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As Minister for Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD), I am pleased to present the department's 2011–2012 Report on Plans and Priorities.
Over the last year, WD has taken action to ensure that Western Canada emerges from the economic downturn stronger than ever by helping to deliver Canada's Economic Action Plan (EAP) across the West. The Community Adjustment Fund (CAF) and the Recreational Infrastructure Canada (RInC) program are delivering results in our communities by creating and maintaining jobs, improving the quality of life in western communities and paving the way for our future prosperity.
WD will continue to ensure that the West remains strong, innovative and competitive in the global marketplace. To achieve our mandate, WD will continue to diversify the western economy by supporting entrepreneurship, fostering innovation, strengthening our communities and opening the door to international markets.
As we move forward, WD will continue its tradition of working closely with western provinces, communities and stakeholders to build on their unique strengths and to identify new areas of economic opportunity. Together, we are building a stronger West for a stronger Canada.
The Honourable Rona Ambrose, P.C., M.P.
Since its establishment in 1987, Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) has been acting on the priorities of western Canadians by focusing on growing small businesses, creating local jobs and attracting more investment to expand the economy.
The year 2010 has been remarkable, with Canada's Economic Action Plan (EAP) creating nearly 430,000 jobs and helping Canadians through these fragile economic times. In Western Canada, WD continues to play an instrumental role in carrying out the Action Plan by delivering the Community Adjustment Fund (CAF) and the Recreational Infrastructure Canada (RInC) program.
I am proud of the work that WD has done to deliver more than 1,000 CAF and RInC projects that are creating jobs, upgrading infrastructure and stimulating the local economies in communities across the West. While project work will be winding down, work to finalize the administration of these two important programs will continue into the New Year.
Innovation drives economic growth; it is about the new ideas that bring economic benefits from research. WD will concentrate its investments in bringing to market new products, services and technologies. WD investments in the research, technologies and people that create value from ideas position the West as a leader in innovation. Through innovation, we strengthen the economy today and beyond.
Enhancing business productivity and competitiveness is crucial to the western economy and continues to be a priority for WD. By making strategic investments that enable businesses to innovate, increase trade and export opportunities as well as promote skills development, we are helping strengthen small and medium-sized enterprises in western communities.
Moving forward, WD will continue to work closely with its partners and stakeholders to improve the long-term competitiveness of the West. The department's policies and programs will continue to foster economic growth by supporting innovation, business development and community economic development.
The Honourable Lynne Yelich, P.C., M.P.
Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) is the federal government's regional development agency in the West. Established in 1987, WD is responsible for strengthening, diversifying and expanding the economy of Western Canada.[1] Today, with the challenges of a shifting global economy, WD's contributions have become more important than ever.
Our vision is to be leaders in creating a more diversified western Canadian economy that has strong, competitive and innovative businesses and communities. WD's programs [2] result in initiatives that strengthen:
The strength of WD is its location: it is a federal department located in the West, in each of the four western provinces and with its headquarters in Edmonton. WD's presence in each western province has enabled it to work with key partners—other orders of government, community and business leaders, research and academic institutions as well as non profit organizations—to leverage its investments and actions to benefit the western economy.
Mandate
To promote the development and diversification of the economy of Western Canada and advance the interests of the West in national economic policy, program and project development and implementation.
WD's strong connections in the West also enable the department to deliver programs on behalf of the Government of Canada. This includes two key components of Canada's Economic Action Plan (EAP), the Recreational Infrastructure Canada (RInC) program[3] and the Community Adjustment Fund (CAF), [4] which are creating and maintaining jobs in western Canadian communities to help the region recover from the recent global recession. WD played a key role in the design of these programs, to ensure that the unique regional needs of the West were incorporated. WD continues to deliver other key federal infrastructure programs, such as the Building Canada Fund.
WD is well positioned to continue to strengthen, diversify and expand the economy of Western Canada, to deliver high calibre federal programming and to work with national policy and decision makers to enhance understanding of western interests and perspectives. The depth and breadth of its relationships with key western partners will continue to add value to the work that the department undertakes.
WD works to build a stronger, more diversified western Canadian economy while contributing to the environmental sustainability of Western Canada. The department demonstrates strong support for the Government of Canada's Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS), which includes four priority themes:
I. Addressing Climate Change and Clean Air
II. Maintaining Water Quality and Availability
III. Protecting Nature
IV. Shrinking the Environmental Footprint - Beginning with Government
WD contributes to three of the FSDS priority themes. Themes I and II are addressed as part of WD's activities related to innovation, which includes projects that strengthen technology commercialization and the adoption of clean energy and water technologies.
