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The original version was signed by
The Honourable James Moore, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages
Raison d'être and Responsibilities
Strategic Outcome and Program Activity Architecture (PAA)
Organizational Priorities
Risk Analysis
Planning Summary
Expenditure Profile
Estimates by Vote
Strategic Outcome
Program Activity: Conservation and Development
Planning Highlights
Program Activity: Public Education and Services
Planning Highlights
Program Activity: Internal Services
Planning Highlights
Financial Highlights
Future-Oriented Financial Statements
List of Supplementary Information Tables
Year after year, Canadian Heritage portfolio organizations pursue Government of Canada objectives to allow Canadians to discover the richness of their culture and their heritage. As Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, I am pleased to present the 2012-13 Report on Plans and Priorities prepared by the National Battlefields Commission.
This year, the National Battlefields Commission will move forward with its efforts regarding conservation, development and public services at Battlefields Park. In addition to its everyday operations, it will focus on repairs to infrastructure and on actions that will allow long-term savings. The Commission will also concentrate its efforts on projects related to the transmission of knowledge about the park’s history.
As indicated in this report, in 2012-13, the National Battlefields Commission will continue to take concrete measures to promote our arts, culture, and heritage. In so doing, it will help improve the quality of life of Canadians, while contributing to Canada’s social, cultural, and economic vitality.
The Honourable James Moore, P.C., M.P.
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.
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. 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 the 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, natural, accessible, safe and educational historic and urban site and is responsible for general oversight of the Park’s operations.
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.
The NBC works to achieve the following strategic outcome:
The Battlefields Park of Québec is a prestigious, natural, accessible, safe and educational historic and urban site.
The Strategic Outcome was modified by adding the word « natural », since this is a very important aspect for Battlefields Park and more accurately reflects the Park’s preservation mission. The Strategic Outcome as amended was approved by the Secretary of Treasury Board, effective as of the 2012-13 fiscal year.
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.
Priority | Type | Strategic Outcome and/or Program Activity |
---|---|---|
Ensure first-rate general maintenance and carry out certain infrastructure repairs | Permanent | This priority is in line with the “Conservation and Development” program activity. |
Description | ||
Why is this a priority? Plans for meeting the priority |
Priority | Type | Strategic Outcome and/or Program Activity |
---|---|---|
Provide a healthy environment by adopting sustainable development principles | Permanent | This priority is in line with the “Conservation and Development” program activity. |
Description | ||
Why is this a priority? Plans for meeting the priority |
Priority | Type | Strategic Outcome and/or Program Activity |
---|---|---|
Offer quality services related to the park’s educational, sociocultural and natural aspects | Permanent | This priority is in line with the “Public Education and Services” program activity. |
Description | ||
Why is this a priority? Plans for meeting the priority |
Priority | Type | Strategic Outcome and/or Program Activity |
---|---|---|
Provide information about the park’s history and the historical events connected with it | Previously committed | This priority is in line with “Public Education and Services” program activity |
Description | ||
Why is this a priority? Plans for meeting the priority |
Priority | Type | Strategic Outcome and/or Program Activity |
---|---|---|
Sustain a balance between the historical mission and the urban mission, between accessibility, preservation and development. | New | This priority is in line with “Conservation and Development” program activity |
Description | ||
Why is this a priority? Plans for meeting the priority |
Every year, the NBC is faced with certain risks that can affect its plans and priorities, as well as achievement of the Strategic Outcome of “The Battlefields Park of Québec as a prestigious, natural, accessible, safe and educational historic and urban site.”
Over the coming year, the NBC will carry out internal organizational changes because of departures while pursuing its mandate and ensuring sound management of this very busy park in the heart of Québec city.
The balance between the Park’s historical mission and its urban mission is an important issue for the NBC, and is associated with accessibility, preservation and development of the Park. In the context of external pressures regarding the use of the site, the NBC will have to review its site use policy over the coming year and establish clear conditions adapted to the current situation. Any future position on activities may upset a portion of the public.
The NBC will focus on meeting revenue objectives that are essential to maintaining ongoing conservation, development and public services operations.
