Appendix C1 - Benchmark Index by Function - Intergovernmental

Executive Group Benchmark Number: 7-D-1

POSITION TITLE: Director General, Intergovernmental Affairs

GENERAL ACCOUNTABILITY

Is a corporate focal point for formulating and managing the Department's federal-provincial-territorial (FPT) relations framework, priorities and objectives aimed at defining and advancing its role in the Social Union Framework Agreement intended to help Canadians maintain and improve their health.

ORGANIZATION STRUCTURE

This is one of eight positions at the second managerial level reporting to the Assistant Deputy Minister, Health Policy and Communications. The others are the Director General, Health Care; the Director General, Policy, Planning and Priorities; the Director General, International Affairs; the Director General, Communication and Consultation; the Director, Women's Health Bureau; and the Executive Director, Nursing Policy.

Specific functions of the position reporting to the Director General, Intergovernmental Affairs, are as follows:

Director, Federal-Provincial Relations, (staff of 12) is responsible for providing the departmental strategic policy and program analysis, as well as recommendations on policies, programs and issues affecting FPT relations and on matters related to the Social Union Framework Agreement and the Social Union.

Director, Canada Health Act, (staff of 38) is responsible for directing the administration of the Canada Health Act (CHA); overseeing the development of legislative refinements and policy options to enhance and revitalize the administration and interpretation of the Act; overseeing the monitoring and assessment of provincial and territorial programs and proposed policy and legislation for compliance with the Act; managing the preparation of the CHA Annual Report to Parliament; developing and sustaining the legislative and regulatory frameworks to preserve Medicare; and overseeing the design, implementation and maintenance of a national CHA information infrastructure and information system.

NATURE AND SCOPE

The Department's mission is to help the people of Canada maintain and improve their health. Its mandate, underpinned by a solid information and knowledge base, covers three broad areas: national health policy and systems, including health care; health promotion and protection, including disease, illness and injury prevention; and First Nations and Inuit health.

The CHA is the key legislation governing the conditions for annual transfer of Canada Health and Social Transfer monies to the provinces and territories. The Director General is the recognized expert on the Act and is responsible for monitoring and ensuring compliance with the Act and recommending action in the event of non-compliance.

The Director General is responsible for providing department-wide support and coordination in articulating and advancing the Department's strategic framework for managing FPT relations related to health care issues. The incumbent is also the lead advisor to the Minister, the Deputy Minister, the Associate Deputy Minister and the Assistant Deputy Minister on implications of, and strategies for managing, the Department's participation in the Social Union Framework Agreement, which defines the main principles governing federalism in Canada. A major challenge for the Director General is to provide leadership in establishing an atmosphere in dealings with the provinces, which is non-adversarial and which facilitates the identification of solutions and the avoidance of disputes where there may be divergence between provincial and federal government policy and where considerable compromise may be necessary.

In meeting this challenge, the Director General acts as a corporate catalyst and strategist for developing new approaches to renewing existing and traditional FPT arrangements and agreements with a proactive orientation on the health system renewal process. This challenge also requires the incumbent to lead the coordination of the Department's contacts with provincial authorities, because there are over 100 FPT points of contact (committees, working groups and others) within the Department.

The Director General oversees the analysis of national health care issues and the development of CHA-related policy options that support the multi-staged federal strategy to advance health care renewal issues. The incumbent is responsible for developing and advancing strategies, approaches and options in order to keep the Department and the federal government in the best position possible. The incumbent must steer a course for the Department through the current FPT political, public and media environment, in which there are many divergent views on the appropriate approach to health care issues. The challenge is to ensure that, as provisions of the CHA become more defined, their interpretations do not constrain the provinces within an antiquated model of health care delivery that impedes necessary and appropriate renewal efforts. In meeting this challenge, the incumbent must ensure that the Directorate has the capacity to identify and address all professional, technological, social and political developments that bear upon such financing and the criteria and conditions of the CHA.

The Director General is responsible for developing a framework to monitor and enforce provincial compliance with the program criteria and conditions of payment under federal legislation. In addition, the incumbent provides the Assistant Deputy Minister, the Associate Deputy Minister, the Deputy Minister, and the Minister with monitoring, issue analysis, briefings, strategies and activities that support the federal government's role as national leader in the health field and as guardian of Medicare. The incumbent also recommends to the Minister the appropriate deductions to take from the transfer payments to provinces that are considered to be in contravention of the Act, and administers the imposition of discretionary non-compliance penalties on these provinces.

