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Section II – Analysis of Program Activities by Strategic Outcome

Five program activities support PCO's single strategic outcome.

Strategic Outcome

The Government's agenda and decision making are supported and implemented and the institutions of government are supported and maintained.

Human Resources (FTEs) and Planned Spending (thousands of dollars)
2010-11		2011-12		2012-13
FTEs	Planned Spending	FTEs	Planned Spending	FTEs	Planned Spending
558	75,465	538	71,777	526	70,024

Program Activity Expected Results	Performance Indicators	Targets
The Prime Minister and portfolio ministers are able to carry out their respective responsibilities.	The Prime Minister and portfolio ministers are provided with value-added information on which to base decisions. Number of orders-in-council Number of Governor-in-Council appointments Number of federal-provincial-territorial meetings Advice to the Prime Minister and the portfolio ministers is provided in a timely manner. PCO advice enables the Government to achieve its legislative and policy agenda. The Prime Minister is provided with support for visits. Number of visits The Prime Minister's Office and the offices of portfolio ministers receive the necessary services and resources in a timely manner.	This activity centres on the provision of advice to the Prime Minister and portfolio ministers. The establishment of targets for performance is not appropriate for advice. However, performance information based on quantitative measures related to selected activities is being collected, and over time this information will provide trend information that will contribute to efficient operations.

Planning Summary

[D]

The expected result of "The Prime Minister and portfolio ministers are able to carry out their respective responsibilities" is achieved through five sub-program activities. As part of these program sub-activities, PCO analysts seek briefings from other government departments, analyse publicly available research and reports, and consult leading subject-matter experts. This supports their role in developing expert non-partisan advice for the Prime Minister and other portfolio ministers. For example, in 2008-09 over 2,700 briefings were prepared for the Prime Minister. It is expected that a similar number will be prepared in 2010-11. The range of subjects is vast and timelines are short, often measured in hours, not days.

As shown in the diagram to the right, all five sub-activities under Prime Minister and portfolio ministers support and advice contribute to the Prime Minister's and portfolio ministers' abilities to carry out their respective responsibilities.

Issues, policies, machinery and appointments

PCO will continue to provide effective leadership by providing advice on:

• the development of the Government's overall forward policy agenda in a context of fiscal restraint, including policy advice on social, economic, environmental, international, intergovernmental and security issues;
  
  
• the continued implementation of stimulus measures to respond effectively to the economic downturn, through the initiatives under the Economic Action Plan (EAP);
  
  
• the development of legislative, parliamentary and democratic reform initiatives, which are required to implement government decisions;
  
  
• the integration and coordination of the Government of Canada's activities and operations in Afghanistan;
  
  
• the management of urgent challenges that require a rapid, coordinated response from the Government. For example, in 2009-10, PCO provided advice to the Government on coordinating Canada's response to the global H1N1 pandemic;
  
  
• the broad organization and machinery of government, including ministerial mandates and responsibilities, and the structure and governance of government organizations;
  
  
• the organization, membership and mandate of Cabinet and its committees; and
  
  
• the conventions and principles of our Westminster system of government.

PCO also provides the highest quality support to the Prime Minister regarding senior appointments. This work includes:

• swearing-in ceremonies for ministry members and parliamentary secretaries; and
  
  
• Governor-in-Council appointments that reflect the needs of organizations in the delivery of the Government's agenda.

PCO has a central role in the coordination and management of government communications for Canada's Economic Action Plan as determined by the Prime Minister and the Cabinet.

The human resources (full-time equivalents) and planned spending (millions of dollars) for 2010-11 are:

• under Program Activity 1.1,⁷ for the Economic Action Plan initiative, the planned spending and human resources total $2.6 million and 15 full-time equivalents; and
  
  
• under Program Activity 1.5,⁸ for the Economic Action Plan initiative, the planned spending and human resources total $1.0 million and 5 full-time equivalents. 

One of PCO's responsibilities is to help ensure that a fully integrated, coordinated and consistent communications effort is made in support of the Government's two-year economic stimulus plan, the Economic Action Plan. The Government has directed PCO to support the implementation and coordination of an integrated, government-wide communications strategy for the EAP.

The key goals of the EAP's communications strategy are to identify EAP initiatives through common, whole-of-government communications, to provide useful information so that citizens can fully access benefits and to account to Canadians for spending on EAP initiatives.

