2018-19 Departmental Plan
Planned results: what we want to achieve this year and beyond

Core Responsibility: Economic development in Atlantic Canada

Description

Support Atlantic Canada’s economic growth, wealth creation and economic prosperity through inclusive clean growth and building on competitive regional strengths. Help small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) growth through direct financial assistance and indirectly to business support organizations. SMEs become more innovative by adopting new technologies and processes and pursuing new avenues for expansion and market diversification in order to compete and succeed in a global market.

Planning highlights

As part of the broader review of innovation programs, over the next year the Government will explore ways to simplify the existing suite of 22 programs offered by RDAs. It is proposed that the agencies will place greater emphasis in helping firms scale up, develop new markets and expand, as well as assist with the adoption of new technologies and processes. The agencies could also become the main platform to support regional innovation ecosystems. Under any proposed change, RDAs will also maintain their current functions that support communities in advancing and diversifying their economies. ACOA’s priorities, identified in the previous section, will support the Agency in achieving its desired results.

ACOA will invest in the economic diversification of communities to:

• Promote the inclusion of groups such as women, newcomers, Indigenous peoples, younger and older workers, and persons with disabilities by developing an approach for Indigenous tourism in Atlantic Canada and by integrating Gender-based Analysis Plus principles and tools into the Agency’s practices.
• Support activities that ensure businesses have the training, skills and tools required to be competitive in global markets by continuing to work with Community Business Development Corporations and other community development organizations.

ACOA will support business investments in the development and commercialization of innovative technologies in Atlantic Canada through:

• Partnerships and collaborations between the private sector and research and business support organizations as well as with higher education institutions, such as the Smart Grid Innovation Network, which supports the development, testing and commercialization of smart-grid ready technologies.
• The development and implementation of the Business Accelerators and Incubators’ Strategy and network as well as a more effective regional entrepreneurial ecosystem that builds on established structures, and addresses gaps in services and support for business start-ups and expansion.

ACOA will invest in innovation and growth of Atlantic Canadian businesses to:

• Support the development and marketing of new products and services, the adoption and adaptation of advanced technology to increase productivity, and the acquisition of skills and market knowledge with a strong focus on key sectors such as oceans, food and ICT.
• Leverage company-oriented growth plans under the Accelerated Growth Services, an initiative whose goal is to have 90 companies enrolled by the end of 2018-19 and that is led in Atlantic Canada by ACOA and involves other federal and provincial organizations.
• Position Atlantic Canadian clean-tech companies for growth and to access federal clean technology funding.

ACOA embraces its culture of innovation, collaboration and engagement. The Agency is constantly finding new ways to work differently and more effectively with stakeholders, both within the federal government as well as with other levels of government and community counterparts. For example, ACOA continues to explore the dimensions of business culture in Atlantic Canada by dedicating resources to experiment with new approaches. This includes the next phases of the Business Culture Design Lab, which engages stakeholders and supports ongoing policy and program decision making and development.

Although the indicators and associated targets below are presented for the first time under the new Departmental Results Framework, ACOA built on past performance results and information to ensure continuity and a smooth transition in demonstrating its contribution to Atlantic Canada’s economy. Where information was not readily available, the Agency has identified collection strategies that will be in effect by the end of the fiscal year.

Planned results

*The indicators relate to ACOA’s new 2018-19 Departmental Results Framework, and therefore have not been previously reported on publicly by the Agency. The information provided is based on historical data and was not previously tracked as a result.

Budgetary financial resources (dollars)

Human resources (full-time equivalents [FTEs])

Note: Main Estimates, Planned spending and Full-time equivalents figures do not take into account Budget 2018 announcements. More information will be provided in the 2018‑19 Supplementary Estimates and Departmental Results Report, as applicable.

Financial, human resources and performance information for the Agency’s Program Inventory is available in the GC InfoBase.

Internal Services

Description

Internal Services are those groups of related activities and resources that the federal government considers to be services in support of programs and/or required to meet corporate obligations of an organization. Internal Services refers to the activities and resources of the 10 distinct service categories that support Program delivery in the organization, regardless of the Internal Services delivery model in a department. The 10 service categories 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; and Acquisition Services.

Planning highlights

In 2018-19, ACOA will be transitioning from its Program Alignment Architecture, which was required under the previous Policy on Management, Resources and Results Structures, to a Departmental Results Framework, required under the new Policy on Results. It will also continue to implement organizational initiatives to strengthen and improve the efficiency of service and program delivery and build upon its excellence. The Agency will keep focusing on improving processes and systems in priority areas such as human resources (HR), information management, information technology, finance and administrative processes. It will continue to collaborate with other regional development agencies to improve upon the efficient delivery of programs and services to Canadians. Enhancing workplace well-being by implementing the Agency’s Mental Health Action Plan in support of the Federal Public Service Workplace Mental Health Strategy will be a priority. ACOA will also implement a focused strategy on HR planning, recruitment and talent management in order to ensure the renewal of its workforce and meet its business priorities.

In support of accountability and evidence-based decision making, ACOA maintains a strong focus on results and impact through ongoing performance measurement and evaluation of its programs and services.

ACOA continually ensures that its key activities and budgetary resources remain aligned with Government of Canada priorities and the Agency’s mandate. The Agency also integrates HR, financial management, risk management, performance measurement and evaluation considerations into its planning and decision-making processes.

The Agency will implement Year 1 of its Values and Ethics Strategy 2018 to 2021, to ensure that values and ethics remain at the foundation of its corporate culture, and support open dialogue at all levels of the organization.

ACOA will support the Government of Canada’s plan for an open and fair government by implementing Year 3 of its Open Government Implementation Plan, and by seeking employee engagement in effective information management practices.

Budgetary financial resources (dollars)

Human resources (FTEs)