The Director General establishes and maintains extensive consultative linkages with the corporate Branches and the Regions to ensure the maximal flow of information and data between all components of the national FPT relations portfolio. The incumbent is called upon to develop strategies, approaches and initiatives to establish coherence in the Department's strategic FPT relations policy and program orientation and effort. The incumbent, as the recognized expert, acts as a senior federal spokesperson and representative at all national health care fora and maintains effective liaison with the leadership and senior staff of organizations, such as the Canadian Medical Association, the Canadian Nurses Association and the Canadian Hospital Association, as well as with provincial Ministers, Deputy Ministers and other senior officials, in ensuring that the federal position is fully and properly set forth and explained in evolving health care issues.

DIMENSIONS (Constant Dollars)

FTEs:	53
Operating budget:	$1.2 M
Federal contribution to the health care system:	$2.4 Billion

SPECIFIC ACCOUNTABILITIES

1. Acts as the corporate champion for the Department's overall FPT relations and CHA portfolio and, as such, provides a single window for corporate advice, guidance, intelligence (gathering and dissemination) and expertise for the Minister, the Assistant Deputy Ministers, senior departmental management, central agencies, other government departments and other clients and stakeholders in the context of FPT relations, networks and activities.
2. Plans, organizes and directs the ongoing administration of the CHA and the provision of support to legal council; and leads the development of interpretations under the Act.
3. Develops and implements a framework for monitoring and enforcing provincial compliance with the program criteria and conditions of payment under federal legislation.
4. Creates and manages the strategic framework for FPT relations policy and program activities, including extensive interface with the corporate program groups and regional offices; and takes the lead role on specific FPT policy files and initiatives to negotiate agreements and accords.
5. Develops and maintains the Department's repository of FPT agreements; and provides a corporate analysis and information capacity related to historical progression, current strategic indicators and evolving developments and trends for the FPT portfolio.
6. Oversees the monitoring and analysis of issues flowing from the Social Union Framework Agreement, including interdepartmental collaboration in support of a common Government of Canada position.
7. Makes recommendations to the Minister on the appropriate deductions to take from the transfer payments to provinces that are considered to be in contravention of the Act, and administers the imposition of discretionary non-compliance penalties on these provinces.

EVALUATION RATIONALE

Director General, Intergovernmental Affairs

KNOW-HOW

G	Mastery of jurisdictional, cultural and technical aspects of the CHA and FPT relations and issues; expert professional knowledge of policy and regulatory development; expert professional knowledge of the policy positions and priorities of provinces and territories with respect to the delivery of health services; professional knowledge of the Established Programs Financing Act; and in-depth knowledge of professional, technical, social and political trends and developments that affect the financing and functioning of the national health care system.
III	Operational and conceptual management of the development of strategies and tactics relating to direct linkages with provincial, regional and territorial governments and organizations to further the Department's corporate, strategic FPT relations and objectives.
3	Critical human relations skills required to represent the government's interests and concerns related to the funding of health care with provinces and territories and at all national health insurance fora.
700	Mid-range number recognizes the breadth and depth of professional knowledge and the operational and conceptual management expertise to administer the CHA and to champion associated FPT relations.

PROBLEM SOLVING / THINKING

F	Thinking is done within broad objectives for health care funding that takes place in a changing and often difficult public policy environment as the national health system undergoes significant adaptation, evolution and renewal.
4	Analytical and constructive thinking is required to identify, analyse and manage issues to support and advance the federal government's role as national leader in the health field and as guardian of Medicare. Innovative thinking is required to search for legislative and policy improvements that can continue to support the principles embodied in the Act.
(57) 400	Higher percentage reflects the lack of guidance or precedence available to the incumbent and the rapidly evolving socio-political environment. The position works within a general framework to achieve the Department's objectives in dealings with the provinces and the private sector, and faces numerous interest groups and diverse issues relating to health care.

ACCOUNTABILITY / DECISION MAKING

F	Reporting to the Assistant Deputy Minister, Health Policy and Communications, the Director General works within broadly defined Branch goals with limited direction to ensure the integrity of the national health care system. The incumbent makes recommendations to the Minister on the appropriate deduction to take from the transfer payments to provinces that are considered to be in contravention of the Act, and administers the imposition of discretionary non-compliance penalties on these provinces.
6C	Contributory impact on federal support provided to the national health care system. The proxy selected to represent these activities is the annual federal contribution to funding the national health care system, based on the CHA, of approximately $2.4 billion (constant dollars) in cash and tax credits.
460	Low number reflects the tendency toward indirect for the proxy selected, recognizing the relative contribution to federal health care funding decision making.

SUMMARY

GIII3

700

F4(57)

400

F6C

460

=

1560

A1

DIRECTOR GENERAL
INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
NUMBER: 7 - D - 1