2018-2019 Departmental Results Report
Details on transfer payment programs of $5 million or more
Atlantic Innovation Fund - Voted
Start date: May 10, 2001
End date: Ongoing
Type of transfer payment: Contribution
Type of appropriation: Appropriated annually through Estimates
Fiscal year for terms and conditions: 2019-20
Link to department’s Program Inventory: Research and Development, and Commercialization; Innovation Ecosystem
Description: The Atlantic Innovation Fund (AIF) makes strategic investments in research and development (R&D) initiatives in the area of natural and applied sciences, as well as in social sciences, humanities, and arts and culture. Projects are expected to result in the successful adaptation or development as well as the commercialization of technology-based products, processes or services.
Contributions to non-profit organizations are non-repayable. Contributions to for-profit businesses to fund R&D projects that involve the commercialization of a product, process, technology or service are repayable, either conditionally or unconditionally.
Results achieved: In 2018-19, through the AIF, the Agency approved $14.1 million in funding for six projects, toward total costs of $24.3 million. These investments will result in increased activity in innovation and R&D, leading to technologies, products, processes or services that contribute to economic growth in Atlantic Canada.
The total amount leveraged was $10.2 million, which includes funds from the private sector and government.
Most projects involved linkages between private-sector firms or universities, with seven key collaborations created for technology development and commercialization within the projects approved.
Findings of audits completed in 2018-19: No audits were completed or planned during fiscal year 2018-19.
Findings of evaluations completed in 2018-19: No evaluations were completed during fiscal year 2018-19. Planning for an evaluation, to be completed in 2019-20, began in 2018-19.
Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2018-19: ACOA’s transfer payment programs (including the AIF) are designed, delivered and managed in such a way that they remain client-focused, are relevant to the applicants’ and recipients’ needs, and achieve the expected results for which they are designed.
AIF information is continuously shared with applicants and recipients through ACOA’s website and ongoing communication between AIF program delivery staff and clients.
Through Innovation Canada, access to information on funding programs has also increased. When potential applicants enter basic information via their website application, it generates targeted results of potential innovation programs, including the AIF.
(dollars)
| Type of transfer payment | 2016-17 Actual spending |
2017-18 Actual spending |
2018-19 Planned spending |
2018-19 Total authorities available for use |
2018-19 Actual spending (authorities used) |
Variance (2018-19 actual minus 2018-19 planned) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total grants | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total contributions | 30,653,122 | 36,274,360 | 40,000,000 | 40,000,000 | 34,020,458 | (5,979,542) |
| Total other types of transfer payments | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total program | 30,653,122 | 36,274,360 | 40,000,000 | 40,000,000 | 34,020,458 | (5,979,542) |
Explanation of variances: In 2018-19, there was a slightly lower level of activity than planned in light of the Horizontal Innovation Review, which proposed the streamlining of the federal innovation program suite.
Business Development Program - Voted
Start date: July 25, 1995
End date: Ongoing
Type of transfer payment: Grant and contribution
Type of appropriation: Appropriated annually through Estimates
Fiscal year for terms and conditions: 2010-11
Link to department’s Program Inventory: Inclusive Communities; Diversified Communities; Research and Development, and Commercialization; Innovation Ecosystem; Business Growth; Trade and Investment; Policy Research and Engagement
Description: Through the Business Development Program (BDP), the Agency works to create opportunities for economic growth in Atlantic Canada by helping small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) become more competitive. The Agency also works with communities to develop and diversify local economies, and champions the strengths of the region in partnership with Atlantic Canadians.
The objectives of the BDP are as follows:
- improve the growth and competitiveness of Atlantic Canadian SMEs;
- provide for dynamic and sustainable communities in Atlantic Canada; and
- provide for initiatives that strengthen the Atlantic region’s economy.
In general, contributions to for-profit businesses are repayable, either conditionally or unconditionally. Under some of the BDP’s elements, non-repayable contributions to for-profit businesses may be permitted.
Contributions to not-for-profit organizations are generally non-repayable but are conditionally repayable if a project results in what would normally be considered a commercial activity.
Results achieved: Through the BDP, the Agency supported Atlantic Canada’s economic growth and prosperity by helping SMEs compete and succeed in a global market, and by investing in the development of inclusive and diverse communities.
In 2018-19, the Agency approved over $182 million in BDP funding for approximately 920 projects that leveraged an additional $296 million.
Projects included support to SMEs with high growth potential, the hiring of skilled and diverse personnel, the modernization and expansion of businesses, export preparedness, training, and the adoption of new technologies. BDP investments helped businesses and communities accelerate their transition to a cleaner, low-carbon economy through the adoption of clean technologies.
