Supporting Information on the Program Inventory

Program 1.1: Innovation

Description

Introducing innovative new products, technologies or improvements to existing processes enhances business growth and competitiveness in global marketplace. Western Economic Diversification Canada’s Innovation programming makes strategic investments with western Canadian businesses, industry organizations, and post-secondary institutions to enhance business innovation through research and development, and technology commercialization.

Planned Results

¹ HQP = highly qualified personnel.

² STEM = science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

³ Results are based on active projects reporting during the 2018-19 fiscal year and are not cumulative from previous years. Consequently, trends analysis would not be an accurate way to assess these results.

* The variance for this indicator, business sales growth resulting from commercialization, is attributable to several projects realising higher results than were anticipated.

** The variance for this indicator, number of HQP (including STEM) jobs created, is attributable to WD projects being multi-year in nature and results are sometimes realised or reported earlier than anticipated.

Budgetary financial resources (dollars)

Note: Additional funding of $35.4 million was received to support the following: Canada’s Innovation and Skills Plan ($24.5 M); the Rick Hansen Institute project ($5.9 M); and Manitoba’s aerospace sector ($5.0 M).

Human resources (full-time equivalents)

Note: Actual FTE utilization is higher than planned because of increased activities to support funding received for Federal Budget 2018 initiatives.

Program 1.2: Business Growth

Description

The Business Growth Program has two domains which support western Canadian businesses, industry and research organizations to enhance their productivity, participation in global markets, and competitiveness. 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 supports western Canadian businesses, not for profit organizations and industry in initiatives to enhance productivity, competitiveness and the growth of western Canadian businesses.

Planned Results

¹ Results are based on active projects reporting during the 2018-19 fiscal year and are not cumulative from previous years. Consequently, trends analysis would not be an accurate way to assess these results.

* The variance for this indicator, export sales growth, is attributed to several multi-year projects for which results were realised or reported earlier than anticipated.

** The variance for this indicator, number of jobs created, is attributable to WD projects being multi-year in nature and results are sometimes realised or reported earlier than anticipated.

Budgetary financial resources (dollars)

Note: Authorities available for use increased by $6.5 million in Federal Budget 2018 to support the Women’s Entrepreneurship Strategy (WES). The actual spending decreased significantly to support increased spending in the Community Initiatives program for the restoration of the Hudson Bay rail line and reopening of the Port of Churchill and the Canada Coal Transition Initiative.

Human resources (full-time equivalents)

Note: Actual FTE utilization is lower than planned as these resources were required in the Innovation and Community Initiatives programs.

Program 1.3: Business Services

Description

The Business Services program consists of six Western Canada Business Service Network (WCBSN) members, which are independent organizations that receive financial support from Western Economic Diversification Canada to provide services to prospective and current entrepreneurs to help start, grow or expand small businesses 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.

Planned Results

¹ Community Futures (CF) organizations only

² Aggregate of CF and WEI business loans data

Budgetary financial resources (dollars)

Human resources (full-time equivalents)

Program 1.4: Community Initiatives

Description

The Community Initiatives 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 Canadian 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.

Planned Results

¹ The results achieved for 2016-17 and 2017-18 represent projects completed under the Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program.

² Results from restoring the Hudson Bay rail line and reopening of the Port of Churchill. Federal Budget 2018 provided additional funding for this initiative.

³ WD did not provide adjustment support in 2016-17 fiscal year.

⁴ The results achieved for 2017-18 reflect delivery of the Drywall Support Program.

Budgetary financial resources (dollars)

Note: Authorities available for use and the actual spending increased for Federal Budget 2018 items to support the restoration of the Hudson Bay rail line and reopening of the Port of Churchill and the Canada Coal Transition Initiative.

Human resources (full-time equivalents)

Note: Actual FTE utilization is higher than planned because of increased activities to support the restoration of the Hudson Bay rail line and reopening of the Port of Churchill and the Canada Coal Transition Initiative.