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Table 6: Horizontal Initiatives

Industry Canada is involved in a number of horizontal initiatives, working in partnership with other federal departments, other levels of government, non-governmental organizations and private sector organizations. Industry Canada’s involvement in these initiatives contributes to the Department’s achievement of its strategic outcomes.

Industry Canada is the lead for the following significant horizontal initiatives. Supplementary information can be found on Treasury Board Secretariat's Horizontal Initiative Database.

• Canadian Biotechnology Strategy
• Canadian Business Network

Canadian Biotechnology Strategy

The Canadian Biotechnology Strategy (CBS) was wound down in May 2007, further to the release of the federal government’s Science and Technology Strategy, Mobilizing Science and Technology to Canada’s Advantage. As such, no horizontal activity took place under the auspices of CBS in 2007–08. Two strategic initiatives of the CBS — the Canadian Regulatory System for Biotechnology and Genomics R&D — have been retained by Health Canada and the National Research Council respectively. Performance of these two initiatives will be reported in the respective DPRs.
Name of Lead Department(s): Industry Canada, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Environment Canada, Health Canada, Natural Resources Canada, National Research Council Canada	Lead Department Program Activity: Not Applicable
Start Date of the Horizontal Initiative: 1998	End Date of the Horizontal Initiative: June 15, 2007
Total Federal Funding Allocation (start to end date): $467.9 million
Description of the Horizontal Initiative (including funding agreement): The vision of the Canadian Biotechnology Strategy (CBS) is to “enhance the quality of life of Canadians in terms of health, safety, the environment, and social and economic development by positioning Canada as a responsible world leader in biotechnology.” Acting within the CBS pillars of stewardship, citizen engagement and innovation, this horizontal initiative reports against three strategic initiatives: the CBS Fund, the Canadian Regulatory System for Biotechnology (CRSB) and the Genomics Research and Development (Genomics R&D) program. Each of these initiatives focuses on a different aspect of Canada’s biotechnology-related priorities, involving separate program management and resource allocation, as well as the profiling of initiatives that are linked through the CBS governance structure.
Shared Outcome(s): CBS wound down successfully and resources were reallocated to departmental priorities.
Governance Structure(s): The policy authority for the CBS ended on June 15, 2007. Further to a commitment under Mobilizing Science and Technology to Canada's Advantage, the roles and responsibilities of the Canadian Biotechnology Advisory Committee (CBAC) were consolidated into the new Science, Technology and Innovation Council. Industry Canada ensured the orderly wind-down of two key CBS mechanisms, the Canadian Biotechnology Secretariat and CBAC. Industry Canada also took over the responsibility for general reporting of the CBS. Two strategic initiatives of the CBS — the Canadian Regulatory System for Biotechnology and Genomics R&D — have been retained by Health Canada and the National Research Council respectively.

 

Canadian Business Network

(Amalgamation of Canada Business Service Centres (CBSC) and Business Gateway (BG))
Name of Lead Department(s): Industry Canada, Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Western Economic Diversification Canada, Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions		Lead Department Program Activity: Economic Development
Start Date of the Horizontal Initiative:	End Date of the Horizontal Initiative:		Total Federal Funding Allocation (start to end date):
Canada Business Service Centres (CBSC): Funding originally started in 1995 (February 9, 1995 TB 822499) Most recent renewal for period 2006–07 (Policy and funding approval: Building a More Innovative Economy — Jobs and Growth)	March 2009 — aiming for renewal (Fall of 2008–09)		$226.1 million (since 1995)
Business Gateway: Funding from 2000 to March 31, 2006 (Policy and funding approval: Government Online funding via Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS) initially / Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) — Gateways and Clusters)			$6.79 million (since 2000)
			Total: $232.89 million
Description of the Horizontal Initiative (including funding agreement): Canada Business was established to improve service to small business and start-up entrepreneurs by providing a comprehensive first stop for information on government services, programs and compliance requirements from federal and provincial/territorial levels of government. On behalf of the Government of Canada and its partners, Canada Business delivers a host of information products and resources through a variety of channels across Canada (web, in-person, telephone). Through its collaboration with the provinces and territories, information products and resources are supplemented by jurisdictionally relevant content — providing a truly client-centred, integrated information service.
Shared Outcome(s): Increased awareness and access to government business-related information, programs and services and facilitated compliance for business Increased use of self-service channels Reduced complexity in accessing programs and services and compliance requirements for SMEs Improved SME business planning and market research
Governance Structure(s): The Canada Business Network is managed on behalf of the federal government by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, Industry Canada and Western Economic Diversification Canada. The lead organizations are responsible for ensuring compliance with all federal policies affecting program delivery in a collaborative environment, particularly policies on topics such as official languages, accessibility, access to information and privacy, federal identity and alternative service delivery.

 

Federal Partner(s)	Federal Partner Program Activity	Names of Programs for the Federal Partner(s)	Total Allocation from Start to End Date (in thousands of dollars)	Planned Spending for 2007–08 (in thousands of dollars)	Actual Spending in 2007–08 (in thousands of dollars)	Expected Results for 2007–08	Results Achieved in 2007–08
Industry Canada	Economic Development	Canada Business Network	$92,416	$6,504	$6,504	(Planned Results apply to each partner) Increased awareness and access to government business- related information, programs and services and facilitated compliance for business	234,191 clients were served using officer- assisted channels (i.e., telephone calls, in- person visits, email and fax), a decrease of 1.6 percent over fiscal year 2006–07
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency		Canada Business Network	$36,016	$2,641	$2,641	Increased use of Internet channel of service	7 million Internet visits to Canada Business Network websites, an increase of over 18 percent
Western Economic Diversification Canada		Canada Business Network	$49,964	$3,977	$3,977	Reduced complexity in accessing programs and services and compliance require- ments for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)	Client satisfaction evaluations are undertaken every two years; none was performed during 2007–08
Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions		Canada Business Network	$23,184	$1,878	$1,878	Improved SME business planning and market research	43,518 Interactive Business Plans were created, an increase of 3.6 percent over 2006– 07
Total			$201,580	$15,000	$15,000
Comments on Variance(s): Not Applicable
Results Achieved by Non-Federal Partners: Not Applicable
Contact Information: Marcie Girouard, Executive Director, Service Delivery and Partnerships

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