Backgrounder

Regional Federal Councils comprise the senior officials for the federal departments and agencies in each province and territory. Each Council is led by a Chair or Co-Chairs, who are a senior public servant in the region. In addition, hundreds of regional managers and staff are involved in the work of Council Sub-committees on a wide range of management and policy issues.

The Regional Federal Councils play an important role as an executive forum and in integrated and improved service delivery, two-way communication with Ottawa / headquarters on regional perspectives and federal initiatives, and co-operation with other jurisdictions.

The Regional Federal Council Secretariats in each region and the Federal Councils and External Relations Division of the Treasury Board Secretariat in Ottawa would be pleased to provide you with additional information upon request.

Origins

Regional Federal Councils were created in the early 1980's, as a result of the need for senior federal officials in the regions to share information with one another about developments in Ottawa. In some regions, the Councils developed under the leadership of the Federal Economic Development Coordinator (FEDC), which formed part of the Ministry of State for Regional Economic Development. In other regions, Councils developed by themselves, largely as executive networking groups.

As government reorganized departmental responsibilities for regional and industry policy, and as regional federal program delivery issues became more complex and intertwined, the Councils increasingly became the main venue in which to discuss issues other than economic development (e.g., administrative management, personnel); the degree of departmental participation broadened correspondingly.

Role

From the outset, Councils have proven to be a valuable forum and network for the sharing of information amongst participating members and departments.

After the 1995 Budget and the Program Review exercise, the size and cost of the federal government were slashed as part of the effort to bring the deficit under control and restore investor confidence. The Secretary of the Treasury Board and the Clerk of the Privy Council promoted Councils as a mechanism to help lead the Government of Canada's corporate renewal following Program Review. The role of Councils was the subject of in-depth consideration by Deputy Ministers (DMs) during a November 1996 DMs' Retreat. Deputies recognized the significant, enhanced role that Councils could play in a number of different areas, including policy development, the co-ordination of regional communications, and in experimenting with various alternative service delivery models. Following this meeting, the Treasury Board Secretariat increased the level of support it provided to Councils, including central funding to support Council Secretariats and to offset some operating expenses.

The evolution of Councils has continued, particularly in the area of federal Public Service renewal. At the same time, Councils have become more formalized, corporate, and focussed on results, all of which have been enabled by the establishment of full-time Secretariats and sub-committees. Further, Council Chairs and managers now form a professional network and meet and communicate regularly on issues of shared concern.

Some specific areas that highlight the unique value added of Councils' cooperative and horizontal network include: providing regional input into the reviews that were undertaken by the Government's Expenditure Review Committee, developing an award-winning Western Canadian strategic plan on Official Languages, and supporting the regional implementation of the Human Resources Modernization Act. Councils have also functioned as instrumental liaisons between federal, provincial and municipal jurisdictions, and have played important roles in helping to coordinate the federal response to disasters and emergencies. Councils have also been engaged with respect to joint service delivery initiatives in partnership with provinces and territories.

Current Status

Each province and territory now boasts a Council, each of which is supported by a small Secretariat that is headed by an Executive Director, who reports to the Chair / Co-Chairs of Council.

Councils have evolved beyond a forum for information exchange to become a vehicle to advance a more collaborative, effective, and efficient approach to the delivery of federal programs and services in each region. This evolution has taken place at a pace and speed that has varied considerably depending upon the local needs, leadership, and circumstances in each region.

Moreover, rather than simply being service support organizations to the federal family within the regions, Councils are increasingly being called upon to contribute to the federal policy and decision-making process by communicating regional needs and perspectives to Ottawa. This function is different than the kind of regional advocacy roles played by Members of Parliament and Regional Ministers insofar as its objective is to enable the federal Public Service to work as a cohesive team, from coast-to-coast-to-coast, in developing the best possible analyses, options, and advice for the Government and Canadians.

To different degrees, all Councils are involved in information sharing activities and locally shared support services. The core activities undertaken by Councils can include, but may not be limited to:

• Supporting Regional Ministers, both as representatives of regional issues nationally and as national government representatives regionally;
• Influencing national policy / program development and decision-making by providing a regional perspective;
• Coordinating the integrated implementation and communication of the national policy and management agendas at the regional / local level;
• Building federal public service capacity in the regions / communities;
• Providing a federal interdepartmental forum, or gateway, in the regions, for provincial / territorial and municipal administrations to access the federal government; and
• Undertaking specific horizontal projects and initiatives, either self-directed or mandated, which are of direct benefit to citizens in the region.

Within the context of these core areas of activity, Councils identify common priorities on which they cooperate and coordinate on an inter-regional basis. In addition, each Council establishes its own local/regional priorities each year. Collectively, these priorities help Public Service managers and employees in the regions focus the resources and nurture the talent at their disposal to deliver on the Government's commitments to Canadians, in the cities and communities where they live.