Briefing Book for the President of the Treasury Board of Canada: 2015

Treasury Board

The Treasury Board was first established as a committee of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada on July 2, 1867 and was made a statutory committee in 1869. IT is the only Cabinet committee that is recognized in legislation.

The Treasury Board consists of the President of the Treasury Board (the President), the Minister of Finance, and four other members of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada that are designated as members by an Order in Council. The composition of the Treasury Board is provided for in the Financial Administration Act (FAA), which also provides for the appointment of alternates who can serve in the place of members. The Treasury Board's quorum is three members (including alternates).

The Treasury Board exercises authority over a vast range of issues, and its role can generally be classified into powers of supervision, recommendation, decision, approval, reporting, regulation-making and participation in consultation. While the primary statute setting out the role of the Treasury Board is the FAA, there are over 20 other statutes that also establish its roles and authorities. The Treasury Board's powers and responsibilities are also set out in regulations, Orders in Council, policies, guidelines, and practices.

The Treasury Board has four principal roles:

1. It acts as the government's "Management Board":
   • Setting the rules that establish how people, public funds, and government assets are managed.
   • Reviewing departmental investment plans in support of accountability and oversight of government operations.
2. It acts as the government's "Expenditure Manager":
   • Managing the Government's expenditure plans and the stewardship of public funds.
   • Approving new money that has been set aside in the Budget, including for major procurements, assets, new programs, and grants and contributions.
3. It acts as the "Employer" of the Public Service of Canada:
   • Determining terms and conditions of employment, including pensions.
   • Setting direction of human resources management.
4. It provides "Regulatory Oversight" as a committee of the Privy Council (CPC):
   • Reviewing and approving the majority of regulations and Orders in Council made pursuant to legislation attributing a power to the Governor in Council.
     • The official title of the CPC is "Treasury Board (Governor in Council)." This committee is sometimes referred to as "Treasury Board (Part B)."
     • The quorum of the Treasury Board (Governor in Council) is four Cabinet ministers.
     • Formal appointment as a Treasury Board member is not required. In the absence of a sufficient number of Treasury Board members, other cabinet ministers may be invited to participate in the works of the Treasury Board (Governor in Council) and to form quorum.
     • The responsibility of approving the majority of regulations and Orders in Council was assigned to Treasury Board members under the prerogative of the Prime Minister in December 2003.

Appendix A

Background

The Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat (the Secretariat) was established as a department in 1966 as the administrative arm of the Treasury Board. IT supports the Treasury Board by making recommendations and providing advice on program spending, regulations, and management policies and directives, while respecting the primary responsibility of deputy heads in managing their organizations, and in their roles as accounting officers before Parliament.

Organization

The Secretariat is overseen by a deputy minister, the Secretary of the Treasury Board. Three other senior officials have specific government-wide leadership responsibilities within the Secretariat:

• The Comptroller General of Canada, who provides leadership, direction, oversight, and capacity building for financial management, internal audit, and the management of assets and acquired services.
• The Chief Human Resources Officer, who provides leadership on people management through policies, programs, and strategic engagements, and by centrally managing labour relations, compensation, pensions and benefits, and contributing to the management of executives.
• The Chief Information Officer, who provides leadership, direction, oversight, and capacity building for information management, information technology, government security (including identity management), access to information, privacy, and internal and external service delivery.

Role and Activities

The Secretariat's activities are aligned to support the overall strategic outcome of good governance and sound stewardship to enable efficient and effective service to Canadians. Results achieved in support of this outcome strengthen the effectiveness and efficiency of the federal government; support decision-making by Parliament, the Treasury Board and Cabinet; and ensure that Canadians are well served by a government that is accountable and transparent.

The Secretariat has five main programs which are detailed in its Program Alignment Architecture. A Program Alignment Architecture is an inventory of all programs undertaken by a particular department.

Decision-Making Support and Oversight Program

Supports the Treasury Board in its management board and expenditure manager roles and provides independent strategic advice, analysis, guidance and oversight of programs, operations, and expenditures. The Secretariat reviews departmental submissions (e.g., related to expenditure, program, and policy authorities), provides recommendations to the Treasury Board, and coordinates and reports on the allocation of expenditures across government organizations and programs.

Management Policies Development and Monitoring Program

Supports the Treasury Board in its role of establishing principles for sound governance and management by setting government-wide policy direction in targeted areas. The program objective is to have a sound management policy framework for the Government of Canada by developing, reviewing, leading implementation, and monitoring policies and departmental performance in key areas. The Secretariat also engages with functional communities and undertakes outreach and monitoring to promote policy compliance and capacity building.

Government-Wide Programs Design and Delivery Program

Designs and delivers activities, systems, services, and operations with, for, or on behalf of other organizations in the Government of Canada related to pensions and benefits, labour relations, and information technology. This program also establishes a platform for transformational initiatives primarily, but not exclusively, in back-office functions. The program objective is to provide consistent and cost-controlled operations across the Government of Canada.

Government-Wide Funds and Public Service Employer Payments Program

Accounts for funds that are held centrally to supplement other appropriations, from which allocations are made to, or payments and receipts are made on behalf of, other federal organizations. These funds supplement the standard appropriations process and meet certain responsibilities of the Treasury Board as the employer of the core public administration, including employer obligations under the Public Service Pension and Benefits Plan.

Internal Services

Groups of related activities and https://www.canada.ca/en/treasury-board-secretariat.html that are administered to support the needs of programs and other corporate obligations of an organization. These services include the following: Management and oversight; Communications; Legal; Human resources management; Financial management; Information management; Information technology; Real property; Materiel; and Acquisition.

Further details on the programs described above can be found on the TBS website.

Canada School of Public Service

The Canada School of Public Service is the common learning provider for the federal public administration and focuses on learning and leadership development services. IT was created in April 2004 and has been part of the Treasury Board Portfolio since July 2004. IT also contributes to instilling a shared sense of values and accountability among all public servants, in particular through the delivery of required training.