However, poor weather or economic conditions may lead to reduced visits to the Park and reduced participation in interpretive activities offered by the NBC, which could prevent the Commission from meeting its revenue objectives and from carrying out certain conservation and development projects.
The NBC annually plans for rebuilding and improvement work in the Park to ensure it is safe for users, all the buildings are preserved and development activities are carried out.
Since over 4 million people visit the Park per year, accidents and lawsuits are possible despite the prevention activities of the security service (patrolling the park in its entirety, awareness and signage). To avoid these risks, conservation of Battlefields Park will be carried out via general maintenance and certain infrastructure rebuilding activities, as set out in the long-term investment plan. The NBC will ensure that its budget is carefully monitored to stay within estimated project costs; however, if costs are higher, the Commission will review its priorities to meet its budget and will postpone certain less urgent work.
The most significant risks include the NBC’s decision on whether to open Gilmour Hill during winter. While the NBC takes all precautions required and analyzes all of the impacts, this controversial issue could upset a portion of the public. The NBC plans to properly explain its decision and the effects of this decision. In the event that the NBC decides to open the Hill in the winter, it will take all necessary precautions to prevent the associated costs from unbalancing its maintenance budget.
Moreover, further to the horizontal audit by the Auditor General’s Office of the basic financial controls, the NBC must make a few adjustments in how it operates, and prepare a manual of procedures to comply with guidelines and facilitate consultation.
2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 |
---|---|---|
9,244 | 9,244 | 9,244 |
The Financial Resources table presents the NBC’s total financial resources (total planned spending) over the next three fiscal years.
2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 |
---|---|---|
60 | 60 | 60 |
* The Human Resources table presents the NBC’s total planned human resources over the next three fiscal years.
Strategic Outcome: The Battlefields Park of Québec is a prestigious, natural, 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 continue to implement the 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 ($ thousands) |
Forecast Spending | Planned Spending ($ thousands) |
Alignment to Government of Canada Outcomes | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2011-12 | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 | ||
Conservation and Development | 2,424 | 2,377 | 2,377 | 2,377 | A vibrant Canadian culture and heritage |
Public Education and Services | 922 | 986 | 986 | 986 | A vibrant Canadian culture and heritage |
Total Planned Spending | 3,363 | 3,363 | 3,363 |
Program Activities ($ thousands) |
Forecast Spending | Planned Spending | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
2011-12 | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 | |
Internal Services | 6,282 | 5,881 | 5,881 | 5,881 |
Total Planned Spending | 5,881 | 5,881 | 5,881 |
The fluctuation can be explained as follows:
For information on our organizational votes and/or statutory expenditures, please see the 2012–13 Main Estimates publication. An electronic version of the Main Estimates is available at http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/est-pre/20122013/me-bpd/toc-tdm-eng.asp.
Strategic Outcome
The Battlefields Park of Québec is a prestigious, natural, accessible, safe and educational historic and urban site.
The role of the NBC 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.
This section presents the NBC’s program activities, expected results, performance indicators and related objectives. It also set outs the financial and human resources that will be allocated to each program activity. Two program activities support the strategic outcome: “Conservation and Development” and “Public Education and Services”.
Through this activity, the NBC preserves the integrity of Battlefields Park for future generations by maintaining and improving, when required, infrastructure, landscaping and horticulture, and offering a safe site for Canadians and foreign users and visitors.
2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 |
---|---|---|
2,377 | 2,377 | 2,377 |
2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 |
---|---|---|
23 | 23 | 23 |
Program Activity Expected Result | Performance Indicator | Target |
---|---|---|
Improve park infrastructure to ensure its long-term preservation and maintain facilities in good condition. | Satisfactory general condition, quality facilities and integrity of the grounds. | Maintain general condition of the park, make infrastructure repairs each year and implement the sustainable development action plan (80% users satisfaction – online survey). |
To preserve the Park over the long term and keep its facilities safe and in good condition, the NBC plans to take the following steps:
If the NBC decides to allow Gilmour Hill to open for winter, major work will need to be carried out before the opening if funding for this work has been secured.
