2023–2024 Departmental Results Report – Supplementary information tables – Details on transfer payment programs

Community Futures (CF) Program (Voted)

Start date	May 18, 1995 (The Program started in 1986 and was previously delivered by Human Resources Development Canada)
End date	Ongoing
Type of transfer payment	Contribution
Type of appropriation	Appropriated annually through Estimates
Fiscal year for terms and conditions	2010–2011
Link to departmental result(s)	Departmental Results: Businesses and Communities
Link to the department’s Program Inventory	Program: Business Services
Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program	The Community Futures (CF) Program helps communities develop and implement local solutions to local problems. The program provides financial support to CF organizations, which are incorporated, not-for-profit organizations. CFs provide support to small and medium-sized enterprises and undertake community economic development initiatives.
Results achieved	PrairiesCan has developed a Performance Measurement Framework that includes performance indicators, expected results, and data sources to capture results achieved under its Departmental Results Framework (DRF). Key results: An analysis of data from Prairies CFs’ loan clients,* compared to companies of similar size and location in Statistics Canada’s database, demonstrated that CF assistance was associated with higher survival rates. A smaller percentage of Prairies CF-assisted firms (3.72%) exited the market between 2016 and 2020 compared to comparable firms (10.31%); and CFs provided 646 loans to rural businesses with a value of $35.3 million that leveraged an additional $39.8 million. For more information on results achieved, see the “Results: what we achieved” section in the main DRR document and supplementary information on PrairiesCan’s Program Inventory. *Source: Statistics Canada’s Evaluation of the Community Futures Business Performance for 2016-2020 exercise.
Findings of audits completed in 2023–24	PrairiesCan’s internal audit function has been transferred to the Office of the Comptroller General (OCG). All audits of the Regional Development Agencies (RDAs), including PrairiesCan, will be conducted by OCG in accordance with their RDA Risk-Based Audit Plan (RBAP).
Findings of evaluations completed in 2023–24	There were no evaluations of the Community Futures Program in 2023-24. An evaluation of the program is planned for 2024–2025 and is currently in progress and expected to be completed by March 2025. Findings from this evaluation will be reflected in the 2024-25 DRR.
Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2023–24	Eligible applicants for the CF Program are the CF organizations. PrairiesCan has a long standing strategy of engaging with these organizations to build awareness of its programs among prospective applicants.

Financial information (dollars)

Type of transfer payment	2021–2022 Actual spending	2022–2023 Actual spending	2023–2024 Planned spending	2023–2024 Total authorities available for use	2023–2024 Actual spending (authorities used)	Variance (2023–2024 actual minus 2023–2024 planned)
Total grants	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total contributions	32,978,791	17,667,868	17,667,868	17,667,868	17,667,868	0
Total other types of transfer payments	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total program	32,978,791	17,667,868	17,667,868	17,667,868	17,667,868	0
Explanation of variances	Not applicable.

 

Growth Through Regional Innovation Program (known as Regional Economic Growth through Innovation (REGI))

Start date	October 18, 2018
End date	Regional Economic Growth through Innovation (REGI): Ongoing Women Entrepreneurship Fund (WEF): March 31, 2020 Women Entrepreneurship Strategy (WES) Ecosystem Fund: March 31, 2023
Type of transfer payment	REGI: Grant and Contribution WES: Contribution
Type of appropriation	Appropriated annually through Estimates
Fiscal year for terms and conditions	2018–2019
Link to departmental result(s)	Departmental Results: Businesses, Communities, Technologies
Link to the department’s Program Inventory	Programs: Innovation, Business Growth
Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program	The REGI Initiative builds on the objectives of the Innovation and Skills Plan. The goal of REGI is to provide streamlined, nationally coordinated, regionally tailored support for business productivity and scale-up, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), women and Indigenous entrepreneurs, and other under-represented groups. REGI will assist in the enhancement of regional industrial and technology clusters and regional innovation ecosystems. The program provides assistance through two new program streams: Business Scale-up and Productivity Stream (BSP): Invest in and support businesses at various stages of development, including high-growth firms, to accelerate their growth and assist them in scaling up, and enhance their productivity and competitiveness in both domestic and global markets. Regional Innovation Ecosystems Stream (RIE): Create, grow and nurture inclusive regional ecosystems that support business needs and foster an entrepreneurial environment conducive to innovation, growth and competitiveness. The Women Entrepreneurship Strategy (WES) provides nationally coordinated, regionally tailored investments to help women entrepreneurs and support regional innovation ecosystems through two program streams: WES Ecosystem Fund: A five-year program to help non-profit, third party organizations deliver support for women entrepreneurs and address gaps in the ecosystem. Pilot Contribution Program (Women Entrepreneurship Fund): A two-year program that invests directly in women-owned or women-led businesses to help them grow and reach new markets. Contributions issued under REGI may be unconditionally or conditionally repayable, or non-repayable. Contributions issued under the WES are non-repayable only.
Results achieved	PrairiesCan has developed a Performance Measurement Framework that includes performance indicators, expected results, and data sources to capture results achieved under its Departmental Results Framework (DRF). Key results in 2023–2024 include: 5,301 jobs created (including 3,375 HQP jobs); $532.8 million in export sales; $10.2 million in business sales growth resulting from commercialization; $1.4 billion revenue growth; $237.7 million in Expenditures in Research and Development; 6,778 SMEs assisted; and, 33 businesses created, maintained, or expanded. For more information, see the “Results: what we achieved” section in the main document.
Findings of audits completed in 2023–2024	PrairiesCan’s internal audit function has been transferred to the Office of the Comptroller General (OCG). All audits of the Regional Development Agencies (RDAs), including PrairiesCan, will be conducted by OCG in accordance with their RDA Risk-Based Audit Plan (RBAP).
Findings of evaluations completed in 2023–2024	A national evaluation of REGI was completed in October 2023. All regional development agencies across Canada collaborated on this evaluation. The evaluation found that the REGI program continues to be relevant and meets the needs of Canadian businesses and communities. The evaluation noted that the design and delivery of the REGI was efficient. Overall, PrairiesCan investments amounted to $581 million. PrairiesCan investments generated over 25,000 jobs and supported over 13,000 businesses in the prairies. The evaluation made three broad recommendations: Improve inclusivity through the adoption of best practices, proactive approaches and ongoing Gender-based Analysis Plus analysis; Continue to improve quality and consistency of performance information; and Improve efficiency of application, approval and referral processes and ensure program design aligns with needs. Targeted opportunities for improvements and the management response to these recommendations are outlined in the report’s management response and action plan (MRAP). Link to evaluation report and MRAP - Regional Economic Growth through Innovation - National Evaluation - Canada.ca.
Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2023–2024	The REGI initiative and WES were delivered through continuous intake or call for proposals process. Potential applicants and stakeholders were engaged through active outreach, media strategies, and information provided on PrairiesCan’s public website.

