March 24, 2004OTTAWA - Reg Alcock, President of the Treasury Board of Canada, accompanied by Minister John McCallum, today released details of the Government's comprehensive plan to modernize public sector management and review government spending announced yesterday.Building on yesterday's Budget, Minister Reg Alcock, Chair of the Expenditure Review Committee, and Minister John McCallum, the Vice-Chair, outlined how the Government intends to deliver on yesterday's commitment to generate $3 billion in ongoing savings within four years, emphasizing that fundamental change is needed in the way government works."This Government is serious about restoring integrity in government and ensuring that tax money is wisely spent," said Minister Alcock. "To deliver better government, more efficient government, and more accountable government, we must do a better job of reallocating taxpayer money from lower to higher priorities on an ongoing basis.""Revisiting what we do and how we do it should not - and will not - be a one time thing, Minister McCallum continued. "It should be an ongoing part of the way government does business, and it must include new investments to modernize the way we manage the public sector."During the press conference, the Ministers: discussed the responsibilities of the new Office of the Comptroller General;outlined terms of reference for nine reviews of government operations, covering areas such as federal institutional governance, procurement, service delivery, and public sector compensation and comparability, which will include a review of how executive performance pay works; andprovided additional details on the reviews of the Financial Administration Act, the governance of Crown corporations, and the accountabilities and responsibilities of Ministers and senior public servants.Of note, the review of the accountabilities and responsibilities of Ministers and senior public servants will be supported by recognized, third party experts in Parliamentary affairs and public administration. They are: Professor Donald Savoie; former Auditor General Denis Desautels; former Clerk of the House of Commons, Robert Marleau; and,former Deputy Clerk of the House of Commons, Camille Montpetit.In discussing the Government's review of spending, Minister Alcock emphasized that the expenditure review process is not Program Review III and acknowledged that while his candid, outspoken style may have spooked many federal public servants, he remains a staunch advocate of the public service and the public sector."A vibrant public service is vital to the social, political and economic well-being of this country and is essential in ensuring the quality of life of Canadians," continued Minister Alcock. "We must, however, modernize. Democratically elected governments throughout the industrialized world are struggling with the same problems and I want Canada to be at the forefront of change, not playing catch up."Minister Alcock also stressed that being at the forefront of change demands greater willingness of government to open up policy development and engage Canadians in government. The Government will actively seek the views of Parliamentarians, academics, the Auditor General, other interested stakeholders and citizens in its reviews.For further details on the Government's action plan to strengthen public sector management, consult the following backgrounders: Strengthening Comptrollership and Oversight;The New Comptroller General and Accreditation Standards;The Expenditure Review Committee: Modernizing Management Practices;Assuring Accountability, Transparency, Good Governance and an Enhanced Role for Parliament; andBuilding Capacity Across the Public Service.- 30 -For more information, contact:Lise JolicoeurPress SecretaryOffice of the President of the Treasury Boardand Minister responsible for the CanadianWheat Board(613) 957-2666Mario BarilMedia RelationsTreasury Board of Canada Secretariat(613) 957-2391IF THERE IS A DISCREPANCY BETWEEN ANY PRINTED VERSION AND THE ELECTRONIC VERSION OF THIS NEWS RELEASE, THE ELECTRONIC VERSION WILL PREVAIL.TTY (Telecommunications device for the hearing impaired) - (613) 957-9090.
