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GOL is the Government of Canada's project to provide information and services on the Internet by 2005. The goal of
this initiative is to use information and communication technology to provide Canadians with enhanced access to improved
citizen-centred, integrated services, anytime, anywhere and in the official language of their
choice.
The Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS) spearheads the GOL initiative for the Government of Canada. A
Government-On-Line Project Office, set up within the Chief Information Officer Branch (CIOB) of TBS, works with departments and
agencies to put all commonly used programs and services on-line.
For more information about GOL, visit the Treasury Board Secretariat's Government-On-Line
Web site.
This public report describes the progress made on GOL initiatives within TBS, that is, within a particular
government department.
The Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS) is dedicated to helping the Government of Canada manage its human, financial,
information and technology resources prudently and in a manner that best supports the government's objectives and priorities. As
the management board, the Secretariat is committed to promoting management excellence in the federal government.
TBS is a central government agency. In this capacity, it has a dual role: to support Treasury Board ministers by
providing advice on policies, directives, regulations, and program expenditure proposals; and, to act as a general manager and
employer of the Public Service of Canada.
The Secretariat's main areas of activity cover three broadly defined business lines:
1) Human Resource Management: a modern, effective, well-managed Public Service
The modernization of human resources management is a priority for TBS and
includes a range of initiatives, such as changes in staffing, collective bargaining, classification and compensation. It also
includes measures to create a more representative workplace, a strengthened core learning agenda for employees and renewal of the
official languages program.
2) Stewardship: sound public management of federal resources
Stewardship relates to TBS's responsibility to manage and report on financial and other resources in the federal
government. It also includes promoting better management practices in the federal government through modern comptrollership and
other initiatives.
3) Service Improvement: citizen-centred service delivery
Much of the focus of this area has been on the Government On-Line initiative and the transformation of service
delivery. It also includes information management and the impact of technology on the operations of government.
TBS is committed to ensuring that its on-line information is accessible to all of its users and that the
information is accurate, timely and can be easily located.
As the management board, TBS works with departments and agencies to improve management practices across
government. Although most of the work carried out by TBS does not directly affect the public at large, its policies, directives
and guidelines are followed by departments and agencies who deliver programs and services to Canadians. In fact, departments and
agencies rely on information from TBS to carry out their activities. Public service employees are also key users of TBS
information, whether it is related to collective agreements, employment policies or benefits.
1. Web Redesign
In an effort to ensure easier access to its on-line information and to meet the Common
Look and Feel Standards for the Internet, TBS restructured and redesigned its departmental Web site. The project's goal
was to make the site more user friendly by improving the way the information was organized, accessed and displayed.
Here are some of the highlights:
- a consistent corporate look;
- improved functionality and user-friendliness;
- multiple ways to access the information (by Activity, Audience, Organization and Topic A to Z);
- a comprehensive "What's New" section that links to recently posted information on all TBS sites;
- an email notification feature, which advises users when selected documents and publications are posted on the Web site; and
- improved searching capabilities.
The Web redesign positions TBS for future Information Technology (IT) enhancements. Phase two will include web
usability testing and new features, such as a corporate web-based discussion forum and other interactive services. TBS will also
further integrate its information and business processes on its Web site, exploit new communication media and offer automated
web-based application for reporting purposes to departments and agencies. The Secretariat will identify key horizontal enablers
that will enhance the level of service to both internal to government and external clients.
For more information, please contact:
Stéphanie Durand
Communications and Executive Services
Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat
300 Laurier Avenue West
Ottawa, ON K1A 0R5
Telephone: (613) 957-2427
Facsimile: (613) 998-9071
e-mail: Durand.Stephanie@tbs-sct.gc.ca
2. Estimates On-Line
In an effort to enhance the information available to Parliamentarians, it is planned that by 2005, Estimates
documents will be created in web-friendly versions, with paper formats as auxiliaries (pending Parliament's approval).
Departmental Performance Reports (DPRs) and Reports on Plans and Priorities (RPPs) would move towards more electronic, evergreen
planning and performance information.
Highlights would include:
- improved results-based management and accountability in departments and agencies;
- more usable format, timeliness, quality and usefulness of the documents;
- better quality planning and financial performance information;
- ability to analyze information across departments and gain new knowledge about the government's overall plans, costs and
programming; and
- a web-based means to review this information on a government-wide basis for use in research, planning, resource allocations
and other decision-making.
Ultimately, this project will enable remote entry and editing by departments so that information can become more
relevant, timely, dynamic and responsive. The remote entry and editing feature will be tested with a few departments in 2003. A
risk assessment was undertaken that not only focussed on information integrity but also pointed out the difficulties of gaining
acceptance for electronic formats of Parliamentary reports.
This year's DPRs are being posted in HTML format, compliant with the latest Common Look and Feel Standards for
the Internet. They are being incorporated in an on-line database of planning, cost and performance information based on
departmental Strategic Outcomes and interdepartmental horizontal issue clusters. Recent legacy DPRs and RPPs are also being
converted to the new standard.
For more information, please contact:
John Batchelor
Results Management and Reporting
Comptrollership Branch
Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat
300 Laurier Avenue West
Ottawa, ON K1A 0R5
Telephone: (613) 957-7179
Facsimile: (613) 957-7044
e-mail: batchelor.john@tbs-sct.gc.ca
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