Tourism, Parks, Recreation and Culture
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Tourism, Parks, Recreation and Culture Annual Report 2007-2008 Note to Readers: Copies of the annual report are available on the websites or by contacting: Culture and Community Spirit Communications 740, 10405 Jasper Avenue Edmonton, Alberta T5J 4R7 Phone: (780) 427-6530 Fax: (780) 427-1496 Website: www.culture.alberta.ca Tourism, Parks and Recreation Communications 6th Floor, Commerce Place 10155 - 102 Street T5J 4L6 Edmonton, Alberta Phone (780) 644-5589 Fax: (780) 644-5586 Website: www.tpr.alberta.ca ISBN: 978-0-7785-7699-0 ISSN: 1913-7788 Table of Contents Preface ii Ministers’ Accountability Statement iii Message from the Ministers 1 Management’s Responsibility for Reporting 2 Overview Ministry Entities 3 Operational Overview 7 Financial Overview 10 Results Analysis Message from the Deputy Ministers 13 Report of the Auditor General on the Results of Applying Specified Auditing Procedures to Performance Measures 15 Strategic Priorities 16 Core Businesses, Goals, Strategies and Performance Measures 18 1. Manage Alberta’s provincial parks and protected areas and promote recreational and sport opportunities 19 2. Facilitate tourism marketing, development and film investment 28 3. Promote Alberta’s rich culture, including its arts and heritage 38 4. Protect human rights, promote diversity, fairness and access, and support the inclusion of all Albertans 50 Award Highlights 54 Financial Information Index of Financial Statements 55 Other Information Statement of Write-Offs 227 Acts Administered by Tourism, Parks, Recreation and Culture 228 Performance Measures: Results at a Glance 230 Performance Measures: Data Sources and Methodology 232 Alphabetical List of Government Entities’ Financial Statements 236 Government Organization Changes, 2008-09 241 Readership Survey 243 Alberta Tourism, Parks, Recreation and Culture 2007 – 08 ANNUAL REPORT i Preface Public Accounts, 2007-08 The Public Accounts of Alberta are prepared in accordance with the Financial Administration Act and the Government Accountability Act. The Public Accounts consist of the annual report of the Government of Alberta and the annual reports of each of the 20 ministries. The annual report of the Government of Alberta released June 24, 2008 contains Ministers’ accountability statements, the consolidated financial statements of the Province and the Measuring Up report, which compares actual performance results to desired results set out in the government’s business plan. On March 12, 2008, the government announced new ministry structures. Since the 2007-08 fiscal year was substantially completed prior to this announcement, ministry annual reports and financial statements have been prepared as if the restructuring took place on April 1, 2008, to provide proper accountability for the 2007-08 fiscal year against the original business plan. This annual report of the Ministry of Tourism, Parks, Recreation and Culture contains the Ministers’ accountability statement, the audited consolidated financial statements of the Ministry and a comparison of actual performance results to desired results set out in the Ministry business plan. This Ministry annual report also includes: · the financial statements of entities making up the Ministry including the Department of Tourism, Parks, Recreation and Culture, regulated funds and provincial agencies for which the Ministers are responsible; and · other financial information as required by the Financial Administration Act and Government Accountability Act, either as separate reports or as a part of the financial statements, to the extent that the Ministry has anything to report. ii Alberta Tourism, Parks, Recreation and Culture 2007 – 08 ANNUAL REPORT Ministers’ Accountability Statement The Ministry’s annual report for the year ended March 31, 2008, was prepared under our direction in accordance with the Government Accountability Act and the government’s accounting policies. All of the government’s policy decisions as at September 8, 2008 with material economic or fiscal implications of which we are aware have been considered in the preparation of this report. Originally Signed by Lindsay Blackett Minister of Culture and Community Spirit September 8, 2008 Originally Signed by Cindy Ady Minister of Tourism, Parks and Recreation September 8, 2008 Alberta Tourism, Parks, Recreation and Culture 2007 – 08 ANNUAL REPORT iii iv Alberta Tourism, Parks, Recreation and Culture 2007 – 08 ANNUAL REPORT Message from the Ministers The Ministry of Tourism, Parks, Recreation and Culture promoted, developed and preserved Alberta’s tourism, culture and heritage in support of vibrant, active and inclusive communities. As one of the Alberta government’s “quality of life” ministries, we provided an