About Canada's Performance 2004
This is the fourth Canada's Performance report tabled in Parliament by
the President of the Treasury Board.
Canada's Performance 2004 tracks how we are doing as a nation in six
key areas of federal government involvement - highlighting both strengths and
the areas where we can do better. The report provides a whole of government
perspective from which to view the plans, results and resources of individual
federal departments and agencies as presented in their spring planning and fall
performance reports.
How to Get More Information
The electronic version of this report includes many links to additional
information on the societal indicators discussed in this report as well as to
information on the plans and performance of federal departments and agencies. If
you would like further information or would like to make comments or suggestions
regarding Canada's Performance 2004, please contact
Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat
Results-Based Management Directorate
300 Laurier Avenue West
9th Floor, West Tower
Ottawa ON K1A 0R5
Telephone: (613) 957-7183
Facsimile: (613) 957-7044
E-mail: rma-mrr@tbs-sct.gc.ca
A healthy democracy such as Canada's requires the active engagement of its
citizens in understanding the economic and social issues we face as a nation.
Canada's Performance 2004 provides a results-based perspective from
which to review federal programs, services and policies that contribute to the
quality of life of Canadians.
As one of only a few countries in the world that publish this kind of report,
Canada is a world leader in promoting the achievement of results as the
foundation of modern government.
We assess our progress in the following areas of federal involvement: the
economy; society, culture and democracy; health; and the environment. This year,
to broaden the scope of our report, we added two new chapters: "Canada's
Place in the World" and "Aboriginal Peoples."
Canada's performance over the past year shows strong progress in areas such a
trade and employment. At the same time however, we still have challenges to meet
in other areas such as Aboriginal peoples, civic participation and the
environment.
We will continue to pursue improvements in the way government initiatives are
managed, and to provide the kind of service Canadians want and deserve.
We recognize that we cannot succeed alone. Most of the results mentioned in
this report are strongly influenced by other levels of government, the private
sector and community groups. Together, we will provide Canadians with
prosperity, opportunity and security for the Canada of now, and for the Canada
to come.
The paper version was signed by Reg Alcock
President of the Treasury Board and
Minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board
Canadians have a fundamental right to know what is achieved through the use
of their tax dollars and to hold their government accountable. Key to that
knowledge and the accountability that flows from it is the transparency that
comes from reporting on progress in key policy areas. As part of the
government's commitment to accountability, Canada's Performance 2004
tracks how we are doing as a nation in six key areas of federal government
involvement - highlighting both our strengths and the areas where we can do
better. Through the electronic version, the reader has access to information on
how the federal government is contributing to Canada's well being in these six
areas.
How is Canada performing?
Canada's involvement and participation on the International Stage is
mixed. While Canada's aid to developing countries has decreased in the last
decade, progress has been made in some indicators of prosperity, such as trade.
Canada's Economy is still considered one of the strongest and
healthiest among the G-7 countries. Canada's employment rate surpassed that of
the United States for the first time in over two decades. Even so, certain
groups of our society, lone-parent families, for example, are more prone to
experience economic hardships.
Canadian Society, Culture and Democracy are experiencing a number of
challenges. While personal tolerance toward diversity is increasing, other
indicators point to a less involved civic society. For example, Canadian
political participation is in decline, Canadians are less likely to volunteer
and there has been a decrease in participation in some cultural activities.
Aboriginal peoples have not fully shared in Canada's prosperity. While some
progress has been made in reducing the disparities facing Aboriginal Peoples,
the social and economic conditions of far too many Aboriginal communities are
still worse than the Canadian average.
The improvements in the Health of Canadians are encouraging; for
instance, Canadians can expect to live longer than ever. However, the news is
not all good. The proportion of Canadians who felt their health was excellent or
very good declined among both men and women. Also, a greater proportion of
Canadians are considered obese.