Organizations that report to Parliament through the President of the Treasury Board

Funding of Agents of Parliament

The Treasury Board Secretariat engages with the agents—via the Treasury Board submission and Estimates process—when new funding is requested to ensure that an overall view of government priorities is considered and that proposals are cost effective and demonstrate value for money.

Requests for new funding require a confirmed source of funds through a formal Cabinet Record of Decision, an earlier decision of the Treasury Board, or through inclusion in the Speech from the Throne or the Budget. Treasury Board ministers may consider the submission once a source of funds has been confirmed. If Treasury Board approves access to new funding, the amount is included in the estimates for Parliament’s approval before funding is supplied.

Policy Applicability to Agents of Parliament

Treasury Board policies apply to the offices of the agents of Parliament. However, recognizing the importance for the agents to maintain their independence from the Government, the Treasury Board may delegate the responsibility to ensure policy compliance related to oversight and monitoring provisions to the deputy head on a case-by-case basis.

Parliamentary Budget Officer

The Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO) is an independent officer of the Library of Parliament reporting to the Parliamentary Librarian. The position was created in 2006. The PBO's role is to provide independent, authoritative, nonpartisan, financial, and economic analysis to support Parliament and parliamentarians in exercising their oversight role over the government's stewardship of public funds and in ensuring budget transparency.

The PBO is housed within the legislative branch of government, unlike the agents of Parliament. Funding for the PBO is accounted for within the budget of the Library of Parliament, not as a separate entity. TB policies do not apply to the PBO, and TB does not have an oversight or monitoring role.

The PBO is entitled to economic and financial information by request from deputy heads in a free and timely manner by the Parliament of Canada Act (s 79.3). However, this access does not extend to information that is deemed personal, information otherwise restricted under the Access to Information Act, and information deemed Cabinet confidence.

All official information requests from the PBO, as well as responses from government departments, are automatically posted on the PBO website.

In regards to engagement with the Secretariat, the PBO is expected to liaise with the Assistant Secretary, Strategic Communications and Ministerial Affairs for information requests. This sector is responsible for coordinating most types of parliamentary requests however the PBO often calls TBS sectors directly, as IT does with other departments.

Background

The President of the Treasury Board (the President) is responsible for a variety of Governor in Council appointments, ministerial appointments, and Treasury Board Appointment Orders.

The responsibility for making Governor in Council and Ministerial appointments reflecting Canada's diversity in terms of linguistic, regional and employment equity rests with ministers. The President ensures that accessible, competency-based and transparent selection processes are in place for ministerial as well as full time or part-time Governor in Council appointments. In the case of Governor in Council appointments, the President’s officials work with the Privy Council Office to develop these processes.

A Governor in Council appointment is one made by the Governor General, on the advice of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada (Cabinet) and requires an Order in Council. This process is used most often for heads of agencies, chief executive officers of Crown corporations, and members of quasi-judicial tribunals. In the case of leadership positions, selection committees set up by the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat (the Secretariat) and the Privy Council Office include representatives from the President’s office. The role of these committees is to assess candidates and provide the President with a short list of qualified candidates, while the President’s role is to identify the successful candidate and make a recommendation for appointment to the Governor in Council. More information on these appointments can be found in the Governor in Council Appointments Procedures Guide.

The President also appoints individuals under ministerial authority. Ministerial appointments may be used to satisfy a short-term need for timely, strategic and outside expert advice. These can also be used to fulfill a long-term need or obligation. The President can establish advisory boards or committees through administrative means and appoint the members.

Treasury Board Appointment Orders are used to appoint the members of Departmental Audit Committees (DACs). DACs were established in 2006 to provide deputy heads with advice and independent assurance regarding their department's governance, risk management and control processes. The President recommends the appointment of DAC external members to the Treasury Board. Recommendations to the President are made by the Comptroller General and the respective deputy head who have assessed the candidates against a competency profile. Prior to this submission, departments seek the support of their minister to ensure that there are no grounds upon which a proposal should not be presented.

Current Status

A list of the committees, authorities and boards falling within the Treasury Board portfolio is included in Appendix A. Appointments that will be coming to the President’s office for decision in the coming months are identified in Appendix B.

Appendix A: Appointments within the Treasury Board Portfolio

Appendix B: Upcoming Appointments

There is one upcoming Governor in Council appointment which concerns the recommendation by the Public Sector Pension Investment Board of an auditor for one of its subsidiary.

As well, there are a number of ministerial appointment vacancies requiring the President's attention in the coming months. For each of these Ministerial appointments, the President receives a nomination package, which includes: an overview of the committee; a list of the committee membership; and a biography of the candidate in both official languages.

Advisory Committees

• Regulatory Advisory Committee
  Vic Young, Chair
• Advisory Committee on Senior Level Retention and Compensation
  Vijay Kanwar, Chair
• Government of Canada Audit Committee (TBS Departmental Audit Committee)
  Alan Nymark
  Shahid Minto
  Gail Cook-Bennett

Think Tanks

• Canadian Chamber of Commerce
  The Honourable Perrin Beatty, President and CEO
• Canadian Council of Chief Executives
  The Honourable John Manley, President and CEO
• Canadian Federation of Independent Business
  Dan Kelly, President, CEO and Chair
• Conference Board of Canada
  Daniel Muzyka, President and CEO
• Public Policy Forum
  Larry Murray, Acting President and CEO
• Institute on Governance
  Maryantonett Flumian, President
• C.D. Howe Institute
  William B.P. Robson, President and CEO
• The Mowat Centre
  Matthew Mendelsohn, Director

Provincial and Territorial Counterparts

Selected International Counterparts

Yaprak Baltacıoğlu, Secretary of the Treasury Board of Canada

Yaprak Baltacıoğlu was appointed as Secretary of the Treasury Board on November 12, 2012.

Mrs. Baltacıoğlu served as Deputy Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities between July 2009 and November 2012 and as Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Agri Food Canada from March 2007 to June 2009.

She spent over four years at the Privy Council Office, first as Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet (Social Development Policy) and then as Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet (Operations). In these roles, she provided advice and support to the Prime Minister and Cabinet on the full range of government operations and domestic policy issues.