array of services and programs to help all Albertans experience our province’s culture and heritage. With our province’s unprecedented growth and prosperity, our Ministry moved boldly ahead to achieve its mandates, and improve the quality of life for all Albertans. This past fiscal year saw the launch of Alberta’s new cultural policy – The Spirit of Alberta, and the Community Spirit Program. The cultural policy provides a decision-making framework for the support, growth and development of Alberta’s vibrant culture. As part of the cultural policy, the Alberta Foundation for the Arts received an increase of $4.5 million in funding to support Alberta artists and arts organizations. In addition, a $12 million investment in Alberta’s arts and culture community was approved for 2008-09 to begin implementation of the policy. The Community Spirit Program was announced in February 2008. This donor-driven program is intended to increase charitable giving, providing further support to our province’s non-profit and voluntary sector. A new $20 million lottery-funded donation grant program, effective April 2008, complements the $80 million enhanced charitable tax credit announced in January 2007. Alberta’s network of over 500 provincial parks and protected areas is growing, with the addition of two new parks. Eagle Point Provincial Park and Blue Rapids Provincial Recreation Area, which cover close to 6,900 hectares, were established near Drayton Valley. Infrastructure maintenance projects in the province’s network of parks continue to be addressed, and more than $57 million was provided to upgrade facilities and water and sewage systems. Alberta’s prosperity and growth are providing new opportunities to promote our province as a world-class tourism and investment destination. With the significant funding for tourism marketing and development that results from the revenues generated from the four per cent Tourism Levy on visitor accommodation, Travel Alberta is working closely with the tourism industry to increase the value of that sector, from $5.6 billion in 2007 to $6.5 billion by 2011. The 2010 Olympic Games will help to provide additional marketing opportunities to help the tourism industry reach this goal. Premier Stelmach signed an accord with the Vancouver Olympics Organizing Committee, which outlines Alberta’s opportunities for sport, tourism and culture leading up to and during the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. To provide Alberta’s athletes with the state of the art training facilities that will help them in their quest for the podium, $40 million of the government’s $69 million commitment was provided to renew and update Alberta’s legacy facilities at Canada Olympic Park and to support the development of Calgary Olympic Development Association’s new Centre of Sport Excellence. These are just a snapshot of our Ministry’s accomplishments in 2007-08. The pages to follow will more specifically highlight these accomplishments. Working to improve Albertans’ quality of life and strengthening our communities now becomes the responsibility of two new government ministries: Culture and Community Spirit and Tourism, Parks and Recreation. We are confident that this new structure will allow our government to be even more focused on addressing the needs of Albertans. Originally Signed by Originally Signed by Lindsay Blackett Cindy Ady Minister of Culture and Community Spirit Minister of Tourism, Parks and Recreation Alberta Tourism, Parks, Recreation and Culture 2007 – 08 ANNUAL REPORT 1 Management’s Responsibility for Reporting The Ministry of Tourism, Parks, Recreation and Culture includes the Department of Tourism, Parks, Recreation and Culture and the agencies, boards, commissions, foundations and funds listed in the Ministry entities chart on page three. The executives of the individual entities within the Ministry have the primary responsibility and accountability for the respective entities. Collectively, the executives ensure the Ministry complies with all relevant legislation, regulations and policies. Ministry business plans, annual reports, performance results and the supporting management information are integral to the government’s fiscal and business plans, annual report, quarterly reports and other financial and performance reporting. Responsibility for the integrity and objectivity of the consolidated financial statements and performance results for the Ministry rests with the Ministers of Culture and Community Spirit and Tourism, Parks and Recreation. Under the direction of the Ministers, we oversee the preparation of the Ministry’s annual report, including consolidated financial statements and performance results. The consolidated financial statements and the performance results, of necessity, include amounts that are based on estimates and