We have archived this page and will not be updating it.

You can use it for research or reference.

We have archived this page and will not be updating it.

You can use it for research or reference..

Language selection

Government of Canada / Gouvernement du Canada

Search

Info Source: Western Economic Diversification Canada

Sources of Federal Government and Employee Information

Table of Contents

Introduction

Info Source: Sources of Federal Government and Employee Information provides information about the functions, programs, activities and related information holdings of government institutions subject to the Access to Information Act(Link 1) and the Privacy Act(Link 1) . It provides individuals and employees of the government (current and former) with relevant information to access personal information about themselves held by government institutions subject to the Privacy Act and to exercise their rights under the Privacy Act.

The Introduction(Link External) and an index of institutions subject to the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act are available centrally.

The Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act assign overall responsibility to the President of Treasury Board (as the designated Minister) for the government-wide administration of the legislation.

Background

Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) was established in 1987 under Bill C-113 to help lessen the West's (British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba) economic dependence on natural resources.

A department of the Government of Canada, WD promotes the development and diversification of the economy of Western Canada, and advances western interests in national economic policy, contributes to ministerial mandate commitments, and other Government of Canada priorities. WD is governed by the Western Economic Diversification Act and reports to Parliament through the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development (Western Economic Diversification).

Since 1995, WD has directed its core resources towards working in collaboration with many partners including all levels of government, universities, financial institutions, the private sector, and the not-for-profit sector. Key partners in the not-for-profit sector include members of the Western Canada Business Service Network, which is comprised of over 100 points of service, including: Community Futures Development Corporations, offices of the Women's Enterprise Initiative, Francophone Economic Development Organizations and Canada Business Centres.

Responsibilities

Under the Western Economic Diversification Act, the Department is mandated to "promote the development and diversification of the economy of Western Canada and to advance the interests of Western Canada in national economic policy, program and project development and implementation".

Western Economic Diversification Canada's (WD) core responsibility is economic development in Western Canada. The department promotes growth and diversification in the western Canadian economy by enhancing innovation, improving business competitiveness, promoting the adoption of clean technologies and inclusive growth.

Based on WD's core responsibility, the department will work towards achieving three departmental results:

Institutional Functions, Programs and Activities

Business Growth

This program has two domains that support western Canada businesses, industry and research organizations to enhance their productivity, participation in global markets, and competitiveness. The Trade, Investment and Market Access domain increases Western Canada's participation in global markets, increasing awareness of Western Canada's technology capabilities abroad and attracting foreign investment to the region. The Business Productivity domain support western Canadian businesses, not-for-profit organizations and industry in initiatives to enhance productivity, competitiveness and the growth of western Canadian businesses. Transfer payments in support of this program are made under the authority of the Western Diversification Program.

Business Services

This program consists of six Western Canada Business Service Network (WCBSN) members, which are independent organization that receive financial support from Western Economic Diversification Canada to provide services to prospective and current entrepreneurs to help, start, grow or expand small business across Western Canada. This network offers its services to western Canadians in over 100 locations. WCBSN members include: Community Futures, Women's Enterprise Initiative, Indigenous Business Development Services, Francophone Economic Development Organizations, Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Program, and Canada Business Network. Transfer payments in support of these programs are made under the authority of the Western Diversification Program, Community Futures Program and the Women's Enterprise Initiative.

Community Initiatives

This program provides targeted funding to support economic development activities in communities across Western Canada. Programming in this area is often through dedicated, temporary supplementary funding from the Government of Canada or through the department's own special allocations in response to the specific challenges that affect western Canada communities. It also provides community funding in Western Canada to build and renew infrastructure in rural and urban municipalities across Canada, allowing them to compete in the regional, national and global economy. Transfer payments in support of this program are made under the authority of the Western Diversification Program.

Innovation

This program introduces innovative new products, technologies or improvements to existing processes, enhances business growth and competitiveness in global marketplaces. Western Economic Diversification Canada's Innovation programming makes strategic investments with western Canada businesses, industry organizat6ions and post-secondary institutions to enhance business innovation through research and development, and technology commercialization. Transfer payments in support of this program are made under the authority of the Western Diversification Program.

Internal Services

Internal services constitute 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.

Acquisition Services

Acquisition services involve activities undertaken to acquire a good or service to fulfill a properly completed request (including a complete and accurate definition of requirements and certification that funds are available) until entering into or amending a contract.

Communications Services

Communications services involve activities undertaken to ensure that Government of Canada communications are effectively managed, well coordinated and responsive to the diverse information needs of the public. The communications management function ensures that the public—internal or external—receives government information, and that the views and concerns of the public are taken into account in the planning, management and evaluation of policies, programs, services and initiatives.

Financial Management Services

Financial management services involve activities undertaken to ensure the prudent use of public resources, including planning, budgeting, accounting, reporting, control and oversight, analysis, decision support and advice, and financial systems.