WD has also developed strategies to support theme IV, Greening Government Operations (GGO), through commitments to reuse or recycle surplus electronic and electrical equipment, reduce printers and paper consumption and develop a green meeting guide. (For more information, refer to WD's GGO table.[5])
As part of its FSDS activities, WD utilizes Strategic Environmental Assessments in departmental decision making involving policies, plans and program proposals. For more information, refer to WD's sustainable development strategy Web site.[6] For complete details on the FSDS, refer to the Planning for a Sustainable Future: The Federal Sustainable Development Strategy for Canada Web site.[7]
In 2011-12, WD will continue to achieve its strategic outcome of developing and diversifying the western Canadian economy by focusing on the program activities below. These activities, comprising WD's Program Activity Architecture (PAA), will help ensure that the West continues to make a strong contribution to Canada's economic success.[8]
Strategic Outcome | Program Activities | Program Sub-Activities |
---|---|---|
The western Canadian economy is developed and diversified | Business Development | Improve Business Productivity |
Market and Trade Development | ||
Industry Collaboration | ||
Foreign Direct Investment | ||
Access to Capital | ||
Innovation |
Technology Adoption and Commercialization
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|
Technology Linkages | ||
Technology Research and Development | ||
Community Innovation | ||
Technology Skills Development | ||
Knowledge Infrastructure | ||
Community Economic Development | Community Planning | |
Community Development | ||
Community Economic Adjustment | ||
Community Infrastructure | ||
Policy, Advocacy and Coordination | Collaboration and Coordination | |
Research and Analysis | ||
Advocacy | ||
Internal Services | Governance and Management Support | |
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WD invests its core resources in the following activities to support the development and diversification of the western Canadian economy:
WD's planned spending for 2011-12 is $195.5 million, an amount that is expected to decrease over the next two fiscal years, primarily as a result of the conclusion of the Alberta and Saskatchewan Centenaries initiative and the Rick Hansen Foundation initiative.
2011-12 | 2012–13 | 2013–14 |
---|---|---|
195,530 | 182,570 | 174,258 |
WD's staff is an essential part of the core resources that allow the department to achieve its vision to be leaders in creating a more diversified western Canadian economy that has strong, competitive and innovative businesses and communities. Their commitment enables the department to contribute to the strength and success of Western Canada's economy. With offices in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia and Ottawa, WD is a western-based department, with 89 percent of its staff in the West. The table below provides a summary of the total planned human resources for WD over the next three fiscal years.
2011-12 | 2012–13 | 2013–14 |
---|---|---|
407 | 404 | 403 |
The performance indicators and targets outlined in the table below provide a broad macroeconomic context for WD's planning and priority setting. The numerical targets reflect economic forecasts for Western Canada for the 2011-12 planning period. These indicators assist the department in identifying activities and performance measures that respond to western economic conditions.
The second part of the table shows the distribution of WD's overall funding over the next three fiscal years by the five program activities that comprise WD's PAA.
Performance Indicators | Targets |
---|---|
Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth in Western Canada | 3% |
Labour productivity growth in Western Canada, measured as year-over-year change in real GDP per hour worked | 1.2% |
Primary production as a percentage of GDP | 14% |
Research and development (R&D) intensity: Gross Domestic Expenditures on R&D as percentage of GDP | 1.4%[12] |
Program Activity[13] | Forecast Spending 2010–11 ($ thousands) |
Planned Spending ($ thousands) |
Alignment to Government of Canada Outcomes | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2011-12 | 2012–13 | 2013–14 | |||
Business Development | 52,630 | 52,536 | 52,536 | 53,024 | Strong Economic Growth |
Innovation | 71,498 | 69,169 | 69,169 | 64,406 | An Innovative and Knowledge-Based Economy |
Community Economic Development | 299,531[14] | 40,042[15] | 27,105 | 23,105 | Strong Economic Growth |
Policy, Advocacy and Coordination | 8,665 | 9,049 | 9,049 | 9,012 | Strong Economic Growth |
Internal Services | 29,164 | 24,734 | 24,711 | 24,711 | - |
Total | 461,488 | 195,530 | 182,570 | 174,258 |
In 2011-12, WD will focus on seven key operational and management priorities described below. These priorities are at the core of the department's efforts to achieve its Strategic Outcome of developing and diversifying the western Canadian economy. The following tables outline further detail in each of these areas.
