens by supporting a wide range of initiatives aiming to increase western firms' competitiveness, create employment opportunities and ensure prosperity for its citizens and communities over the long term. Furthermore, the department aims to stimulate economic activity, increase the business productivity and competitiveness of western firms, reduce the region's dependence on primary industries, and encourage investments in innovation.
WD will track its contribution against the following performance indicators. These indicators are:
Strategic Outcome Expected Results | Performance Indicators | Targets |
---|---|---|
The western Canadian economy is developed and diversified
|
Real gross domestic product (GDP) growth in Western Canada | 3% (stable growth rate) |
Labour productivity growth in Western Canada, as measured by year-over-year change in real GDP per hour worked | 1.2% (stable growth rate) | |
Primary production as a % of GDP | 14% (continuation of downward trend) | |
Research & Development (R&D) intensity: gross domestic expenditures on R&D (GERD) as % of GDP | 1.3% (stable growth rate) |
The department's four program activities and management related program activity (Internal Services) support the achievement of its strategic outcome. Specifically, they are:
In addition to these areas, WD was given the responsibility of delivering Canada's Economic Action Plan initiatives on behalf of the Government of Canada. A more detailed explanation of these initiatives is found in section 2.1.5.
Human Resources (FTEs) and Planned Spending ($ thousands) | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | |||
FTEs | Planned Spending | FTEs | Planned Spending | FTEs | Planned Spending |
6513 | 39,157 | 78 | 42,575 | 78 | 42,575 |
Program Activity Expected Results | Performance Indicators | Targets |
---|---|---|
Strong SMEs in Western Canada with improved capacity to remain competitive in the global marketplace | SME revenue (all SME sizes) (excluding non-employee) | $322M (stable level of revenue) |
SME employment (all SME sizes) (excluding non-employee) | 2.5M (stable employment level) | |
Annual international trade: value of exports excluding primary production sectors | $47B |
Program Activity Summary:
WD works with western Canadian businesses, industry and research organizations to support initiatives to enhance business productivity and competitiveness; to increase the penetration of western Canadian technologies, services and value-added products into international markets; and to improve access to capital. Through this program activity, WD partners with other stakeholders, such as the provincial governments, to provide business programs and services to entrepreneurs and SMEs.
WD will implement this program activity through the following sub-activities:
Link to 2010-2011 Operational Priorities:
Planning Highlights:
WD plans to undertake the following activities in 2010-2011:
Benefits for Canadians:
Small businesses are a key driver of the western Canadian economy, accounting for a greater percentage of the employment in the West as compared to the rest of Canada. Ongoing support for the creation and expansion of SMEs will be important during the economic recovery in order to contribute to job creation and maintenance in Western Canada.
Productivity growth is considered to be the most important source of long-term economic growth and the only way to increase the long-term material standard of living of Canadians. Consequently, businesses that expand to foreign markets create jobs and enhance their competitiveness and productivity.
Human Resources (FTEs) and Planned Spending ($ thousands) | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | |||
FTEs | Planned Spending | FTEs | Planned Spending | FTEs | Planned Spending |
54 | 59,455 | 54 | 49,207 | 54 | 49,207 |
Program Activity Expected Results | Performance Indicators | Targets |
---|---|---|
A stronger knowledge-based economy | Total income from the commercialization of intellectual property | $28.14M (stable growth rate) |
Business expenditure on research and development (R&D) as % of total employment | 0.55% (stable growth rate) | |
Employment in natural and applied science and related occupations as a % of total employment | 7.0% (modest increase) |
Program Activity Summary:
Innovation is the process of translating knowledge into new products and services, or improving on existing products and services for economic and social benefit. Successful innovation starts with a new idea and moves through the research and development stage into a ready-for-market product. The innovation process is not linear, but involves a web of interconnected activities and actors that is called an innovation system. WD works with universities, research institutes, other federal departments, provincial governments, and industry associations to strengthen the western Canadian innovation system.
