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Supplementary Information Tables

Details on Transfer Payment Programs of $5 Million or More

Western Diversification Program (WDP) (Voted)
Name of transfer payment program Western Diversification Program (WDP) (Voted)
Start date December 3, 1987
End date Ongoing
Type of transfer payment Contribution and grant
Type of appropriation Annually through Estimates
Fiscal year for terms and conditions 2018-19
Link to department's Program Inventory Programs: Business Services, Community Initiatives
Description The WDP contributes to the department's mandate to promote economic development and diversification in western Canada and advance the west's interests in national policy, program and project development and implementation. Contributions to not-for-profit organizations are non-repayable; contributions to western Canadian commercial projects or for-profit organizations may be repayable.
Expected results
  • Businesses are innovative and growing in western Canada.
  • Communities are economically diversified in western Canada.
  • Businesses invest in the development and commercialization of innovative technologies in western Canada.
Fiscal year of last completed evaluation The Final Summative Review of WDP funding to support spinal cord injury research, care programs and associated initiatives at the Rick Hansen Institute (2013-2018), completed in 2018-19.
Decision following the results of last evaluation Not applicable
Fiscal year of planned completion of next evaluation

2019-20 Evaluation of Business Growth*

2022-23 Evaluation of Innovation Programming* (During 2017-18 and 2018-19, WDP was used for Innovation funding.)

 

*Subject to change, based on new and emerging evaluation needs.
General targeted recipient groups Contributions and grants may be made to:
  • Not-for-profit organizations;
  • Post-secondary institutions;
  • Small and medium-sized commercial, legally incorporated, for-profit enterprises;
  • Hospitals and regional healthcare centers;
  • Individuals;
  • Co-operatives;
  • First Nations, as represented by their Chief and Council;
  • Federal Crown Corporations (Treasury Board Secretariat will be consulted prior to any funding decisions for Federal Crown Corporations);
  • Provincial Government Departments, agencies and Crown Corporations;
  • Municipal Governments and organizations created by them.
Initiatives to engage applicants and recipients Funding requests for the WDP are through either a continuous intake or a call for proposal process. Engagement of potential applicants and stakeholders is through active outreach, media strategies, and information provided on WD's public website.
Planning Information (dollars)
Type of transfer payment 2018-19 Forecast spending 2019-20 Planned spending 2020-21 Planned spending 2021-22 Planned spending
Total grants 0 0 0 0
Total contributions 137,988,322 116,522,078 101,041,678 99,816,678
Total other types of transfer payments 0 0 0 0
Total program 137,988,322 116,522,078 101,041,678 99,816,678
Regional Economic Growth Through Innovation (REGI)
Name of transfer payment program Growth Through Regional Innovation Program (known as Regional Economic Growth Through Innovation (REGI))
  • Includes Women Entrepreneurship Strategy (WES) in two streams:
    • Pilot Contribution Program (known as the Women Entrepreneurship Fund (WEF)) and
    • WES Ecosystem Fund
Start date October 18, 2018
End date REGI - Ongoing
WEF - March 31, 2020
WES Ecosystem Fund - March 31, 2023
Type of transfer payment REGI - Grant and Contribution
WES - Contribution
Type of appropriation Annually through Estimates
Fiscal year for terms and conditions 2018-19
Link to department's Program Inventory Program: Innovation, Business Growth
Description

The Regional Economic Growth Through Innovation (REGI) Initiative builds on the objectives of the Innovation and Skills Plan. The goal of REGI is to provide streamlined, nationally coordinated, regionally tailored support for business productivity and scale-up, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), women and Indigenous entrepreneurs, and other underrepresented groups. REGI will assist in the enhancement of regional industrial and technology clusters and regional innovation ecosystems.

The program will provide assistance through two new program streams:

  • Business Scale-up and Productivity Stream (BSP): Invest in and support businesses at various stages of development, including high-growth firms to accelerate their growth and assist them in scaling up, enhance their productivity and competitiveness in both domestic and global markets.
  • Regional Innovation Ecosystems Stream (RIE): Create, grow and nurture inclusive regional ecosystems that support business needs and foster an entrepreneurial environment conducive to innovation, growth and competitiveness.