PCO and other departments and agencies are working to inform Canadians of programs and initiatives so that they can take advantage of benefits under the plan. As coordinator of the cross-government strategy, PCO leads the following activities:

• the development, implementation, coordination and monitoring of communications activities for the EAP;
  
  
• the production and dissemination of a Guide to Economic Action Plan Benefits and Programs;
  
  
• advice, coordination and support related to the development, implementation and evaluation of EAP communications activities;
  
  
• the development, design and daily maintenance of the EAP website, and the implementation of new media communications tools and activities;
  
  
• the development and distribution of guidelines to assist departments in communicating with Canadians through all applications such as broadcast media, web and print advertisements as well as signage; and
  
  
• the review and coordination of public opinion research.

Although the development of measures under the EAP was led by a number of departments, the coordination of public reporting through Canada's Economic Action Plan website was led by PCO, with the participation of the lead departments on EAP initiatives, including Finance Canada, the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, Natural Resources Canada, Industry Canada and Human Resources and Skills Development Canada. In 2010-11, PCO will continue this work, while at the same time coordinating communications on other priority issues related to the Government's policy agenda.

For more information on technical support provided for the EAP, please go to Program Activity 1.5, Internal services.

International affairs and national security

PCO provides the Prime Minister with support and advice on national security policy, and foreign, defence, international trade and international assistance policy. In 2010-11, this work will centre on economic and security policy, including:

• the trading relationship between the United States and Canada;
  
  
• Canada's relations with G8 and G20 countries as Canada assumes the presidency of the G8 in 2010 and hosts a G20 summit in June. Working closely with the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and security partners, PCO will help ensure the success of these summits;
  
  
• the Government's international trade and economic agenda, particularly as it relates to engagement with emerging economies and the development of comprehensive economic agreements with, for example, the European Union and India;
  
  

• Canada's six priorities in Afghanistan:

  1. Training and mentoring Afghan National Security Forces
  2. Basic services
  3. Humanitarian assistance
  4. Border security and dialogue
  5. Democratic development and national institutions
  6. Political reconciliation

  Canada's three signature projects:

  1. Dahla Dam and irrigation system
  2. Education
  3. Polio eradication
  Afghanistan, which will continue to be a top foreign and security policy priority in 2010-11. PCO will continue to provide advice and support in implementing the whole-of-government effort, which is focused on six priorities and three signature projects;
  
  
• lessons learned from the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games' security operations, which will be transferable to the hosting of major events such as the G8 and G20 summits;
  
  
• coordination of the Government's national security priorities, which include strengthening Canadian sovereignty in the Arctic, cooperating with the United States in defending North America, fulfilling Canada's responsibilities, and advancing our interests within the United Nations and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and with other allies; and
  
  
• the provision of intelligence assessments and reports on international matters relevant to Canadian political, economic and security interests.

Intergovernmental affairs

PCO supports and provides advice to the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and the Prime Minister on issues that impact federal-provincial-territorial relations. In 2010-11 PCO will:

• help in continuing to ensure a coordinated response across jurisdictions in implementing the second year of the Economic Action Plan;
  
  
• develop advice and options for managing the intergovernmental dimensions of key files shaping the federation in the short, medium and long term;
  
  
• enhance outreach, communication and information-sharing between partners as the forward policy agenda is developed, with a focus on improving efficiency and ensuring accountability to Canadians;
  
  
• organize and support bilateral and multilateral meetings of First Ministers, as required, to enable the Prime Minister to effectively manage his intergovernmental relations; and
  
  
• provide operational support and policy advice to the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs across the entire range of her responsibilities. 

Legislation, parliamentary issues and democratic reform

PCO supports and provides advice on the development, coordination and implementation of the Government's legislative program and democratic reform agenda to the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, the Leader of the Government in the Senate and the Minister of State (Democratic Reform). In addition, administrative support is given to the Minister of State and Chief Government Whip. In 2010-11, PCO will continue to support the Government's program in Parliament. PCO will provide timely advice and support on the development of legislative initiatives which are required to implement government decisions.

Prime Minister and portfolio ministers' offices

This sub-activity captures the funding for these political offices.

