SECTION II – ANALYSIS OF PROGRAM ACTIVITIES BY STRATEGIC OUTCOME

Analysis by Program Activity

This Plans and Priorities document reflects the unique structure of the RCT as a single service line – registry services in support of the business of the Competition Tribunal.  Due to the small size of the organization, this report also serves as the RCT’s business plan.  The plans and priorities description takes into account that the RCT is responsible for the administrative support of the Tribunal and is accountable for its voted funds.  The RCT is a small organization where human resources are multi-disciplinary to serve the single business and service lines efficiently, and where financial and human resources are shared among strategic outcomes and associated activities.

Strategic Outcome:

The RCT will provide support for open, fair, transparent and expeditious hearings related to the Tribunal’s jurisdiction.

Program Activity Name:

Process Cases

The Tribunal hears cases and the registry processes the material for the cases heard by the Tribunal under Part VII.1 (Deceptive Marketing Practices) and Part VIII (Reviewable Matters) of the Competition Act.

Support Services

Internal support services related to cases and other administrative support (IT, HR, legal services, finance, etc.).

Financial Resources ($ thousands)

Human Resources

The priority of the RCT is the provision of all administrative support required for the proper conduct of the Competition Tribunal’s business and for the Tribunal to hold hearings anywhere in Canada.

The expected results of the strategic outcome of open, fair, transparent and expeditious hearings related to the Tribunal’s jurisdiction are:

• A registry service that provides administrative support to Tribunal members and litigants and timely access to case records and decisions, contributing to enhanced Tribunal effectiveness and transparency; and
• Efficient case processing and hearing services to the Tribunal and litigants and efficient management of the Tribunal’s case records.

In order to achieve these results, the RCT plans the constant provision of:

• Timely responses to client queries related to the new Competition Tribunal Rules;
• A modernized case management system; and
• An improved electronic filing system.

It is expected that strengthened management practices will be achieved through:

• Collaboration with other similar organizations and participation in interdepartmental working groups and networks;
• Partnerships to maximize resources;
• Policy renewal; and
• Focus on employee learning and development.

Financial Resources:  ($ thousands)

 The RCT’s Program Activity Architecture outlines its main program activities.  The first activity is to process cases.  The expected results of this activity are, first, high quality registry services providing the public efficient access to case records and decisions.  The associated performance indicator is that case documents and decisions are posted on the Tribunal’s website.  This supports the RCT’s priority of modernizing its technology.

The next expected result is the processing of documents according to timeframes established in the Rules of Procedure.  The performance indicator for this result is that documents are processed within mandatory timeframes.  This is directly related to the priority of developing and delivering training sessions on the new Rules to registry staff.

Lastly, access to efficient management of electronic hearings of applications is another expected result.  The associated performance indicator is an increase in the use of electronic hearings.  This supports the priority of improving and increasing the use of the electronic filing system and modernizing the RCT’s technology