As it transitioned toward the implementation of the Regional Economic Growth through Innovation Program in 2018-19, the Agency used the BDP to support the development of networks and clusters, various initiatives for the growth of ocean technologies, advanced manufacturing, the tourism and food sectors, as well as the transfer of technology and the commercialization of new products, services and technologies.
The Agency contributed to the development of dynamic and sustainable communities in Atlantic Canada by investing in initiatives that foster entrepreneurship, talent attraction, skills development and business growth. The Agency also supported investments that enhance the vitality of our communities, such as tourism.
Findings of audits completed in 2018-19: No audits were completed or planned during fiscal year 2018-19.
Findings of evaluations completed in 2018-19: An evaluation of BDP spending that falls under Communities and Inclusive Growth programming was completed in 2018-19. Planning for an evaluation of Enterprise Development programming began in 2018-19.
Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2018-19: ACOA’s transfer payment programs (including the BDP) are designed, delivered and managed in such a way that they remain client-focused, are relevant to applicants’ and recipients’ needs, and achieve expected results. Engaging key stakeholders in discussions regarding the creation or review of ACOA’s programming is part of the Agency’s operations. To ensure the ongoing relevance of programming, the Agency solicits feedback from clients and stakeholders on an ongoing basis, whether through information sharing, consultations or collaborations.
In ensuring that BDP elements are designed for continuous improvement to support expected outcomes, ACOA engages the following stakeholders: the business sector; community-based economic development organizations and volunteer groups; universities and colleges; research institutes; other levels of government; First Nation communities; and official language minority communities.
Additionally, BDP information is continuously shared with applicants and recipients through ACOA’s website and outreach events in communities across Atlantic Canada.
The Agency also consults its applicants and clients through periodic satisfaction surveys. These surveys provide the Agency with information on the importance of various service features and on areas for improvement.
(dollars)
| Type of transfer payment | 2016-17 Actual spending |
2017-18 Actual spending |
2018-19 Planned spending |
2018-19 Total authorities available for use |
2018-19 Actual spending (authorities used) |
Variance (2018-19 actual minus 2018-19 planned) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total grants | 202,959 | 607,424 | 2,166,400 | 2,166,400 | 645,256 | (1,521,144) |
| Total contributions | 157,272,396 | 174,809,155 | 160,310,731 | 188,948,270 | 181,897,222 | 21,586,491 |
| Total other types of transfer payments | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total program | 157,475,355 | 175,416,579 | 162,477,131 | 191,114,670 | 182,542,478 | 20,065,347 |
Explanation of variances: “Actual spending” was higher than “Planned spending” because ACOA funds were transferred to the BDP transfer payment program in order to meet the increasing demand under that program.
Regional Economic Growth through Innovation – Voted
Name of transfer payment program:
Growth Through Regional Innovation Program (GRIP) (known as the Regional Economic Growth through Innovation (REGI) Program)
This program includes Women Entrepreneurship Strategy (WES) initiatives in two streams: Pilot Contribution Program (known as the Women Entrepreneurship Fund [WEF]) and WES Ecosystem Fund
Start date: October 18, 2018
End date: REGI – Ongoing; WEF – March 31, 2020; WES Ecosystem Fund – March 31, 2023
Type of transfer payment: REGI – Grant and Contribution; WES – Contribution
Type of appropriation: Appropriated annually through Estimates
Fiscal year for terms and conditions: 2018-19
Link to department’s Program Inventory: Business Growth; Innovation Ecosystem; Trade and Investment; Inclusive Communities; Diversified Communities; Research and Development, and Commercialization
Description: The Regional Economic Growth through Innovation (REGI) Program builds on the objectives of the Innovation and Skills Plan. The goal of the REGI Program is to provide streamlined, nationally coordinated yet regionally tailored support for business productivity and scale-up, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), women entrepreneurs and other underrepresented groups, and assist the enhancement of regional industrial and technology clusters and regional innovation ecosystems.
The program provides assistance through two streams:
- Business Scale-up and Productivity (BSP) Stream – Invest in and support businesses, including high-growth firms, at various stages of development to accelerate their growth and assist them in scaling up as well as enhance their productivity and competitiveness in both domestic and global markets.
- Regional Innovation Ecosystems (RIE) Stream – Create, grow and nurture inclusive regional ecosystems that support business needs and foster an entrepreneurial environment conducive to innovation, growth and competitiveness.
The Women Entrepreneurship Strategy (WES) provides nationally coordinated, regionally tailored investments to help women entrepreneurs and support regional innovation ecosystems through two program streams:
- WES Ecosystem Fund – A five-year program to help non-profit, third-party organizations deliver support for women entrepreneurs and address gaps in the ecosystem.
- Pilot Contribution Program (Women Entrepreneurship Fund) – A two-year program that invests directly in women-owned or women-led businesses to help them grow and reach new markets.
