Strategic outcome and program activity descriptions

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The Senate

Strategic Outcome—To enable the Senate to carry out its constitutional role and to administer the affairs of the Senate.

  • Program Activity—Senators and their offices

    Provides Senators with the statutory services set out in the Parliament of Canada Act and the Members of Parliament Retiring Allowances Act. Operating costs of Senators' offices are provided in accordance with established policies and guidelines. Costs included under these two categories are: Senators' sessional indemnities and allowances as well as contributions to the Senators' pension plan; retiring allowances; travel and communication expenses; Senators' research and office expenses, including staff costs and the cost of goods and services incurred for the operations of Senators' offices; and Caucus research funds.

  • Program Activity—Administrative support

    Provide the on-going support services required for the effective, efficient and economical delivery of operating programs outlined under the other three program activity of the Senate. Administrative support provides accommodation and other facilities and tools, information, goods and services, and expert advice on all aspects of operations. Costs included in this program activity are: financial services and materiel management; human resources; protective services; communications and information services; information technology management; accommodation planning, maintenance and upkeep of premises; postal, messenger and printing services; and repairs, trades and transportation services.

  • Program Activity—Committees and associations

    Provide support for the work of Senators on standing, special and joint committees. Committees are delegated the task of conducting in-depth studies of bills and approving or amending legislation based on testimony from expert witnesses and advice and counsel from legal experts. They investigate policy matters and make recommendations as well as examine the Government's spending proposals. Senators also participate in parliamentary associations and friendship groups, representing Canada in international forums where issues of importance to Canadians are discussed. Costs included under this program activity are: committees and parliamentary associations; reporting of debates and publications service; and broadcasting committee proceedings.

  • Program Activity—Chamber operations

    Provide the support and services Senators require for their work in the Senate Chamber, which includes debate and approval of legislation, presentation of petitions, discussion of Committee reports and ceremonial events. These functions are carried out in accordance with the Rules of the Senate, parliamentary procedure and precedents and the Speaker's rulings. Costs included under this program activity are: salaries for additional duties of the Officers of the Senate; staff costs and the costs of operating the offices of Officers of the Senate; salaries and other operating expenses of the Clerk of the Senate, Deputy Clerk, Parliamentary Counsel and Usher of the Black Rod; journals, reporting of debates and publications service in both official languages; Senate Pages; and parliamentary exchanges.

House of Commons

Strategic Outcome—Effective administrative and professional support of Members, both individually and collectively, in their roles as legislators and representatives of 308 constituencies, in the Chamber, in committee and in Caucus.

  • Program Activity—Members and House officers

    Members assume the roles of legislators and elected representatives of their constituency. In their constituencies, Members participate in events and activities and discuss with constituents about their concerns. In the Chamber, Members participate in debates, study and vote on legislation. Members sit on standing committees and special or joint committees, since the House of Commons delegates in-depth consideration of bills and the thorough scrutiny of the Government's programs and policies to its committees. Members also participate in parliamentary associations and interparliamentary groups, and are members of delegations in parliamentary exchanges. Finally, in caucus, Members develop strategy, discuss policy and examine important issues with fellow party members, and direct the work of party research offices. Some Members also assume additional functions such as: the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, House Leaders and Chief Whips.

  • Program Activity—House administration

    House employees are responsible for providing services to the Members elected during a Parliament, and in addition, serve the House as an institution on a permanent basis by providing: continuity from one Parliament to another; access to parliamentary records; and a stable infrastructure to support Members in the democratic process. Advice and support are provided in a wide variety of services such as: procedural, legislative, legal, information technology and management, building management, security, food, finance, human resources, health and safety. The staff of the House of Commons strives to support the institution and the members in their roles as legislators and representatives of 308 constituencies, in the Chamber, in committee and in Caucus.

Library of Parliament

Strategic Outcome—An informed and accessible Parliament.

  • Program Activity—Information support for Parliament

    This program activity provides parliamentarians with information, documentation, research and analysis services to help them fulfil their roles as legislators and representatives and to support them in their efforts to make Parliament and information about Parliament accessible to the public.

Strategic Outcome—The following program activity supports all strategic outcomes within this organization.

  • Library of Parliament-Program Activity—Internal services

    The Internal services program activity supports all strategic outcomes and is common across government. 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: Management and oversight services; Communications services; Legal services; Human resources management services; Financial management services; Information management services; Information technology services; Real property services; Materiel services; Acquisition services; and Travel and Other administrative services. Internal services include only those activities and resources that apply across an organization and not to those provided specifically to a program.

Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner

Strategic Outcome—The public can feel confident that public office holders and MPs are meeting the requirements of the conflict of interest compliance measures.

  • Program Activity—Administration of the Conflict of Interest Act and the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons

    The Commissioner provides confidential advice to Public Office Holders (POHs) and MPs about how to comply with the Conflict of Interest Act and the MP's Code respectively. She is also mandated to provide confidential advice to the Prime Minister about conflict of interest and ethics issues. The Commissioner may conduct an inquiry into whether a MP has contravened the Code or a present or former POH has breached the Act. This program activity benefits Canadians by minimizing the possibility of conflicts arising between the private interests and public duties of POHs and MPs and provide for the resolution of those conflicts in the public interest should they arise.

Strategic Outcome—The following program activity supports all strategic outcomes within this organization.

  • Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner-Program Activity—Internal services

    The Internal services program activity supports all strategic outcomes and is common across government. 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: Management and oversight services; Communications services; Legal services; Human resources management services; Financial management services; Information management services; Information technology services; Real property services; Materiel services; Acquisition services; and Travel and Other administrative services. Internal services include only those activities and resources that apply across an organization and not to those provided specifically to a program.

Senate Ethics Officer

Strategic Outcome—Senators meet their obligations under the Conflict of Interest Code in amanner that contributes to the integrity of the Senate as an institution.

  • Program Activity—Administration

    Themandate of the Senate Ethics Officer is to administer and interpret the Code for Senators that sets out standards of conduct for Members of the Senate. The primary functions of the Senate Ethics Officer are: to provide confidential opinions and advice on any matter respecting Senators' obligations under the Code; to review confidential annual disclosure statements (listing sources of income, assets, liabilities, government contracts, financial and other interests), advise Senators on possible conflicts and compliance measures, and prepare public disclosure summaries; to conduct inquiries and investigations, if necessary, regarding compliance with the Code.

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