While levels of several air pollutants have dropped over the last decade,
climate change and the status of many species at risk continue to be causes for
concern. The Canadian Environment as a whole, however, has seen
significant improvements over the last 30 years.
Overall, Canada ranks well compared to other countries. However, that does
not mean we should be complacent. The Government of Canada is working to ensure
that Canada continues to perform well in those areas where achievements have
been made, while addressing those areas where improvements are needed. The
federal government recognizes that it cannot succeed alone; rather it must
continue to develop partnerships to influence these broad social and economic
outcomes. It must continue to work with all levels of government, the private
sector, community groups and individual citizens to provide Canadians a better
quality of life.
The central goal of the Government of Canada is to improve the quality of
life of Canadians. All government policies, programs and activities are directed
toward this key objective.
Canada's Performance 2004 reports on how this key objective is
progressing. There port is intended to be a balanced assessment of various
aspects of Canadian well-being, depicting both successes and areas for
improvement requiring greater attention from the federal government, other
governments and other sectors of society.
The purpose of Canada's Performance 2004 is to provide
parliamentarians and Canadians with a whole of government perspective from which
to view the plans, results and resources reported by individual federal
departments and agencies in their spring planning and fall performance reports.
What's in the report
The report has been divided into the following six themes:
- Canada's Place in the World (new this year);
- Canada's Economy;
- Society, Culture and Democracy;
- Aboriginal Peoples (new this year);
- The Health of Canadians;
- The Canadian Environment.
Each theme is subdivided into "Government of Canada outcomes,"
which are the long-term and enduring benefits to Canadians that federal
departments and agencies are working to achieve.
Societal indicators are used to assess Canadians' quality of life within the
six themes. The indicators were selected based on their relevance to a
specific Government of Canada outcome; broad-based support by government
partners and stakeholders; consistency over time and, when possible, with
those used in international reports; and statistical soundness.
As much as possible, the indicators reflect progress over the past 5-10 years
and provide internal comparisons. Because the information gathered in this
report is derived from various sources (i.e. the Census of Canada,
General Social Surveys, Public Opinion Polls, Organisation for Economic
Co-operation and Development reports), data is not always updated annually.
The list of Government of Canada outcomes and indicators contained in this
report are at Annex A.
Canada's Performance 2004 acts as a "roadmap" to Government
of Canada efforts to improve quality of life in Canada. Each theme lists
departments and agencies that make a contribution. The electronic version of
this report links the themes in Canada's Performance 2004 to planning,
results and resource information contained in department and agency planning and
performance reports, and to relevant audits and evaluations.
An illustration of the connection between the themes, Government of Canada
outcomes, societal indicators, and department and agency efforts can be found at
Annex B.
Finally, the Performance Highlights section on page 3 summarizes the
key findings presented in the report.
Reports from other federal government organizations
Readers might also want to look at the performance of other organizations
that contribute to Government of Canada outcomes, by referring to the Annual
Report to Parliament on Crown Corporations and Other Corporate Interests of
Canada.
Partnering for success
The Government of Canada recognizes that it is only one of many entities that
shape our society and that improvement or deterioration in quality of life
depends on many factors. For this reason, the government partners with other
levels of government, the private and voluntary sectors, non-governmental
organizations and individuals to achieve the best possible social, economic and
environmental outcomes.
Further information
This report cannot tell the whole story of Canada's performance. The
electronic version of the report also includes many links to additional
information on societal indicators and measures.
Give us your feedback
The Government of Canada is committed to continually improving its reporting
to Canadians. We want to know what you think of this report, what you like best,
and what you think needs to be changed or improved so that we can make the
necessary adjustments.
We welcome your comments by mail, telephone, facsimile or e-mail.
Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat
Results-Based Management Directorate
300 Laurier Avenue West
9th Floor, West Tower
Ottawa ON K1A 0R5
Telephone: (613) 957-7183
Facsimile: (613) 957-7044
E-mail: rma-mrr@tbs-sct.gc.ca
This chart summarizes the material presented in the report regarding Canada's
performance in 23 Government of Canada outcomes in 6 areas of federal
involvement over the past 5 to 10 years (depending on the relevance and
availability of data).