Contributions issued under the REGI Program may be unconditionally or conditionally repayable, or non-repayable. Contributions issued under WES are non-repayable.
Results achieved: REGI was officially launched in December 2018. In 2018-19, the Agency approved over $52 million in REGI funding for 249 projects that leveraged an additional $86 million.
Projects supported under REGI aimed to accelerate the growth of firms and assisted with the adoption of new, innovative technologies, the scale-up and productivity improvement of SMEs, and the development of and entry into new markets.
REGI also funded projects that supported the growth and development of a strong and inclusive regional ecosystem in order to foster the entrepreneurial environment necessary for more innovative regional economies and to increase the competitiveness of SMEs, women entrepreneurs and underrepresented groups.
Through the WES initiative, the Agency approved 18 Pilot Contribution Program (Women Entrepreneurship Fund) projects in 2018-19 for total funding of $1.8 million over 2018-19 to 2019-20.
Projects supported under the WES initiative helped women-owned and women-led businesses to grow as well as to invest in activities supporting the pursuit of market opportunities abroad, as well as scale-up, expansion and growth.
Findings of audits completed in 2018-19: No audits were completed or planned during fiscal year 2018-19.
Findings of evaluations completed in 2018-19: No evaluations were completed during fiscal year 2018-19. Planning for an evaluation began in 2018-19.
Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2018-19: ACOA’s transfer payment programs (including the new REGI program) are designed, delivered and managed in such a way that they remain client-focused, are relevant to applicants’ and recipients’ needs, and achieve the expected results. Engaging key stakeholders in discussions regarding the creation or review of ACOA’s programming is part of the Agency’s operations. To ensure the ongoing relevance of programming, the Agency solicits feedback from clients and stakeholders on an ongoing basis, whether through information sharing, consultations or collaborations.
In ensuring that REGI elements are designed for continuous improvement to support expected outcomes, ACOA engaged with other regional development agencies and the following stakeholders: the business sector; community-based economic development organizations and volunteer groups; universities and colleges; research institutes; other levels of government; First Nation communities; and official language minority communities.
Additionally, REGI information is continuously shared with applicants and recipients through ACOA’s website and outreach events in communities across Atlantic Canada.
The Agency also consults its applicants and clients through periodic satisfaction surveys. These surveys provide the Agency with information on the importance of various service features and on areas for improvement.
(dollars)
| Type of transfer payment |
2016-17 Actual spending |
2017-18 Actual spending |
2018-19 Planned spending |
2018-19 Total authorities available for use |
2018-19 Actual spending (authorities used) |
Variance (2018-19 actual minus 2018-19 planned) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total grants | 0 | 0 | 0 | 500,000 | 58,788 | (58,788) |
| Total contributions | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8,353,070 | 10,571,287 | (10,571,287) |
| Total other types of transfer payments | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total program | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8,853,070 | 10,630,075 | (10,630,075) |
Explanation of variances: The REGI program was launched during the last few months of the 2018-19 fiscal year, which explains the variance between “Planned spending” and “Actual spending”.
Community Futures Program - Voted
Start date: May 18, 1995
End date: Ongoing
Type of transfer payment: Contribution
Type of appropriation: Appropriated annually through Estimates
Fiscal year for terms and conditions: 2010-11
Link to department’s Program Inventory: Inclusive Communities; Diversified Communities
Description: The program’s purpose is to help communities develop and implement local solutions to local problems. It provides non-repayable contributions to community futures organizations – known in Atlantic Canada as Community Business Development Corporations (CBDCs) – and their associations. Community-based governance is at the heart of the Community Futures Program. CBDCs are legally incorporated, not-for-profit, autonomous organizations managed by local volunteer board members who make decisions that shape these organizations, affect the lives of entrepreneurs and impact their communities. They provide financial and technical support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and social enterprises in rural areas.
Results achieved: In 2018-19, CBDCs continued to provide an essential source of investment capital focused on rural businesses as well as business counselling and skills development. CBDCs assisted 1,368 businesses through their investment fund by approving 1,521 loans, representing a total direct investment of $73.4 million in local SMEs. These investments contributed to the creation of 1,730 new jobs in rural communities across Atlantic Canada. The Agency maximized the use of funds available to CBDCs as recipients of Community Futures funding in accordance with the Community Futures of Tomorrow model. ACOA continued to collaborate with the CBDC network in providing business counselling and support to enhance the business skills of local entrepreneurs. In 2018-19, 404 Entrepreneurial Training Fund sessions were completed across the region, with 1,025 participants attending.
Findings of audits completed in 2018-19: No audits were completed or planned during fiscal year 2018-19.
Findings of evaluations completed in 2018-19: A national evaluation, horizontally led by ISED was started in 2018-19 and will be completed in 2019-20.
Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2018-19: The Agency continued to engage with and align its support the CBDC network, as part of the implementation of the Community Futures of Tomorrow model under a collaborative joint oversight committee. This maximized all available resources, including the funds provided by the Community Futures Program. With a view to maintaining the long-term viability of the Community Futures Program, the committee acts as a governance body by ensuring that the model’s objectives are managed collaboratively among individual CBDCs, the Atlantic Association of CBDCs, and ACOA.
As part of its due diligence process and accountability to Parliament, the Agency has a responsibility to ensure that appropriate governance practices are in place with respect to organizations to which it provides operational support. ACOA continues to collaborate with the CBDC network and individual organizations to enhance governance practices, where required, and provide ongoing training to board members to ensure a continued understanding of effective governance and the importance of achieving desired results the right way.
ACOA continues to work with other federal regional development agencies, the Community Futures Network of Canada (CFNC) and the CBDCs to increase the integrity and consistency of performance results and improve the collection of data, and to implement the Community Futures Program’s performance measurement strategy. In collaboration with other federal government departments responsible for the management of the program, ACOA presents performance results for 2018-19 and continues to engage the CFNC in refining the collection and use of performance information needed by all stakeholders, including the CBDCs.
(dollars)
| Type of transfer payment |
2016-17 Actual spending |
2017-18 Actual spending |
2018-19 Planned spending |
2018-19 Total authorities available for use |
2018-19 Actual spending (authorities used) |
Variance (2018-19 actual minus 2018-19 planned) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total grants | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total contributions | 12,627,869 | 12,641,998 | 12,642,000 | 12,642,000 | 15,465,382 | 2,823,382 |
| Total other types of transfer payments | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total program | 12,627,869 | 12,641,998 | 12,642,000 | 12,642,000 | 15,465,382 | 2,823,382 |
Explanation of variances: “Actual spending” was higher than “planned spending” because additional funding was transferred from other programs to meet increased demand in support of several community development projects.
Innovative Communities Fund - Voted
Start date: April 1, 2005
End date: Ongoing
Type of transfer payment: Contribution
Type of appropriation: Appropriated annually through Estimates
Fiscal year for terms and conditions: 2009-10
Link to department’s Program Inventory: Diversified Communities; Inclusive Communities; Innovation Ecosystem
Description: The Innovative Communities Fund (ICF) is designed to make non-repayable contributions to strategic projects that build the economies of Atlantic Canada’s communities. The ICF focuses on investments that lead to long-term employment and economic capacity building in rural communities. Urban initiatives that stimulate the competitiveness and vitality of rural communities may also be considered on a select basis.
Results achieved: The ICF capitalizes on the strengths of Atlantic communities and provides them with the tools needed to identify opportunities for sustainable economic growth. The overall expected result is to build dynamic and sustainable communities in Atlantic Canada while focusing on increased economic and business activity. In 2018-19, ACOA continued to work with communities and stakeholders on strategic projects related to economic development capacity as well as business-sector development. These efforts resulted in the Agency funding 123 projects under the ICF. These projects had total costs of $101.1 million, with an ACOA contribution of $26.8 million and $74.2 million leveraged from other sources. Every dollar invested by ACOA leveraged $2.76 from other partners.
Findings of audits completed in 2018-19: No audits were completed or planned during fiscal year 2018-19.
Findings of evaluations completed in 2018-19: An evaluation of ICF funding that falls under the Communities and Inclusive Growth programming was completed in 2018-19.
Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2018-19: Eligible recipients for the ICF include municipalities and local organizations, First Nation communities, industry-related groups (e.g., industry or sector associations), and non-profit organizations.
Under the ICF, the Agency continues to proactively engage with its partners and stakeholders, including community organizations, educational institutions, official language minority communities, First Nation communities and other levels of government, through discussions regarding strategic community development opportunities. These discussions ensure that the Agency’s investments continue to respond to the evolving economic needs and priorities of Atlantic Canadian communities. In addition, ICF information is continuously shared with applicants and recipients through ACOA’s website.
(dollars)
| Type of transfer payment | 2016-17 Actual spending |
2017-18 Actual spending |
2018-19 Planned spending |
2018-19 Total authorities available for use |
2018-19 Actual spending (authorities used) |
Variance (2018-19 actual minus 2018-19 planned) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total grants | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total contributions | 47,669,438 | 41,687,697 | 37,157,762 | 37,207,762 | 32,842,332 | (4,315,430) |
| Total other types of transfer payments | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total program | 47,669,438 | 41,687,697 | 37,157,762 | 37,207,762 | 32,842,332 | (4,315,430) |
Explanation of variances: “Actual spending” was lower than “planned spending” because of budget transfers to other programs, such as the Business Development Program transfer payment program, in order to meet the increasing demand under such programs.
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