Financial information (dollars)

Type of transfer payment	2021–2022 Actual spending	2022–2023 Actual spending	2023–2024 Planned spending	2023–2024 Total authorities available for use	2023–2024 Actual spending (authorities used)	Variance (2023–2024 actual minus 2023–2024 planned)
Total grants	0	0	92,816	0	0	(92,816)
Total contributions	220,315,484	212,916,520	198,914,510	214,640,095	168,836,341	(30,078,169)
Total other types of transfer payments	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total program	220,315,484	212,916,520	199,836,326	214,640,095	168,836,341	(30,999,985)
Explanation of variances	Actual spending decrease is related to Budget 2021 Jobs and Growth Fund (which ended in March 2024) and projects for Canada Coal Transition Initiative Infrastructure Fund and Canadian Critical Drug Initiative.

 

Western Diversification Program (Voted)

Start date	December 3, 1987
End date	Ongoing
Type of transfer payment	Contribution and grant
Type of appropriation	Appropriated annually through Estimates
Fiscal year for terms and conditions	2018–2019
Link to departmental result(s)	Departmental Results: Businesses, Communities, Technologies
Link to the department’s Program Inventory	Programs: Innovation, Business Growth, Business Services, Community Initiatives
Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program	The Western Diversification Program (WDP), also known publicly as the Community Economic Development and Diversification program, contributes to the department’s mandate to promote economic development and diversification in western Canada and advance the West’s interests in national policy, program and project development and implementation. Contributions to not-for-profit organizations are non-repayable; contributions to western Canadian commercial projects or for-profit organizations may be repayable.
Results achieved	PrairiesCan has developed a Performance Measurement Framework that includes performance indicators, expected results, and data sources to capture results achieved under its Departmental Results Framework (DRF). Key results achieved in 2023–2024 include: 705 jobs created (including 361 HQP jobs); $25 million in export sales; $495,000 in expenditures in research and development; 807 participants trained 81 contributing partners engaged in advancing community-based projects 786 SMEs assisted For more information on results achieved, see the “Results: what we achieved” section in the main DRR document and supplementary information on PrairiesCan’s Program Inventory.
Findings of audits completed in 2023–2024	PrairiesCan’s internal audit function has been transferred to the Office of the Comptroller General (OCG). All audits of the Regional Development Agencies (RDAs), including PrairiesCan, will be conducted by OCG in accordance with their RDA Risk-Based Audit Plan (RBAP).
Findings of evaluations completed in 2023–2024	The next evaluation of the Western Diversification Program (also known as the Community Economic Development and Diversification program) is scheduled for 2025–2026. The evaluation is expected to be completed by March 2026.
Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2023–2024	The WDP is delivered through a continuous intake process. Potential applicants and stakeholders were engaged through active outreach, media strategies and information provided on PrairiesCan’s public website.

Financial information (dollars)

Type of transfer payment	2021–2022 Actual spending	2022–2023 Actual spending	2023–2024 Planned spending	2023–2024 Total authorities available for use	2023–2024 Actual spending (authorities used)	Variance (2023–2024 actual minus 2023–2024 planned)
Total grants	0	0	5,000,000	0	0	(5,000,000)
Total contributions	120,774,875	212,750,133	98,379,606	139,742,980	138,016,711	39,637,105
Total other types of transfer payments	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total program	120,774,875	212,750,133	103,379,606	139,742,980	138,016,711	39,637,105
Explanation of variances	Actual spending decrease is related to Budget 2021 Canada Community Revitalization Fund and Tourism Relief Fund.