|
ACCOUNTABILITY
STATEMENT
This Business Plan for the three
years commencing April 1, 2004 was prepared under my direction
in accordance with the Government Accountability Act and
the government’s accounting policies. All of the government’s
policy decisions as at February 27, 2004 with material economic
or fiscal implications of which I am aware have been considered
in preparing the Business Plan.
The Ministry’s priorities outlined
in the Business Plan were developed in the context of the government’s
business and fiscal plans. I am committed to achieving the planned
results laid out in this Business Plan.
[original
signed]
Pearl Calahasen,
Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development
March 2, 2004
THE
MINISTRY
The
Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development enhances
provincial relations with Aboriginal people, leads implementation
of the Government of Alberta's Aboriginal Policy Framework, and
assists in development of cross-ministry policies and strategies
respecting Aboriginal and Northern issues in Alberta. The Ministry
works with Aboriginal and Northern people and organizations to
identify Aboriginal and Northern issues, and with government and
non-government partners to implement specific initiatives to address
these issues.
Northern
Alberta Development Council
The Northern Alberta Development Council is a council of Northerners,
reporting through Chair Gary Friedel, MLA, Peace River, to the
Minister. The Ministry and Council work with other Alberta ministries
and other partners to ensure that the interests of Northern Albertans
are given prominence.
Metis
Settlements Appeal Tribunal
The Tribunal is a quasi-judicial
body, established by the Metis Settlements Act, to resolve
disputes pertaining to land, membership and surface rights. Members
are appointed by the Metis Settlements General Council and the
Government of Alberta.
LINK
TO THE GOVERNMENT BUSINESS PLAN
The Ministry supports,
as part of the Government of Alberta vision, that in 2025 Alberta
will be a place where Aboriginal Albertans have achieved a socio-economic
status equivalent to that of other Albertans. The Ministry also
supports achievement of the following Government of Alberta Business
Plan Goals:
- Goal 1 - Albertans will be healthy (supported by Ministry
Goal 2).
- Goal 2 - Albertans will be well-prepared for lifelong learning
and work (supported by Ministry Goals 1, 2 and 3).
- Goal 3 - Alberta's children and youth will be supported in
reaching their potential (supported by Ministry Goal 2).
- Goal 5 - Aboriginal communities and people in Alberta will
have improved social and economic circumstances (supported by
Ministry Goals 1 and 2).
- Goal 7 - Alberta will have a prosperous economy (supported
by Ministry Goals 1, 2 and 3).
VISIOn
An Alberta that includes the
full participation of self-reliant Aboriginal and Northern Albertans
in the province's opportunities and prosperity.
MISSION
With Alberta ministries, Aboriginal
and other partners, support a social and economic environment
that promotes the well-being and self-reliance of Aboriginal and
Northern Alberta people and communities.
CORE
BUSINESSES
Core Business 1: To encourage initiatives to increase
Aboriginal participation in the social and economic life of Alberta
and to facilitate the resolution of significant Aboriginal issues.
Goal 1 - Proactively collaborate with Aboriginal governments/organizations,
other ministries, jurisdictions and stakeholders to identify
and resolve issues.
Goal 2 - Assist in development of strategies and initiatives
to promote the well-being and self-reliance of Aboriginal people
in Alberta.
Core Business 2: To facilitate the development of Northern
Alberta.
Goal 3 - To advance the development of Northern Alberta.
SIGNIFICANT
OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES
- Aboriginal
well-being and self-reliance.
The Aboriginal population is growing faster and is younger than
the non-Aboriginal population. The highest population growth
is in urban areas. There continue to be disparities between
the social and economic circumstances of Aboriginal people and
other Albertans. The long-term challenge is for Aboriginal Albertans
to achieve social and economic circumstances equivalent to those
of other Albertans.
- Building
Aboriginal Relationships. First Nation and Metis governments
and organizations have been advancing their interests across
a broader range of policy areas. This has brought them into
greater contact with provincial ministries, municipal governments
and the private sector. New mechanisms need to be developed
and existing processes supported to manage these increasingly
diverse and complex relationships.