The Women Entrepreneurship Strategy (WES) provides nationally coordinated, regionally tailored investments to help women entrepreneurs and support regional innovation ecosystems through two program streams:

  • WES Ecosystem Fund: A five-year program to help non-profit, third party organizations deliver support for women entrepreneurs and address gaps in the ecosystem.
  • Pilot Contribution Program (Women Entrepreneurship Fund): A two-year program that invests directly in women-owned or women-led businesses to help them grow and reach new markets.

Contributions issued under REGI may be unconditionally or conditionally repayable, or non-repayable. Contributions issued under the WES are non-repayable only.
Expected results Businesses are innovative and growing in western Canada.
Businesses invest in the development and commercialization of innovative technologies in western Canada.
Fiscal year of last completed evaluation Not applicable, new program
Decision following the results of last evaluation Not applicable, new program
Fiscal year of planned completion of next evaluation To be determined
General targeted recipient groups Incorporated for-profit companies, not-for-profit organizations, industry associations, post-secondary institutions, Indigenous organizations, business accelerators, incubators, women-led businesses, angel networks, social enterprises, a group of eligible recipients such as an industry association or consortium, a municipality and all other municipal-type organizations, and a federal or provincial crown corporation/organization or any other entity created by the provincial government or a provincial department.
Initiatives to engage applicants and recipients Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) collaborates with its partners and engages key stakeholders in discussions regarding economic development and business growth to ensure that the department's investments respond to the needs of SMEs. Key partners and stakeholders may include other levels of government, community leaders, financial institutions and private-sector organizations. Information on the REGI initiative and WES is shared with applicants and recipients through targeted outreach with stakeholders, media strategies and on WD's website.
Planning Information (dollars)
Type of transfer payment 2018-19 Forecast spending 2019-20 Planned spending 2020-21 Planned spending 2021-22 Planned spending
Total grants 0 0 0 0
Total contributions 29,718,630 60,953,230 29,718,630 29,718,630
Total other types of transfer payments 0 0 0 0
Total program 29,718,630 60,953,230 29,718,630 29,718,630
Community Futures (CF) Program (Voted)
Name of transfer payment program Community Futures (CF) Program (Voted)
Start date May 18, 1995 (The Program started in 1986 and was previously delivered by Human Resources Development Canada).
End date Ongoing
Type of transfer payment Contribution
Type of appropriation Annually through Estimates
Fiscal year for terms and conditions 2010-11
Link to department's Program Inventory Program: Business Services
Description The CF Program was designed to help communities develop and implement local solutions to local problems. The program provides financial support to CF organizations, which are incorporated, not-for-profit organizations. CFs provide support to small and medium-sized enterprises and undertake community economic development initiatives.
Expected results The following lists the expected results for the CF Program:
  • Communities are economically diversified in western Canada.
  • Western Canada businesses have access to advisory services and capital.
Fiscal year of last completed evaluation 2018-19
Decision following the results of last evaluation Continuation
Fiscal year of planned completion of next evaluation 2024-2025
General targeted recipient groups CF Organizations and CF Associations
Initiatives to engage applicants and recipients Eligible applicants for the CF Program are the CF Organizations. WD has a long-standing strategy of engaging with these organizations to build awareness of WD's programs among prospective proponents.
Planning Information (dollars)
Type of transfer payment 2018-19 Forecast spending 2019-20 Planned spending 2020-21 Planned spending 2021-22 Planned spending
Total grants 0 0 0 0
Total contributions 28,156,322 28,156,322 28,156,322 28,156,322
Total other types of transfer payments 0 0 0 0
Total program 28,156,322 28,156,322 28,156,322 28,156,322

Disclosure of Transfer Payment Programs under $5 million

Women's Enterprise Initiative (Voted)
Name of transfer payment program Women's Enterprise Initiative (Voted)
End date Ongoing
Type of transfer payment Contribution
Type of appropriation Annually through Estimates
Link to department's Program Inventory Program: Business Services
Main objective

Increase the availability of capital to women-owned enterprises; and

Provide services to help women entrepreneurs develop the experience, expertise, assets, and credit record that would enable them to increase both the number and strength of women-owned businesses in western Canada.
Planned spending for 2019-20 $3,900,000
Fiscal year of last completed evaluation 2013-14
Fiscal year of planned completion of next evaluation (if applicable) Not applicable
General targeted recipient groups Women-owned and controlled businesses

Gender-based analysis plus

Gender-based analysis plus
Governance structures

WD has designated an Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM) to lead and monitor the department's gender-based analysis plus (GBA+) activities. In this role, the ADM or GBA+ Champion, is responsible for the appropriate application of GBA+, and leads the department's GBA+ Committee. This committee brings together representatives from across regional and functional groups within the department.

