Backgrounder - Independent Blue Ribbon Panel - Terms of Reference
Backgrounder - Blue Ribbon Panel Member Biographies
Fact Sheet - Grant and Contribution Programs
Federal government takes next
step to restore accountability and to ensure effective and efficient program
delivery
June 6, 2006
OTTAWA - The Honourable John Baird, President of the
Treasury Board of Canada today announced the creation of an independent
blue-ribbon panel to recommend measures to make the delivery of grant and
contribution programs more efficient while ensuring greater accountability.
"People who
work hard, pay their taxes and play by the rules want accountability from their
government," Minister Baird said. "With
some $26 billion dollars going to grant and contributions each year, we owe
taxpayers a thorough review of these programs as part of our ongoing efforts to
restore accountability to government and to leave the legacy of political
scandal in the past."
The government
committed in its Federal Accountability Act and Action
Plan to
establish this independent panel. It
will have three main areas of focus:
reviewing the administrative
requirements individuals and organizations must meet in order to access
government grant and contribution programs;
examining the issues faced by
government departments in managing these programs; and,
assessing whether instruments other
than grants and contributions are more appropriate for funding some
programs.
"A top priority of Canada's new government is to restore the public's
confidence in government," Minister Baird added. "Examining grants and contributions is an important step in
helping to ensure the effective and efficient delivery of these programs."
The three
panellists were selected based on their extensive experience in the private or
public sectors. They are Ms. Frances Lankin, President and Chief Executive
Officer, United Way of Greater Toronto; Mr. Ian D. Clark, President and Chief
Executive Officer, Council of Ontario Universities; and Mr. Marc Tellier,
President and Chief Executive Officer of Yellow Pages Group.
"I am
delighted these three distinguished individuals have agreed to provide informed
and objective advice based on their knowledge of how government works and what
Canadians need," Minister Baird concluded. "Together, they bring a unique and valuable blend of political,
not-for-profit, public sector and business experience. I am confident that their recommendations
will reflect their sound judgment and ability to get to the heart of the
issues."
The government
intends to issue a new policy on transfer payments that will reflect recommendations
of both the blue-ribbon panel and the Auditor General's May 2006 report on the
Management of Voted Grants and Contributions.
In addition,
the government will undertake two other initiatives to help government work
better for Canadians: strengthen and streamline management by reviewing its
procurement and financial management policies and repeal policies and
regulations that inhibit the effectiveness of the public service.
Attached is a
backgrounder with information on the Terms of Reference of the panel,
biographical information on the panel members, and a fact sheet on grants and
contributions programs.
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For more information, contact:
Patrick Robert
Press Secretary
Office of the President of the Treasury 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
Independent Blue Ribbon Panel
Terms of Reference
Introduction
Through the Federal
Accountability Act and its Action Plan, the Government of Canada is
bringing forward specific measures to help strengthen accountability and
increase transparency and oversight in government operations.
The
Action Plan aims to strike an appropriate balance between oversight and flexibility. The goal is to create a policy that helps
ensure the achievement of desired outcomes, improves accountability, and
encourages management efficiency.
Accordingly, the government is establishing an independent panel to
review and make recommendations on the implementation of the draft Treasury
Board Policy on Transfer Payments.
Mandate
An independent
panel will be mandated to provide advice on how to achieve strong
accountability for the funds spent on grants and contributions, under the draft
Treasury Board Policy on Transfer Payments, while allowing for their efficient
management and effective access to them.
This mandate
will involve:
Reviewing the draft Policy on Transfer
Payments, along with its directives and related departmental practices;
Identifying barriers to access for
applicants for government grant and contribution programs and recommend changes
to government-wide and departmental policies and practices to ensure that the
government delivers those programs in a fair, cost-effective, and efficient
manner;
Giving consideration to eliminating
legislative barriers and constraints to the effective and efficient delivery of
grant and contribution programs;
Assessing whether instruments other
than grants and contributions can better achieve policy outcomes for Canadians
in receipt of government support.
Duration of
the Review
The
panel will submit a written report outlining their recommendations on ensuring
an appropriate balance between accountability and effective and efficient
program delivery to the President of the Treasury Board by December 2006.
Conduct of Review
1) Draft
Treasury Board Policy on Transfer Payments:
The panel will
be expected to review the draft Policy on Transfer Payments and related
directives, including relevant sections of the Financial Administration Act,
to:
Determine where there may be
unproductive controls or ineffective reporting requirements respecting transfer
payments that do not serve to strengthen accountability and may create an undue
administrative burden on those managing grant and contribution programs as well
as applicants seeking to access them;
Determine whether the proposed
direction provided to departments is likely to strengthen accountability and
enhance management performance in the delivery of grant and contribution
programs while contributing to the achievement of policy outcomes established
by the government; and
Identify opportunities to rationalize
policy requirements that may impose an unnecessary burden on those
administering grant and contribution programs in departments or those seeking
access to them.
