Common menu bar links
Breadcrumb Trail
ARCHIVED - Industry Canada
This page has been archived.
Archived Content
Information identified as archived on the Web is for reference, research or recordkeeping purposes. It has not been altered or updated after the date of archiving. Web pages that are archived on the Web are not subject to the Government of Canada Web Standards. As per the Communications Policy of the Government of Canada, you can request alternate formats on the "Contact Us" page.
Section 1: Overview of the Department
1.1 Minister's Message
The Government of Canada is committed to creating an environment where all Canadians have every opportunity for continued prosperity.
We laid out our long-term economic plan in Advantage Canada. It identified five Canadian objectives, related to tax reduction, debt reduction, entrepreneurship, knowledge in the workforce and infrastructure, which will help us improve our quality of life and succeed on the world stage. I'm pleased to note the commonality between these advantages and Industry Canada’s mission of fostering a growing, competitive, knowledge-based economy.
Clearly, our government is making strides towards achieving our long-term goals. For example, we have provided $190 billion in broad-based tax relief over this and the next five years, including cuts to corporate, small business and personal taxes. Our debt repayment goals have been accelerated by three years. We’re setting the right conditions for entrepreneurs to thrive, for research and development to flourish, for additional competition and growth in the wireless sector and for our workforce to build on its expertise. Finally, we continue to invest heavily in our physical infrastructure to build the networks needed to carry our people, goods and services across Canada and beyond.
In May 2007, Prime Minister Harper unveiled our Science and Technology Strategy, Mobilizing Science and Technology to Canada’s Advantage. It is a policy framework that has received wide acclaim, both in Canada and internationally. Our government believes that science and technology, and research and development, are more critical than ever to pushing forward the frontiers of knowledge and transforming that knowledge into new products, services and technologies.
Our hard work is paying off. The economic fundamentals are in place to help us realize our goals. We boast strong public finances, an economy that is as healthy as it has been for a generation and low unemployment.
As Minister of Industry, I look forward to implementing our government’s agenda for providing effective economic leadership — an agenda that provides concrete, realistic solutions to the economic challenges our country is facing.
As always, we must build on our success as a nation. In this regard, Industry Canada and its portfolio partners continue to strive towards a fair, efficient and competitive marketplace, an innovative economy, competitive industries and sustainable communities — in short, outcomes that will help Canadians continue to enjoy a quality of life that is second to none.
It gives me great pleasure to present the annual Report on Plans and Priorities for Industry Canada, outlining in greater detail the Department’s main initiatives, priorities and expected outcomes for the upcoming year.
Jim Prentice
Minister of Industry
1.2 Management Representation Statement
I submit, for tabling in Parliament, the 2008–2009 Report on Plans and Priorities (RPP) for Industry Canada.
This document has been prepared based on the reporting principles contained in the Guide for the Preparation of Part III of the 2008–2009 Estimates: Reports on Plans and Priorities and Departmental Performance Reports:
- It adheres to the specific reporting requirements outlined in the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat guidance;
- It is based on the department's strategic outcomes and program activities that were approved by Treasury Board;
- It presents consistent, comprehensive, balanced and reliable information;
- It provides a basis of accountability for the results achieved with the resources and authorities entrusted to it; and
- It reports finances based on approved planned spending numbers from the Treasury Board Secretariat.
Richard Dicerni
Deputy Minister
1.3 Industry Canada's Program Activity Architecture
This Report on Plans and Priorities (RPP) is aligned with Industry Canada's Management, Resources and Results Structure (MRRS). The MRRS provides a standard basis for reporting to parliamentarians and Canadians on the alignment of resources, program activities and results. The following three elements make up the MRRS: strategic outcomes, a Program Activity Architecture (PAA) and a description of the governance structure.
A strategic outcome is a long-term and enduring benefit to the lives of Canadians that reflects the organization's mandate and vision, and is linked to Government of Canada priorities and intended results.
A PAA is an inventory of all programs and activities undertaken by an organization. The programs and activities are depicted in a logical and hierarchical relationship to each other and to the strategic outcome to which they contribute. It also clearly links financial and non-financial resources. A PAA may map to several strategic outcomes and usually consists of multiple program activities, sub-program activities and sub-sub-program activities. Table 1.0 shows a graphic representation of Industry Canada’s PAA for 2008–2009.