- Aboriginal
participation in the economy. Aboriginal people and
communities want greater participation in the Alberta economy
and a share of the benefits of development. Aboriginal communities
may lack capacity to engage with business and government partners
and to take advantage of available opportunities.
- Access
to and use of land and resources. Recent judicial decisions
have influenced the interpretation of Aboriginal and treaty
rights. These decisions increase the likelihood that the impact
on activities such as harvesting may have to be taken into account
during the process of approving and authorizing developments
on Crown land. The challenge is to more effectively balance
Aboriginal interests with those of developers and other Albertans.
- Federal,
Provincial and First Nation roles and responsibilities.
Jurisdictional gaps, uncertainty and unclear roles and responsibilities
continue to create problems in efficient delivery of services,
especially where different programs are delivered on- and off-reserve.
Specific challenges are impacting economic development on First
Nation reserves. These issues are further complicated by federal
and First Nation initiatives for provincial participation in
First Nation self-government negotiations.
- Advancing
Northern Development. Significant economic opportunities
exist across Northern Alberta. The challenge is to more effectively
plan, address and coordinate sustainable development, including
economic diversification, transportation, skill development
and community capacity issues.
STRATEGIC
PRIORITIES 2004-07
Through
the Ministry’s review of external and internal challenges,
the strategic priorities described below have been identified.
These are in addition to the important ongoing core activities
of the Ministry.
| 1.
Aboriginal Policy Framework Linkage:
Goal 2
|
- Implement commitments in
the Aboriginal Policy Framework by working with Alberta
ministries, the Aboriginal community and other stakeholders,
through the Ministry and cross-ministry activities, including
the priority policy Aboriginal Policy Initiative.
|
| 2.
Capacity Building
Linkage: Goals 1 and 2 |
- Develop strategies to enhance
capacity in Aboriginal governments and communities, including
urban Aboriginal communities, to effectively manage relations
with government and other interests and to improve participation
in the Alberta economy.
|
| 3.
Consultation Processes Linkage:
Goal 1 |
- Balance competing land and
resource use interests by leading the development and
implementation of provincial consultation processes.
|
| 4.
Northern Development Linkage: Goal 3 |
- Address challenges to northern
development by working collaboratively with Alberta ministries,
industry, local governments and other Northern jurisdictions
and other stakeholders.
|
CORE
BUSINESS, GOALS, STRATEGIES AND MEASURES
CORE
BUSINESS ONE: To encourage initiatives to increase Aboriginal
participation in the social and economic life of Alberta and to
facilitate the resolution of significant Aboriginal issues.
GOAL
1: Proactively collaborate with Aboriginal governments/organizations,
other ministries, jurisdictions and stakeholders to identify and
resolve issues.
What
it means
Aboriginal
Affairs and Northern Development enhances provincial relations
with Aboriginal people, including government-to-government relations
with First Nations and Metis Settlements. The Ministry works with
other Alberta ministries to ensure that Aboriginal issues are
considered in the development and implementation of government
initiatives. The Ministry works with Aboriginal communities, Alberta
ministries and other stakeholders to identify and resolve issues.
Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development represents Alberta
in land claims negotiations and co-ordinates provincial participation
in the implementation of settlement agreements.
Strategies
- On invitation, participate in self-government discussions
with Canada and First Nations.
- Lead implementation of provincial consultation strategies
and activities with First Nations, including incorporation of
traditional use data into provincial land use planning and administration.
- Undertake strategic initiatives to assist with the effective
administration of Metis Settlements legislation.
- Encourage timely settlement of outstanding treaty land entitlement
claims for which the Province has an obligation under the Natural
Resources Transfer Agreement and co-ordinate provincial implementation
of settlement agreements.
- Work with Alberta ministries, federal and municipal governments
and urban Aboriginal communities in Edmonton and Calgary to
address urban Aboriginal issues.
- Ensure First Nation and Metis interests are taken into account
in developing policies and programs, including initiatives to
improve Alberta-First Nation and Alberta-Metis relations. Lead
development of an Aboriginal Policy Checklist to assist Alberta
ministries in reviewing existing and future policies to ensure
that they address existing needs, legal requirements and Aboriginal
agreements.
- Develop Aboriginal performance measures (participation in
the economy) through ongoing implementation of the Aboriginal-specific
Alberta Labour Force Survey.
Performance Measure
The Ministry
will also provide a narrative report on development of the Aboriginal
Policy Checklist.
GOAL
2: Assist in development of strategies and initiatives to
promote the well-being and self-reliance of Aboriginal people
in Alberta.
What
it means
In 2000, the
Government of Alberta approved the Aboriginal Policy Framework.
The Ministry leads implementation of the Framework through the
Cross-Ministry Aboriginal Policy Initiative and collaboration
with other ministries and partners to identify and address barriers
to improved social and economic circumstances of Aboriginal people.
This collaboration has resulted in the development and implementation
of the cross-ministry consultation strategy (see Goal 1). The
Ministry supports initiatives to promote life-long learning for
Aboriginal people and increase their participation in the Alberta
labour force and the knowledge economy.
Strategies
- Work with Alberta ministries, through the Aboriginal Policy
Initiative, to address commitments under the Aboriginal Policy
Framework.
- Work with Alberta ministries and other partners to develop
economic development strategies, including strategies to address
regulatory barriers to economic development on First Nation
reserves.
- Assist other ministries to develop policies and strategies
to enhance the well-being and self-reliance of Aboriginal people
by participating in other Cross-Ministry Initiatives, including
Health Sustainability, Children and Youth, and Economic Development
Strategy, as well as the Water for Life Strategy, regional and
northern initiatives.
- Work with Learning and other stakeholders to address phase
1, government-approved recommendations from Alberta's Commission
on Learning.
- Partner with Aboriginal organizations and others to develop
community-level capacity building strategies.
- Engage Aboriginal and industry advisory committees in setting
future directions for the Ministry.
- Enhance Alberta's participation in discussions with Federal/Provincial/Territorial
governments, National Aboriginal Organizations and provincial
stakeholders to improve the co-ordination and strategic focus
of policies, programs and services.
Performance Measures
The Ministry
will also provide a narrative report on strategies to address
regulatory barriers to economic development on First Nation reserves.
CORE
BUSINESS TWO: To facilitate the development of Northern Alberta.
GOAL
3: To advance the development of Northern Alberta.
What
it means
The Ministry
partners with Northern communities, organizations, business, industry
and other jurisdictions to coordinate, plan for and address the
sustainable development of Northern Alberta. Initiatives include
economic diversification, transportation, infrastructure, tourism
development, and improving skills among Northern Albertans.
Strategies
- Engage Northern communities, business, industry and other
stakeholders, to identify, coordinate and address strategic
Northern socio-economic priorities, opportunities and challenges.
- Partner with other jurisdictions, other ministries, Northern
communities, business and industry, to promote Northern opportunities
and address challenges.
- Promote awareness of the importance of northern development
to the well-being of Alberta.
- In partnership with Northern communities, business, industry,
learning providers and students, support initiatives to increase
Northern skill levels.
- Advance tourism development in Northern Alberta through partnerships
with other jurisdictions and Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal tourism
organizations, industry stakeholders and communities.
Performance Measures
GOAL
4: To achieve organizational excellence.
What
it means
The Ministry
strives to attain its vision through leadership, human resource
development and continuous improvement in administrative and operational
practices.
Strategies
- Continue implementation of a comprehensive human resource
development program consistent with the Ministry's Human Resource
Plan and the Corporate Human Resource Development Strategy.
- Provide the skills, processes, technology and tools to enhance
the collection, management and sharing of information and knowledge
within the Ministry, and to support strategic information-sharing
with the Ministry's partners.
- Support government-wide operational practices and organizational
initiatives, including key elements of the Service Excellence
Framework.
Performance Measure
EXPENSE
BY CORE BUSINESS
MINISTRY
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
CONSOLIDATED
NET OPERATING RESULT
Go to:
Agriculture, Food and Rural Development Business
Plan
|
Contact
Us