WD will implement this program activity through the following sub-activities:
Link to 2010-2011 Operational Priorities:
Planning Highlights:
WD plans to undertake the following activities in 2010-2011:
Benefit to Canadians:
WD invests in innovation because it is internationally recognized as a key driver of competitiveness and prosperity. Innovation is also the foundation of a diversified, knowledge-based economy, which is core to WD's mandate. The importance of innovation is reflected in the many international, federal and provincial innovation strategies that focus on technology commercialization, applied research and development (R&D), and highly qualified personnel.
Human Resources (FTEs) and Planned Spending ($ thousands) | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | |||
FTEs | Planned Spending | FTEs | Planned Spending | FTEs | Planned Spending |
76 | 58,031 | 73 | 54,206 | 73 | 41,269 |
Program Activity Expected Results | Performance Indicators | Targets |
---|---|---|
Communities have increased economic opportunities and capacity to respond to challenges, as well as the necessary investments in public infrastructure | Employment: number of new jobs created | 39,000 (growth at a slower rate) |
Net migration rate (international and domestic) | 95,000 (stable net migration) | |
Percentage of key informants with the opinion that WD delivery of infrastructure programs resulted in investments that reflect western Canadian infrastructure priorities | 50% |
Program Activity Summary:
This program activity involves economic development and diversification initiatives that support both rural and urban communities to sustain their economies as well as adjust to changing and challenging economic circumstances. It includes facilitating economic recovery and public infrastructure investments in Western Canada to meet the Government of Canada's commitment to strong economic growth and improving the standard of living of all Canadians. Furthermore, it ensures that economic, social and environmental considerations are taken into account in initiatives designed to foster community growth. The activities include community-based consultations or facilitation and planning. The program activity strives to integrate federal programs, services and horizontal initiatives directed towards western Canadian communities.
WD will implement this program activity through the following sub-activities:
Link to 2010-2011 Operational Priorities:
Planning Highlights:
WD plans to undertake the following activities in 2010-2011:
In addition to these highlights, WD is responsible for delivering a number of Canada's Economic Action Plan (CEAP) initiatives in Western Canada. While these programs are being delivered under the Community Economic Development program activity, more specifically under the Community Economic Adjustment sub-activity, a detailed explanation of these initiatives and WD's planned CEAP activities can be found in section 2.1.5.
Benefits for Canadians:
This program activity contributes to the development of strong and economically vibrant communities that in turn, contribute to strong, economic growth for Canada. Through WD's investments, both rural and urban communities will have increased opportunity and capacity to respond to economic challenges.
Investment into Canada's infrastructure system will result in a stronger economy, a cleaner environment, and better communities, while addressing local and regional infrastructure needs.
Human Resources (FTEs) and Planned Spending ($ thousands) | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | |||
FTEs | Planned Spending | FTEs | Planned Spending | FTEs | Planned Spending |
60 | 8,873 | 60 | 8,879 | 60 | 8,879 |
Program Activity Expected Results | Performance Indicators | Targets |
---|---|---|
Policies and programs that strengthen the western Canadian economy | Percentage of key informants with the opinion that WD activities provide policies and programs that support the economic development of Western Canada | 90% |
Percentage of WD projects completed this fiscal year that successfully met or exceeded performance targets | 85% |
Program Activity Summary:
WD's activities under this program activity promote the development and diversification of the economy of Western Canada; and advance the interests of Western Canada in national economic policy, program and project development and implementation. This includes supporting policy research and consultation in order to better understand issues facing the West, leading federal and intergovernmental collaboration to pursue key opportunities and strategic investments for long-term growth and diversification in areas of federal or shared federal-provincial jurisdiction, and improving the targeting of investments through policy development related to the design and delivery of WD programming. The expected result of the program activity is that federal policies and programs are responsive and strategic; focused on addressing the West's economic development and diversification challenges; and maximize economic opportunities for the region.