Mrs. Baltacıoğlu has occupied a number of positions in Agriculture and Agri Food Canada, culminating in the position of Assistant Deputy Minister of Policy. In this capacity, she was instrumental in the successful negotiation of the federal Agricultural Policy Framework.

Since joining the public service in 1989, she has also worked at the Public Service Commission of Canada and Environment Canada, the latter as both Director General for Strategic Policy and International Relations.

Mrs. Baltacıoğlu graduated from Carleton University’s School of Public Administration, where she received a Master of Arts, as well as from Istanbul University, where she obtained a Bachelor of Law degree.

Iain Stewart, Associate Secretary of the Treasury Board of Canada

Iain Stewart was appointed to the position of Associate Secretary of the Treasury Board on July 6, 2015.

Prior to this appointment, Mr. Stewart served as the Assistant Secretary of the International Affairs, Security and Justice Sector at TBS since June 2014. He has held a number of different leadership functions at Industry Canada, including Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM) of the Strategic Policy Sector, Secretary to the “Jenkins Panel” on business R&D programs, Associate ADM and Director General of the Science and Innovation Sector, and Director of Consumer Industries in the Industry Sector. Prior to that, he worked at the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Transport Canada and TBS, where he became Director of Infrastructure Policy after working as a TBS analyst for Fisheries and Oceans.

Born, raised and educated in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Mr. Stewart holds a Master of Public Administration, a graduate diploma in Marine Policy, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Dalhousie University.

Anne Marie Smart, Chief Human Resources Officer

Anne Marie Smart took up her position as Chief Human Resources Officer on August 10, 2015. Prior to this, she had been Associate Deputy Minister of Veterans Affairs Canada since 2012, and Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet, then Special Advisor, for Communications and Consultations with the Privy Council Office from 2007 to January 2012.

From 2006 to 2007, Ms. Smart was Assistant Deputy Minister of the Public Affairs and Stakeholder Relations Branch at Human Resources and Social Development Canada. The previous year she was Special Advisor, Domestic Engagement, with the United Nations Climate Change Conference Secretariat at Environment Canada.

Ms. Smart served as Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet, Operations Secretariat, at the Privy Council Office from 2003 to 2005. Prior to that, she was Acting Assistant Secretary, then Director of Operations for the Economic and Regional Development Policy Secretariat.

Her extensive career in public service management began in 1994 and includes other Director and Associate Director General positions at Human Resources and Social Development Canada, as well as Director General positions at Environment Canada.

Ms. Smart holds a Bachelor of Political Science and Journalism from Carleton University and also studied Economics at Carleton University.

Bill Matthews, Comptroller General of Canada

Bill Matthews was appointed Comptroller General of Canada effective July 17, 2014.

Prior to becoming the Comptroller General, Mr. Matthews was Assistant Secretary, Expenditure Management Sector, at the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, a position he accepted in 2011. Before joining the Expenditure Management Sector, Mr. Matthews worked at the Office of the Comptroller General for seven years, serving as the Assistant Comptroller General in the Financial Management and Analysis Sector from 2009 to 2011.

Mr. Matthews is a chartered professional accountant with over 25 years of experience in accounting and financial management in both the public and private sectors.

He holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Dalhousie University. He also serves as a board member of the Public Sector Accounting Board and the University of Ottawa’s Institute for Mental Health Research.

John Messina, Chief Information Officer of the Government of Canada

John Messina was appointed to the position of Chief Information Officer of the Government of Canada, effective August 24, 2015.

Mr. Messina comes to Treasury Board Secretariat from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) where he was Assistant Commissioner and Chief Information Officer, stewarding a workforce of over 3700 information technology (IT) professionals supporting 55,000 CRA and Canada Border Services Agency employees. Mr. Messina has 29 years of IT-related experience in various management positions within CRA; during which, he managed the implementation, evolution and maintenance of software solutions to support program delivery, and managed and operated the client computing infrastructure.

Mr. Messina possesses a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Laurentian University, is a Certified Professional Accountant, and has a Certificate in Public Sector Leadership and Governance from the University of Ottawa.

Sally Thornton, Assistant Deputy Minister, Governance, Planning and Policy Sector, Office of the Chief Human Resources Officer

Sally Thornton was appointed Assistant Deputy Minister of the Governance, Planning and Policy Sector effective November 24, 2014.

Ms. Thornton first joined the Treasury Board Secretariat in 2006 as Executive Director in the Social Sector. This was followed by a private sector interchange and work on a special project prior to moving to the Expenditure Management Sector, first as Executive Director of the Expenditure Strategies and Estimates Division in the fall of 2010, and subsequently as Deputy Assistant Secretary, Expenditure Management Sector in August 2013. She has worked at an executive level at Pricy Council Office, Justice, Health Canada and Environment Canada.

Prior to joining the federal government, Ms. Thornton practiced law in Ottawa. She has a Law degree from the University of Ottawa and a Masters in Business Administration from McGill.

Bayla Kolk, Assistant Deputy Minister, Pensions and Benefits, Office of the Chief Human Resources Officer

Bayla Kolk was appointed as the Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM) of the Pensions and Benefits Sector effective January 4, 2012.

Ms. Kolk was previously ADM, Compliance Operations and Program Development, Labour Program, at Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC). In that role, she was responsible for Occupational Health and Safety, Government Employment Compensation, Labour Standards, and Employment Equity. She was also Council Chair for the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety.

Her prior positions at HRSDC included Director General, Aboriginal Programs; Associate ADM, Ontario Region; ADM, Housing and Homelessness; and Associate ADM, Income Security and Social Development.

Ms. Kolk previously held senior positions at Transport Canada in International Air Policy and Negotiations, at Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada in Economic and Financial Policy related to the G8 and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and at the Privy Council Office in both Social and Economic Policy. She has extensive experience in economic and social policy and program development, international negotiations, intergovernmental and labour-management relations, program operations, and service modernization.

Ms. Kolk has a B.A. (Honours) from the University of Guelph, an M.A. from the University of Ottawa, and has completed requirements (ABD) towards a Ph.D. from Queen’s University.