Legend
↑ Improving performance
− No definitive trend noted at this time*
↓ Declining performance
† New Indicator
* This is due to either a lack of trend data or multiple measures with
opposing trends.
|
Canada's Place in the World |
Government of Canada Outcome |
Trend |
Indicator |
Performance Highlight |
A Prosperous and Sovereign
Canada in a Safe and Secure North America |
↑ |
Total Trade† |
Despite a decrease in total trade
between 2002 and 2003, exports to all countries in 2003 totalled $460
billion, up from $260.9 billion in 1994. Imports from all countries
totalled $412.7 billion in 2003, up from $252.3 billion in 1994. |
|
|
|
Exports to the United States in
2003 were at $366 billion, up from $199.9 billion in 1994. Imports from
the United States at $282.1 billion in 2003 were up from $182.6 billion in
1994. |
|
− |
Perceptions of Security† |
Although trend data is not
available, according to the 2003 Voice of the People international poll, a
total of 42% of Canadians, over half of all Americans (53%) and 71% of
Mexicans thought their country was less safe today than it was ten years
ago. |
A Canada Committed to
Multilateral Cooperation |
− |
Trust in International Institutions† |
According to the Globe Scan Survey
on Trust in Institutions, 77% of Canadians indicated that they trust the
United Nations, up 4% since 2002. |
A Canada Committed to
Peace, Human Development and Human Security |
↓ |
Official Development Assistance† |
In 2003, Canada contributed 0.26%
of its Gross National Income to official development assistance, up
slightly (0.01%) from 2000-01, but down 0.19% from 1990-91. |
A World where Canada has a
Positive Influence and Profile |
|
Indicator under development |
|
Canada's Economy |
Government of Canada Outcome |
Trend |
Indicator |
Performance Highlight |
An Innovative and
Knowledge-based Economy |
− |
Innovation
|
Canada's performance in innovation
is mixed. Canada's gross expenditure on research and development (GERD) as
a percentage of GDP has increased from 1.68% in 1997 to 1.87% in 2003. In
terms of other measures of innovation, such as Canada's world share in
triadic patent families, and science and engineering article outputs,
Canada is behind the US and other G-7 countries. |
|
↑ |
Educational Attainment
|
In the last decade, the proportion
of Canadians with a college or university degree increased. In 2001, 61%
of all Canadians aged 25 to 34 had at least some education beyond high
school. This is a marked increase over a decade earlier when only 49% of
people in that age category had any post-secondary education. |
|
− |
Literacy
|
The data from the first International
Adult Literacy Survey (IALS), conducted in 1994, indicates that over
40% of Canadians aged 16 and above function below "Level 3," the
minimum desirable level, which corresponds roughly to high school
completion. The next survey results will not be available until 2005. |
Income Security and
Employment for Canadians |
↑ |
Employment Rate |
The average employment rate
(persons 15 and over) increased from 58.5% in 1996 to 62.4% in 2003. There
are substantial variations, however, in the unemployment rates of the
provinces. The Atlantic provinces and Quebec continue to have
substantially higher unemployment rates than the Canadian average |
|
↑ |
Income Security† |
After declining in the first half
of the 1990s, real disposable income per capita has increased at an
average rate of 1.7% per year since 1997, reflecting strong employment
growth and cuts in personal taxes. Real disposable income per capita
increased from $18,241 in 1993 to $20,324 in 2003. |
|
|
|
According to the latest data
available, the percentage of Canadians living below the Low Income
Cut-offs measure decreased from 14% in 1996 to 9.5% in 2002. |
