Annex D: Corporate Functions and Services

Policy and Strategic Direction includes the following key areas:

1. Corporate Policy and Programs (CPP) leads the establishment of strategic policy priorities for the department and provides corporate leadership for program and funding renewals as well as research and policy analysis. CPP is also responsible for the department’s planning, reporting and performance measurement and ensures that departmental standards for due diligence in grants and contributions management are followed.
   
   Priorities for 2011–12:
   • reviewing the project approval process;
   • undertaking program management-related activities such as renewals, wind-downs, extensions and modernizations;
   • advancing the quality of Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) performance information and reporting;
   • revising WD’s Performance Measurement Framework and Program Activity Architecture;
   • better aligning and coordinating the suite of departmental planning processes and documents;
   • developing a departmental research plan;
   • transferring knowledge to core programming of lessons learned and good practices from delivering the Community Adjustment Fund and the Recreational Infrastructure Canada program.
     
     
2. Corporate Secretariat manages the Executive Committee’s agenda; manages ministerial and senior executive approval of reports, documents and correspondence; and provides oversight of the department’s overall forward agenda. 
   
   Priorities for 2011–12:
   • continuing the development of internal processes and procedures;
   • standardizing briefing note guidelines;
   • establishing WD’s document tracking system governance;
   • providing departmental training.
     
     
3. Corporate Consultation, Marketing and Communications (CMC) is responsible for internal and external communications in support of WD’s strategic outcomes, priorities and results.
   
   In 2011–12, CMC will focus on implementing WD’s Communications Strategy, providing strategic communications services to the Minister and clarifying the CMC mandate. 
   
   
4. Strategic Policy and Advocacy (SPA) advocates and advances the economic and policy interests of Western Canada in Ottawa. SPA works with CPP and the regional offices to provide strategic advice to the Minister on items going before Cabinet and other government priorities; leads or supports WD engagement in the development of Memoranda to Cabinet and Treasury Board submissions; represents WD and the interests of Western Canada on numerous federal decision-making fora; and provides leadership for the department in identifying potential industrial and regional benefit opportunities for western Canadian aerospace and defence industries from the procurement of major military and other federal projects.
   
   In 2011–12, priorities include developing a strategic policy framework to outline the department’s policy priorities; conducting outreach to key federal and provincial partners; and optimizing opportunities for the West related to national defence and security initiatives and The Industrial and Regional Benefits Policy.

The Finance and Corporate Management branch includes four key areas:

1. Finance and Management Accountability is responsible for ensuring the integrity of WD’s financial management system, the overall stewardship of the department’s financial resources and financial reporting. Finance and Management Accountability continues to place a high priority on meeting expectations for financial governance, internal controls and financial management systems.
   
   Priorities for 2011–12 include meeting the new external reporting requirements for quarterly reports and future oriented financial statements as well as implementing the financial monitoring framework in compliance with the new policy on Internal Control.
   
   
2. Human Resources provides the leadership and framework for the management of departmental human resources. WD is committed to excellence in people management, to Public Service Renewal and to sustaining the necessary complement of qualified, motivated and knowledgeable staff to deliver on WD’s mandate and contribute to federal priorities.
   
   Priorities for 2011–12 include activities in support of employee development, renewing the workforce and workplace as well as improving WD’s performance management processes (refer to Section 5).
   
   
3. Information Management and Technology ⁴⁴ (IMT) ensures WD has the relevant leadership, technologies and information systems to enable complete, accurate and timely information for efficient and effective business analysis, decision making and reporting.
   
   In 2011–12, IMT will continue to engage in activities that support the departmental IM priority. Additional priorities for 2011–12: i) provide a safe, secure, reliable and available network infrastructure enabling employees to effectively use technology to communicate, collaborate, meet business expectations and demonstrate results; and ii) maintain existing corporate applications which provide human resource services, financial services, project lifecycle management, results and reporting, document tracking and the department’s public web site.
   
   
4. Corporate Administration leads and coordinates the development, implementation and monitoring of departmental administrative policies. This includes Access to Information and Privacy, corporate security, occupational health and safety, accommodations, procurement or contracting oversight, material and asset management, telecommunications, relocation and proactive disclosure of contracts over $10,000 and travel and hospitality expenses.
   
   Priorities for 2011–12 include the development of a departmental Emergency Management Plan, carrying out activities and tasks identified in the annual security plan and staff training and awareness building.

The Audit and Evaluation Branch provides audit and evaluation services that help WD to achieve management excellence. Pursuant to the Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act, the Audit and Evaluation branch coordinates any necessary investigations and makes recommendations to the Deputy Minister of alleged wrongdoing. Internal audit provides assurance services on governance, controls and risk management processes. Evaluation analyzes the relevance and performance of government spending.

Planned audits and evaluations are described in Annex E.