Manon Brassard, Assistant Deputy Minister, Compensation and Labour Relations, Office of the Chief Human Resources Officer

Manon Brassard was appointed Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM) of the Compensation and Labour Relations Sector effective February 3, 2014.

Ms. Brassard came to the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, where she held the title of ADM of the Programs Branch.

Susan MacGowan, Assistant Deputy Minister, Collective Management, Office of the Chief Human Resources Officer

Susan MacGowan is the Visiting Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM) responsible for ADM collective management. She joined OCHRO in February 2014.

In this role, Ms. MacGowan provides ADMs with a source of advice to discuss learning and career objectives and to help identify and facilitate work assignments. She supports the ADM talent management process, assisting deputy ministers in identifying ADMs who have the skills and experience required in their organizations currently and into the future.

Immediately prior to joining OCHRO, Ms. MacGowan spent almost four years at Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada as Chief Financial Officer responsible for both the Finance and IM/IT functions. She has over 16 years of executive experience in numerous federal departments, including Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Industry Canada, Canadian Heritage and the corporate areas of the Department of Finance Canada and TBS, where she has been responsible for finance, corporate planning and risk management, strategy policy and regional operations.

Ms. MacGowan holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Carleton University, and is a Chartered Professional Accountant.

Carl Trottier, Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Compensation and Labour Relations, Office of the Chief Human Resources Officer

Carl Trottier was appointed Associate Assistant Deputy Minister of the Compensation and Labour Relations Sector effective November 7, 2014.

Mr. Trottier is the Treasury Board Secretariat Champion for the Administrative Services Community.

Roger Ermuth, Assistant Comptroller General, Financial Management, Office of the Comptroller General

Roger Ermuth was appointed Assistant Comptroller General of the Financial Management Sector in December 2014. Mr. Ermuth first joined the Office of the comptroller General (OCG) Executive team in August 2012 as Executive Director of the Financial Management Policy Division before leading the Costing Centre of Expertise.

Prior to joining OCG, Mr. Ermuth held the position of Deputy Chief Financial Officer and at Correctional Service Canada. He has also worked at the Privy Council Office, Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada, Agriculture and Agri-food Canada and the Canada Revenue Agency.

A Certified Professional Accountant, Mr. Ermuth obtained his MBA from the University of Ottawa, a graduate certificate from Harvard University and a BComm from Carleton University.

Anthea English, Assistant Comptroller General, Internal Audit, Office of the Comptroller General

Anthea English was appointed as the Assistant Comptroller General, Internal Audit Sector of the Office of the Comptroller General on May 7, 2012.

Prior to this role, Ms. English worked as Chief Financial Officer for the Ontario Workplace Safety and Insurance Board, as well as in various roles including Chief Financial Officer at the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). In addition, Ms. English has been a CAE for CMHC, Canada Post, and Human Resources and Skills Development Canada.

She holds a Chartered Accountant designation from the Ontario Institute of Chartered Accountants, a Graduate Diploma in Public Accounting from McGill University, a Master of Science (Mathematics) in Statistics and Operations Research from Concordia University, as well as a Bachelor of Mathematics (Statistics) from the University of Waterloo.

Elisa Mayhew, Assistant Comptroller General, Acquired Services and Assets Sector, Office of the Comptroller General

Elisa Mayhew earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario, in 1982. She was recruited to the federal Public Service in 1983 as a civilian employee with the Department of National Defence (DND), in London, Ontario.

After receiving a promotion, she was transferred to Ottawa in 1984. In the 15-year period that followed, she held a variety of positions, taking on increasing levels of responsibility. The most recent of those positions was that of senior procurement officer on information technology, communications and electronics and space technology projects. She left DND in 1999 to accept a position with the Government Operations Sector at the Treasury Board Secretariat.

In February 2014, she agreed to serve as Assistant Comptroller General for the Sector and has therefore taken on more extensive leadership responsibilities.

Patricia Sauvé-McCuan, Assistant Comptroller General, Financial Management Transformation, Office of the Comptroller General

Patricia Sauvé-McCuan was appointed Assistant Comptroller General – Financial Management Transformation, effective August 20, 2012.

Mrs. Sauvé-McCuan’s career brings together a blend of private and public sector experiences, with expertise in operational, financial and information management. Mrs. Sauvé-McCuan has held a number of Financial and Information Management executive positions in both private and public sector organizations.

Most recently, Mrs. Sauvé-McCuan has been charged with responsibility to lead the Financial Management transformation on behalf of the Office of the Comptroller General. Prior to her appointment, she worked as a special project executive in the Chief Information Officer Branch where she was responsible for developing the future direction for the standardization/consolidation of Financial Management and Grants and Contributions Systems within the Government of Canada. Before joining Treasury Board Secretariat, she was the Assistant Deputy Minister (Information Management)/Chief Information Officer at the Department of National Defence.

Jennifer Dawson, Deputy Chief Information Officer

Jennifer Dawson was appointed Deputy Chief Information Officer in November 2015.

Ms Dawson first joined TBS in 2014 as Executive Director within the Social and Cultural Sector. Prior to coming to TBS, she worked at Infrastructure Canada as the department’s Chief Information Officer and before that was Director General of Communications. She has also served as Executive Director in the Deputy Minister’s Office at Transport Canada. In addition to more than 15 years with the public service, Ms Dawson has a decade of experience in the public and non-profit sectors. She holds a Bachelor of Science from University College London, England.

Michael Vandergrift, Assistant Secretary, International Affairs, Security and Justice Sector

Michael Vandergrift recently became the Assistant Secretary of the International Affairs, Security and Justice Sector at the Treasury Board Secretariat in August 2015. He joined the Treasury Board Secretariat in April 2014as the Assistant Secretary of Regulatory Affairs, where he provided advice to Treasury Board Ministers on Governor in Council (GIC) submissions as well as management and oversight of the federal regulatory policy.

