Consultation and Communications Branch

Sarah Lawley
Assistant Deputy Minister

Overview of the Branch

The Consultations and Communications Branch provides timely and high-quality strategic communications advice to the Department. This includes developing communications plans and products related to initiatives, including pre-budget consultations and the tabling of the Economic Fiscal Update and the Budget. The Branch is responsible for the management of the Department's communications channels including Web, print and social media.

The Branch supports the Minister and Department by managing media relations, consultations, ministerial visits, conferences and protocol, parliamentary affairs, Access to Information and Privacy (ATIP) requests as well as publishing and translation.

Role of Departmental Communications Staff

The objective of departmental communications staff is to provide Finance Canada communications that are non-partisan, non-promotional, high quality, timely, accurate, objective and clear.

All communications products must comply with the Values and Ethics Code for the Public Sector and the Policy on Communications and Federal Identity and supporting guidance which mandates that products are available in both official languages and, when provided electronically, adhere to international guidelines on web accessibility to ensure that persons with disabilities can interact with the content provided. Communications must be also be conducted in an economic and appropriate way so that departments are able to justify the costs as legitimate expenditures of public funds.

Consultations & Communications - Organizational Chart

Target: December 2019

Assistant Deputy Minister: Sarah Lawley

Assistant Deputy Minister's Office

• Director General: Marie-Elise Rancourt
• Senior Advisor: Kim Giroux
• Executive Assistant: Anie Graveline

Director General's Office

• Director General: Marie-Elise Rancourt
• Director, Special Deployment: Denise Brennan
• Senior Administrative Assistant: Somphachan Lin

• Access to Information & Privacy: A/Josh Keon
• Parliamentary Affairs: Irene Balite

Senior Director's Office - Strategy

• A/Senior Director: Akim Thibouthot
• Director: Kate Binnie

• Communications Strategy
• Media Relations, Research and Analysis: Anna Arneson
• Departmental Correspondence: Nathalie Gauthier

Senior Director's Office - Public Affairs & Operations

• Senior Director: Jo-Ann Purcell
• Director: Aarin Bronson
• Administrative Assistant: Pam Dawson

• Creative Services, Marketing & Data Visualization: Vacant
• Publishing & Web: Vacant
• Events & Internal Communications: Vacant
• Language Services: Doumbé Betoté Akwa

Assistant Deputy Minister's Office

Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM)

• The ADM is responsible for the overall strategic leadership of the branch as well as the direction of the department's communications.
• The ADMO's responsibilities include:
  • Overall management of the Branch.
  • Representation of the Branch at various departmental and government-wide committees.
  • Maintains relations with PCO, MINO, DMO and other branches.
  • Responsible for the Branch's human resources planning and financial administration & planning.

Director General's Office

Director General (DG)

• Under the ADM's Office, the DG leads the day-to-day operations of the Branch and ensures horizontal alignment and coordination within C&C.
• The DG also maintains relations with PCO, MINO, DMO and other branches.
• The DG oversees the Access to Information and Privacy (ATIP) and Parliamentary Affairs groups.

Access to Information and Privacy (ATIP)

• Responsible for administering the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act for the Department.
• Coordinates the timely processing of requests under the legislation, conducts interdepartmental consultations, handles complaints lodged with the Information Commissioner, and responds to informal inquiries.
• Provides guidance to departmental officials on matters involving the Acts.

Parliamentary Affairs

• Manages the legislative process for all Finance bills, including the Budget Implementation Act (BIA), coordinates responses to Parliamentary Returns and managers Parliamentary committee appearances.
• Drafts parliamentary strategies for inclusion in Memoranda to Cabinet.
• Coordinates departmental tablings in Parliament.
• Manages and coordinates updates of QP cards.
• Coordinates Governor-in-Council Appointments within the Finance Portfolio.

Strategy Division

Strategy

• Drafts and coordinates the approval of communications products, including strategies, news releases, backgrounders, Q&As, key messages, ministerial and legislative debate speeches.
• Provides strategic communications advice on specific issues as part of the policy-making process and communications assessments.

Media Relations, Research and Analysis

• Manages media inquiries and coordinates the development of responses and background briefings.
• Plans and provides on-site media relations support for Ministerial and Departmental events and announcements, such as Budget, Fall Economic Statement, and technical briefings.
• Supports the department's media training needs and manage consultations for the department.
• Monitors and distributes news coverage, social media postings and transcripts relevant to the department.
• Responsible for media analyses and scans and order transcripts of ministerial events, speeches, media interviews and QP.
• Provides advice, plans and delivers on public opinion research (POR) activities for the department.

Departmental Correspondence

• Responsible for processing correspondence directed to the Minister, as well as managing and responding to calls to the Department's Public Enquiries telephone line.
• Analyzes and registers all ministerial incoming correspondence, determine what action will be taken for each file and prepare the replies for the Minister's signature.

Public Affairs and Operations Division

Events and Internal Communications

• Plans ministerial and departmental events, including the overall coordination with key stakeholders and suppliers.
• Leads the development and implementation of multi-location event plans for secure lock-ups for the Budget, the Fiscal Economic Statement, the pre-budget consultations and any ministerial tours.
• Provides strategic advice to the Minister's Office and the Department on budgets, locations, staging and all logistical requirements for events.
• Provides advice and prepares communications products within the department, supporting departmental champions and branches.
• Manages the InfoBulletin & InfoTVs and prepares the weekly distribution of internal messages.
• Supports special events and initiatives such as National Public Service Week (NPSW), GCWCC and the Speaker Series.
• Works closely with all branches as well as the departmental champions and their respective committees to create and maintain their presence on the Department's intranet.

Creative Services, Marketing and Data Visualization

• Develops all creative concepts, designs and products for the department's communication efforts, including social media shareables, videos and report covers.
• Manages and maintains the department's social media presence, including developing social media strategies, content and providing analytics on key announcements and initiatives.
• Supports departmental marketing and advertising activities.

Language Services

• Translates and revises communications-related products, including the Budget and the Fall Economic Statement, and all Ministerial and departmental announcements.

Publishing & Web

• Analyzes, designs, develops, tests and maintains all internal and external facing department websites, including fin.gc.ca, budget.canada.ca and InfoSite (internal to the Department).
• Develops internal scripts and apps to streamline processes, such as Excel Macro scripts.
• Responsible for preparing and posting documents and information on Finance's Web and Intranet sites, including News Releases, Backgrounders and Notices to the Media.
• Ensures that documents set to be printed, such as the Budget, is properly formatted for print and Web, according to legislative and policy requirements.

Pre-Scheduled Publications and Tablings

Monthly

• Fiscal Monitor
• Official International Reserves
• List of briefing notes
• Travel and hospitality proactive disclosures

Quarterly

• Departmental financial reporting

Annually

• Annual Financial Results
• Economic and Fiscal Update
• Federal Budget
• Annual reports for the department and reporting agencies, including ATIP Annual Reports