WD Corporate Business Plan: 2009/10 to 2011/12

Table Of Contents

• Executive Summary
• Message from the Deputy Minister
• Who We Are
• What We Do
• Our Budget
• Our Operating Environment
• Western Canada's Economic Environment
• Governance
• Opportunities And Challenges
• Entrepreneurship And Innovation
• Community Economic Development
• Policy, Advocacy And Coordination
• Management Excellence
• Annex A: Strategic Planning Framework
• Annex B: WD Program Activity Architecture
• Annex C: Corporate Risk Profile
• Annex D: Departmental Organization Chart
• Annex E: Human Resources Profile
• Annex F: Program Activities By Strategic Outcome

Executive Summary

The three-year Corporate Business Plan provides an integrated overview of the department's strategic outcomes, priorities and expected performance objectives as set out in our annual Report on Plans and Priorities, as well as articulating the strategic direction and planning framework needed to ensure we achieve those outcomes.

Vision

To be leaders in creating a more diversified western Canadian economy that has strong, competitive and innovative businesses and communities

Section I of this plan describes what we do, our priorities, who we are, our budget, and our operating environment.  Section II describes how we plan to achieve results through our strategic outcomes, the Management Excellence priorities we are focusing on this fiscal year, and other plans and strategies that the department has underway.

As part of Canada's Economic Action Plan under Budget 2009, Western Economic Diversification Canada's priority for 2009/2010 and 2010/2011 will be the delivery of the Community Adjustment Fund (CAF) and the Recreational Infrastructure Canada (RInC) Program in order to provide temporary economic stimulus.

By focusing on the creation of short-term employment to support communities and sectors that have been affected by the global economic downturn, CAF will play a distinctive role in relation to other economic stimulus measures included in Canada's Economic Action Plan.

RInC will provide temporary economic stimulus that will help reduce the impacts of the global economic downturn while renewing, upgrading and expanding recreational infrastructure in Canadian communities.

These economic stimulus programs are key priorities for WD over the next two years and will contribute to the achievement of WD's strategic outcomes.

Mandate

To promote the development and diversification of the western Canadian economy, coordinate federal economic activities in the West, and reflect western Canadian interests in national decision-making

The Corporate Business Plan is framed by our departmental commitment to achieve four strategic outcomes (refer to Annex A for WD's Strategic Planning Framework):

• Entrepreneurship and Innovation - the western Canadian economy is competitive, expanded and diversified;
• Community Economic Development - communities in Western Canada are economically viable;
• Policy, Advocacy and Coordination - policies and programs that strengthen the western Canadian economy; and
• Internal Services - effective and efficient support for the delivery of organizational strategic outcomes.

For each of the strategic outcomes, there are a number of program activities, and sub-activities (identified in the department's Program Activity Architecture, or PAA, appended as Annex B ). These program activities are the means by which the department achieves its outcomes.

When risks or human resource plans are attributable to a specific Strategic Outcome, they are identified as such in the plan (WD's Corporate Risk Profile is attached in Annex C). Details for implementation are included in the business plan of each regional office or corporate branch.

The departmental priorities, in contrast, articulate where the department intends to focus its efforts during the next three years. In effect, initiatives and activities will be assessed based on how they address these priorities. It is important to note that the priorities complement one or more of the strategic outcomes.