Before joining Treasury Board, he served as Director of Operations in the Priorities and Planning Secretariat of the Privy Council Office from 2010 to 2014. Previously, he worked in a variety of positions in Health Canada over a ten-year period, including serving as Director General of the Policy, Planning and International Affairs Directorate of the Health Products and Food Branch from 2007 to 2010 and leading the department’s regulatory affairs functions from 2003 to 2006. Mr. Vandergrift has also worked at the Medical Research Council and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

He holds an MSc in Social Policy and Administration from the London School of Economics.

Annette Gibbons, Assistant Secretary, Social and Cultural Sector

Annette Gibbons was appointed Assistant Secretary of the Social and Cultural Sector on November 24, 2014.

Ms. Gibbons began her federal government career in the Accelerated Economist Training Program, with assignments at the Privy Council Office, the Treasury Board Secretariat, the Department of Finance and the Federal Office of Regional Development (Quebec). She joined the Department of Canadian Heritage in 2003 and occupied progressively more senior positions, culminating in the role of Deputy Director General, Cultural Industries, in the Cultural Affairs Sector. In fall 2009, she moved to Transport Canada as Director General, Surface Transportation Policy Directorate. Most recently, Ms. Gibbons served as Assistant Deputy Minister of the Major Projects Management Office (MPMO) at Natural Resources Canada, where she, among others, supported decision making on the Northern Gateway pipeline project.

Ms. Gibbons holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Ottawa, a Master of Arts in Public Administration from Carleton University and a Bachelor of Arts in French and Political Science from Memorial University of Newfoundland.

Nancy Chahwan, Assistant Secretary, Government Operations Sector

Nancy Chahwan was appointed the Assistant Secretary of the Government Operations Sector, effective April 27, 2015.

She joins Treasury Board Secretariat from Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC), where she held a number of key positions. In her last role at PWGSC, Ms. Chahwan was Assistant Deputy Minister of the Parliamentary Precinct Branch, in which she led the rehabilitation of Canada's Parliament Buildings, one of the most significant real property projects in government. Previously she gained experience in strategic and operational issues management by holding positions of increasing responsibility in the acquisitions and real property programs as well as the corporate services sector.

In 2009, she was nominated Director General for the Quebec Region, where she maximized the region's contribution to the transformation agenda through innovation and partnerships. In February 2012, she was appointed Executive Director General in the Real Property Branch, working alongside with the Assistant Deputy Minister to deliver a national, multi-billion dollar program and lead major initiatives such as the modernization of the workplace and the transformation of systems and processes. As National Secretary of the Institute of Public Administration of Canada and Chair of its Montreal group, she contributed to the promotion of excellence in public administration.

She continues to sit on boards of directors of private organizations.

Ms. Chahwan holds a BA in Business Administration with a joint major in Finance and Administration from the École des Hautes Études Commerciales (Montreal).

Taki Sarantakis, Assistant Secretary, Economic Sector

Taki Sarantakis is the Assistant Secretary, Economic Sector, at Treasury Board Secretariat, a position he assumed in May 2013. In this capacity, Mr. Sarantakis is responsible for providing ongoing support and advice to 28 departments and agencies, 15 Crown Corporations, and a number of port and airport authorities. As Assistant Secretary, he also directly provides advice to Treasury Board Ministers on issues related to science and technology, environment, venture capital, regional economic development, infrastructure, natural resources, transportation, and agriculture.

Prior to this, Mr. Sarantakis was the Assistant Deputy Minister of Policy and Communications at Infrastructure Canada. During his time at Infrastructure Canada, he played a major role in the policy design and program implementation for each of the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund, the Border Infrastructure Fund, the Municipal-Rural Infrastructure Fund, all program initiatives under the $33 billion Building Canada Plan, and $5 billion of stimulus programming announced in Budget 2009, including the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund.

In 2011, Mr. Sarantakis was awarded Canada’s Public Service Award of Excellence in Policy, and in 2013 he was a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.

Prior to joining the federal government, Mr. Sarantakis was a Doctoral Candidate in the Department of Political Science at the University of Toronto, and he also holds a B.A. (Specialized Hon., 1992) and a Master of Arts (1993) from York University in Toronto.

Brian Pagan, Assistant Secretary, Expenditure Management Sector

Brian Pagan was appointed Assistant Secretary, Expenditure Management at the Treasury Board Secretariat in November 2014.

Mr. Pagan has a wide-range of experience in the expenditure management process, having served as Deputy Assistant Commissioner and Agency Comptroller of the Canada Revenue Agency, Director of Fiscal Policy at the Department of Finance, Deputy Chief Financial Officer at the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, and Executive Director, Expenditure Operations at the Treasury Board Secretariat. He began his public service career in procurement and material management at the Department of National Defense in 1987.

Mr. Pagan has a graduate degree in Public Administration from Carleton University and is a Certified Management Accountant.

Roger Scott-Douglas, Assistant Secretary, Priorities and Planning Sector

Roger Scott-Douglas is the Assistant Secretary, Priorities and Planning Sector, at the Treasury Board of Secretariat.

Before being appointed to this position, Mr. Scott-Douglas was the Assistant Secretary of the Red Tape Commission Secretariat (TBS). In addition to holding many other positions at TBS over the years, he was the Chargé de Mission at the Ministère du Budget, des Comptes publics et de la Fonction publique in Paris. He also held executive positions at the Department of Human Resources Development Canada.

Mr. Scott-Douglas holds a Bachelor of Arts (magna cum laude) in Political Science from the University of Alberta, Canada; a Master of Philosophy from the University of St. Andrews, Scotland (Commonwealth Scholar); and a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Cambridge, England (Commonwealth Scholar).

Jean-Guy Forgeron, Assistant Secretary, Regulatory Affairs

Jean-Guy Forgeron was appointed Assistant Secretary of the Regulatory Affairs Sector at the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, effective November 9, 2015.

