WD Profile

(excerpts from Working with the West 2003 & the Report on Plans and Priorities 2003)

The Departmental Mandate

Founded in 1987, Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) is mandated to promote the development and diversification of the economy of Western Canada and to advance the interests of the West in national economic policy. WD has offices located in Vancouver, Victoria, Edmonton, Calgary, Saskatoon, Regina, Winnipeg, and Ottawa. In addition, the department has a Western Canada Business Service Network delivering services throughout the West.

WD pursues activities that lead to:

a strengthened western Canadian innovation system;
a competitive and expanded business sector in Western Canada; and,
increased economic activity that improves the competitiveness and the quality of life in western Canadian communities.

Although WD's three strategic directions - Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Communities - can be described individually, in reality they are not discrete, but intertwined. Innovation is often the result of entrepreneurial activities that drive the emergence of new sources of long-term employment and wealth. That, in turn, enhances the sustainability of local communities and the quality of life for their residents. Many of WD's initiatives are designed to address several priorities at once. More details are in Table A.

WD uses strategic partnerships - with other levels of government, the private sector, universities and communities - to maximize the investment in Western Canada's most valuable resources, the talents, energies and ideas of its people.

Underlying all of WD's initiatives is the goal of ensuring that every western Canadian - including Aboriginal people, youth, women, Francophones, and residents of remote and northern communities - has an opportunity to participate in, and contribute to, the economic success of the West and our entire country.

For a more detailed description of WD's programs and services, please refer to Appendix B.

Looking Ahead

(excerpts from Working with the West 2003)

Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) is the key department responsible for meeting the economic and social priorities of the Government of Canada in the four western provinces. Over the next three years, WD will be strengthening its contribution to these priorities in the following areas:

Stimulating Trade and Investment

More than any other industrialized country, Canada relies on trade and investment for jobs and growth. As a result, WD places a high priority on increasing export opportunities for western businesses and on increasing foreign direct investment into the West.

Strengthening Research and Innovation

Strengthening the western Canadian innovation system continues to be a central priority for WD. WD is working to improve knowledge infrastructure and capacity, to enhance technology commercialization, to assist communities to develop and implement innovation strategies and to enhance the coordination and alignment of priorities between innovation system players.

Meeting the Challenge of Climate Change

The quality of life and prosperity enjoyed by Canadians in the future will depend on a healthy environment. WD plays a central role in facilitating the application of innovation to the development of new environmental technologies that address the issue of climate change. Through support of initiatives advancing alternative and renewable energies, WD demonstrates leadership in impacting the climate change agenda. The department also lends its support by initiating events such as the Western Canadian Environmental Technology Forum that took place in Vancouver in December 2003, bringing together key players to address the issues affecting the success of the climate change initiatives.

Investing in a more productive, sustainable economy

The Western Economic Partnership Agreements (WEPA) create new employment opportunities, support new economic infrastructure and promote economic development and entrepreneurship across the West. WEPA funding has been instrumental in advancing projects that would not have otherwise moved forward and has sped the progress of numerous economic and community development projects in Western Canada. All four western provincial governments renewed these important agreements in 2003.

Creating Competitive Cities and Healthy Communities

The Urban Aboriginal Strategy (UAS) was established primarily in response to the serious conditions facing many urban Aboriginal people living in Western Canada, who face higher rates of poverty, higher unemployment rates and lower levels of education achievement compared with their non-Aboriginal counterparts. The UAS develops partnerships between federal, provincial and municipal governments, and Aboriginal stakeholders to address the social and economic needs of Aboriginal people in urban centres.

In 2006, Vancouver will host the United Nations' World Urban Forum, which will bring together representatives from major cities in the developing and developed world to display best practices in areas such as urban agriculture, public transit, green space planning and density. The Forum will be a watershed event in international progress on understanding and building sustainable communities.

WD will also work to create new Urban Development Agreements with western municipalities to coordinate economic and socio-economic activities and address issues unique to each city. Information on the Vancouver Agreement, an example of such an agreement, is in Appendix C

<< previous | next >>