[ Backgrounder ]
For immediate release
November 23, 2005
Ottawa - The Honourable Reg Alcock, President of the Treasury Board and Minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board, today tabled Canada's Performance 2005; the Government of Canada's Contribution in Parliament.
"Canada's Performance is the annual report that provides an overview of the federal government's contribution to Canada's performance as a nation- highlighting
both our strengths and areas for improvement. The report is a key element of our efforts to strengthen transparency and accountability to Canadians and parliamentarians,"
said Minister Alcock.
Canada's Performance provides an important link between the main themes in the government's agenda and the results and resources set out in departmental,
agency and Crown corporation reports.
This report informs parliamentarians and Canadians about the outcomes the government is striving to achieve in three main policy areas - Sustainable Economy, Canada's
Social Foundations and Canada's Place in the World - as measured by 30 societal indicators that highlight how our national performance is changing over time. The
indicators were chosen because they matter most to Canadians and because they can be tracked and reported on over the years. Taken together, the indicators reflect a
balance of social, economic and environmental interests.
"Of note in this year's report is a special chapter that provides an overview of direct federal spending on programs dedicated to Aboriginal Peoples for the 2004-05
fiscal year. In doing this, we aim to create a platform for further discussion between governments, National Aboriginal Organizations and Aboriginal Peoples," said
Minister Alcock.
The Aboriginal Peoples chapter contains figures on federal spending rolled up for all Government of Canada programs and services targeted directly to Aboriginal people,
and provides the context in which to view the Government of Canada's investments to improve Aboriginal peoples' well-being.
Canada is one of the few countries in the world to publish this kind of results-based report. Where the data is available, such as in economic and health indicators,
the report compares Canada's performance with that of other countries.
The electronic version of the report links to departmental and agency planning and performance reports, the Annual Report of Crown Corporations and Other Corporate
Interests of Canada, important databases on government audits, evaluations and horizontal initiatives, and to various background documents. The electronic version of
the report also links to the Aboriginal Horizontal Framework - Aboriginal Affairs: Programs and Spending website, which
provides detailed program and expenditure information for over 360 federal programs for Aboriginal Peoples in Canada.
The report is available on the Treasury Board Internet site www.tbs-sct.gc.ca or by calling 1-800-O-Canada (1-800-622-6232).
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For more information, contact:
Lise Jolicoeur
Press Secretary
Office of the President of the Treasury Board of Canada and
Minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board
(613) 957-2666
Robert Makichuk
Media Relations
Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat
(613) 957-2391
If 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
Backgrounder
Canada's Performance 2005: The Government of Canada's Contribution
Canada's Performance 2005 is an annual report that provides a high-level overview of the federal government's
contribution to Canada's performance as a nation. It links the main themes in the government's agenda and the results and resources in individual organizations' reports to
Parliament. It supports the government's commitment in Management in the Government of Canada: A Commitment to Continuous Improvement to improve transparency and
accountability to parliamentarians and Canadians.
The report provides information on the 13 outcomes the government is striving to achieve in three main policy areas - Sustainable Economy, Canada's Social Foundations
and Canada's Place in the World. These Government of Canada outcomes reflect the long-term benefits to Canadians that the federal government is working to achieve. Taken
together, the outcomes reflect a balance of social, economic and environmental interests:
Sustainable Economy:
Sustainable economic growth;
An innovative and knowledge-based economy;
Income security and employment for Canadians;
A fair and secure marketplace; and
A clean and healthy environment.
Canada's Social Foundations:
Healthy Canadians with access to quality health care;
An inclusive society that promotes linguistic duality and diversity;
A vibrant Canadian culture and heritage; and
Safe and secure communities.
Canada's Place in the World:
A strong and mutually beneficial North American partnership;
A prosperous global economy that benefits Canadians and the world;
A safe and secure world; and
Global poverty reduction through sustainable development.
In addition to the three main policy areas, a special chapter on Aboriginal Peoples provides information on spending targeted to Aboriginal peoples. The chapter focuses
on the Aboriginal Horizontal Framework that aligns all federal programs and services directed specifically to Aboriginal people in Canada under seven thematic headings.
The chapter also contains some societal indicator information on life expectancy, infant mortality, educational attainment, acceptable housing, employment rate, median
income, and business formation rate.
Canada's Performance 2005 shows progress for the following indicators in the three main policy areas:
Educational attainment;
Employment rate;
Income security;
Green economic practices;
Barriers to entrepreneurship;
Real gross domestic product per capita;
Safety;
Housing;
Merchandise trade;
Canada's investment position;
Armed conflicts; and
Life expectancy.
Areas for improvement are in:
Official development assistance;
Innovation;
Volunteerism;
Self-rated health status;
Political participation;
Climate change; and
Biodiversity.
Indicators that have no trend data or significant change are:
Cost competitiveness;
Natural resources sustainability
Perception of security;
Literacy;
Water use;
Attitudes toward diversity;
Healthy lifestyles;
Waiting times;
Patient satisfaction;
Participation in cultural and heritage activities; and
Air quality.
The Aboriginal Peoples Chapter
This is the second time that Canada's Performance includes a specific chapter on Aboriginal Peoples. This year, the chapter focuses on the Aboriginal
Horizontal Framework. The chapter contains figures on federal spending rolled up for all Government of Canada programs and services directly targeted to Aboriginal people
- federal departments, agencies and Crown corporations provided 360 programs and services with total expenditures of approximately $8.2 billion. Furthermore, the chapter
provides a context to view the Government of Canada's investments in Aboriginal Peoples within seven themes - health, lifelong learning, safe and sustainable communities,
housing, economic opportunity, lands and resources, and governance and relationships. Federal government expenditures by thematic area are:
Health: $1,838.5 million
Lifelong learning: $1,940.7 million
Safe and sustainable communities: $2,430.5 million
Housing: $438.8 million
Economic opportunity: $231.4 million
Lands and resources: $144.8 million
Governance and relationships: $1,145.6 million
Of the 7 indicators in the Aboriginal Peoples chapter of Canada's Performance 2005, improving performance is seen in:
Employment rate of Aboriginal Peoples
Median income of Aboriginal Peoples
Life expectancy of Aboriginal Peoples
Infant mortality of Aboriginal Peoples
Acceptable housing for Aboriginal Peoples
Business formation rate
The electronic version of the report, available at http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca, links to departmental and agency planning and
performance reports, the Annual Report of Crown Corporations and Other Corporate Interests of Canada, important databases on government audits, evaluations and
horizontal initiatives, as well as to three annexes: a glossary and two annexes on additional indicator information. The electronic version of the report also links to the
Aboriginal Horizontal Framework - Aboriginal Affairs: Programs and Spending site, which provides detailed program and expenditure information for the 360 targeted federal
programs for Aboriginal peoples in Canada.