A Secure and Fair
Marketplace |
− |
Barriers to Entrepreneurship† |
In 2002, Canada had the
second-lowest level of regulatory barriers to entrepreneurship among G-7
countries. It was surpassed only by the U.K. |
Strong Regional Economic
Growth |
↑ |
GDP per
Capita |
Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
increased by 2% in 2003, part of a continuing upward trend over the past
10 years, but still lower than some experts had predicted. |
|
|
|
In 2003, the Atlantic Provinces,
Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, British Columbia and Nunavut experienced a
slowdown in real GDP. On the other hand, the Northwest Territories
experienced a growth in GDP and Saskatchewan and Alberta picked up
slightly compared to last year. |
Society, Culture and Democracy |
Government of Canada Outcome |
Trend |
Indicator |
Performance Highlight |
Diversity as a Fundamental
Canadian Value |
− |
Attitudes Toward Diversity |
Public opinion polls indicate that
Canadians' attitudes toward diversity appear to be mixed. While personal
tolerance of others increased slightly - 29% of Canadians believed they
were more tolerant toward ethnic groups in 2004, up from 23% in 1991 -
support for affirmative action declined from 44% in 1985 to 28% in 2004. |
Safe Communities |
− |
Safety |
Despite the increase (6%) in the
national crime rate between 2002 and 2003, the 2003 crime rate in Canada
is 15% lower than a decade ago. |
|
|
|
Six of the ten countries that
participated in the International Crime Victimization Survey in both1996
and 2000, including Canada, experienced no change in their victimization
rate. |
Caring Communities |
↓ |
Volunteerism |
In 2000, 27% of Canadians
volunteered 1.05 billion hours of work in Canada, representing a decrease
of 13% from 1997. |
A Vibrant Canadian Culture
and Heritage |
− |
Participation in Culture and Heritage
Activities |
From 1992 to 1998, cultural
participation among the Canadian population aged 15 and over was declining
in some areas and was on the upswing in other areas. For instance,
movie-going was up from 48.6% to 59.1% and concert and performance
attendance rose from 30.2% to 34.6%. However, attendance figures decreased
at performances of live theatre (down 4%), popular music (down 4.1%), and
symphonic music (down 4%). |
Sustainable Cities and
Communities |
|
Indicator under development |
|
An Informed and Engaged
Canadian Public |
↓ |
Political participation
|
Canadian political participation is
in decline. The proportion of eligible voters who voted in the 2004
federal election was the lowest in recent Canadian history - 60.5%
compared to 70% in 1993. |
Aboriginal Peoples |
Government of Canada Outcome |
Trend |
Indicator |
Performance Highlight |
Full Aboriginal
Participation in Life-Long Learning |
− |
Educational Attainment†
|
The percentage of Aboriginal people
aged 25 to 34, who are out of school and who have a college or university
degree remained relatively stable for each Aboriginal group from 1996 to
2001. The percentage of Aboriginal youth aged 20 to 24 who had incomplete
secondary school or less as their highest level of schooling declined from
1996 to 2001. |
Strong Aboriginal Economic
Self-Reliance |
↑ |
Employment Rate† |
The percentage of employed
Aboriginal people aged 25 to 54 increased from 55% in 1996 to 61% in 2001. |
|
↑ |
Median Income† |
In 2000, the median income of
Aboriginal individuals generally was $13,593, up from $12,010 in 1995.
Among Aboriginal groups, the Métis had the highest median income in 2000
at $16,347, up from $13,502 in 1995. |
Healthy Aboriginal
Communities |
↑ |
Health Status†
|
Between 1990 and 2001, life
expectancy for First Nations men increased from 66.9 years to 70.4 years.