Human Resources Management Services

Human resources management services involve activities undertaken for determining strategic direction, allocating resources among services and processes, as well as activities relating to analyzing exposure to risk and determining appropriate countermeasures. They ensure that the service operations and programs of the federal government comply with applicable laws, regulations, policies and plans.

Information Management Services

Information management services involve activities undertaken to achieve efficient and effective information management to support program and service delivery; foster informed decision making; facilitate accountability, transparency and collaboration; and preserve and ensure access to information and records for the benefit of present and future generations.

Information Technology Services

Information technology services involve activities undertaken to achieve efficient and effective use of information technology to support government priorities and program delivery, to increase productivity, and to enhance services to the public.

Legal services

Legal services involve activities undertaken to enable government departments and agencies to pursue policy, program and service delivery priorities and objectives within a legally sound framework.

Management and Oversight Services

Management and oversight services involve activities undertaken for determining strategic direction and allocating resources among services and processes, as well as those activities related to analyzing exposure to risk and determining appropriate countermeasures. They ensure that the service operations and programs of the federal government comply with applicable laws, regulations, policies or plans.

Materiel Services

Materiel services involve activities undertaken to ensure that materiel can be managed by departments in a sustainable and financially responsible manner that supports the cost-effective and efficient delivery of government programs.

Real Property Services

Real property services involve activities undertaken to ensure that real property is managed in a sustainable and financially responsible manner, throughout its life cycle, to support the cost-effective and efficient delivery of government programs.

Travel and Other Administrative Services

Travel and other administrative services include Government of Canada travel services, as well as those other internal services that do not smoothly fit with any of the internal services categories.

Legend

Classes of Personal Information

In the course of conducting the programs and activities of the department, personal information may be accumulated which is not contained in the specific information banks described in this entry. This information exists in a fragmented form throughout the subject files of the department. This information is stored as part of the general subject files, where records are not normally retrieved by the name of the individual or other personal identifier. This form of information is retrievable only if specifics are provided concerning the subject matter, the related departmental activity, as well as the date at which the information was received by the department and the name of the person to whom it was addressed. The personal information contained in these files is retained for the same period of time as the related subject information and disposed of according to the appropriate records schedules.

Correspondence

This class of information contains correspondence addressed to the Minister, Minister of State, Deputy Minister or other departmental officials from external organizations and individuals in the form of requests for information, complaints, opinions and other submissions related to a broad range of programs and policy issues pertaining to Western Economic Diversification Canada's activities. This correspondence contains some unsolicited personal information that has been provided by the correspondent. This form of information would be retrievable only if specifics of name, date of communication and subject were to be provided; it is not arranged or retrievable by personal identifiers. The retention periods of these classes of personal information are controlled by the record schedules of the general subject files in which they are stored.

Public Opinion Research

This class of personal information is generated by departmental officials who conducted public opinion research on a vast spectrum of topics related to the mandate and mission of Western Economic Diversification Canada. Retrievable records consist of data gathering instruments, such as, but not exclusively, questionnaires which may contain personal information that reveals the identification of the research subject. Data contained in this class of records are not used for administrative purposes. Individuals seeking access to these records must provide the title of the research project in which they participated, the location and the date of the search, and any other data that may help to identify and locate the personal information they are seeking.

Supplier Development Activities

This class of personal information is generated by departmental officials who use various mechanisms to connect private sector companies, associations and/or other supplier organizations in specific industry sectors to prime contractors on Major Crown Projects as part of the Government of Canada's Industrial Technological Benefits (ITB). The personal information may include the names and contact information of western Canadian supplier officials. This information is not organized for retrieval by personal identifiers, nor is it used for an administrative purpose. WD may disclose company information to promote western Canadian companies through supplier development advocacy and promotion efforts, including these contact details. Individuals seeking access to these records must provide the title or description of the ITB project in which they participated and any other data that may help to identify and locate the personal information they are seeking.

Manuals

Additional Information

The Government of Canada encourages the release of information through requests outside of the ATIP process. You may wish to consult Western Economic Diversification Canada's completed Access to Information (ATI) summaries. To make an informal request, contact:

Access to Information and Privacy Coordinator
Western Economic Diversification Canada
Suite 1500, Canada Place
9700 Jasper Avenue N.W.
Edmonton, Alberta T5J 4H7
WD.atip-aiprp.DEO@canada.ca

Additional information is available on the formal access procedures under the provisions of the Access to Information Act (Link 2) and the Privacy Act (Link 2).

Reading Room

In accordance with the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act, the applicant may wish to review information in person. The address is:

Suite 1500, Canada Place
9700 Jasper Avenue N.W.
Edmonton, Alberta

Report a problem on this page
Date modified: