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ARCHIVED - The National Battlefields Commission - Report

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The organizations in the Canadian Heritage portfolio work closely with partners all across the country to fulfill their mandate and achieve the Government of Canada’s objectives regarding arts, culture, heritage, and citizen participation. I am pleased to present the 2011-2012 Report on Plans and Priorities prepared by the National Battlefields Commission.

This year, the National Battlefields Commission will continue to offer its services and its activities centred on the historic and urban character of our battlefields, for the benefit of all Canadians and visitors. It will concentrate its efforts on the preservation and development of Battlefields Park in Québec, primarily through infrastructure upgrades and the implementation of an action plan for sustainable development to ensure safety on the site and promote the well-being of park’s users and visitors.

I am proud that the National Battlefields Commission is committed to pursuing its efforts to improve Canadian’s quality of life and increase our country’s cultural, social, and economic vitality. I invite everyone who wishes to have a better understanding of the responsibilities and activities of the National Battlefields Commission to get to know this report.

The Honourable James Moore, P.C., M.P.

SECTION I - Overview

1.1 Summary Information

Raison d'être

The National Battlefields Commission (NBC), as manager of Battlefields Park, enables Canadians to enjoy the first national historic park in Canada and one of the most prestigious urban parks in the world.

Responsibilities

The NBC is responsible for the administration, management, conservation and promotion of National Battlefields Park (located in the city of Québec) and manages funds allocated for this purpose.

The NBC takes its mandate from the Act respecting the National Battlefields at Québec, 7-8 Edward VII, c. 57, passed on March 17, 1908, and its amendments. It reports to Parliament through the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages.

It is administered by a nine-member board of directors. The Commission is administered by a nine-member Board of Directors. Seven members are appointed by the Governor in Council and the NBC’s enabling legislation authorizes the provinces of Quebec and Ontario to each appoint a member in recognition of their contribution at that time of the creation of the Commission.

The Board of Directors decides on general orientations aiming at the achievement of the strategic outcomes to make the Battlefields Park in Québec a prestigious, accessible, safe and educational historic and urban site and assumes the general surveillance.

The Secretary, who acts as Director General, is appointed by the Governor in Council and is responsible for implementation of policy and for day-to-day management of all NBC operations. He therefore strives for attainment of both strategic outcomes and program targets.

The grounds of the NBC constitute one of the most important historic sites in Canada. Commonly called the Plains of Abraham, the site is the largest urban park in Québec and ranks among the prestigious parks in the world. The NBC must thus reconcile the Plains of Abraham’s historic significance with its mission as an urban park. The NBC must preserve this historic Canadian legacy for future generations and develop it so that the public fully benefits from these treasures and Canadians learn more about the major events in Canadian history associated with this important site.

Strategic Outcome

The NBC works to achieve the following strategic outcome:

The Battlefields Park of Québec is a prestigious, accessible, safe and educational historic and urban site.

Its role is to make Battlefields Park a prestigious national site, maintain its historic integrity and ensure that its urban mission receives equal consideration, allow for its safe use, and provide activities and relevant services in line with historic, cultural, recreational and natural aspects.

Program Activity Architecture (PAA)

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1.2 Planning Summary

**Financial Resources ($ thousands)**
2011-12	2012-13	2013-14
9,254	9,254	9,254

The Financial Resources table presents the organization's total financial resources (total planned spending) over the next three fiscal years.

**Human Resources (FTEs = full-time equivalents)**
2011-12	2012-13	2013-14
60 FTEs	60 FTEs	60 FTEs

* The Human Resources table presents the organization's total planned human resources over the next three fiscal years.

**Planning Summary Table**
Strategic Outcome: The Battlefields Park of Québec is a prestigious, accessible, safe and educational historic and urban site.
Performance Indicators General state and integrity of the park and its facilities The quality level of public and educational services	Targets Maintain the general state of the park, make improvements to infrastructure each year and implement 100% of the 2011 planned sustainable development action plan. Maintain and improve the level of quality of services and of the dissemination of the park's history (in-house surveys).

Program Activities	Forecast Spending ($ thousands)	Planned Spending ($ thousands)			Alignment to Government of Canada Outcomes
Program Activities	2010-11	2011-12	2012-13	2013-14	Alignment to Government of Canada Outcomes
Conservation and Development	2,749	2,424	2,424	2,424	A vibrant Canadian culture and heritage
Public Education and Services	822	922	922	922	A vibrant Canadian culture and heritage
Total Planned Spending	3,571	3,346	3,346	3,346

Internal Services	Forecast Spending ($ thousands)	Planned Spending ($ thousands)
	2010-11	2011-12	2012-13	2013-14
	6,252	5,908	5,908	5,908

Contribution of Priorities to Strategic Outcome

Operational Priorities	Type	Links to Strategic Outcome	Description
Ensure first-rate general maintenance and carry out certain infrastructure repairs	Permanent	SO 1 This priority is in line with the "Conservation and Development" program activity	The NBC will continue to do general maintenance of its grounds and make repairs to infrastructure to ensure the safety and preservation of the site.
Provide a healthy environment by adopting sustainable development principles	Permanent	SO 1 This priority is in line with the "Conservation and Development" program activity	The NBC will implement its three-year sustainable development action plan adopted in 2010 to ensure a healthy environment.
Offer quality services related to the park's educational, sociocultural and natural aspects	Permanent	SO 1 This priority is in line with the "Public Education and Services" program activity	The NBC will continue to provide services, such as exhibits and interpretive activities, while maintaining their quality and renewing them (if necessary), taking into account the expectations of visitors and users. This priority is essential for a historic urban park.
Provide information about the park's history and the historical events connected with it	Previously committed	SO 1 This priority is in line with the "Public Education and Services" program activity	The NBC will organize commemorative activities, improve information on the Web site and plan events related to the history of the Martello towers; this is intrinsic to its mandate.

Management Priorities	Type	Links to Strategic Outcome	Description
Internal Management	Permanent	SO 1 This priority is in line with "Internal Services" program activity	The NBC will set up an intranet system to improve internal communication.
Human Resources Management	Previously committed	SO 1 This priority is in line with "Internal Services" program activity	The NBC will foster staff development through training to improve productivity.
Management of Documents	Previously committed	SO 1 This priority is in line with "Internal Services" program activity	The NBC will introduce a single classification system with a view to integrating all the documents from various units and dispose of archival records in accordance with the Library and Archives of Canada Act. This process will help to improve efficiency.

Risk Analysis

The National Battlefields Park is a historic, natural and recreational site located in the heart of the city of Québec that is visited by several million users and visitors annually. In order to preserve the century-old site, the NBC is required to undertake certain measures to fulfil its mandate and achieve its strategic outcome, which is namely to ensure that the Battlefields Park of Québec is a prestigious, accessible, safe and educational historic and urban site.

Following years of celebrations (2008) and historical commemorations (2009 and 2010), the NBC intends in 2011-2012 to continue its conservation and development initiatives while planning to offer high-quality public and educational services. In order to do this, it will maintain some public activities, undertake a period of consolidation of its assets according to a multi-year plan and develop its information technology.

In order to maintain the quality of its services and of the dissemination of the Park’s history, the NBC will continue to deliver services (exhibits, interpretive activities), organize activities (Great Celebration of Nature), plan history-related events (exhibit and activity on the history of the Martello towers) and refresh the content of its Web site.

It will continue to repair infrastructure (such as road), and carry out general maintenance of the grounds (eg, by doing various repairs and renewing equipment). These measures are necessary to preserve the site and ensure the safety of users and visitors.

At the same time, the NBC will implement its three-year sustainable development action plan, with the participation of employees, users and sub-contractors, in order to better protect and develop the park. Initiatives will be carried out gradually according to the steps set out in the plan (information, awareness, better waste management, responsible consumption, etc.).

However, some external factors outside the NBC’s control could affect its plans and priorities.

One major factor that could alter the NBC’s plans and priorities for the slated repairs and general maintenance of the park is the risk of increased contract prices. If they were to rise, the NBC would be required to reduce the scope of the work and postpone part of it to the following year, which would affect the overall plan. Any delays could result in greater deterioration and an increased risk of accidents.

A drop in anticipated revenues could also affect some repairs projects, or even regular operations. This would require the NBC to review its priorities. Revenues could decline if adverse weather or economic conditions lead to a drop in attendance of tourists or school groups.

To avoid having to amend its plans and priorities, the NBC will rigorously monitor the management of its operations. In addition to leaving itself room to manoeuvre in the event of contingencies, it will undertake its project commitments step by step, meet regularly with unit chiefs to stay on track and, if need be, go to the Board of Directors if any changes to the initial plan are required. The NBC will also take into account the government spending cutbacks announced in the budget for 2010-2011 and the following years.

The NBC will pursue its objectives in a responsible manner. It is well aware of the risks, but is confident that it will achieve these objectives, because it has the financial, material and human resources to succeed.

In terms of internal management, the NBC intends to move forward in information management and information technology management.

Over the next few years, it will focus its efforts as follows. First, it will put in place an intranet system to better disseminate information within the organization. Employees will be able to access at all times policies, directives, notices, etc. that the organization wants to share and make available, thereby enhancing efficiency at work, communication and the feeling of belonging. Content will be added and refreshed by Communications. This communication tool will be in addition to the means currently used to disseminate information.

The NBC will also foster employee development by offering training (eg, occupational health and safety), thereby contributing to a healthier workplace.

Finally, the NBC will create a single classification system with a view to integrating all the documents from the various units and will dispose of archival records in accordance with the Library and Archives of Canada Act.

Expenditure Profile