Mr. Forgeron was previously Chief of Staff to the Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary of the Cabinet from August 2013 to October 2015. Prior to this, from December 2009 until August 2013, he was Director of Operations in the Economic and Regional Development Policy Secretariat of the Privy Council Office (PCO) where he was responsible for providing advice and support to Cabinet committees on a range of issues, including environmental policy, natural resources, energy, fisheries, and agricultural policy. Before joining PCO, he held positions in various federal departments, including: Fisheries and Oceans Canada, where he was the Director General of Strategic Priorities and Planning, and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, where he was Director of Ministerial Liaison and Departmental Assistant to the Minister of State.

Originally from Isle Madame, Nova Scotia, Mr. Forgeron has a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from Dalhousie University and a master’s degree in public administration from Carleton University.

Jayne Huntley, Assistant Secretary, Strategic Communications and Ministerial Affairs

Jayne Huntley was appointed Assistant Secretary, Strategic Communications and Ministerial Affairs, effective November 24, 2014. She joined Treasury Board Secretariat as Executive Director of Human Resources in April 2013.

Ms. Huntley has had a varied career in both the public and private sectors. She joined the public service in 1991. Since then, she has taken on increasing responsibilities as a manager, with positions in Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Environment Canada, and the former Human Resources and Development Canada. In 2002, she joined the Privy Council Office, and became Director, Operations, Economic and Regional Development Policy, in 2004. She then moved to the Canada School of Public Service as Director General for Leadership Design and Delivery. From January to July 2011, she took on the role of Acting Vice-President, Program Operations Branch. Immediately prior to joining TBS, Ms. Huntley was a Special Advisor in the Civil Aviation team at Transport Canada, and also stepped into the role of Acting Director General of Human Resources for a period of time.

Ms. Huntley holds an undergraduate degree in Agricultural Science from the University of Oxford, and a Master’s Degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Guelph.

Renée LaFontaine, Assistant Secretary, Corporate Services Sector

Renée LaFontaine was appointed Assistant Secretary of the Corporate Services Sector (CSS) effective February 2, 2015.

Ms. LaFontaine has held a number of key roles at Treasury Board Secretariat over several years. Prior to her appointment as Assistant Secretary, CSS, Ms. LaFontaine was the Executive Director of the International Affairs and Development Division and Principal Analyst for the Department of National Defence, both within the International Affairs, Security and Justice Sector. She also worked in the Expenditure Management Sector as a policy advisor and coordinator of government-wide expenditure reviews, and within the Strategic Policy and Planning Sector, primarily on the development of the Federal Accountability Act.

Ms. LaFontaine began her public service career as an in-house management consultant with Transport Canada and held a variety of roles within that department. She has worked as a technical sales support consultant with Peoplesoft Canada, and also held the position of Regional Director, Human Resources Operations, responsible for the delivery of human resources services to over 8,000 National Defence managers and employees working in the National Capital Region.

Ms. LaFontaine holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Ottawa.

Caroline Curran, Executive Director, Human Resources Division

Caroline Curran was appointed Executive Director of the Human Resources Division effective December 8, 2014.

Ms. Curran joined Treasury Board Secretariat in 1995, where she has held a series of progressively senior roles in pensions and benefits, most recently as Executive Director of the Pensions and Benefits Sector, a role she held since 2008. In that capacity, she led the comprehensive transformation and modernization of the Treasury Board’s suite of employee benefits programs. Prior to joining TBS, she worked at the Department of Finance as Chief, Procedures Review, Economic Development Policy Branch, and in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance as Senior Advisor.

Ms. Curran holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Carleton University.

Dora Benbaruk, Executive Director and Senior General Counsel, Legal Services

Dora Benbaruk was appointed as Executive Director and Senior General Counsel of the Treasury Board Portfolio Legal Services Unit on July 28, 2014. Prior to being appointed to this role, Ms. Benbaruk worked with Treasury Board Secretariat Legal Services as General Counsel and Director at the Labour and Employment Law Group since 2008. Previously, from 1999 to 2008, she was Senior Counsel and Head of the Labour, Finance, Human Resources and Corporate Management groups of Employment and Social Development Canada Legal Services (formerly Human Resources and Skills Development Canada). Ms. Benbaruk has also worked with the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund in New York as Senior Legal Officer, and as a labour litigation Counsel within TBS Legal Services.

She has been a member of the Ontario Bar since 1990.

Mike Milito, Senior Director, Internal Audit and Evaluation Bureau

Mike Milito is the Senior Director, Internal Audit and Evaluation Bureau at the Treasury Board Secretariat. As such, he is the Chief Audit Executive and Head of Evaluation for the Secretariat.

Mr. Milito joined the Secretariat in October 2008 from Finance Canada where he led the Internal Audit and Evaluation functions for both the Department of Finance and TBS since May, 2006. In this role he was also responsible for providing selected audit and evaluation services to the Privy Council Office, Canada School of the Public Service and the former Public Service Human Resources Management Agency of Canada. Mr. Milito began his career in the public service in 1991 where he provided audit, evaluation and consulting services to Public Works and Government Services Canada and subsequently Health Canada.

Mr. Milito holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Carleton University and a Master of Business Administration from Dalhousie University. He is also a Certified Internal Audit and holds a Certification in Risk Management Assurance. While with the Department of Finance, Mr. Milito was awarded the Outstanding Manager Award in 2007.

Introduction

Parliament has sole authority to grant supply, i.e. the amounts and objects or destination of all expenditures of public funds.

The Estimates set out the government's expenditure plans for each fiscal year. They provide information to support the supply bills approved by Parliament.

Background

All government spending must be authorized by Parliament, under section 53 of the 1867 Constitution Act and section 26 of the Financial Administration Act (FAA).

Parliament approves spending in two ways:

Statutory approval

Authorizes spending through specific legislation (e.g., public debt charges, income support programs, fiscal equalization, health and social transfers). In 2014-15, statutory authorities accounted for 61 per cent of total final authorities.

Annual appropriations

Introduced by the government through supply bills, authorize spending on programs that require approval by Parliament each year (e.g., departmental operating and capital budgets, certain payments to Crown corporations).