In the same period, life expectancy for First Nations women increased from
74 years to 75.5 years. |
|
|
|
Infant mortality rates for First
Nations on reserve dropped from 12.3 in 1991 to 6.4 deaths per 1,000 live
births in 2000. |
|
↑ |
Housing† |
The percentage of First Nations on
reserve living in inadequate housing (needing major repairs) increased
from 35% in 1996 to 37% in 2001. However, the percentage of households on
reserve living in unsuitable dwellings (not enough bedrooms for the size
and make-up of the household) decreased from 27% in 1996 to 22% in 2001. |
|
|
|
In 2001, 24.8% of Aboriginal
households off-reserve were in core housing need (in housing that is
either inadequate, unsuitable or unaffordable and for which 30% or more of
the before-tax income would have to be spent to meet the three standards),
down from 31.6% in 1996. |
Effective Democracy and a
Strengthened Aboriginal Relationship with Canada |
|
Indicator under development |
|
The Health of Canadians |
Government of Canada Outcome |
Trend |
Indicator |
Performance Highlight |
A Healthy Population |
↑ |
Life Expectancy
|
Life expectancy at birth has steadily increased
from 77.8 years in 1991 to 79.7 years in 2002 (82.1 years for women and
77.2 years for men). |
|
↓ |
Self-Rated Health |
The proportion of Canadians describing their
health as excellent or very good declined among both men and women and in
every age group. In 2003, 59.6% of Canadians aged 12 and older reported
that they were in excellent or very good health, down from 62.5% in
2000-01 and 63.3% in 1994-95 (age-standardized data). |
|
↑ |
Infant Mortality |
The Canadian infant mortality rate has dropped
steadily in the past decade from 6.4 deaths per 1,000 live births in 1991
to 5.2 per 1,000 in 2001. |
|
− |
Healthy Lifestyles |
In the last decade Canadians' progress toward
living healthy lifestyles has been mixed. Although people are exercising
more, a greater proportion of Canadians are considered obese. |
A Strong Health Care
System |
− |
Waiting Times† |
In 2003, the self-reported median wait was 4
weeks to consult a specialist (i.e. visits to a specialist for a new
illness or condition), 4.3 weeks for non-emergency surgery, and 3 weeks
for diagnostic tests. The comparable self-reported waiting time data at
the provincial level indicate that there was some variation in waiting
times across provinces. |
|
− |
Patient Satisfaction† |
Between 2000-01 and 2003 the percentage of
Canadians who rated the quality of overall health services as being either
excellent or good slightly increased from 84.4% to 86.6%. |
The Canadian Environment |
Government of Canada Outcome |
Trend |
Indicator |
Performance Highlight |
Canada's Environment is
Protected and Restored from Pollution
|
− |
Air Quality
|
Levels of several air pollutants have decreased
since the mid- to late 1980s. There has been no noticeable net change in
fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations since the mid-1990s. While
seasonal average levels for ground-level ozone have shown an increase, the
peak levels of ground-level ozone have remained relatively stable. |
|
↑ |
Water Quality
|
Wastewater treatment from municipal systems has
shown continuous improvement. The percentage of the municipal population
on sewers receiving secondary and/or tertiary wastewater treatment
increased from 56% in 1983 to 78% in 1999. Despite these improvements,
challenges remain in many rural and coastal communities. |
The Risk of Climate Change
is Minimized |
↓ |
Climate Change
|
Canadian greenhouse gas emissions increased by
2.1% between 2001 and 2002, and by 20.1% since 1990. While secondary
energy use increased by 18% between 1990 and 2002, energy efficiency
improved by 13%. |
Canada has a Sustainable
Approach to its Natural Resources and Healthy Ecosystems |
↓ |
Biodiversity
|
Between 1985 and May 2004, the status of half
of the reassessed species considered at risk remained unchanged, and the
status of a third of the reassessed species deteriorated. Despite some
successes, the state of biodiversity overall has deteriorated. |
|
− |
Natural Resources Sustainability†
|
Among 102 commercial fish stocks assessed
between 2001 and 2003, 36 stocks were healthy and increasing compared with
their status in the early 1990s; 22 were healthy and stable; and 44 were
declining or depleted and not yet recovered. It is not possible at this
time to determine a definitive trend in natural resources sustainability
based only on trends in commercial fish stocks status. |
|