The structure of this RPP reflects the department's strategic outcomes and PAA. In this way, it articulates how Industry Canada's sectors, branches and programs plan to contribute to the department's three strategic outcomes.
Over the past year, Industry Canada has made changes to its PAA to more accurately reflect the structure of the department. These changes are to ensure improved reporting and to reflect internal realignments that have taken place. Changes included removing sub-program activities and sub-sub-program activities that have either been transferred outside the department, or are programs that have come to the end of their mandates. No changes were made to the strategic outcomes or program activities of the department.
Industry Canada's PAA is the basis for Section 2 of this document. It illustrates 15 program activities and their associated sub-program activities as well as sub-sub-program activities.
Table 1.0 Industry Canada's PAA for 2008–2009
1.4 Summary Information
Industry Canada's Mandate
The department's mandate is to help make Canadians more productive and competitive in the global economy, thus improving the standard of living and quality of life in Canada. Industry Canada's policies, programs and services help grow a dynamic and innovative economy that achieves the following:
- provides more and better-paying jobs for Canadians;
- supports stronger economic growth through continued improvements in productivity and innovation performance;
- gives businesses, consumers and investors confidence that the marketplace is fair, efficient and competitive; and
- integrates the economic, environmental and social interests of Canadians.
Industry Canada will continue to work to foster growth and create high-quality, well-paying jobs through its strategic outcomes:
- a fair, efficient and competitive marketplace;
- an innovative economy; and
- competitive industry and sustainable communities.
These three strategic outcomes are mutually reinforcing. Sound marketplace frameworks help establish a business environment that supports innovation, investment and entrepreneurial activity. Fostering innovation in science and technology helps ensure that discoveries and breakthroughs happen here in Canada, and that the social and economic benefits of these innovations contribute to improving Canadians' standard of living and quality of life.
Encouraging investment in technology will help Canadian businesses to compete in the global marketplace and increase opportunities for trade. Successful businesses, combined with a sound environment, form sustainable communities that attract investment. Taken together, the department's strategic outcomes support growth in employment, income and productivity, and promote sustainable development in Canada.
This Report on Plans and Priorities provides information on how Industry Canada will support the broad goals of the Government of Canada by continuing to work with its partners and stakeholders to improve the quality of life of Canadians.
Industry Canada Organizational Information
Industry Canada's organizational chart illustrates the department's accountability structure.
Industry Canada’s Financial and Human Resources
The following two tables present Industry Canada’s financial and human resources over the next three fiscal years.
| 2008–2009 | 2009–2010 | 2010–2011 |
| $1045.8 | $922.6 | $927.3 |
| 2008–2009 | 2009–2010 | 2010–2011 |
| 5719 FTEs | 5708 FTEs | 5707 FTEs |
Summary Table of Priorities by Strategic Outcome*
The following table presents Industry Canada’s priorities by strategic outcome. The strategic outcomes are the top level of the department’s PAA; in other words, they are the long-term benefits that Industry Canada strives to achieve for Canadians. The indicators included allow Industry Canada to measure its contribution to these outcomes. Overall, measurement allows the department to see how well it is doing and where adjustments need to be made. The table also provides the financial and human resources allocated to each strategic outcome over the next three fiscal years.
|
Strategic Outcome A fair, efficient and competitive marketplace |
|||||
Indicators:
|
|||||
Sectors/organizations whose program activities support this strategic outcome
(for more information, see Section 2) |
|||||
| Planned Spending and Full-Time Equivalents** | |||||
| 2008–2009 | 2009–2010 | 2010–2011 | |||
| $226.9M | 3073 FTEs | $223.5M | 3082 FTEs | $222.7M | 3082 FTEs |
| Priority: Ensure marketplace policies help promote competitive markets and instill consumer confidence. (ongoing) | |||||
|
Strategic Outcome An innovative economy |
|||||
Indicators:
|
|||||
Sectors/organizations whose program activities support this strategic outcome
(for more information, see Section 2.2) |
|||||
| Planned Spending and Full-Time Equivalents** | |||||
| 2008–2009 | 2009–2010 | 2010–2011 | |||
| $483.9M | 659 FTEs | $444.2M | 657 FTEs | $459.7M | 656 FTEs |
| Priority: Foster business innovation. (ongoing) | |||||
| Priority: Invest in science and technology to enhance the generation and commercialization of knowledge. (ongoing) | |||||
|
Strategic Outcome Competitive industry and sustainable communities |
|||||
Indicators:
|
|||||
Sectors/organizations whose program activities support this strategic outcome
(for more information, see Section 2.3) |
|||||
| Planned Spending and Full-Time Equivalents** | |||||
| 2008–2009 | 2009–2010 | 2010–2011 | |||
| $335.0M | 845 FTEs | $254.9M | 827 FTEs | $244.9M | 827 FTEs |
| Priority: Foster internationally competitive businesses and industries. (ongoing) | |||||
| Priority: Promote entrepreneurship, community development and sustainable development. (ongoing) | |||||
- * The basis of the calculation for the allocation of internal services has been changed for 2008–2009. In previous years it was based on total budget, but for 2008–2009 and following it is based on total budget, excluding grants and contributions.