The government's annual spending plan and resource allocation priorities are reflected in the Estimates documents. Parliament has an opportunity to study these documents before the government introduces the related supply bill. Once approved by Parliament, the bill becomes an Appropriation Act which enables the government to make payments from the Consolidated Revenue Fund and to exercise the remaining 39 per cent its authorities.

The Parliamentary business of supply entails two elements:

Estimates:

The tabling in Parliament of documents in support of supply legislation that is introduced before the end of the supply period.

Supply:

The process by which the Government seeks Parliamentary spending authority (via appropriation bills) for the portion of overall expenditures that is appropriated annually as part of he fiscal plan.

The President is responsible for tabling the Estimates documents in the House of Commons. The Estimates include the proposed schedule to the appropriation bill, which is usually introduced in the House within a few weeks of Estimates tabling to obtain the parliamentary spending authority necessary for the Government's program spending. The President is also responsible for responding to Parliament's questions about the government's spending plans (not just those of the Treasury Board portfolio). Votes in the House of Commons on appropriation bills are matters of confidence.

The President tables five different documents each year before Parliament in support of the Supply process. These reports are:

• Parts I and II of the Main Estimates (The Government Expenditure Plan and the departmental Main Estimates) – must be tabled by March 1;
• Supplementary Estimates – since 2008-09, tabled three times a year, in May, November, and February;
• Reports on Plans and Priorities (Part III of the Main Estimates) – usually tabled by March 31;
• Departmental Performance Reports – usually tabled in late October or early November; and,
• The Public Accounts – usually tabled in October.

A detailed overview of the Estimates and Supply process is provided in Appendix A.

Secretariat Support – Estimates and Supply Process

The Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat supports the work of the Treasury Board in overseeing ongoing program spending, providing rigorous oversight of expenditure plans and contributing to upfront discipline for new spending initiatives.

Departmental spending proposals are submitted to the Treasury Board for approval in two ways:

• As input to the Annual Reference Level Update in the fall when adjustments are made to all departmental budgets ("reference levels") as required to reflect decisions taken since the previous exercise in preparation for the next Main Estimates; and,
• Departmental submissions which seek authority to include items in supplementary estimate documents for Parliament's approval of in-year spending.

Expenditure Management System

The Expenditure Management System supports government-wide expenditure priority setting, planning, allocation, and oversight functions.

More specifically, the Expenditure Management System:

• Encourages priority-setting by Ministers and supports expenditure decision-making at the federal level;
• Provides for oversight and control of government expenditures;
• Assists in managing fiscal pressures, in part by fostering resource allocation when required;
• Provides for Budget or Cabinet approval of policy authority and Treasury Board approval of program authority
• Establishes the Estimates and provides for Parliamentary approval of supply; and,
• Establishes departmental accountabilities, including the requirements to assess ongoing spending against priorities, and to report to Parliament on the performance and results of programs.

Central Agencies' Roles

The Department of Finance, the Privy Council Office, and the Secretariat perform roles in the Expenditure Management System.

The Department of Finance manages the fiscal framework and plans and prepares the federal Budget. The Budget sets out the federal government's projected revenues and expenses (fiscal plan) and the resulting surplus or deficit. IT also contains an overview of the Government's economic projections and sets out fiscal and tax policy for the period ahead.

The Privy Council Office provides direct advice to the Prime Minister and Cabinet on the Budget in addition to its other responsibilities. New programs requiring funding are generally reviewed by Cabinet prior to being included in the Budget. The Privy Council Office oversees the Cabinet agenda and thus supports the exercise of "upfront spending discipline."

The Treasury Board Secretariat supports the development of the fiscal plan and annual Budget by providing planned spending information and requirements over a three-year period, based on current approved programs and policies including changes to compensation levels. IT also provides advice and support to the President and Treasury Board Ministers in their expenditure manager role of ensuring value for money and expenditure management oversight of departments and agencies.

Annual Reference Level Update

The Annual Reference Level Update, an annual exercise resulting in an aide-mémoire to the Treasury Board from the Secretariat, updates previously approved departmental spending budgets (reference levels) by reflecting Treasury Board decisions and technical adjustments that have been made since the previous exercise.

The Annual Reference Level Update serves as the basis for:

• The direct program spending component of the fiscal framework or Budget; and
• The upcoming year's Main Estimates documents.

Appendix A: Detailed Overview of the Estimates and the Supply Process

Parliament approves the expenditure of public monies through Appropriation Acts. The Estimates documents support Appropriation Acts by providing information that reflects the government's fiscal framework, allocation priorities and spending plan.

The President is responsible for tabling the Estimates documents and other major reports that are part of the "business of supply". A schedule and visual overview of the "business of supply" is presented in Appendix B: Typical Supply Calendar.

Appendix B: Typical Supply Calendar

Main Estimates and Interim Supply

Current Status

The Treasury Board Secretariat maintains a comprehensive overview of the composition and structure of the Government of Canada, including an overview of the consolidated financial and employment data of Crown corporations. IT can be found at the Inventory of Government of Canada Organizations.

Background

The federal public sector comprises federal public servants, employees of Crown corporations as well as members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).

Table 1 (on page three) presents federal public sector employment from 2004 to 2014. Federal public sector employment is measured annually on March 31. The categories used to present government employment data originate from Statistics Canada's System of National Accounts, which is the official source of federal public sector employment statistics.

The federal public service is a subset of the federal public sector and includes organizations falling under schedules I, IV, and V of the Financial Administration Act. The federal public service refers to all active employees of the core public administration (CPA) and separate agencies. Currently, the federal public service represents 52.5 % of the federal public sector.

As of March 31, 2014 (Figure 4), employment in the federal public sector totalled 489,957 (a two % decrease compared to 2013). The largest share of the federal public sector workforce was accounted for by the CPA—organizations for which the Treasury Board is the employer—at 39.9%; followed by Federal Business Enterprises (e.g., Bank of Canada, Port Authorities) with 19.8% of total employment; the Canadian Forces with 18.5%; separate agencies (e.g., Parks Canada, Canadian Food Inspection Agency) with 12.6%; the RCMP with 4.6%; and other organizations with 4.5% of the total workforce.

