Details on Transfer Payments Programs

Name of Transfer Payment Program: Western Diversification Program

Start Date: 1987-1988

End Date: On-going

Description: This program was designed to promote economic development and diversification in Western Canada and advance the interests of Western Canada in national policy, program and project development and implementation.

Strategic Outcome: The western Canadian economy is developed and diversified.

Results Achieved:

• A strengthened western innovation system.
• An expanded business sector in Western Canada.
• Increased investment in strategic federal/regional economic development priorities that improves the viability, prosperity and quality of life in communities across Western Canada.
• A better understanding of Western Canada's needs, opportunities and aspirations inside and outside of the region leading to improved programs and services for western Canadians.

Program: Policy, Advocacy and Coordination
($thousands)

	Actual Spending 2010-11	Actual Spending 2011-12	Planned Spending 2012-13	Total Authorities 2012-13	Actual Spending 2012-13	Variance(s)
Total Contributions	$317	$35	$1,000	$1,000	$881	$119
Total Policy, Advocacy and Coordination	$317	$35	$1,000	$1,000	$881	$119

 

Program: Community Economic Development
($ thousands)

	Actual Spending 2010-11	Actual Spending 2011-12	Planned Spending 2012-13	Total Authorities 2012-13	Actual Spending 2012-13	Variance(s)
Total Grants	$1000	$500	$1,475	-	-	$1475
Total Contributions	$185,742	$6,042	$5,249	$4,713	$1,935	$3,314
Total Community Economic Development	$186,742	$6,542	$6,724	$4,713	$1,935	$4,789

 

Program: Business Development
($ thousands)

	Actual Spending 2010-11	Actual Spending 2011-12	Planned Spending 2012-13	Total Authorities 2012-13	Actual Spending 2012-13	Variance(s)
Total Grants	-	-	$1,654	-	-	$1,654
Total Contributions	$23,372	$25,445	$27,498	$28,315	$23,342	$4,156
Total Business Development	$23,372	$25,445	$29,143	$28,315	$23,342	$5,801

 

Program: Innovation
($ thousands)

	Actual Spending 2010-11	Actual Spending 2011-12	Planned Spending 2012-13	Total Authorities 2012-13	Actual Spending 2012-13	Variance(s)
Total Grants	-	-	$1,880	-	-	$1,880
Total Contributions	$73,270	$62,092	$50,395	$54,007	$55,027	$(4,632)
Total Innovation	$73,270	$62,092	$52,275	$54,007	$55,027	$(2,752)

 

($ thousands)

	Actual Spending 2010-11	Actual Spending 2011-12	Planned Spending 2012-13	Total Authorities 2012-13	Actual Spending 2012-13	Variance(s)
Total Western Diversification Program Grants & Contributions	$283,701	$94,114	$89,142	$88,035	$81,185	$7,957

Comment(s) on Variance(s): The surplus of almost $8 million in contribution funding resulted from the time required in responding to new expenditure targets in the WD Investment Strategy, as well as a transfer of funds to Infrastructure Canada.  The WD Investment Strategy places greater emphasis on the Trade and Investment and Business Productivity and Growth priorities (both linked to the Business Development Program), and moderate spending expectations with respect to the Technology Commercialization priority (linked to the Innovation Program area). Since Policy, Advocacy and Coordination objectives are achieved primarily through operational activities, any G&C spending in this area will result in year-over-year fluctuations.

Audit Completed or Planned: WD's internal audit function has been transferred to the Office of the Comptroller General (OCG). The OCG plan for audits of the Regional Development Agencies (RDAs), including WD, is expected in the fall of 2013. Previous WDP audit was completed September 2009.

Evaluation Completed or Planned: An Innovation activity evaluation was conducted during 2011–12 and the final report was posted on-line April 2012.  A Trade and Investment activity evaluation, which is within the Business Development Program area, was conducted during 2012–13 and the final report will be posted by the fall of 2013.

