In the spring of 2000, the President of the Treasury Board tabled in
Parliament the document "Results for Canadians: A Management Framework for the
Government of Canada". This document sets a clear agenda for improving and
modernising management practices in federal departments and agencies.
Four key management commitments form the basis for this vision of how the
Government will deliver their services and benefits to Canadians. In this
vision, departments and agencies recognise that they exist to serve Canadians
and that a "citizen focus" shapes all activities, programs and services.
This vision commits the Government of Canada to manage its business by the
highest public service values. Responsible spending means spending wisely on the
things that matter to Canadians. And finally, this vision sets a clear focus on
results – the impact and effects of programs.
Departmental performance reports play a key role in the cycle of planning,
monitoring, evaluating, and reporting results to Parliament and citizens on
behalf of ministers. Departments and agencies are encouraged to prepare their
reports following principles for effective performance reporting (provided in
the Guide to Preparing the 2004 Departmental Performance Report:
http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/rma/dpr/03-04/guidance/table-of-contents_e.asp). Based
on these principles, an effective report provides a coherent and balanced
picture of performance that is brief and to the point. It focuses on outcomes -
benefits to Canadians and Canadian society - and describes the contribution the
organisation has made toward those outcomes. It sets the department's
performance in context, associates performance with earlier commitments,
explains any changes, and discusses risks and challenges faced by the
organisation in delivering on these commitments. Achievements realised in
partnership with other governmental and non governmental organisations are also
discussed. Supporting the need for responsible spending, it links resources to
results. Finally, the report is credible because it substantiates the
performance information with appropriate methodologies and relevant data.
In performance reports, departments and agencies strive to respond to the
ongoing and evolving information needs of parliamentarians and Canadians. The
input of parliamentarians and other readers can do much to improve these reports
over time. The reader is encouraged to assess the performance reports of
organisations according to the established principles, and provide comments to
departments and agencies to help them improve in their next planning and
reporting cycle.
This report is accessible from the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat
Internet site:
http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/rma/dpr/dpre.asp
Comments or questions can be directed to:
Results-based Management Directorate
Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat
L'Esplanade Laurier
Ottawa, Ontario K1A OR5
OR at: rma-mrr@tbs-sct.gc.ca
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