The Way Forward – Smarter, Faster, more Efficient Government

A print version (pdf– 755 kb) of Achievements 2005 is also available.

Among the many goals we set for ourselves in 2005 at Public Works and Government Services Canada, one overriding goal stood out, and that was to deliver smarter, faster, more efficient and transparent services – all while saving taxpayer dollars. As the government’s common service provider, there is much at stake. The work we do helps to bring life to the government’s agenda, taking it from the realm of ideals and concepts to actual, tangible achievements that ultimately benefit the people of Canada.

When we succeed, we trigger a chain reaction of success. First our clients, other government departments and agencies, are better able to accomplish their objectives, and that is to serve Canadians. When they reach their goals, the entire Government of Canada is then better placed to achieve its aims. This, in turn leads to the most important achievement of all – Canadians in all parts of the country reap the rewards of a stronger Canada.

The milestones by which we measure our success in this effort can all be found along a path we call The Way Forward. It represents an all-encompassing strategic shift for our Department; a comprehensive and uncompromising guide we use to steadily move toward greater achievements, specifically toward an ever-improving way of doing business. 2005 was the first full year in which we engaged this strategy and the results for our clients and for Canadians, as this document will witness, have been telling.

Our commitment to deliver smarter, faster services and at a reduced cost has helped us improve the management of our Department. We transformed key business functions by realigning the Department to consolidate programs, policy, service and operations according to areas of expertise. As a result, the right experts can now be found where their advice will have the greatest impact. This has created clear, well-defined lines of accountability and increased our already substantial levels of transparency and ethical conduct.

The Way Forward focuses on increasing efficiencies throughout the vast array of services we provide, from procurement, property management, and information technology to leading the government’s efforts to green its operations and contribute to its sustainable development agenda.

The range and impact of our services is profound. For example, we handle approximately $1.3 trillion annually in Receiver General cash flow, 230 million payments and administering compensation for 293,000 government pay accounts and 324,000 pensioner accounts. We purchase over $10 billion worth of goods and services in procurement transactions on behalf of the Government of Canada (representing 80 percent of overall government purchasing) and we provide over $440 million in payments in lieu of taxes to about 1,300 municipalities.

We are the country’s largest landlord and office space manager with over 7 million square metres of space across Canada to look after. We operate a budget of more than $2.7 billion with a workforce of close to 13,200 employees across Canada, we provide world-class translation, terminology and interpretation services in more than 100 languages. We deliver information technology services to 130 federal government organizations, including the issuance of secure ePasses.

The Way Forward is driving the modernization of our services and an aggressive, persistent search for greater savings. As part of this evolution we created the Office of Greening Government Operations and the Office of Small and Medium Enterprises. The results have already translated into smarter, faster, “greener” government that is more transparent and fully accountable.

The professionalism, creativity and dedication of our remarkable workforce paid important dividends in 2005. They represent the diversity and the proud character of Canadian society and served to enhance the work of our Department by improving the way we do business. Together, we are moving quickly to meet the 21st century challenges that lie ahead.

We are all proud of the achievements described in this report and we celebrate our success yet we recognize that The Way Forward is not a final destination but rather a path continually leading our Department, our clients and the Canadians we all ultimately serve, to a stronger Canada.