Benefits for Canadians

PCO has identified advice and support to the Prime Minister as a key priority for achieving its strategic outcome. In providing non-partisan advice and support, PCO enables the Prime Minister to lead government decision making in delivering benefits to Canadians.

Human Resources (FTEs) and Planned Spending (thousands of dollars)
2010-11		2011-12		2012-13
FTEs	Planned Spending	FTEs	Planned Spending	FTEs	Planned Spending
131	17,253	129	17,073	111	14,444

Program Activity Expected Results	Performance Indicators	Targets
The functioning and integrity of the Cabinet decision- making process are maintained.	The Cabinet has received value-added information on which to base decisions. Number of full meetings of Cabinet and Cabinet committees Cabinet documents are distributed in a timely manner to ministers. Deputy ministers are regularly informed of the Government's agenda and activities. Number of deputy minister meetings and sessions Departments are able to prepare Memoranda to Cabinet and ministerial presentations that propose action to implement the Government's agenda.	This activity centres on the provision of advice and support. Although targets are not appropriate for advice, information on the quantity of activity related to support activities is being collected. Over time, this will provide trend information that will contribute to efficient operations.

[D]

Planning Summary

As shown in the diagram to the right,
PCO's role in ensuring the Government's agenda and decision making are supported and implemented, and that institutions of government are supported and maintained, is achieved through two sub-program activities. These sub-activities contribute to PCO's achievement of the expected result that "The functioning and integrity of the Cabinet decision-making process are maintained."

Operation of Cabinet committees

PCO provides secretariat support to the Cabinet and to Cabinet committees and plays a central role in managing the flow of business related to the decision-making process.⁹ In 2008-09, there were 183 Cabinet and Cabinet committee meetings, including one held in Inuvik. A similar number is expected for 2010-11.

In 2010-11, PCO will continue to provide operational support to the Cabinet and Cabinet committees, including:

• preparing scenario notes and strategic policy briefings for each agenda item;
• scheduling meetings;
• proposing agendas;
• organizing meeting logistics;
• inviting participants;
• coordinating documents; and
• preparing reports, debriefs, minutes and records of decision.

In its supporting role to the Cabinet, PCO manages, in accordance with prescribed procedures, processes leading to formal Cabinet approvals such as orders-in-council, which allow the Government to legally implement decisions. PCO will also continue to support the Cabinet by acting as custodian of Cabinet confidences, and will provide advice to a wide range of federal departments regarding issues involving Cabinet confidences. The volume of work in this area can vary significantly from year to year. It is not unusual for PCO to review over 100,000 pages of documents annually.

PCO also provides advice on the structure and mandate of Cabinet committees.

The current list of Cabinet committees is shown in the table below:

Cabinet Committees	Roles
Cabinet Committee on Priorities and Planning	Provides strategic direction to develop the Government's forward policy agenda and expenditure management, ratifies committee recommendations and approves appointments.
Cabinet Committee on Operations	Provides the day-to-day coordination of the Government's agenda, including issues management, legislation and house planning, and communications.
Cabinet Committee on Social Affairs	Considers health care, justice, Aboriginal, training and skills development, culture, and immigration policy issues.
Treasury Board (TB is supported by the Treasury Board Secretariat, not PCO)	Responsible for accountability and ethics, financial, personnel and administrative management, comptrollership, approving regulations and most orders-in-council.
Cabinet Committee on Economic Growth and Long-term Prosperity	Considers both sectoral issues including international trade, sustainable development, natural resources, fisheries, agriculture, transport, infrastructure and communities, and regional development, as well as longer-term matters concerning Canada's economic growth and prosperity including increasing engagement with emerging market economies.
Cabinet Committee on Foreign Affairs and Security	Considers foreign affairs, national defence, international development, public safety and national security issues.
Cabinet Committee on the Environment and Energy Security	Considers issues related to the environment and to energy security.
Cabinet Committee on Afghanistan	Considers issues related to Canada's mission in Afghanistan.

Integration across the federal government

PCO plays a significant role in achieving integration in policy development and implementation across the federal government. Policy development is supported by discussions at many levels, from informal telephone calls between analysts to interdepartmental consultations to specially convened meetings of deputy ministers. In supporting forums such as the Coordinating Committee of Deputy Ministers and the Deputy Ministers' Coordinating Committee on Afghanistan, PCO helps to ensure that deputy ministers have an opportunity to discuss key issues and to develop an integrated federal approach to the Government's major policy initiatives. In 2008-09, PCO organized a total of 86 deputy minister-level meetings under this program activity, with a comparable number expected in 2010-11. PCO will also continue to support the work of the deputy minister committees on medium-term policy planning, in close collaboration with their departmental secretariats. All of this work helps to support an integrated approach to Cabinet and Cabinet committee decision making.

In 2010-11, PCO will work closely with other government departments to ensure that there continues to be strong investment in the relationship with the United States and an increasing engagement with emerging market economies such as China and India.  Departments such as Foreign Affairs and International Trade clearly have the lead in this area, but PCO will continue to ensure that there is coordination and integration with other departments that must play a role for an integrated federal approach.

The Afghanistan Task Force within PCO was established in response to the recommendation of the Independent Panel on Canada's Future Role in Afghanistan that Canada needed a stronger, more coordinated approach. PCO works closely with the Canadian International Development Agency, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Department of National Defence and Department of Public Safety to ensure that Canada advances its six priorities and three signature projects. PCO will continue to provide advice to the Cabinet Committee on Afghanistan and coordinate the production of quarterly reports on Canada's engagement in Afghanistan. These quarterly reports evaluate progress against established benchmarks and indicators, and are tools of accountability to Parliament and the Canadian public. The reports have received international recognition as models for integrated reporting.

Benefits for Canadians

PCO's support for the Cabinet and Cabinet committees and its role in facilitating integration across federal government are complimentary. The sub-activities linked to this program activity work together to support the Cabinet and Cabinet committee roles in decision making and in implementing the Government's agenda to the benefit of Canadians.

Human Resources (FTEs) and Planned Spending (thousands of dollars)
2010-11		2011-12		2012-13
FTEs	Planned Spending	FTEs	Planned Spending	FTEs	Planned Spending
23	3,647	23	3,748	23	3,850

Program Activity Expected Results	Performance Indicators	Targets
The public service has the leadership, talent, capacity and management frameworks needed to provide advice on and implement the Government's agenda.	The public service is engaged in renewal activities. The Prime Minister and the Clerk are provided with advice on public service renewal. Number of meetings of the Prime Minister's Advisory Committee on the Public Service Number of meetings and sessions of the Deputy Minister Committee on Public Service Renewal and its sub-committees The public service and its leaders are provided with advice and support. Prime Minister's Advisory Committee on the Public Service's report Clerk's Annual Report Public Service Renewal Action Plan Number of Clerk and Associate Secretary outreach activities on public service renewal The Committee of Senior Officials is provided with advice and support. Number of Committee of Senior Officials and sub-committee meetings and sessions	Information on the quantity of activity related to support is being collected. Over time, this information will provide trend information that will contribute to efficient operations. Narrative reporting in the form of reports provides valuable performance information but is not suited to the establishment of trends or targets.

Planning Summary

PCO provides leadership on public service renewal through agenda setting, research, analysis and planning. PCO works closely with other departments and agencies to ensure that the public service has the capacity to serve the Government and Canadians with excellence over the next few decades.

Under this program activity, PCO provides advice and support to the Deputy Minister Committee on Public Service Renewal, the Prime Minister's Advisory Committee on the Public Service and the Deputy Minister Committee of Senior Officials (COSO) and its sub-committees. Topics addressed include both workforce and workplace issues.

Through work on public service renewal, PCO promotes dialogue on the challenges facing the public service, establishes leadership and direction for renewal efforts and supports recommendations for renewal to the Prime Minister.

Renewal and human resources management of the public service

Public service renewal has been carried out within the framework of four pillars: planning, recruitment, employee development and enabling infrastructure. In 2010-11, PCO will continue to support the Clerk in renewal and continue to coordinate renewal activities with other departments, notably the human resources central agencies.

Management of senior leaders

PCO provides advice and support to COSO and its sub-committees. This support helps members to understand and manage the challenges facing the leadership cadre, such as changing demographics, succession planning, performance management and leadership development, and to develop the culture of high performance that will ensure public institutions have the leadership and management capacity, now and in the future, to deliver on the Government's agenda.

Benefits for Canadians

In helping the public service to address issues around renewal, such as the aging workforce, competitive labour markets and leadership in the senior cadre, PCO supports a workforce and workplace renewal that will serve the Government and Canadians over the coming decades. In addition, in supporting accountability and management in the public service, PCO contributes to the effective and efficient delivery of programs and services to Canadians. This work contributes to PCO's achievement of its expected result that "The Public Service has the leadership, talent, capacity and management frameworks needed to provide advice on and implement the Government's agenda," and to PCO's strategic outcome in support of the Government agenda and decision making for the benefit of Canadians.

Human Resources (FTEs) and Planned Spending (thousands of dollars)
2010-11		2011-12		2012-13
FTEs	Planned Spending	FTEs	Planned Spending	FTEs	Planned Spending
1	112	0	0	0	0

Program Activity Expected Results	Performance Indicators	Targets
Commissions of inquiry receive required resources as well as advice and guidance on financial and administrative matters.	Commissions of inquiry have received appropriate resources, as well as the necessary services, advice and guidance, in a timely manner.	The creation of a commission of inquiry is unpredictable and depends on external situations. Therefore, targets and/or trends are not useful for this activity.

Planned spending under the commissions of inquiry program activity includes funds for PCO financial and administrative advice as well as funds to support the inquiries themselves. In 2010-11, the planned spending and human resources identified for this program activity cover the forecast cost for the full operation of the following commissions of inquiry:

• Commission of Inquiry into the Investigation of the Bombing of Air India Flight 182.

Funding is currently being sought for the following commissions of inquiry:

• Commission of Inquiry into Certain Allegations Respecting Business and Financial Dealings Between Karlheinz Schreiber and the Right Honourable Brian Mulroney
  
  
• Commission of Inquiry into the Decline of Sockeye Salmon in the Fraser River

Planning Summary

PCO offers support to commissions of inquiry for internal services. When a commission of inquiry is created, PCO can initiate arrangements for accommodation, furnishings and equipment to ensure that the work of the commission, task force or inquiry proceeds efficiently. PCO can also provide for ongoing administrative advice and support in the following areas: hiring staff, acquisition services, contracting, financial services, accessing funding, records management, payroll support, posting of transcripts on the Internet, translation, legal services, security and systems support. 

PCO's role in supporting commissions of inquiry is limited to providing financial and administrative advice and guidance from the initial start-up to conclusion of the inquiry. Because commissions of inquiry are independent entities, PCO's reporting documents do not provide information relating to the mandates, work priorities or performance of commissions of inquiry. This type of information is found on the individual commission websites.

Benefits for Canadians

Through its support for commissions of inquiry, PCO helps to support transparency and accountability in government.

Human Resources (FTEs) and Planned Spending (thousands of dollars)
2010-11		2011-12		2012-13
FTEs	Planned Spending	FTEs	Planned Spending	FTEs	Planned Spending
327	47,471	322	46,184	322	46,176

Planning Summary

PCO plans to undertake the following activities in support of strengthening its internal services:

• strengthen management of internal security, including enhancing its planning and readiness posture in the area of emergency management. This includes the security of its networks, its telecommunications and its offices;
  
  
• implement the 2010-13 Strategic Human Resources Plan and ensure PCO continues to attract and retain the brightest and best public servants;
  
  
• continue to implement the findings of the expert panel on integrated business and human resources planning including further streamlining of processes; and
  
  
• address the challenge of developing meaningful outcome-oriented performance measurements in a department whose main activity is the provision of non-partisan advice to the Prime Minister and to the Cabinet.

The scope of the Web and New Media strategies for the maintenance of Canada's Economic Action Plan website has an impact on informatics and technology services operations. 

• Under this program activity, for the Economic Action Plan initiative, the planned spending and human resources total $1.0 million and 5 full-time equivalents. 

Due to the scope of the initiatives, additional technical personnel are required for horizontal website development, design and maintenance, as well as the development of cross-government website linkages. Costs associated with providing ongoing corporate administrative support are also included. For more information, please see Program Activity 1.1, Prime Minister and portfolio ministers support and advice.

Benefits for Canadians

In strengthening internal services, including internal security, integrated business and human resource planning and performance measurement, PCO demonstrates leadership and support for transparent and accountable government. This facilitates the effective and efficient delivery of programs and services to Canadians, which helps PCO to fulfill its mandate in support of the Government agenda and decision making and supports a wide variety of benefits to Canadians.

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