WD has identified a GBA+ Responsibility Centre, which ensures GBA+ is properly conducted for all policy proposals. In addition, WD has identified GBA+ subject matter Focal Points who attend interdepartmental committees to keep up-to-date on GBA+ developments. As a regional development agency (RDA), WD participates on an RDA committee with the goal of sharing best practices and coordinating approaches to GBA+.

The department has created a GBA+ portal on WD's internal website, which collects a wide variety of resources in one easily-accessible location. The portal presents advice for all different functional specialists on how to integrate GBA+ into their work. WD has also created an internal guidance document for analysts, laying out how GBA+ is integrated into decision-making processes for programs, policy, and initiatives.

The GBA+ Committee has run several engagement campaigns internal to WD to promote familiarity with GBA+, and hosted a number of learning sessions to ensure WD staff are equipped with the knowledge and tools they need to implement GBA+. The Committee and ADM will continue working to ensure GBA+ is considered at all levels of decision-making within WD.
Human resources

WD has created departmental GBA+ guidance to assist in the creation or renewal of programs, policies or initiatives. Analysts will continue to conduct GBA+ assessments as required, including, but not limited to, when drafting Memoranda to Cabinet and Treasury Board submissions.

To help implement the department's overall GBA+ strategy, WD has identified two individuals as part of its GBA+ Responsibility Centre, two individuals as departmental GBA+ Focal Points, and there are 16 GBA+ committee members. This voluntary committee is actively engaged in activities such as communicating GBA+ objectives and responsibilities to the department and arranging department-wide training.

WD's GBA+ efforts will amount to approximately one (1) full-time equivalent (FTE) position in 2019-20.
Planned initiatives

WD is now collecting more information from applicants about the representation of women in positions of authority within their organizations. These efforts will continue with several new programs being launched next year.

WD has also had its application forms and websites reviewed for more LGBTQ2+ inclusivity.

Where possible, WD's individual projects will include performance metrics related to gender equality and inclusive economic growth. WD will track these metrics on a program level as part of the Departmental Results Framework, and use them to evaluate how WD's programs benefit women, Indigenous people and other under-represented groups.

WD is now also tracking the percentage of western Canadian small and medium enterprises (SMEs) owned by women, Indigenous people, visible minorities, and youth. WD will continue to evaluate its programs impact on equity and economic participation for diverse groups of people.

Up-Front Multi-Year Funding

Primrose Lake Economic Development Corporation
Name of recipient Primrose Lake Economic Development Corporation (PLEDCo)
Start date March 30, 2007
End date End date is dependent on the terms of the agreement.
Link to department's Program Inventory Program: Community Initiatives
Description To assist and promote economic development in the communities within the Primrose Lake Area, and to enhance the long-term economic viability and sustainability of those communities.
Total funding approved $15,000,000
Total funding received $15,000,000
Planned funding in 2019-20 Not applicable
Planned funding in 2020-21 Not applicable
Planned funding in 2021-22 Not applicable
Summary of annual plans of recipient

PLEDCo will use the interest earned from the trust fund to support economic development initiatives, infrastructure projects, scholarships, and operating costs.

PLEDCo continues to observe and perform the terms of the agreement required for this funding. This includes an annual strategic plan, report and audited financial statement. PLEDCo completed its second five-year evaluation.

In 2019–20, PLEDCo will continue its work toward its objective of strengthening the local economy, including:

  • Support economic development initiatives in affected communities;
  • Identify additional regional partners to help improve local economies in communities;
  • Participation in the Primary Producers Program administered by Beaver River Community Futures; and
  • Focus on large projects, like the Île-à-la-Crosse fish processing facility, leading to long term economic prosperity for the region.

 

Raison d’être / Mandate

Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) was established in 1987 to promote the development and diversification of the economy of western Canada and to advance the interests of the west in national economic policy, program and project development and implementation. The Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development is responsible for this organization.

Role

WD delivers a wide range of initiatives across the west and makes strategic investments to build on regional competitive advantages and help grow the western economy. WD also contributes to the Government of Canada’s Western Canada Business Service Network (WCBSN) members such as:

WD's research and policy work provide regional evidence and knowledge to advance the diversification and development of the economy of western Canada.

For more information about the department’s organizational mandate letter commitments, see the Minister's mandate letter.

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