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Streamlining Government to Achieve Results and Improve Service |
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Written by Government of Canada
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Monday, 06 February 2006 |
Prime Minister Harper has created two Cabinet committees—Operations and Priorities and Planning—in order to ensure effective day-to-day governing and to provide strategic direction on priorities for Canadians. Three policy committees—Social Affairs; Economic Affairs; and Foreign Affairs and National Security—will identify the means to achieve these strategic priorities. Finally, Treasury Board will examine initiatives to strengthen government accountability.
In addition, a number of changes to the structure and organization of government have been made to promote accountability, efficiency and effectiveness:
- The departments of Human Resources and Skills Development and Social Development have been consolidated into one Department of Human Resources and Social Development to ensure integrated policy development, as well as improved delivery of programs and services through Service Canada.
- The departments of Foreign Affairs and International Trade have been reintegrated to ensure a coherent approach to foreign affairs and international commerce and to better coordinate the provision of services to Canadians both at home and abroad. The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of International Trade will be supported by their respective divisions in the new Department. CIDA will also be part of this portfolio to ensure a coordinated approach to international development.
- The Office of the Registrar of Lobbyists has been transferred from the Industry portfolio to the Treasury Board portfolio as a stand-alone office, to increase its independence while the government works to further revise and strengthen the Lobbyists Registration Act.
- A Transport, Infrastructure and Communities portfolio has been created to better link urban, interprovincial and international infrastructure development. The Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities will accordingly be responsible for the Office of Infrastructure Canada, as well as the National Capital Commission. In addition, a number of Crown corporations, including the Canada Lands Company and Canada Post, have been transferred to this portfolio to ensure a more consistent approach to Crown corporation governance and ministerial accountability.
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