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Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) works to develop and diversify the western Canadian economy, helping to build businesses that are innovative and competitive globally, while diversifying the base of the western Canadian economy beyond primary resource industries.
WD's strategic outcome is advanced through the following program activities:
2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 |
---|---|---|
80 | 80 | 80 |
2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 |
---|---|---|
63,019 | 61,606 | 61,587 |
Expected Results | Performance Indicators | Targets |
---|---|---|
Strong SMEs in Western Canada with improved capacity to remain competitive in the global marketplace | SME employment (excluding non-employee SMEs) | 2.6 million |
Annual international trade: value of exports excluding primary production sectors | $44 billion |
This program activity works with western Canadian businesses, industry and research organizations to undertake initiatives to enhance business productivity and competitiveness, support trade and investment attraction and penetration of western Canadian technologies, services and value-added products into international markets. Value-added production will be strengthened through support for initiatives in priority sectors to introduce new products, technologies, or innovations to existing production and processes. Access to risk capital and business services for entrepreneurs and small business will also be improved through programs and services offered in conjunction with other business services organizations and associations.
WD plans to undertake the following business development activities in 2012-13:
2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 |
---|---|---|
62 | 62 | 62 |
2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 |
---|---|---|
62,259 | 57,662 | 57,651 |
Expected Results | Performance Indicators | Targets |
---|---|---|
A stronger knowledge-based economy | Total income from the commercialization of intellectual property | $21.8 million |
Business Expenditures on Research and Development as a percentage of GDP | 0.59% | |
Employment in natural and applied science and related occupations as a percentage of total employment | 6.50% |
This program activity facilitates the West’s transition to a knowledge-based economy. Through innovation, knowledge is translated into new products and services and to new ways of designing, producing or marketing existing products or services for public and private markets. This recognizes that innovation occurs at the firm level, through a highly complex interdependent system that includes elements such as knowledge infrastructure, basic and applied research and development, highly qualified personnel, access to adequate patient financing, technology commercialization facilities and support systems and mechanisms to link these elements to each other. The process of innovation is not linear or isolated, but occurs within a broader context known as an “innovation system”. This will strengthen the western innovation system in order to facilitate the development of clusters and to enhance the potential of innovation to create value and wealth.
WD plans to undertake the following innovation activities in 2012-13:
2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 |
---|---|---|
85 | 84 | 80 |
2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 |
---|---|---|
20,832 | 15,829 | 15,821 |
Expected Results | Performance Indicators | Targets |
---|---|---|
Communities have increased economic opportunities and capacity to respond to challenges, as well as the necessary investments in public infrastructure | Number of new jobs created | 18,500 |
Percentage of key informants with the opinion that WD delivery of infrastructure programs resulted in investments that reflect western Canadian infrastructure priorities | 50% |
This program activity involves economic development and diversification initiatives that support communities to sustain their economies and adjust to changing and challenging economic circumstances. It includes facilitating economic recovery from depressed economic circumstances. It ensures that economic, social and environmental considerations are taken into account in initiatives designed to foster community growth and economic development. It involves projects that assist communities to assess community strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and potential for new economic activity and to develop and implement community plans. It also involves investments in community infrastructure, coordinated with provincial and municipal governments to maximize benefits. The process involves community-based consultations to ensure federal programs, services and horizontal initiatives serve the need of western Canadian communities.
WD plans to undertake the following community economic development activities in 2012-13:
2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 |
---|---|---|
60 | 60 | 60 |
2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 |
---|---|---|
8,190 | 8,062 | 8,048 |
Expected Results | Performance Indicators | Targets |
---|---|---|
Policies and programs that strengthen the western Canadian economy | Percentage of key informants with the opinion that WD activities provide policies and programs that support the economic development of Western Canada | 90%20 |
Percentage of WD projects completed this fiscal year that successfully met or exceeded performance targets | 85% |
This program activity arises from the Western Economic Diversification Act (1988), which empowers the Minister to advance the interests of Western Canada in national economic policy, program and project development and implementation, through the establishment of cooperative relationships with the western provinces and other stakeholders, and through the initiation of policy research. Through this activity, WD advocates for Western Canada in national policy discussions, resulting in effective strategies, policies and programs to address the economic development needs and aspirations of western Canadians. It also includes leading federal and intergovernmental collaboration to pursue key opportunities for long-term growth and diversification in areas of federal or shared federal-provincial jurisdiction. Finally, it includes undertaking research and analysis required to inform policy and program decisions.
WD plans to undertake the following policy, advocacy and coordination activities in 2012-13:
2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 |
---|---|---|
121 | 116 | 116 |
2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 |
---|---|---|
22,007 | 22,617 | 21,572 |
The Internal Services program activity supports all strategic outcomes and is common across government. Internal Services are groups of related activities and resources that are administered to support the needs of programs and other corporate obligations of an organization. These groups are: Management and Oversight Services; Communications Services; Legal Services; Human Resources Management Services; Financial Management Services; Information Management Services; Information Technology Services; Real Property Services; Materiel Services; Acquisition Services; and Travel and Other Administrative Services. Internal Services include only those activities and resources that apply across an organization and not to those provided specifically to a program.
WD plans to undertake the following internal services activities in 2012-13:
WD is a participant in the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS) and contributes to the Greening Government Operations targets through the internal services program activity. The department contributes to the following target areas of Theme IV of the FSDS:
For additional details on WD's Greening Government Operations activities, please see the Supplementary Information Tables.22