RPP 2007-2008
Privy Council Office and Public Appointments Commission Secretariat

SECTION I - OVERVIEW

Prime Minister's Message

Over the past year, Canada's New Government has delivered change by getting things done for families and taxpayers. It has taken many steps, including putting forward Advantage Canada, a long-term plan that will create the right conditions and opportunities for families and businesses to succeed, and introducing measures to tackle crime. The Government will continue to deliver tangible results for Canadians. As it begins its second year in office, the Government will pursue a focused and active agenda that includes:

• Making Canada's institutions more democratic and more accountable;

• Strengthening the federation by adopting a more open style of federalism and through the restoration of fiscal balance in Canada;

• Building a stronger economy by presenting a budget that controls spending, lowers taxes and pays down the national debt as part of a larger comprehensive economic plan;

• Standing up for Canada's interests and values on the world stage;

• Continuing efforts to make Canada's streets and communities safer; and

• Stepping up action to protect the environment and the health of Canadians.

This agenda will build on our successes to date to make Canada a stronger, safer and better country for all of us.

To help us implement this agenda and to respond to issues as they arise, our Government relies on the competence, expertise and non-partisan advice it receives from the dedicated public servants who make up the Privy Council Office. The plans outlined in this report will, when fully implemented, greatly assist our Government in achieving its goals for Canadians. I am pleased to present the 2007-2008 Report on Plans and Priorities for the Privy Council Office.

I am also pleased to present the 2007-2008 Report on Plans and Priorities for the recently established Public Appointments Commission Secretariat as an attached document.

Management Representation Statement

I submit for tabling in Parliament, the 2007-2008 Report on Plans and Priorities (RPP) for the Privy Council Office.

This document has been prepared based on the reporting principles contained in the Guide for the Preparation of Part III of the 2007-2008 Estimates: Reports on Plans and Priorities and Departmental Performance Reports:

• It adheres to the specific reporting requirements outlined in the Treasury Board Secretariat guidance;
• It is based on the department's Strategic Outcome and Program Activity Architecture that were approved by the 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.

Kevin G. Lynch
Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet

Summary Information

Financial Resources (thousands of dollars)

Human Resources

Departmental Priorities

Program Activities by Strategic Outcome

1. The priorities for PCO are as follows:
   1. Support the Prime Minister in exercising his overall leadership responsibility
   2. Improve the management and accountability of government
   3. Focus on key policy areas and strengthen medium-term policy
   4. Strengthen PCO's internal management practices

Departmental Plans and Priorities

Operating Environment

PCO's priorities depend in large part on the Government's agenda and are subject to a variety of internal and external influences. Significant ones are outlined below.

Focus on government-wide priorities
Over the past year, the Government has delivered on a focused set of priorities, instituted an emphasis on managerial rigour, made some changes to the Ministry, and introduced a new Cabinet committee on the environment and energy security. The Government has pursued a focused agenda that includes presentation of the 2006 budget that controlled spending, lowered taxes, and made strategic investments; crime and safety; accountability and democratic reform; international leadership; and the environment. PCO needs to ensure government-wide focus on these key priorities.

Public expectations for increased government accountability
Canadians expect their government to provide more, better and faster services without increasing their taxes. At the same time, they expect their government to make sound decisions, to be transparent and to account for the use of their taxes.

With the implementation of the Federal Accountability Act and associated Action Plan, the Government began a major transformation of its accountability to Canadians. The implementation of the Act over the coming year will bring increased discipline to government operations and lead to strengthened confidence of Canadians in their government. In this context, PCO as a central agency and as the Prime Minister's department has a special duty to lead by example by demonstrating an efficient and effective use of public resources, with excellence being the benchmark.

Complexity of issues
Although the priorities of the Government are clear and focused, the business of government in a modern society is inevitably complex. There is increased interdependence among governments and a convergence of sectors that are changing relationships and policy design. Decision makers are faced with challenges and opportunities that are influenced by varying pressures, international circumstances, budget limits and changing expectations. In addition, the Government faces a minority situation in both the House of Commons and the Senate. To deal with this level of complexity, PCO must support integration within the federal government community, and encourage teamwork within and across departments and agencies. As well, strong and effective networks involving the federal government, other orders of government and stakeholders are key success factors. PCO must also ensure that it is able to attract and engage people with a high level of policy expertise and analytical capability.

Societal and demographic changes
The face of Canada is being reshaped by societal and demographic changes. The population of Canada is aging, with 4.1 million Canadians 65 years of age and older in 2003. The number of older Canadians is expected to reach 6.4 million in 2020 - nearly one in five Canadians. According to 2001 Census data, the median age of the labour force was also up from 37 in 1991, to 39 in 2001. In addition, immigrants who landed in Canada during the 1990s and who were in the labour force in 2001 represented almost 70 percent of the net growth of the Canadian labour force over the decade. With the baby boomers aging and fewer young people entering the working age population, the potential exists for shortages in certain occupations.

The federal public service is also impacted by these important demographic and societal trends. For example, a large number of employees in the executive cadre category will be retiring within 10 years. Public service renewal will require a new focus on recruitment, retention and leadership development in the Public Service of Canada. An excellent public service is marked by a diversity of linguistic, geographical and cultural views. It is also enhanced by knowledge of the demographic changes that are occurring in Canadian society. PCO will support the public service renewal priority both across government and within PCO itself.

