The Five-Year Evaluation Plan

Based on the overall approach, a list of planned evaluations over the next five years was developed for inclusion in this plan (Table 1). The evaluation plan is clearly linked to current departmental priorities and the PAA (Table 2), practical to implement, and should provide useful information to WD senior and program managers.

The last evaluation of the departmental Western Diversification Program authority was conducted in 2008. The proposed evaluation plan covers all of the components of the Western Diversification Program authority within a five-year period. This plan breaks down the broad Western Diversification Program into four separate evaluations: Trade and Investment; Technology Commercialization; Business Productivity and Growth; and Policy Advocacy and Coordination. The first three will evaluate the department against its three priority areas. The fourth evaluation will cover off a specific responsibility that stems from WD’s legislation. This approach will ensure that there is no duplication of effort among evaluations, that all major priority areas and spending are covered off by a separate evaluation, and that evaluations clearly link to key departmental planning and reporting documents – all of which are aligned against priorities and program activities.

All evaluations in this five-year plan will address value for money by including clear conclusions about the relevance and performance (effectiveness, efficiency and economy) of departmental activities. The evaluations will assess the core issues identified below. The department may choose to address additional issues in each evaluation.

Subject to the requirement to address all core issues, the department has the flexibility to determine the evaluation approach and level of evaluation effort in accordance with the program’s risks and characteristics, and the quality of performance information available for each individual program.

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Table 1: Evaluation Projects for 2012-2017
Project Name Project Description / Background Resources
2012-2017		 Year Comments
FTEs $K 2012-2013 2013-2014 2014-2015 2015-2016 2016-2017
Evaluation of Business Productivity and Growth Impact evaluation focused on relevance, and performance (efficiency, effectiveness, and economy).         X     PAA sub- activities included as part of Women’s Enterprise Initiative evaluation in 2012-2013, and the Community Futures evaluation in 2013-2014.
Evaluation of Trade and Investments Impact evaluation focused on relevance, and performance (efficiency, effectiveness, and economy). 0.80   X         PAA sub-activities included in the evaluation of Western Economic Partnership Agreements in 2012.
Evaluation of Technology Commercialization Impact evaluation focused on relevance and performance (efficiency, effectiveness, and economy).             X PAA sub-activities included in Innovation evaluation in 2012.
Evaluation of Policy, Advocacy and Coordination Functions Impact evaluation focused on relevance and performance (efficiency, effectiveness, and economy).               X   Last evaluated in 2009
Evaluation of the Community Futures Program Impact evaluation focused on relevance and performance (efficiency, effectiveness, and economy).       X       Last evaluated in 2008
Evaluation of the Women’s Enterprise Initiative Impact evaluation focused on relevance and performance (efficiency, effectiveness, and economy). 0.80   X         Impact assessment in 2008. Commitment to an evaluation in 2012-13.
Programs and Initiatives Led By Other Departments
Evaluation of the Building Canada Fund – Communities Component (BCF-CC) Impact evaluation focused on relevance and performance (efficiency, effectiveness, and economy).       X       WD to support this evaluation led by Infrastructure Canada.
Evaluation of the Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (MRIF) Impact evaluation focused on relevance and performance (efficiency, effectiveness, and economy).       X       WD to support this evaluation led by Infrastructure Canada.
Evaluation of the Canada Business Network Impact evaluation focused on relevance and performance (efficiency, effectiveness, and economy).       X       WD to support this evaluation led by Industry Canada.
Rick Hansen Foundation Initiative Mid-term and impact evaluation led by the Foundation under Health Canada grant         X     WD to rely on the results of the evaluations to assess relevance and performance
Other Activities and Engagements
Consultations:
- MRRS implementation
- RPP/DPR
- any new programs or policies or any renewals
- any new TB submissions		 Consultations services to other Departmental Units. 0.40   X X X X X As per our mandate. Use of branch resources.

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Table 2: Linkage of Evaluation Plan to Departmental Priorities and Program Activity Architecture
  PAA Sub-Activity Date of last evaluation 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 Business Development Innovation Community Economic Development Policy, Advocacy & Coordination
Evaluation of Business Productivity and Growth Improve Business Productivity, and Industry Collaboration 2008 (Western Diversification Program  Evaluation)     X     X      
Evaluation of Trade and Investments Markets and Trade Development, and Foreign Direct Investments 2008 (Western Diversification Program Evaluation) X         X      
Evaluation of Technology Commercialization Technology Adoption and Commercialization, Technology Linkages, and Technology Research and Development , Community Innovation, Technology Skills Development, and Knowledge Infrastructure 2008 (Western Diversification Program  Evaluation)         X   X    
Evaluation of Policy, Advocacy and Coordination Functions Policy, Advocacy and Coordination 2009       X         X
Evaluation of the Community Futures Program Community Futures Program 2008   X       X   X  
Evaluation of the Women’s Enterprise Initiative Women’s Enterprise Initiative 2008 (Impact Assessment) X         X