- ** FTEs not including Internal Services.
1.5 Departmental Plans and Priorities
This section provides more detail on the department's high-level priorities, presented by strategic outcome in the table above. It explains why these priorities are important to the delivery of Industry Canada's mandate. Further details on the department’s plans to achieve the priorities for this planning period, including how some specific programs and initiatives will contribute to these plans and priorities, follow in Section 2.
Strategic outcome: A fair, efficient and competitive marketplace
A fair, efficient and competitive marketplace helps to create a business environment that encourages business innovation, competition and growth, thereby supporting overall economic growth and a higher standard of living for Canadians.
Open and competitive markets also benefit consumers by encouraging improved choice and quality, and lower prices for goods and services.
In order to promote consumer confidence and more competitive and innovative businesses, Industry Canada will continue to ensure that we have the policies, regulations and administration to respond to the evolving marketplace.
Priority: Ensure marketplace policies help promote competitive markets and instill consumer confidence
In Advantage Canada, the government’s long-term economic plan, the government committed to freeing business to grow and succeed. Industry Canada is working closely with other federal departments to reduce the paper burden for small business by 20 percent by November 2008.
In 2008–2009, Industry Canada will also move to modernize a number of key marketplace framework policies. The Speech from the Throne committed to improving the protection of cultural and intellectual property rights, including copyright reform. Industry Canada will work with the Department of Canadian Heritage to update the Copyright Act, and will work with other federal departments to develop options to strengthen Canada’s intellectual property enforcement regime. The department will be working on a response to the final report of the Competition Policy Review Panel, which is reviewing Canada’s competition policies and foreign investment regime, in particular the Investment Canada Act. In May 2008, Industry Canada will hold an auction of spectrum for Advanced Wireless Services that will help to enhance innovation and choice in the wireless sector.
Through these and other initiatives, Industry Canada will continue to ensure that Canadian businesses can respond to the ever-changing demands and needs of the modern marketplace while ensuring continued consumer confidence.
Strategic outcome: An innovative economy
Scientific discoveries and new technologies provide solutions to many of the issues most important to Canadians, giving the knowledge and the means to preserve the quality of the environment, protect endangered species, improve health, enhance public safety and security, and manage natural and energy resources. Scientific and technological innovations enable modern economies to improve competitiveness and productivity, giving the means to achieve an even higher standard of living and better quality of life.
In November 2006, Canada’s federal government released Advantage Canada, an economic plan to make Canada a world leader now and in the future. Advantage Canada recognizes that Canada can and must do more to turn ideas into innovations that provide solutions to environmental, health, and other important social challenges, and to improve its economic competitiveness. Mobilizing Science and Technology to Canada’s Advantage is the government’s plan to achieve these goals. It sets out a comprehensive, multi-year science and technology (S&T) agenda.
The government’s S&T Strategy aims to build a sustainable national economic advantage and a higher quality of life for Canadians by developing three distinct advantages: an Entrepreneurial Advantage, a Knowledge Advantage and a People Advantage. The Strategy and its policy commitments are guided by four core principles:
- Promoting World-Class Excellence
- Focusing on Priorities
- Encouraging Partnerships
- Enhancing Accountability
Priority: Foster business innovation
Firms large and small are bringing innovations into our lives, whether in the form of new technologies to address environmental problems, new products to make our homes, schools, and businesses more comfortable and energy efficient or new therapies to improve the health and well-being of Canadians. Organizations at the forefront of scientific development and technological achievement create high-quality, knowledge-intensive jobs with high wages. They make our economy more competitive and productive, giving us the means to achieve an even higher standard of living and better quality of life. The private sector in Canada needs to fulfill its unique function to turn knowledge into the products, services, and production technologies that will improve our wealth, wellness, and well-being. The S&T Strategy recognizes that the most important role of the Government of Canada is to ensure a competitive marketplace and create an investment climate that encourages the private sector to compete against the world on the basis of their innovative products, services, and technologies.
