Government of Canada announces additional expenditure controls on Public Opinion Research

News Release

For immediate release
OTTAWA, ONTARIO, February 13, 2008 − The Honourable Michael M Fortier, Minister of Public Works and Government Services, and the Honourable Vic Toews, President of the Treasury Board, today announced additional expenditure controls following the Action Plan adopted in Response to the Independent Advisor’s Report on Public Opinion Research (POR).
These new measures developed by Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) and the Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS) will help reduce government-wide expenditures by $10 million in POR for 2008-09 and will be reflected in the fiscal framework.
“Our Government is continuing to take action to implement expenditure controls which demonstrate our progress toward improvements in POR, as well as our commitment to ensuring better value for taxpayers,” said Minister Fortier.
The measures aimed at strengthening the government's management of POR include:
the requirement of ministerial approval for all departmental POR to provide greater oversight and rigour in POR management and expenditures;
an immediate freeze on the signing of new subscriptions to syndicated studies, paving the way for new arrangements for government purchase of such studies;
a higher threshold for post-advertising campaign evaluations – currently evaluations are required for advertising campaigns valued at more than $400,000, this will increase to $1 million.
In addition, PWGSC and TBS are considering options for a system-wide review of POR expenditures in 2008-09 in order to achieve focused expenditures on POR and to ensure the best value for money.
“The Government of Canada has already implemented changes to strengthen the management of POR through the Federal Accountability Act. These new measures are another example of our commitment to ensuring accountability in all government spending,” said the Honourable Vic Toews, President of the Treasury Board.
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For further information, media may contact:
Jacques C. Gagnon
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Public Works and Government Services
819-997-5421
Frédéric Baril
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Public Works and Government Services
613-868-1128
Media Relations Office
Public Works and Government Services Canada
819-956-2315
PWGSC news releases are also available on our Internet site at: www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/medias-media/index-eng.html.

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Government of Canada announces additional expenditure controls on Public Opinion Research

News Release

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