4.1 – Departmental Overview
How WD delivers programs and services, and advances priorities
Priorities, Programs, Policy
A guide to WD’s current priorities and programs, including who we work with and how
What WD Does and How
The role of the Minister and the department in western Canada
What WD Does
WD is mandated to develop the western Canadian economy and advance its interests in Ottawa
WD achieves its mandate through the following roles:
- Investor: targeted funding to businesses and not-for-profit organizations to spur diversification, innovation, and community economic growth.
- Delivery Agent: advancing national priorities and responding to regional economic dynamics.
- Strategic Advisor and Intelligence Gatherer: using place-based research and knowledge to advocate for regional interests in national policy discussions.
- Pathfinder and Convener: connecting key economic actors, including governments, industry, post-secondary institutions, and Indigenous groups, with federal departments and other partners.
The Minister’s Role
Scope to deliver on the diversification agenda in the West
“The powers, duties and functions of the Minister extend to and include all matters over which Parliament has jurisdiction, not by law assigned to any other department, board or agency of the Government of Canada, relating to the promotion of the development and diversification of the economy of Western Canada and the advancement of the interests of Western Canada in national economic policy, program and project development and implementation.”
The WD Act grants the Minister scope to develop the western economy and advance its interests in Ottawa. This covers all matters under the federal government’s jurisdiction that have not been assigned to other federal bodies.
Powers, duties, and functions of the Minister
(2) The Minister shall
(a) guide, promote and coordinate the policies and programs, including those related to industrial benefits, of the Government of Canada in relation to the development and diversification of the economy of Western Canada;
(b) lead and coordinate the efforts of the Government of Canada to establish cooperative relationships with the provinces constituting Western Canada, business, labour and other public and private organizations for the development and diversification of the economy of Western Canada; and
(c) compile detailed information on all programs and projects undertaken by the Minister for the purpose of measuring trends, development and progress in the development and diversification of the economy of Western Canada.
To develop the western Canadian economy and advance the interests of the region, the Minister has primary responsibility for:
- Program execution, to promote economic prosperity in the West and improve the business environment;
- Relationship management, by leading the Government of Canada’s efforts to work with western provinces, business, labour, private, and public organizations; and,
- Policy development and implementation, such as plans and strategies, economic research and analysis, and results tracking.
WD Programs and Who the Department Works With
WD funding and what it targets
Who WD Works With
Key partners in program and service delivery
- Businesses: funding business innovation to help western Canadian businesses advance technology, scale-up, reach new markets, and be more productive and competitive.
- Not-for-profits: making targeted investments in not-for-profit organizations to generate sustainable, inclusive growth and nurture regional innovation ecosystems.
- Communities: supporting communities to leverage their capacity and strengths to sustain, grow, and diversify their economies.
Our Core Programs
WD’s main mechanisms for providing funding to businesses, not-for-profits, and communities
Regional Economic Growth through Innovation:
- Regional Innovation Ecosystems: creating environments that meet business needs for innovation and entrepreneurship.
- Business Scale-up and Productivity: promoting business growth through commercialization, productivity, and market expansion.
Community Economic Development and Diversification: assisting organizations and communities in western Canada to fully participate in and benefit from economic opportunities.
Economic Development Initiative: strengthening official language minority communities in the West.
Western Canada Business Service Network: helping entrepreneurs start or expand small businesses, including in rural areas and among groups with lower economic participation rates.
Time-Limited Program Delivery
Funding delivered regionally to advance national priorities
WD delivers regionally-tailored programs to advance national objectives, and responds to regional economic dynamics.
Current initiatives include:
- Canada Coal Transition Initiative
- Canadian Experiences Fund
- Steel and Aluminum Initiative
- Women Entrepreneurship Strategy
Time-Limited Program Delivery: One-Time Funding
Supplementary funding for special, temporary initiatives
WD’s nimble program terms and conditions, flexible operations, and strong regional networks allow the department to assist communities facing economic challenges.
- WD provided funding to help businesses in communities impacted by wildfires in Alberta and British Columbia with economic rebuilding.
- When Greyhound ended service in western Canada, WD was asked to step in and cost-share services for certain routes with interested western provinces.
Advocacy
Important relationships and engagement to promote western Canada’s interests
Advocating on Behalf of the West
Representing the western perspective in national programs, policies, and projects
WD is mandated through the Western Economic Diversification Act to work with various partners to advance western interests in Ottawa.
To act on this mandate, WD’s Minister can:
- Advance western interests in national policy discussions at the Cabinet table;
- Raise issues of importance to the West in Parliament; and,
- Integrate provincial and federal perspectives on issues by meeting with provincial counterparts in the West.
The department also supports this work by gathering real-time information about what matters to the West, and why.
Advocating on Behalf of the West: Defence Procurement
Connecting western Canadian businesses and institutions with defence companies
- Companies awarded federal defence procurement contracts over $100 million in value must reinvest the value of the contract in the Canadian economy under the Industrial and Technological Benefits (ITB) policy.
- ITB-related investments in western Canada are concentrated in aerospace (40%), marine (36%), and land-based (24%) activities.
- WD advances the ITB Policy in western Canada by:
- informing stakeholders of defence procurement opportunities and how to participate in them;
- conducting supplier development with western Canadian companies for contractors with ITB obligations;
- organizing business-to-business meetings; and,
- creating a western Canadian presence at domestic and international industry engagement events.
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