Priority: Invest in S&T to enhance the generation and commercialization of knowledge
Canada must continue to strengthen its knowledge base. Science and technology capacity is more widely distributed around the world today, with countries such as China and India moving increasingly into higher segments of the value chain based on their cost advantages and considerable number of highly qualified personnel. To succeed in an increasingly competitive global arena, Canadians must be at the leading edge of important developments that generate health, environmental, societal, and economic benefits. Now that Canada has built a strong research foundation, it must strive for excellence in science and technology. The S&T Strategy lays out a framework that will guide intelligent and strategic investments of public funds.
Strategic outcome: Competitive industry and sustainable communities
Competitive industry and sustainable communities help to ensure good jobs, economic growth, and a high standard of living and quality of life for all Canadians.
Canadian businesses compete in a constantly changing modern marketplace with ever-increasing competition for skilled workers and customers. A better understanding of the many challenges and opportunities that our businesses face will help our companies to compete and prosper in the global, knowledge-based economy.
The Mackenzie Gas Project (MGP) was transferred from Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) to Industry Canada on December 10, 2007. The MGP is a proposed 1220-kilometre natural gas pipeline system through the Mackenzie Valley in the Northwest Territories that will connect northern onshore gas fields with North American markets and has the potential to make key contributions to Canada’s role as an energy superpower. In 2008–2009, Industry Canada will advance progress, including regulatory processes and construction approvals, and will work to resolve Aboriginal claims and interests through facilitation and negotiation. The process of transferring the funding from INAC to Industry Canada will be completed in 2008–2009.
Priority: Foster internationally competitive businesses and industries
Trade and investment abroad give domestic firms access to new knowledge and greater opportunities to profit from their investments. Industry Canada will support the Speech from the Throne commitment to bolster international trade by participating in multilateral negotiations under the World Trade Organization, and by participating in bilateral or regional trade and investment negotiations.
Industry Canada will also participate in various major trade shows and missions showcasing Canada’s capabilities. The department will also build on the Government of Canada’s strategic economic plan by developing an action plan that targets the automotive industry.
Priority: Promote entrepreneurship, community development and sustainable development
Industry Canada will support Canadian communities and their capacity to respond to economic opportunities and challenges by providing funding and guidance. In collaboration with federal, provincial, territorial and local governments, Industry Canada developed BizPaL, an online service that simplifies the business permit and licence process for entrepreneurs, government and third-party business service providers to provide business with easier access to the marketplace.
Industry Canada will also increase the availability of loans for new and small businesses and promote access to loans by small businesses to establish, expand, modernize and improve themselves. By helping small businesses to grow and create new jobs, Canada will benefit from a more dynamic economy.
1.6 Industry Canada’s Management Priorities
Industry Canada is committed to strengthening departmental management practices, and uses the Management Accountability Framework (MAF) as a tool to advance its management priorities. In 2008–2009, work will continue on government-wide management priorities, including Public Service Renewal, the Federal Accountability Act and the Treasury Board Policy suite renewal. At the departmental level, the management agenda will continue to place priority on ensuring that a strong stewardship framework is in place and adhered to within the department.
Departmental management priorities and initiatives are identified through the MAF’s external and internal assessment processes. Industry Canada has developed a proactive approach to the annual MAF cycle through the development of a department-wide MAF Action Plan. The Action Plan identifies specific management areas and incorporates various tools to ensure the department maintains a solid capacity to continuously monitor and improve its management practices.
Below are some of the key management initiatives that Industry Canada will aim to strengthen in 2008–2009:
- Integration, Use and Reporting of Performance Information
- New recourse and disclosure process required under the Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act
- Corporate Performance Framework
- Integrated Risk Management
- Human Resources Modernization Initiatives
- Project Management Governance
- Integrated Human Resource and Business Planning
Industry Canada reports on the progress made in strengthening its management practices in its Departmental Performance Reports.