Operational Priority | Type | Links to Program Activity |
---|---|---|
Trade and Investment | Ongoing | Business Development |
Why this is a priority
Plans for meeting the priority
|
Operational Priority | Type | Links to Program Activity |
---|---|---|
Technology Commercialization | Ongoing | Innovation |
Why this is a priority
Plans for meeting the priority
|
Operational Priority | Type | Links to Program Activity |
---|---|---|
Business Productivity and Competitiveness | Ongoing | Business Development |
Why this is a priority
Plans for meeting the priority
|
Management Priority | Type | Links to Program Activity |
---|---|---|
Public Service Renewal | Ongoing | All program activities |
Why this is a priority
Plans for meeting the priority
|
Management Priority | Type | Links to Program Activity |
---|---|---|
Performance Measurement | Ongoing | All program activities |
Why this is a priority
Plans for meeting the priority
|
Management Priority | Type | Links to Program Activity |
---|---|---|
Integrated Risk Management | Ongoing | All program activities |
Why this is a priority
Plans for meeting the priority
|
Management Priority | Type | Links to Program Activity |
---|---|---|
Information Management | Ongoing | All program activities |
Why this is a priority
Plans for meeting the priority
|
The western Canadian economy is an important part of the Canadian economy. Home to about one-third of all Canadians, the four western provinces have a combined Gross Domestic Product (GDP) that is about equal to that of Ontario. There is a close link between economic activity and trade flows in Western Canada and the United States and increasingly with the large, growing economies of the Asia-Pacific region. Because of its significant size and strong economic performance, western Canadian issues, economic performance and economic development opportunities have a significant impact on national economic performance.
As Canada's regional economic development agency in Western Canada, WD's strategic direction is aligned with Government of Canada priorities and supports federal strategies and policies such as Advantage Canada, [18] the Science and Technology Strategy[19] and the Global Commerce Strategy.[20] WD works to ensure western interests are considered in the development of major federal policies and strategies and to align its programs and priorities accordingly.
The global recession in 2009 significantly affected the western Canadian economy, given its reliance on exports and commodity markets. Real GDP declined in Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia, while Manitoba had no growth. In 2010, the economy showed clear signs of recovery, with all western provinces showing positive economic growth. In 2011-12, WD will contribute to sustained economic recovery through its programs, with a priority placed on ensuring the successful completion of EAP programs that WD delivers across the West on behalf of the Government of Canada.
Economic growth and prosperity in Western Canada have been largely resource-driven and the West has benefitted from prolonged periods of high demand and prices for commodities. While the West's natural resources are expected to provide a strong foundation for future economic growth, the resource-driven growth has masked a number of fundamental challenges facing Western Canada's long-term economic prospects. The strong economic performance of many fast-growing economies such as China, Korea, India and Brazil are eroding the competitive position of many western Canadian firms. Western Canadian businesses have comparatively low levels of investment in R&D and slower rates of adoption of new technologies and equipment, particularly outside of the major resource sectors. This has contributed to declining competitiveness and slow productivity growth compared to Western Canada's competitors.
Western Canada's economic growth is anchored by the natural resources sector, which has supported the creation of industry clusters in sectors such as mining, forestry, oil and gas and agriculture. For example, oil sands have become an economic driver across much of Western Canada in recent years. To maintain the competitive position of western Canadian businesses and increase the value they create in Western Canada, WD invests in projects and activities that help businesses increase their productivity and competitiveness through the development, adoption and commercialization of new technologies and business processes. The department also seeks to help businesses increase the economic output of these sectors through higher value-added production and access to international markets.
International trade is critical for Western Canada to overcome the limitations imposed by a small domestic economy, gain access to international markets and improve business innovation. Foreign direct investment can address gaps in risk capital in Canada by providing access to the financial base of parent companies, an important way to provide greater access to funding for R&D and technology commercialization. In 2011-12, WD will continue to work with western SMEs, industry associations and research facilities to improve access to global value chains, attract foreign direct investment and strengthen their international R&D partnerships.
Canada-Western Canada, in particular - has had limited success in commercializing technologies, despite an emergence of knowledge-based industries and expansion of R&D capacity and infrastructure. To be competitive in the global marketplace as well as foster and stimulate growth domestically, western Canadian businesses need to develop and commercialize new goods and services by capitalizing on regional strengths in emerging industries. WD, in 2011-12, will continue its strong support for projects and programs that accelerate the commercialization of new knowledge-based products and services.