WD will implement this program activity through the following sub-activities:
Link to 2010-2011 Operational Priorities:
Planning Highlights:
WD plans to undertake the following activities in 2010-2011:
Benefits for Canadians:
Through this program activity, WD engages stakeholders, utilizes information and resources in a coordinated manner to pursue opportunities, and represents western interests (and challenges) in federal decision-making. This helps to ensure that national priorities, policies, programs, and procurements are regionally sensitive and reflective of western economic priorities.
Human Resources (FTEs) and Planned Spending ($ thousands) | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | |||
FTEs | Planned Spending | FTEs | Planned Spending | FTEs | Planned Spending |
88 | 245,022 | - | - | - | - |
Program Activity Expected Results | Performance Indicators | Targets |
---|---|---|
Successful community adjustment to mitigate economic crises | Number of jobs created or maintained (CAF) | 3,048 |
Number of public-private partnerships (CAF) | 28 | |
Number of businesses created, maintained or expanded (CAF) | 250 | |
Number of participants trained (CAF) | 846 | |
Number of new and improved local infrastructure elements (RInC) | 922 | |
Number of jobs created or maintained (RInC) | 2,024 | |
Total infrastructure funding expended (federal, provincial, municipal and private – as a proxy for local economic stimulus) (RInC) | $258.6M |
Planning Summary:
Under Canada's Economic Action Plan in Budget 2009, WD was tasked with delivering the Community Adjustment Fund (CAF) and the Recreational Infrastructure Canada (RInC) program in Western Canada to provide timely, targeted and temporary economic stimulus to communities.
CAF focuses on creating employment opportunities and supporting adjustment measures in communities impacted by the global economic downturn. The initiative is focused on helping to create and/or maintain short-term employment opportunities that support rural and single-industry communities. The RInC program provides support for timely, targeted, and temporary economic stimulus for local communities by increasing the total amount of construction activity. Both programs leverage funds from the provinces, territories and other funding partners. WD funding is delivered over the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 fiscal years. Implementation of these programs is also incremental to existing resources and will result in substantial increases in WD's programming activities.
As part of the CEAP, WD is also administering the Building Canada Fund – Communities Component to accelerate the construction of community projects throughout Western Canada. In addition, the department received $3.9M annually for the renewal of the Canada Business Network, which provides small businesses with information on government services, programs and compliance requirements. WD partners with all four provincial governments to fund and manage the four Canada Business Networks in Western Canada.
Activities under the CEAP area are categorized under the Community Economic Development program activity of the department's Program Activity Architecture.
Planning Highlights:
To achieve the intended outcomes, WD will continue to deliver CAF and RInC throughout Western Canada. All approved projects must be materially completed by March 31, 2011. Planning highlights are as follows:
Benefits for Canadians:
WD's investments in CAF and RInC will create new jobs and maintain employment for affected workers and contribute to more viable communities. In addition, investments will provide a legacy of longer-term economic and/or ecological benefits including renewed recreational infrastructure in western Canadian communities.
Human Resources (FTEs) and Planned Spending ($ thousands) | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | |||
FTEs | Planned Spending | FTEs | Planned Spending | FTEs | Planned Spending |
131 | 18,420 | 131 | 18,239 | 131 | 18,239 |
The Internal Services program activity supports all other program activities and the department's strategic outcome.
Program Activity Summary and Planning Highlights:
Link to 2010-2011 Operational Priorities:
Internal Services are groups of related activities and resources that are administered to support the needs of programs and other corporate obligations of an organization (e.g. corporate planning, program management, internal audit, and evaluation). These groups are: management and oversight services; communications services; legal services; human resources management services; financial management services; information management services; information technology services; real property services; materiel services; acquisition services; and travel and other administrative services. Internal Services include only those activities and resources that apply across an organization and not to those provided specifically to a program.
WD will implement this program activity through the following sub-activities: