ARCHIVED - Assisted Human Reproduction Canada - Report

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Section II - Analysis of Program Activities by Strategic Outcome(s)

Strategic Outcome #1

The Agency's Strategic Outcome is: Protection and promotion of health and safety of Canadians in relation to assisted human reproduction and related research, within a sound ethical framework.

The following section describes the two Program Activities (PAs) through which the Agency works to achieve the Strategic Outcome, and for each, identifies the expected results, performance indicators and targets. This section also explains how the Agency plans to achieve the expected results and presents the financial and human resources that will be dedicated to each Program Activity.

Program Activity: 1.1 – Regulatory Compliance Program

Program Activity Descriptions

This Program relates to promoting compliance with the Assisted Human Reproduction Act and its regulations with a view of protecting the health and safety of gamete donors, patients undergoing and children born of assisted human reproduction (AHR) procedures. The activities include addressing complaints about non-compliance, enforcing prohibitions, issuing licenses for controlled activities (AHR procedures and research) and premises and conducting inspections. It also includes ensuring receipt of prescribed information about gamete donors, persons undergoing AHR procedures, and the resulting children for purposes of a Personal Health Information Registry to be maintained by Assisted Human Reproduction Canada (AHRC). Information in the Registry is used to monitor health outcomes, inform research and disclose relevant donor information where permitted under the Act, while respecting privacy obligations. To facilitate compliance with the Act and the application of the Registry, AHRC will develop and promote administrative procedures, electronic tools, such as databases and electronic forms, and guidance documents. The Agency will also enlist the participation and support of AHR-related organizations in the ongoing planning and monitoring of this program activity.

On December 22, 2010, the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) rendered its opinion regarding the constitutionality of certain sections of the AHR Act. The SCC opinion confirmed the federal role in prohibiting undesirable activities in the field of AHR, but considered the controlled activities and licensing provisions (other than reimbursement), as well as the provisions for the collection of health reporting information, to be unconstitutional as outside the scope of the federal criminal law power.

Financial Resources ($ millions)

2012-13	2013-14	2014-15
0.8	0.8	0.8

While AHRC is authorized to spend $4.3 million and staff 16 FTEs on this Program Activity in each of the next three fiscal years, the planned spending will be $0.8 million and planned staffing of 3 FTEs.

Human Resources (Full-Time Equivalent—FTE)

2012-13	2013-14	2014-15
3	3	3

Program Activity 1.1: Expected Results, Performance Indicators, and Targets

Program Activity Expected Results	Performance Indicators	Targets
Compliance with the AHR Act with a view of protecting the health and safety of Canadians.	Operational guidelines to administer the AHR Act and its associated regulations are well developed and understood and adhered to by the stakeholder community.	Timely and accessible compliance information on the prohibitions of the AHR Act to the stakeholder community as well as increased collaboration and consultation with stakeholders.
		Ongoing monitoring, assessing and taking corrective action with respect to the prohibitions.
	The Compliance and Enforcement framework for assisted human reproduction including complaint management is fully implemented and managed.	100% of complaints assessed and addressed.
	Collaboration with law enforcement authorities and professional bodies in enforcing, as necessary, the prohibitions of the AHR Act.	Increased collaborative initiatives with RCMP and provincial Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons.

Planning Highlights

In order to achieve the expected result, the Agency is focusing on activities that support delivery of its compliance and enforcement mandate with respect to the prohibitions of the AHR Act. This includes:

• Continuing to respond, in a timely and accessible manner, to all allegations of violation of the prohibitions of the AHR Act that are brought to its attention;
• Continuing to monitor compliance through various activities such as monitoring internet/Web sites for sites promoting activities that are in violation of the prohibitions;
• Continuing to interact with provincial Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons and law enforcement authorities to formalize the process for referring to them allegations of violation of the prohibitions of the AHR Act; and,
• Increasing the number of communications to relevant parties and public about compliance.

Program Activity: 1.2 – Knowledge Transfer Program

Program Activity Descriptions

The goal of this program is to promote and encourage the sharing and advancement of knowledge related to infertility and assisted human reproduction (AHR) with Canadians and organizations in the AHR community. This work is expected to support informed and evidence-based decision making about infertility and AHR-related practices and procedures by AHR professionals, patients and prospective patients. Along with the Agency's website, education materials such as brochures are produced for distribution to the public with a view to increasing awareness of those impacted by infertility and AHR procedures of, for example, AHR options and infertility risks. Assisted Human Reproduction Canada also facilitates research, scans the scientific horizon through the Board's Science Advisory Panel and, often in partnership with national and international professionals, holds workshops and seminars on AHR issues. AHRC integrates and uses the results of these activities to stimulate further discussion, advance and disseminate knowledge among AHR professionals in order to facilitate informed and evidence-based decision-making that takes account of continually evolving science. This work conforms with the Agency's responsibilities under the Assisted Human Reproduction Act of consulting persons and organizations and monitoring and evaluating developments within Canada and internationally, and providing information to the public and to the professional bodies respecting AHR.

Financial Resources ($ millions)

2012-13	2013-14	2014-15
1.1	1.1	1.1

While AHRC is authorized to spend $2.6 million and staff 11 FTEs on this Program Activity in each of the next three fiscal years, the planned spending will be $1.1 million and planned staffing of 3 FTEs.

