Minister Belinda Stronach receives final Report from Joint Service Canada / Voluntary Sector Working Group

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The following corrections have been made
November 21, 2005, to this release :
-updated URL for the joint Working Group report;
-alternate format ordering information; and
-updated media contact information.

November 18, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

GATINEAU, QUEBEC - Belinda Stronach, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister responsible for Democratic Renewal, today received the final report and recommendations from the Joint Service Canada / Voluntary Sector Working Group. The report, entitled Developing New Approaches to Funding Results, outlines concrete ways of streamlining the administration of funding agreements with service delivery partners.

"The creation of Service Canada signalled a new approach to working with and serving Canadians in the communities where they live," said Minister Stronach. "I am pleased to accept the recommendations in this report; it is a substantive contribution towards improving the delivery of employment services to Canadians and highlights the importance of a strong and dynamic partnership with the voluntary sector."

With the acceptance of the Joint Working Group report, Minister Stronach has asked Service Canada officials to continue to work with the Voluntary Sector to implement the recommendations.

Key recommendations of the report include:

• The establishment of a permanent Voluntary Sector Advisory Committee to facilitate on-going communications and consultation between the voluntary sector and Service Canada.



• The streamlining of administrative processes through the elimination of unnecessary steps and/or requirements and improving consistency and simplicity of administrative requirements.



• The creation of an office of Fairness Advisor, to serve as a key point of contact to enable dialogue and feedback on issues of fairness, integrity and respect for the rules and to recommend solutions in a timely manner.

"I would like to commend the Joint Working Group members and all other government representatives for their commitment and dedication in sharing their views and the benefit of their experience, and thank the three Committee Chairs - my Parliamentary Secretary Peter Adams, Heather McGregor, Executive Director of the YWCA Toronto, and Maryantonett Flumian, Deputy Minister of Service Canada," added Minister Stronach.

"The Minister's acceptance of the recommendations signals the beginning of a very positive change in the delivery of service to those most in need of employment assistance. Community-based agencies across the country look forward to a new era of mutual support", confirms Heather McGregor, Executive Director of the YWCA Toronto and co-chair for the Joint Service Canada / Voluntary Sector Working Group.

The Joint Working Group was established in September 2005 at the request of Minister Stronach, to review the policy context, and to develop streamlined administrative processes for agreements between community organizations and Service Canada. It is comprised of representatives from Service Canada and an array of voluntary sector organizations.

A copy of the report and more information on the Joint Working Group can be found at http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca.

The report is available in large print and Braille. To obtain this publication in an alternate format, call 1 800 788-8282 on a touch-tone phone or through teletypewriter (TTY).

For further information on the Joint Working Group, please refer to the Backgrounder attached to this news release.

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For more information (media only):

Media Relations Office
Service Canada
(819) 994-5559

Heather McGregor
Executive Director
YWCA Toronto
(416) 961-8100 ext 312

Public Enquiries:

1 800 O-Canada (1 800 622-6232)
TTY: 1 800 926-9105
servicecanada.gc.ca

BACKGROUND

Terms of Reference
Joint Service Canada/Voluntary Sector Working Group
on Developing New Approaches to Funding Results

CONTEXT

In order to enable and ensure excellent service to the Canadians, representatives from the Voluntary Sector and Service Canada are committed to working cooperatively to develop an agreement that can potentially serve as a model for a new generation of agreements for Service Canada and the Voluntary organizations. Within on month, specific and immediate procedural changes that will reduce administrative burden will be identified. The establishment of this Joint Working Group is in keeping with the Accord between the Government of Canada and the Voluntary Sector and supports the implementation of the broad principles of dialogue, cooperation and collaboration inherent in this Accord; an outcome of this working group will be the establishment of an Advisory Committee which will act as a means to continue the dialogue on a long-term basis.

MANDATE AND DELIVERABLES

The objective of this Joint Working Group is to review the policy context and develop a streamlined administrative process for agreements with Service Canada that will include:

• A results-based agreement model;
• Short-term administrative change (e.g. simplified approach to determining overhead costs),
• Longer-term administrative changes: and
• The establishment of a permanent Advisory Committee to facilitate on-going communications and information exchange between the Voluntary Sector and Service Canada

It is expected that the Joint Working Group will complement and inform the Task Force on Community Investments that is being led by Social Development Canada.

MEMBERSHIP

The Joint Working Group will be co-chaired by Heather McGregor, Executive Director YWCA, Maryantonett Flumian (DM, Service Canada) and the Honourable Peter Adams, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development. Each side is free to select their membership, ensuring that decision makers are at the table and that Voluntary Sector groups in other provinces are considered.

SUCCESS MEASURES

Success of this Joint Working Group will be based on the following:

• Shift from administrative focus to outcomes focus;
• The development of a new results based approach to funding; and
• Forged and collaborative relations between the Voluntary Sector and Service Canada

TIMELINES

The work of this Joint Working Group will be completed within a one month timeframe.

The meeting schedule will be decided mutually by the co-chairs but it is expected that there will be a minimum of three meetings. In some circumstances teleconferences may be required.

ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS

Service Canada will support the costs associated with the Joint Working Group including Secretariat support.