To be effective in advancing its strategic outcome in the West, WD works with a number of partners and stakeholders, including provincial and municipal governments, industry associations, non-profit organizations, post-secondary institutions, research organizations and other federal departments. These partners and stakeholders include co-funders, service delivery partners, research collaborators, stakeholders in advocacy and policy development as well as funding recipients. While WD's partners and stakeholders bring tremendous strengths, resources and capacity to the economic development and diversification challenges in the West, WD must ensure that its programs and priorities are aligned with and sensitive to the needs of its key partners and stakeholders to maximize the department's impact.
WD's internal operating environment influences its ability to deliver on its priorities and advance its strategic outcome of a developed and diversified western Canadian economy.
Fiscal year 2011-12 will mark a transition for WD. The department will be completing the delivery of the CAF and the RInC program and expects to make other program and operating changes as a result of the Government of Canada's comprehensive review of government administrative functions and overhead costs, which may identify opportunities for savings and improved service delivery. Subsequent reports to Parliament will reflect additional information.
WD has offices in each of the four western provinces. The department's budgets, authorities and responsibilities are largely regionally based to ensure that WD activities address western needs. In 2011-12, WD will be working to coordinate its activities across its regions and address western opportunities and challenges.
Like many economic development organizations with programs that contribute to broader macroeconomic results, WD faces the challenge of attributing the impact of its efforts on the development and diversification of the western Canadian economy. As well, the diversity of the department's activities, ranging from trade and investment to technology commercialization, has led to the use of a large number of performance indicators. Moreover, WD relies on the organizations it funds to capture performance measurement information and report to the department; however, many funded organizations have different data collection methodologies and lack the capacity and resources to collect and interpret performance data. To ensure that it can effectively report its results, WD has identified the refinement of its performance measures and an improved demonstration and communication of its results as one of its management priorities in 2011-12.
In response to the Federal Accountability Act,[21] which includes measures to strengthen auditing and accountability in government departments, WD has built its internal audit capacity and appointed an external Departmental Audit Committee. WD is working to respond to the increased need from the public and Parliament to strengthen its management and accountability regimes, while ensuring that it retains the capacity to respond to its partners and the economic needs of the West.
The 2006 Report of the Independent Blue Ribbon Panel on Grant and Contribution Programs [22] and the 2007 Government of Canada Action Plan to Reform the Administration of Grant and Contribution Programs[23] are important to WD as a grants and contributions delivery department. Recommendations from the Panel include simplifying program administration and ensuring that programs are citizen-centered, results-focused and based on a regime of risk management. WD's plans in 2011-12 include examining service standards, reducing unnecessary reporting, further integrating risk management in decision making and modernizing administrative systems and processes, all of which respond to the Panel's recommendations and support the Action Plan.
As part of its risk management approach, WD integrates risk information into its key decision-making and planning activities. To help facilitate this integration, the department develops a Corporate Risk Profile (CRP), which comprises an element of WD's risk management framework and is the formal mechanism to identify and mitigate both internal and external risks and opportunities.
Risks identified in the department's CRP include the following:
WD has developed mitigation strategies to respond to these risks, including the following:
To further the development and diversification of the western Canadian economy, WD's planned spending is $195.5 million in 2011-12, compared to 2010–11 forecast spending of $461.5 million. The $266 million decrease is due to the conclusion of funding for the following programs and initiatives as well as cash flow variations.
Completion of programs:
Normal cash flow variations:
The department's planned spending is at approximately the same level for the next two fiscal years, specifically $182.6 million for 2012–13 and $174.3 million for 2013–14.
The $21.2 million decrease in funding between 2011-12 and 2013–14 relates primarily to the conclusion of two initiatives: the Alberta and Saskatchewan Centenaries ($16.2 million) and the Rick Hansen Foundation ($4.5 million).
Departmental Spending | Actual Spending 2007-08 | Actual Spending 2008-09 | Actual Spending 2009-10 | Forecast Spending 2010-11 |
Planned Spending 2011-12 | Planned Spending 2012-13 | Planned Spending 2013-14 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Without EAP | 247.2 | 242.2 | 234.3 | 205.1 | 195.5 | 182.6 | 174.3 |
EAP | 0.0 | 0.0 | 187.0 | 256.4 | 0[24] | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Total | 247.2 | 242.2 | 421.3 | 461.5 | 195.5 | 182.6 | 174.3 |
For information on WD's organizational votes, refer to the 2011–2012 Main Estimates publication. An electronic version of the Main Estimates is available at http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/est-pre/20112012/me-bpd/toc-tdm-eng.asp.