4 Additional Information

4.1 Agency Link to the Government of Canada Outcomes

4.2 Agency's Sustainable Development Strategy (SDS)

Note:
1 The Agency's SDS has been amended to reflect the new guideline on NPOs.

4.3 Tables in electronic format posted on the Treasury Board Secretariat Web site

The following tables can only be found on the Treasury Board Secretariat Web site:

4.3.1 Details on transfer payment programs (grants, contributions and other transfer payments)
4.3.2 Evaluations
4.3.3 Green procurement
4.3.4 Internal audits
4.3.5 Services received without charge
4.3.6 Sources of non-respendable revenue

Information:
www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/est-pre/20082009/p3a_e.asp.

4.4 Performance measurement strategy

4.4.1 Five-year strategy

The performance measurement strategy applied at the Agency is based on the systematic observation of outcome indicators identified in its 2007 performance measurement framework. These indicators will be used to conduct ongoing measurement of targeted outcomes and provide material for the Agency's strategic decision-making during Fiscal Year 2008-2009.

Among the indicators that will be tracked are both output (activity) indicators and outcome indicators.

Owing to their nature, anticipated outcomes will occur over a relatively long period possibly over five years. Most will not be observable in the year in which disbursement is made. For instance, it is only after two years that an enterprise's expected increase in sales fully materialize following an investment carried out with Agency assistance.

That is why the Agency's performance measurement strategy is spread over a five-year horizon and why the yearly performance measurement reports will, in the initial years, be limited to outputs, immediate outcomes and intermediate outcomes. This year being Year 1 for the new programs, the data on intermediate outcomes that will appear in the Departmental Performance Report for the period ending March 31, 2008 will be of a partial nature.

4.4.2 Continuous improvement

The Agency paid special attention in 2007-2008 to improving the quality of its data on performance. In particular, it identified data collection methods better geared to promoters' capabilities and its needs and defined consistent data sources for each indicator.

These methods are applied to projects approved since April 1, 2007. They cannot be systematically applied to other active projects approved under the old programs on the basis of different planned results.

4.5 Agency tools and programs

To promote the development and economic diversification of the regions of Quebec and achieve the outcomes from its six program activities as described in section 3, the Agency utilizes and makes available to its promoters an array of tools and programs which enable it to intervene with respect to regional development.

4.5.1 Agency intervention tools

With respect to programs and services, the Agency deploys to promoters various intervention tools consisting primarily of guidance and advice, information and referrals, and financial assistance.

Guidance and advice

For the Agency, guidance and advice involve helping entrepreneurs and local and regional development agents design and develop directions, a strategy, a business plan, an action plan or a project, or helping them plan a financial package, identify funding sources, and so on. At the Agency, advice or guidance provided by a staff member are services delivered to an entrepreneur or local development agent on an individual basis, geared to his specific situation. Provision of advice takes place as needed. A guidance approach constitutes systematic, sustained, prolonged assistance, at various stages along the promoter's path toward design and implementation of his project.

Information and referrals

The Agency produces timely information so entrepreneurs and local and regional development agents may reach informed decisions, and it makes this information more easily accessible and usable. This also involves referring them to resources likely to provide a timely, appropriate response to their specific needs. In this regard, the Agency relies on Canada Business Service Centres operating in Quebec, namely, Info Entrepreneurs in Montréal and Ressources Entreprises in Québec, for Eastern Quebec. These organizations deliver information, referral and reference material services to entrepreneurs and local and regional development agents in Quebec.

Financial assistance

The Agency has several programs and services whereby it makes both repayable and non-repayable contributions and, in exceptional cases, grants to SMEs, organizations that assist them, and communities.

4.5.2 Agency programs

Core Mandate

Regular programming

• Community Diversification program
• Business and Regional Growth program
• Community Futures Program (CFP)
• Regional Development Research program

Special Mandate

Programs under mandates from the Government of Canada

• Infrastructure Canada Program – Canada-Quebec Agreement 2000
• Canadian Apparel and Textile Industries Program

Regular programs

Community Diversification program

This program helps Quebec regions maintain and develop their economic activity base. A community's vitality depends on its ability to develop, grow and thrive by building on its own assets.

In effect from April 1, 2007 to March 31, 2012, this program has three objectives:

• fostering communities' development and increasing their mobilization by drawing up visions and projects of local and regional scope
• assisting communities through support for entrepreneurship and through creation or maintenance of viable enterprises
• increasing communities' capability to attract tourists and skilled individuals.

Business and Regional Growth program

This program reinforces the conditions conducive to the sustainable development of regions and SMEs. In effect from April 1, 2007 to March 31, 2012, it is aimed at:

• helping enterprises improve their performance, become more competitive and engage in more innovation to facilitate their sustainable development
• supporting the transfer of technology and research outputs to enterprises
• creating the right conditions to attract foreign investment and international organizations.

Community Futures Program

This Canada-wide program provides support for communities in all parts of the country to help them take charge of their own local economic development. In Quebec, the CFP financially supports 57 Community Futures Development Corporations, as well as 15 Community Economic Development Corporations and 10 Business Development Centres.

Regional Development Research program

This program contributes to promoting the development and diversification of the economy of the regions of Quebec. Its goal is to generate and disseminate helpful knowledge concerning economic and regional development for development stakeholders. This knowledge reinforces their ability to act on development and participate in an enlightened manner in an ongoing dialogue concerning economic and regional development issues and problems.

Programs under mandates from the Government of Canada

Infrastructure Canada Program - Canada-Quebec Agreement 2000

Within the framework of the pan-Canadian Infrastructure Program under Treasury Board Secretariat responsibility, a Canada-Quebec Agreement was signed in October 2000. The objective of this agreement was to upgrade urban and rural municipal infrastructure in the province and improve Quebecers' quality of life. The Agency acts on behalf of the Government of Canada as the federal department responsible for implementation in Quebec. This agreement was amended in July 2005 to postpone to March 31, 2009 the deadline for disbursements under the ICP. Since December 2005, under the terms of the agreement, no more new projects may be approved under the program.

Canadian Apparel and Textile Industries Program

This program is intended to reinforce the competitiveness of textile manufacturing firms, by helping them:

• improve their productivity
• lower their costs
• increase their efficiency
• diversify their output toward high value-added products in growing niche markets.

Program implementation is handled by the Agency in Quebec and by Industry Canada in the other provinces. This program terminates on March 31, 2010.