Management response to the Evaluation Report of the Contribution Program

Recommendation 1:

The accumulated surpluses should be dealt with pursuant to sections 76(1) (b) and (c) of the Financial Administration Act, and in accordance with the terms and conditions of the contribution program;

Management Response:

The President of the Agency, as the Federal Administrator, agreed in October 2006, with his provincial counterpart, the Provincial Administrator, to reduce the annual contributions for both advisory committees (JBACE and KEAC) in order to eliminate or reduce substantially their surplus over the next five years. This decision was made after consultation with both advisory committees and with the assurance that if necessary, the maximum allowance would be made available, as per the terms and conditions of the current contribution agreements.

Recommendation 2:

The process of making payments as outlined in the current terms and conditions of the contribution program be followed;

Management Response:

The Agency agrees with this recommendation and will ensure that all current Terms and Conditions of the contribution program will be followed.

Recommendation 3:

Contribution agreements between the Agency and the recipient and agreements between the recipient and the ultimate beneficiaries should be reviewed to ensure that they are consistent with Treasury Board Policy and guidelines on Transfer Payments and the Terms and Conditions of this contribution program.

Management Response:

The Agency will revise its contribution agreements with the Province of Quebec and ensure that they are consistent with Treasury Board Policy and guidelines on Transfer Payments and the Terms and Conditions of this contribution program.

Recommendation 4:

The Agency, in consultation with the recipient and beneficiaries review expected results number 3 and 4 above to ensure that they are meaningful and can be accomplished through activities of the Advisory Committees.

Management Response:

As the contribution are meant to finance the operations of the secretariats of KEAC and JBACE, the Agency agrees with the evaluation and concludes that results 3 and 4 do not correspond to activities linked to the secretariats mandates, therefore, they should be reviewed to ensure that they represent the appropriate expected results.

The results should be directly linked to the expected results of the Secretariats, not to the Advisory Committees. The Agency will ensure that expected results more closely reflect the mandates of the Secretariats prior to the Terms and Conditions being renewed.