2) Departmental
Practices:
The panel will
also be expected to examine departmental management policies, procedures and
practices with respect to grants and contributions in select departments to
identify opportunities to rationalize requirements and reduce inefficiencies
while ensuring strong accountability.
This aspect of the panel's work could include:
Greater use of transparency to foster
excellence in management practices (e.g. proactive disclosure);
Enhancements to management of
reporting information to support better program performance and
decision-making; and
Mechanisms to assess departmental
management performance of grants and contributions on an ongoing basis to
promote continuous improvement.
3) Other
Considerations:
The panel will
take into consideration related initiatives proposed in the Federal
Accountability Act and Action Plan as well as other reviews conducted or
underway over the past two years related to the development of the draft
Treasury Board Policy on Transfer Payments.
The panel will also review the Auditor General's report on the
management of grants and contributions, tabled on May 16, 2006.
4) Engagement:
The panel will
hear from government officials, grants and contributions applicants and those
organizations that deliver grants and contributions on behalf of the
government.
Independent Panel
Three distinguished individuals have been selected to serve on this
panel based on their knowledge of grant and contribution programs issues as
well as their experience leading a private or public sector organization in the
delivery of services to clients while ensuring effective accountability and
control. A committee of deputy ministers
will support the work of the panel.
Backgrounder
Blue Ribbon Panel Member Biographies
Frances Lankin
President and Chief Executive Officer, United Way of Greater Toronto
Frances Lankin has
dedicated her life and career to some of the most important issues of the day.
A passionate advocate for social justice, she has been a strong and respected
voice for community and social issues related to children, youth, people with
disabilities, seniors, women and health, and long-term care. Ms. Lankin was
elected as a Member of Ontario's provincial legislature in 1990, and served as
Minister of Government Services, Chair of the Management Board of Cabinet,
Minister of Health, and Minister of Economic Development and Trade. Ms. Lankin
has been President and Chief Executive Officer of the United Way of Greater
Toronto since September 2001.
Ian D. Clark
President and Chief Executive Officer, Council of Ontario Universities
Mr. Clark received an Honours Bachelor of
Science degree in Physics and Chemistry from the University of British Columbia
(1966), a Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Oxford (1969), and
a Master of Public Policy degree from Harvard University's Kennedy School of
Government (1972). Before assuming the presidency of the Council of Ontario
Universities, Mr. Clark worked in the Public Service of Canada for 22 years in
a variety of positions, including Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet, Deputy
Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs, and Secretary of the Treasury
Board. He subsequently served on the executive board of the International
Monetary Fund, and became a partner in the accounting and consulting firm KPMG.
He is a Senior Fellow of Massey College and is the author of numerous articles
on governance and management.
Marc P. TellierPresident and Chief Executive Officer of Yellow Pages
Group
Mr. Tellier has
served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Yellow Pages Group since
October 2001 where he completed the largest-ever initial public offering in the
income trust sector in Canada in 2003. He also led the $2.55B acquisition of
Advertising Directory Solutions Holdings Inc. in 2005 as well as the
acquisitions of Trader Media Corporation and Trader Canada in 2006. Prior to
his current position, Mr. Tellier was an officer of Bell Canada and served as
Senior Vice President - Partnership Development. Mr. Tellier began his
career at Bell Canada in 1990 after graduating from the University of Ottawa
with a Bachelor's degree in Economics. Mr. Tellier is a member of the Board of
Directors of National Bank of Canada, of the Yellow Pages Association (YPA) and
the Ste-Justine Hospital Foundation. He is also a member of the Canadian
Council of Chief Executives and serves on the Advisory Board of Students on
Ice.
Fact
Sheet
Grant and Contribution Programs
What are
grants and contributions?
Grant and
contribution programs assist the government in meeting its public policy
objectives by entering into funding partnerships with organizations that
deliver important services and programs to Canadians - from health program
delivery and research to funding for arts and heritage projects to employment
and skills development programs.
Over 50 departments and agencies
manage some $26 billion each year in grants and contributions to individuals,
corporations, and non-government organizations who deliver important programs
to Canadians.
Grants
are unconditional transfer payments to support the activities of individuals or
organizations that meet all program eligibility requirements.
Recipients of
government contributions must meet performance conditions specified in a
contribution agreement to receive funding. Over the life of the agreement,
recipients must show they are meeting these conditions in order to be
reimbursed for specific costs. The government can audit the recipients' use of
funding.
Other types of grants and
contributions:
Conditional Grants (Foundations): a transfer to an
arms-length organization to cover expenses over a number of years.
Repayable Contributions: a contribution in which,
all or part of which is repayable or conditionally repayable by the recipient
according to the specific conditions set out in the funding agreement.
Assessed Contributions to an
international organization: a transfer by the federal government
required to fulfil Canada's obligation as a member of these organizations and
to fund Canada's share of the cost of operations of these organizations.
Management, control and accountability for
grants and contributions are governed by the Policy on Transfer Payments. The recommendations of the independent blue
ribbon panel will be considered as part of a review of this policy.