The purpose of this program activity is to showcase the history of the site and its sociocultural, recreational and natural aspects so as to emphasize its dual role as a historic and an urban park. In support of this activity, the NBC welcomes visitors, presents exhibits and educational activities and provides high-quality public services.
2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 |
---|---|---|
986 | 986 | 986 |
2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 |
---|---|---|
17 | 17 | 17 |
Program Activity Expected Result | Performance Indicator | Target |
---|---|---|
Promote the history of Canada’s first national historic park and its cultural, recreational and natural aspects. | The quality of public and educational services; client satisfaction and number of users of public and educational services. | Maintain and improve the quality of services (80% user satisfaction – in-house survey). Number of user expected: increase 1% (in-house survey). Dissemination of the park’s history (increase the number of Web site users and the attendance for activities offer by NBC). |
In order to achieve the expected result, the NBC will take the following steps:
Internal Services support the achievement of the NBC’s strategic outcome and program activities in keeping with the NBC’s mandate and vision within the budget allocated and in accordance with government policies.
Internal Services are groups of related activities and resources that are administered to support the needs of the program activities and other obligations the NBC is subject to. These services are indispensable for the sound and responsible management of the NBC’s program activities. These groups consist of administrative services, financial services, communications services, legal services, management and oversight services, information technology services, information management services, real property services, materiel services, acquisition services and payments in lieu of property taxes.
2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 |
---|---|---|
5,881 | 5,881 | 5,881 |
2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 |
---|---|---|
20 | 20 | 20 |
To achieve the expected result, the NBC will take the following steps:
The data presented in the following report provide a general and future-oriented overview of the NBC’s position and financial operations. These data are presented on an accrual basis in order to strengthen accountability and improve transparency and financial management.
All Future-Oriented Financial Statements may be viewed by clicking on that title on the following Internet page: http://www.ccbn-nbc.gc.ca/_en/rapports.php?section=8
($ thousands)
Condensed Statement of Operations |
% Change |
Future-Oriented 2012-13 |
Future-Oriented 2011-12 |
---|---|---|---|
Expenses |
|
|
|
Total Expenses |
-2.5 |
10,148 |
10,404 |
Revenue (including income from the trust fund)* |
|
|
|
Total Revenue |
-3.7 |
1,778 |
1,846 |
Net Cost of Operations |
-2.2 |
8,370 |
8,558 |
($ thousands)
Condensed Statement of Financial Position |
% Change |
Future-Oriented 2012-13 |
Future-Oriented 2011-12 |
---|---|---|---|
Assets |
|
|
|
Total Assets |
-3.2 |
13,551 |
13,993 |
Liabilities |
|
|
|
Total Liabilities |
-4.5 |
1,070 |
1,120 |
Equity of Canada |
-3 |
12,481 |
12,873 |
Total |
-3.2 |
13,551 |
13,993 |
*The NBC has had a trust fund since 1984 for receiving donations from individuals, municipal corporations, and provincial and other governments. The fund is managed according to the provisions of section 9.1 of the National Battlefields Commission at Québec Act.
The tables below are presented on the Treasury Board Secretary Web site:
Act respecting the National Battlefields at Québec | 1908, 7-8 Edward VII, c. 57 and amendments http://laws.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/N-3.4/FullText.html |
---|---|
By-law Amending the National Battlefields Park By-law | DORS/2002-186, 9 May 2002 http://laws.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-91-519/page-1.html |
Internet Address: www.ccbn-nbc.gc.ca
André Beaudet, Commission Secretary
e-mail: andre.beaudet@ccbn-nbc.gc.ca
Louise Germain, Assistant Secretary
e-mail: louise.germain@ccbn-nbc.gc.ca
Anne Chouinard, Executive Assistant
e-mail: anne.chouinard@ccbn-nbc.gc.ca
Paule Veilleux, Financial Services Agent
e-mail: paule.veilleux@ccbn-nbc.gc.ca
The National Battlefields Commission
390 de Bernières Avenue
Québec, Quebec, G1R 2L7
Telehone: (418) 648-3506
Facsimile: (418) 648-3638