Human Resources (FTEs)

2012-13	2013-14	2014-15
3	3	3

Program Activity 1.2: Expected Results, Performance Indicators, and Targets

Program Activity Expected Results	Performance Indicators	Targets
AHRC is a centre of expertise on AHR in Canada operating as a single, centralized, integrated, pan-Canadian organization able to build and sustain relationships with stakeholders. AHRC will promote the safest and healthiest technologies for Canadians who will build their families using AHR and increase the application of knowledge for society.	Number of Professional bodies and Patient Organizations in the AHR community engaged with AHRC.	Increase of collaborative initiatives, engagement and partnerships with stakeholders.
Stakeholders are knowledgeable and engaged in AHR issues and activities.	% of stakeholders indicating increased knowledge as a result of participation in meetings/forums/workshops/symposiums facilitated by AHRC.	70% participation rate.
	# Information/education materials published and disseminated.	Five (5) products published and disseminated by AHRC.
	Increased volume of site visits to AHRC Web site.	20% increase of site visits to AHRC Web site.
	# of collaborative initiatives with stakeholders supported by the Stakeholder Outreach Program and Patients/Clients Outreach Strategy.	Increase of collaborative initiatives and engagement.
Stakeholders are applying evidence-based decision making leading to improved health outcomes.	Tools developed to support evidence-based decision making.	Development and dissemination of tools for decision making.
	% of stakeholders using or applying evidence-based tools generated by AHRC.	60% of stakeholders using or applying tools.
	Multiple births relative to the annual number of AHR procedures in Canada.	Working with the AHR community, decrease the twin rate to 25% in all clinics in Canada by 2012 and 15% by 2015.
The AHR community shares and exchanges best practices related to principles and science for the benefit of Canadians.	Implementation of actions to support a framework to measure AHR-related outcomes for women and children in Canada.	Improved data monitoring and data quality within the AHR community with respect to health and safety of AHR.
	Production of scientific reviews of rapidly changing scientific knowledge in the field of AHR.	Three scientific reviews per annum of innovations and key emerging topics in the field of AHR.
	Production of Horizon Scanning reports on new and upcoming scientific developments in the field of AHR.	Increase in updates on new and upcoming scientific developments supported by the Science Advisory Panel.
Stakeholders are more knowledgeable of AHR options and infertility risks.	Number of educational initiatives, workshops, symposiums, or conferences focused on infertility risk factors facilitated by AHRC.	Facilitation workshops/sessions presenting the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) results coordinated by AHRC.
	Number of communication vehicles shared with the Canadian public on subjects such as infertility risks and prevalence, including publications, data, and Web material.	Increased communications and awareness of health and safety to the general public.

Planning Highlights

In order to achieve the expected results, AHRC plans to undertake the following activities:

• Continued Horizon Scanning and reviews of the scientific evidence in AHR by the AHRC Board of Directors' Science Advisory Panel, and increased efforts to convey the expertise of the Science Advisory Panel to the public via the AHRC web site.
• Continued facilitation of committees dedicated to updated and improved evidence-based practice of AHR in Canada, including the Healthy Singleton Birth Committee, whose primary goal is to promote healthy singleton births and use of elective Single Embryo Transfer (eSET) in AHR procedures.
• Implementation of Stakeholder Outreach Program with a focus on the delivery of the Patients/Clients Outreach Strategy to understand their needs and concerns, thus serving as a national centre of expertise for Canadians.
• Continued analysis and dissemination of the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) Infertility Module data, the first data gathered on rates of infertility in Canada in almost 20 years. In collaboration with other government departments, agencies and organizations, AHRC will integrate the results into the Agency's health promotion and educational activity planning.

Program Activity: 2.1 – Internal Services

Program Activity Descriptions

Internal Services are groups of related activities and resources that are administered to support the needs of programs and other corporate obligations of an organization. These groups are: President's Office, Management and Oversight Services; Policy and Planning Services; Board of Directors' Management Services; Legal Services; Human Resources Management Services; Financial Management Services; Information Management Services; Information Technology Services; Real Property Services; Material Services; Acquisition Services; Security; and Other Administrative Services. Internal Services include only those activities and resources that apply across the organization and not to those provided specifically to a program activity.

AHRC, as a small Agency, receives its Internal Services through a combination of Agency-supplied services and those provided through various Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with other departments. For example, the Agency maintains a multi-faceted MOU with Health Canada for the provision of operational and corporate support services covering areas such as finance, human resources, security, IM/IT, and material management services in an effort to minimize Agency expenditures while using expert services in Health Canada.

Financial Resources ($ millions)

2012-13	2013-14	2014-15
1.1	1.1	1.1

While AHRC is authorized to spend $3.6 million and staff 17 FTEs on this Program Activity in each of the next three fiscal years, the planned spending will be $1.1 million and planned staffing of 6 FTEs.

Human Resources (FTEs)

2012-13	2013-14	2014-15
6	6	6

Planning Highlights

AHRC responds to the challenge of providing sustainable Internal Services through its establishment of policies, processes and service delivery in the areas of finance, procurement, human resources, information management (including Access to Information and Privacy), and information technology. Wherever practical, this includes consideration and use of best practice models including alternative service provision methods. The Agency continues to improve its Internal Services to ensure delivery of service in a transparent, cost effective, and timely manner.

In 2012-13, AHRC intends to re-negotiate with Health Canada a comprehensive Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) that encompasses the many areas and activities of these Internal Services.

In the area of human resources, AHRC has integrated its business planning and human resource planning and will continue to integrate its resourcing strategy in accordance with Public Service Commission and other relevant Central Agency policies.

In the area of financial management, AHRC integrated business mapping to further refine its operational support and governance processes. The continued stewardship over financial resources is a key enabler to delineate resource use in accordance with operational plans and support to mandated program activities.

In order to achieve Internal Services objectives, planning highlights include:

• Renegotiating Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with service providers to update services as required.
• Refining the Internal Financial Control Framework to encompass financial management, risk management, financial delegation and contracting.
• Enhance business process mapping to delineate resource use by program activities.

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