 

Engagement of applicants and recipients: None

Name of Transfer Payment Program: Community Futures Program

Start Date: May 18, 1995

End Date: On-going

Description: This transfer payment program was designed to provide funding for a network of Community Futures organizations (CF) across Canada with WD as the delivery department for the West.  CFs are volunteer-led, non-profit organizations that lead strategic economic planning and provide advice and commercial loans to local entrepreneurs, which foster economic development.

Strategic Outcome: The western Canadian economy is developed and diversified.

Results Achieved:

• Strategic community planning: Working with communities to assess local problems, establish objectives, plan and implement strategies to develop human, institutional and physical infrastructures, entrepreneurship, employment, and the economy.
• Business Services: Delivering a range of business, counseling and information services to small and medium sized enterprises.
• Access to capital: Provide capital to assist businesses or to help entrepreneurs to create new businesses.

Program: Community Economic Development
($ thousands)

	Actual Spending 2010-11	Actual Spending 2011-12	Planned Spending 2012-13	Total Authorities 2012-13	Actual Spending 2012-13	Variance(s)
Total Contributions	$14,594	$13,779	$9,674	$10,012	$10,012	$(338)
Total Community Economic Development	$14,594	$13,779	$9,674	$10,012	$10,012	$(338)

 

Program: Business Development
($ thousands)

	Actual Spending 2010-11	Actual Spending 2011-12	Planned Spending 2012-13	Total Authorities 2012-13	Actual Spending 2012-13	Variance(s)
Total Contributions	$14,651	$13,779	$18,780	$19,436	$19,436	$(656)
Total Business Development	$14,651	$13,779	$18,780	$19,436	$19,136	$(656)

 

($ thousands)

	Actual Spending 2010-11	Actual Spending 2011-12	Planned Spending 2012-13	Total Authorities 2012-13	Actual Spending 2012-13	Variance(s)
Total Community Futures Program - Contributions	$29,245	$27,558	$28,454	$29,448	$29,448	$(994)

 

Comment(s) on Variance(s): n/a

Audit completed or planned:  WD's internal audit function has been transferred to the Office of the Comptroller General (OCG). The OCG plan for audits of the Regional Development Agencies (RDAs), including WD, is expected in the fall of 2013.

Evaluation completed or planned: An evaluation of the Community Futures Program will be conducted during 2013–14.

Engagement of applicants and recipients: None

Name of Transfer Payment Program: Community Infrastructure Improvement Fund (CIIF)

Start Date: April 1, 2012

End Date: March 31, 2014

Description: This transfer payment program is meant to support the rehabilitation and improvement, including expansion, of existing community infrastructure facilities such as community centres, recreational buildings, local arenas, cultural facilities and other community facilities. The CIIF will improve the quality of community facilities and provide economic benefits, including support for job creation, in communities across Canada.

Strategic outcome: The western Canadian economy is developed and diversified.

Results achieved: As of March 31, 2013, WD had approved 740 projects which committed all program funds to rehabilitee and improve existing community infrastructure in Western Canada.

Program: Community Economic Development
($ thousands)

	Actual Spending 2010-11	Actual Spending 2011-12	Planned Spending 2012-13	Total Authorities 2012-13	Actual Spending 2012-13	Variance(s)
Total Contributions	-	-	-	$23,100	$18,786	$(18,786)
Total Program Activity	-	-	-	$23,100	$18,786	$(18,786)

 

Comment(s) on variance(s): This transfer payment program was announced in Budget 2012 as part of Canada's Economic Action Plan. WD requested the authority to transfer $4.3 M of unspent funds from 2012–13 funding through the 2013-14 Supplementary Estimates to meet contractual obligations in future years.

Audit completed or planned: WD's internal audit function has been transferred to the Office of the Comptroller General (OCG). The OCG plan for audits of the Regional Development Agencies (RDAs), including WD, is expected in the fall of 2013.

 

Evaluation completed or planned: No evaluation is planned at this time.

 

Engagement of applicants and recipients: None