CCA Bulletin 44/06

Ottawa , October 25, 2006

CCA Analysis of 2006-07 Government Plans and Priorities

Just the Facts

The Honourable John Baird, President of the Treasury Board, recently tabled the 2006-2007 Reports on Plans and Priorities (RPP) in the House of Commons. These reports contain the expenditure plans for 90 federal government departments and agencies including, and of particular interest to members and supporters of the Canadian Conference of the Arts (CCA), the Department of Canadian Heritage (DCH). In time the CCA will also endeavour to examine other areas of interest in the federal government's 2006-2007 RPP including, for example, the Departments of Industry and Foreign Affairs.

The Reports on Plans and Priorities provide information on a department's plans, priorities and expected results over a three-year period; thus, this year's plans extend to the period ending March 31, 2009.  They also provide supplementary detail on financial and human resource requirements, major capital projects, grants and contributions, alternative service delivery, sustainable development strategies, horizontal initiatives and net program costs.  These expenditures reflect the commitments made in Budget 2006, which was announced on May 2, 2006. (Please refer to the Government of Canada's own backgrounder for further details on the Estimates process.)

The Plans and Priorities laid out for the Department of Canadian Heritage (DCH) are quite extensive and the documents confirm that many agencies, policies, and programs are either currently, or will soon be, subjected to some kind of a review. And while the internal processes of preparing the 2006-2007 RPP document would have begun prior to the federal election earlier this year, it is apparent that the new Government of Canada is intent on putting its mark on several key areas, notably audio-visual policy, broadcasting and telecommunications, copyright, etc. The language in the considerations that must guide any DCH program or policy is also completely consistent with a focused Government that made electoral commitments to Canadians regarding "responding to their needs", "offering real value", and "ensuring efficient and responsible management".

Tell Me More

The chart outlining the fiscal resources to be allocated to the Department over the next three fiscal years shows what appears to be a drop totaling $305.6 million.

While human resources (in full-time equivalents) will remain stable, and are even set for a slight increase in 2007-2008, by 2008-2009 financial resources of the DCH will be reduced to $1,166.4 million from $1,472.0 million in 2006-2007.

Canadian Heritage staff explains that what we see is the normal ebb and flow of resources as a result of some carryovers from previous years that may inflate the 2006-07 years and also a number of one-time expenditures which only appear in 2006-07.For example, under "Sustainability", $125M is planned for 2006-07 capital projects for the Vancouver Olympics.This is one-time funding for capital costs that must be met now.Similarly, under "Creation of Canadian Content and Performance", $100M is locked in for 2006-07 for the Canadian Television Fund and the Department is working on the longer-term renewal.There are also smaller initiatives which have one-time funding for this year only reflected in the Table.These include such things as $30M for the Centre for Pluralism and $10M final installment for a one-time endowment for the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation.

While n owhere in the documents is the important "Tomorrow Starts Today" [TST] initiative mentioned, we are assured that financing of this package is forecast to continue to the tune of $172 million per year until March 31, 2010 (having said this, TST is not permanent, "A-based" federal funding). The CCA will continue to monitor and communicate any and all developments related to the crucial issue of increased, stable, multi-year funding for the arts and cultural sector.

There are a number of themes that come out on a fairly consistent basis in the report that bear mentioning, and monitoring over the coming months:

• There is frequent mention of the changing context for policy and programming in the arts, heritage and cultural industries sectors (notably technological change, but also changing demographics, globalization, etc.), which is being used as a rationale to rethink policy and programs;
• In the context of this review of policy and programs, there is also frequent mention of bringing policy and programs in greater alignment with government-wide priorities;
• Review of policy and programs is often linked directly to legislative review;
• At this moment, there do not appear to be any new spending initiatives planned;
• There is discussion of developing an International Strategic Framework, which could align international activities on culture more closely with broader government-wide priorities as is mentioned in the text (i.e. trade promotion, closer Canada-US relations, etc.). It will be critical to situate the issue of the protection and promotion of our domestic Canadian arts and culture in an emerging International Strategic Framework;  
• Last, it is important to note that the planned spending figures in the RPP can definitely be subject to change. Only the 2006-2007 main estimates have been voted upon, so anything beyond 2006-2007 cannot be counted on and could be changed because we will only know when the Estimates for each of the coming two years are tabled in Parliament.

The Hon. Bev Oda, Minister of Canadian Heritage, appeared in front of the Standing Committee as a witness regarding the RPP and the Main Estimates 2006-2007 on Wednesday, October 18. Nothing much new was learned on her Department's priorities from her presentation or from the question period that ensued except that more studies and reviews are under way "to ensure that Canadians get good value for their money".

Tell Me Even More!

The RPP for the DCH gives the following preamble as an overview of priorities for the next 3 years:

Given the rapid pace of technological advancement, evolving markets, and demographic change, the Department of Canadian Heritage is continually reviewing and adjusting its programs and policies to ensure that they meet the needs of Canadians. The Department's programs and policies are guided by these considerations:

• ensuring efficient and responsible management;
• responding to the needs of Canadians;
• setting objectives and outcomes that are clear; and
• offering real value to Canadians

More specifically, Section II of the report provides a description of each of eight priorities of the Department of Canadian Heritage (DCH) and the details on the key initiatives in each of the priority areas. (It is important to note that the priorities are categorized as follows: an ongoing priority is considered to have no end date, whereas a previously committed priority is considered to have an estimated end date.)

(Each of the Priorities and Key Initiatives explained in more detail) 

Erratum

In CCA Bulletin 43/06 (October 19, 2006), we accidentally use the old name of the Periodical Writers Association of Canada, which changed its name to Professional Writers Association of Canada last May.