The overall size of the federal public service has increased from 2004 to 2014. The Government's focus on streamlining activities, outsourcing non-critical services, and deficit reduction were key drivers behind the workforce decrease between 2010 and 2014.

• 58.3% of employees in the regions and 41.7% in the National Capital Region
• 86.6% indeterminate employees; 8.3% term employees; 5.1% casuals and students
• 71.1% declared English their first official language; 28.9% declared French

Landscape

As the employer of the core public administration (CPA), the Treasury Board negotiates the collective agreements for more than 80 departments and agencies named in Schedule I and Schedule IV of the Financial Administration Act.

The President of the Treasury Board (the President) provides negotiating mandates to the 15 separate agencies with unionized employees. As employers, separate agencies negotiate their own collective agreements for their respective employees.

The CPA and the separate agencies, which constitute the federal public service, total about 217,000 unionized employees represented by 19 different bargaining agents.

Core Public Administration

In the CPA, the Treasury Board through its President and its administrative arm, the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat (the Secretariat), negotiates 27 collective agreements with 15 bargaining agents, representing about 163,000 unionized employees.

The bargaining agents represent all public servants, except the Executive group (EX), excluded positions, and other unrepresented groups such as those that perform Human Resource functions. A detailed list of the represented groups is provided in Appendix A.

The main bargaining agents are:

• The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC / 97,690 members) – Robyn Benson, President
• The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC / 33,091 members) –Debi Daviau, President
• The Canadian Association of Professional Employees (CAPE / 12,779 members) –Emmanuelle Tremblay, President

The two largest bargaining agents, PSAC and PIPSC, represent over 80 per cent of unionized employees. The other 13 bargaining agents are smaller in size and often represent groups that are specific to a department, e.g., Correctional Officers [Correctional Services of Canada]; Ship Repair, University Teaching, and Ships' Officers [Department of National Defence].

Bargaining agents collaborate amongst themselves on a number of issues (e.g., the Public Sector Equitable Compensation Act, Bill C-4 and Bill C-59) without losing sight of the respective and sometimes competing interests of their members.

Most terms and conditions of employment of the unionized employees are established through the collective bargaining process.

Separate Agencies

There are 24 active separate agencies of varied sizes. The three largest separate agencies are the Canada Revenue Agency (about 40,000 unionized employees), Parks Canada (about 4,200 unionized employees), and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (about 6,300 unionized employees).

15 separate agencies have about 54,000 unionized employees in a total of 56 bargaining units. The remaining separate agencies are not unionized. The unionized employees are represented by six bargaining agents, including two common with the CPA (PSAC and PIPSC).

Separate agencies, via enabling legislation or Orders in Council, have been delegated the powers and functions of the Governor in Council and/or the Board in relation to personnel management, including responsibility for collective bargaining.

All separate agencies with represented employees are required to obtain a mandate for collective bargaining from the President to enter into negotiations with their respective bargaining agents.

The mandating protocol is designed to ensure a co-ordinated policy approach to the establishment of terms and conditions of employment across the public service, and to ensure collective bargaining mandates are in line with the government's direction.

National Joint Council (NJC)

Some matters are not negotiated during collective bargaining but are discussed at the National Joint Council, which includes representatives from the Treasury Board, four separate agencies, and 18 bargaining agents as official members.

The NJC complements collective bargaining between individual unions and employers by offering a forum to discuss broad labour relations issues and develop collaborative solutions to workplace problems.

It is also a forum within which participating employers and bargaining agents co-develop directives that have common application across the government, such as directives on travel and relocation. Most of these directives are incorporated in collective agreements and ensure all employees are treated the same.

NJC directives are reviewed by the parties on a cyclical basis; generally every three years. Prior to entering into a cyclical review, a mandate will be sought from the President to ensure that any amendments co-developed with the bargaining agents fall within acceptable parameters.

2014 Negotiations

The 27 collective agreements in the Core Public Administration expired in fiscal year 2014-2015. The first notice to bargain was served in December 2013, commencing this round of bargaining. Collective Bargaining has historically taken on average 2 to 3 years for most groups.

Appendix A: Represented Groups in the CPA

As of June 30, 2015

Background

The Auditor General has a legal responsibility to verify the accuracy of the government's financial statements and support Parliamentary oversight of government spending and operations. In order to fulfill this responsibility, the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) carries out three types of audits:

Financial Audits

Test whether the annual financial statements of Crown corporations, the federal and territorial governments, and other organizations are presented fairly and in compliance with their legislative authorities. The Auditor General’s observations on the Government of Canada’s financial statements are typically tabled in Parliament once per year, in the fall.

Performance Audits

Provide an independent and systematic assessment of select departments and programs to determine whether the government is appropriately managing its activities, responsibilities and resources. The findings of performance audits are summarized in Reports of the Auditor General that are generally tabled in Parliament twice per year, in the spring and fall.

Special Examinations

Consider whether the systems and practices of Crown corporations provide reasonable assurance that their assets are safeguarded, their resources are managed economically and efficiently, and that their operations are carried out effectively. A special examination of each Crown corporation must be conducted at least once every ten years. The results of the special examinations performed in a given year are generally tabled in Parliament annually as part of the spring Reports of the Auditor General.

Responsibilities of the President

The President of the Treasury Board (the President) has the following roles and responsibilities:

Financial Audits

Tabling the Public Accounts of Canada in the fall. The Public Accounts include the Auditor General’s observations on the Government of Canada’s financial statements.

Performance Audits

Briefing Cabinet on the findings of the Auditor General’s reports and responding overall to the Auditor General’s reports on behalf of the Government. In addition, the President responds to individual chapters of the reports by the Auditor General that relate to the Treasury Board Secretariat (the Secretariat) which is commonly implicated in three to five audits a year due to its roles and responsibilities related to the management of government organizations. The Auditor General offers to meet with the President prior to the tabling of his report in order to provide an overview of the audits that implicate the Secretariat.

Special Examinations

The President, along with the appropriate Minister, receives copies of the Auditor General’s special examinations from the boards of directors of Crown corporations.