Accelerating technological shifts
With technological shifts and advances comes the availability of new tools that not only increase the expectations of Canadians for information and services but also help the Public Service to deliver on the Government's commitments and to be held accountable through a number of control and reporting mechanisms. These changes will require a public service that is flexible, agile, innovative and focused on excellence.

The New Government's Priorities

During this fiscal year, support will continue to focus on the priorities articulated by the Government in its Speech from the Throne, and the agenda identified by the Government at the beginning of its second year in office. This agenda includes:

• Making Canada's institutions more democratic and more accountable;

• Strengthening the federation by adopting a more open style of federalism and through the restoration of fiscal balance in Canada;

• Building a stronger economy by presenting a budget that controls spending, lowers taxes and pays down the national debt as part of a larger comprehensive economic plan;

• Standing up for Canada's interests and values on the world stage;

• Continuing efforts to make Canada's streets and communities safer; and

• Stepping up action to protect the environment and health of Canadians.

Ongoing support will be directed to key enablers of the Government's agenda as outlined in Advantage Canada. This will entail action on the following advantages: fiscal, knowledge, infrastructure, entrepreneurial and tax.

Priorities for PCO

The Government's priorities set the priorities of PCO:

• Support the Prime Minister in exercising his overall leadership responsibility
• Improve the management and accountability of government
• Focus on key policy areas and strengthen medium-term policy planning
• Strengthen PCO's internal management processes

PCO's strategic outcome and program activities (outlined in detail in Section II) are aligned with all Government of Canada outcomes: economic, social and international. PCO provides support to government departments and agencies, and contributes to strengthening and modernizing public sector management.

PCO will continue to support the Prime Minister in one of his key leadership roles: to create and sustain the unity of the Ministry, which is essential in order to maintain the confidence of Parliament.

• Support the Prime Minister in exercising his prerogative responsibilities by providing advice on: 

• Fulfill the Cabinet secretariat role by:

PCO will continue to play a central role in assisting the Prime Minister and Cabinet in enhancing the overall management, transparency and accountability of government while ensuring that the objectives of improved efficiency and efficacy are met. Additionally, it will concentrate its efforts to support the Government in meeting its commitment to implement the Federal Accountability Act and Action Plan and other key measures aimed at ensuring integrity, accountability, responsibility and excellence in public administration, while developing strategies to enhance the effectiveness of the overall Cabinet decision-making process. It will also assist the government in increasing the effectiveness and accountability of Canada's democratic institutions and practices.

• Support the renewal of the Public Service of Canada, grounding renewal initiatives in the business of government, to ensure that the 21st century public service reflects excellence and leadership at all levels. Initial priorities will focus on:
  • human resources planning in order to understand future requirements, over the short and long term; 
  • better recruitment to renew and sustain capacity at all levels; 
  • investing in people and leadership through training and development; and 
  • enabling human resources infrastructure through processes that support efficient, connected and user-friendly recruitment, development and planning.
• Strengthen the Public Service's culture of teamwork and promote leadership while making excellence the benchmark.

• Support the implementation of the Government's integrity, management and accountability, and democratic reform initiatives contained in the Federal Accountability Act and the associated Action Plan.

• Continue to streamline and modernize the appointment system and coordinate the implementation of a competency-based, professional and transparent Governor-in-Council appointment process.

PCO will provide advice and support the development and implementation of the Government's focused agenda in the fields of social, economic and international policy, as set out in the Speech from the Throne that opened the Thirty-Ninth Parliament and the agenda identified by the Prime Minister at the beginning of the Government's second year in office. It will also identify emerging issues to inform Cabinet's deliberations and, through long-term strategic thinking, provide advice for the Government's forward-looking agenda.

• Ensure greater cross-departmental coordination and coherence in the execution of the Government's policy agenda through a variety of means that will strengthen decision making and integration on both policy and management issues; and strengthen the deputy minister community.

• Contribute to the Government's efforts to improve the accountability and democratic nature of Canada's national institutions.

• Support the Government in establishing a new approach of open federalism to intergovernmental relations.

• Support the Government of Canada's efforts to strengthen the Canadian economy, including contributing to the prioritization, development and implementation of initiatives outlined in Advantage Canada.

• Support the Government's efforts to improve the safety and security of Canadians and their communities.

• Contribute to the development and implementation of the Government's principled internationalism to advance Canada's national interests and strengthen Canadian sovereignty internationally, taking into consideration the Canadian values of freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law. 

• Contribute to the development and implementation of the Government of Canada's environmental policies and programs in support of its clean air and broader human health and environmental quality objectives.
  

Achieving excellence in management requires ongoing strengthening of PCO's internal management practices, consistent with the standards of management outlined in the Management Accountability Framework (MAF). PCO will continue its efforts to integrate human resources planning with the business planning process of the department.

• Implement a new HR plan for PCO, which focuses on Official Languages, Employment Equity and Learning Strategies, as well as consistency with the renewal of the Public Service. 

• Strengthen emergency management and business continuity capacity within PCO in order to ensure the ongoing safety and security of employees; the confidentiality, integrity and availability of sensitive information; and the sustainable protection of valued assets.