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2005-2006 Report on Plans and Priorities

Details of Transfer Payment Programs (Table 7)

Western Economic Diversification Canada manages the following transfer payment programs in excess of $5 million:

• Grants for the Western Diversification Program
• Western Diversification Program
• Community Futures Program
• Service Delivery Network Program
• Infrastructure Canada Program

Grants for the Western Diversification Program

Name of Program: Grants for the Western Diversification Program (Voted)

Purpose: To promote economic development and diversification in Western Canada and advance the interests of Western Canada in national policy, program and project development and implementation.

Objectives:

• A strengthened western Canadian innovation system.
• An expanded business sector in Western Canada.
• Increased investment in strategic federal/regional economic development priorities.
• A better understanding of Western Canada's needs, opportunities and aspirations inside and outside of the region leading to improved programs and services for western Canadians.

Outcomes: Evaluation completed during 2003-04. This evaluation is available at: http://www.wd.gc.ca/rpts/audit/default_e.asp

Western Diversification Program

Name of Program: Western Diversification Program (Voted)

Purpose : To promote economic development and diversification in Western Canada and advance the interests of Western Canada in national policy, program and project development and implementation.

Objectives:

• A strengthened western Canadian innovation system
• An expanded business sector in Western Canada
• Increased investment in strategic federal/regional economic development priorities
• A better understanding of Western Canada's needs, opportunities and aspirations inside and outside of the region leading to improved programs and services for western Canadians.

Outcomes: Evaluation completed during 2003-04. This evaluation is available at: http://www.wd.gc.ca/rpts/audit/default_e.asp

Community Futures Program

Name of Program: Community Futures Program (Voted)

Purpose: Funding for network of Community Futures Development Corporations (CFDCs) in the West. CFDCs are volunteer-led, non-profit organizations that lead strategic economic planning, and provide advice and commercial loans to local entrepreneurs, which foster economic development and diversity of their communities.

Objectives:

• Strategic Community Planning: Working with communities to assess local problems, establish objectives, plan and implement strategies to develop human, institutional and physical infrastructures; entrepreneurship; employment; and the economy.
• Business Services: Delivering a range of business, counseling and information services to small-and medium-sized enterprises.
• Access to capital: Provide capital to assist businesses or to help entrepreneurs to create new businesses.

Outcomes: An Audit and an Evaluation of the Community Futures Program were completed in April 2003 and are available at the following site: http://www.wd.gc.ca/rpts/audit/default_e.asp

Service Delivery Network Program

Name of Program: Service Delivery Network Program (Voted)

Purpose: To increase access to services in Western Canada through service delivery agreements with community-based organizations.

Objectives:

• Business Services: Delivering a range of business, counseling and information services to small- and medium-sized enterprises.
• Access to capital: Provide capital to assist businesses or to help entrepreneurs to create new businesses.

Infrastructure Canada Program

Name of Program: Infrastructure Canada Program (Voted)

Purpose: To improve urban and rural community infrastructure in Canada.

Objectives:

Improving Canadians' quality of life through investments that enhance the quality of the environment, support long-term economic growth, improve community infrastructure, and build 21 st century infrastructure through the use of technologies, new approaches and best practices.