Message from the Minister
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Intergovernmental Affairs Secretariat Annual Report 2006-2007 Message from the Minister As Minister for Intergovernmental Affairs, I am pleased to submit the 2006-2007 Annual Report of the Intergovernmental Affairs Secretariat (IGAS), which details the activities of the Secretariat from April 1, 2006 through March 31, 2007. This report was prepared under my direction and I am accountable for the contents. The Secretariat is focused on the creation, coordination and review of policy that affects the Province’s interests in intergovernmental matters. We have a legislated responsibility to be a party to the negotiation and signing of all intergovernmental agreements. The Secretariat acts as the point of entry for the federal government where no analogous provincial department exists, and it leads the Province’s efforts to promote and diversify operations at 5 Wing Goose Bay. We also support the Premier and my fellow Cabinet Ministers in meetings with the federal government and other provinces and territories. 2006-2007 was a busy year in which the Secretariat worked closely with provincial departments and sovereign governments to move forward on its mandate. The Secretariat played lead and partnership roles to advance the Province’s interests on a range of intergovernmental issues. A key activity was the summer meeting of the Council of the Federation, hosted and chaired by the Premier and held in Corner Brook and St. John’s from July 26-28. Beginning in April, Secretariat officials led the provincial/territorial planning process to establish a meaningful agenda for Premiers’ deliberations. In addition, in conjunction with the Premier’s Office, the Secretariat was responsible for the logistical planning of the meeting. Throughout the meeting, the Secretariat provided policy support and advice to the Premier in his role as host and chair. The Premier also hosted and chaired a meeting of the Council of Atlantic Premiers in December in St. John’s, for which the Secretariat provided similar support. Other activities and priorities focused on advocacy of provincial positions and strategic advice and support to the Premier for his participation in meetings of the Council of Atlantic Premiers, the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers, and the Council of the Federation. The Secretariat continued to offer strategic advice and logistical assistance to the Minister for Intergovernmental Affairs and other Cabinet Ministers in relation to meetings and negotiations with the federal government and the provinces and territories. I would like to acknowledge the significant contribution made by my predecessor, John Ottenheimer, who was the Minister for Intergovernmental Affairs throughout the reporting period. The year ahead will provide many challenges and opportunities for the Secretariat as the Province participates in a wide range of intergovernmental meetings and negotiations. I look forward to meeting these challenges and capitalizing on opportunities to advance the Province’s interests. Tom Hedderson, MHA Minister for Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister Responsible for the Volunteer and Non-Profit Sector Table of Contents 1.0 Overview of the Secretariat........................................................................................2 2.0 Key Accomplishments and Priorities .........................................................................3 3.0 Activities in 2006-2007 and Objectives for 2007-2008 .........................................6 4.0 Opportunities and Challenges in 2007-2008 ........................................................ 12 5.0 Contact the Intergovernmental Affairs Secretariat............................................... 13 6.0 Summary of Expenditures and Related Revenues................................................ 14 1.0 Overview of the Intergovernmental Affairs Secretariat The Intergovernmental Affairs Secretariat (the Secretariat, or IGAS) leads the formulation of Government’s intergovernmental policies and strategies and monitors and coordinates interdepartmental initiatives to ensure their consistent application. The Secretariat’s vision is of a province which is recognized as making an important contribution to a strong and united Canada and which is treated equitably within the federation. The Secretariat’s mission is to promote and represent the Province’s interests within Canada and internationally to maximize benefits to Newfoundland and Labrador. The mandate of the Secretariat is to: • Coordinate all policies, programs and activities of the government of the province and its agencies in relation to a sovereign government and its agencies; • Continually review all policies, programs and activities of the government of the province and its agencies in relation to a sovereign government and its agencies, all intergovernmental agreements, and all relevant legislation pertaining to those policies, programs, activities and agreements; • Be a party to the negotiation of all proposed intergovernmental agreements; • Promote the military diversification and long-term operation of 5 Wing Goose Bay; • Act as the point of entry for the federal government where no analogous provincial department exists; and • Take necessary action to initiate or maintain intergovernmental co-operation between the government of the province and a sovereign government. The Secretariat’s lines of business are: Intergovernmental policy formulation and advice: IGAS is responsible for monitoring and analyzing intergovernmental dimensions of social/fiscal and economic/resource policy matters in order to formulate and provide policy advice on the development of government’s intergovernmental strategy and agenda. Promotion of the Province’s interests: IGAS attends bilateral, multilateral, regional and international intergovernmental meetings and conferences to present and promote Newfoundland and Labrador’s positions on matters of importance to this province; and, IGAS promotes the Province’s interests by assisting departments in their participation in intergovernmental meetings and negotiations, and their negotiation of intergovernmental agreements. Support and coordination: IGAS coordinates and provides support for interdepartmental initiatives that have intergovernmental implications. The Secretariat supports the Premier in his obligations to First Ministers’ Meetings, the Council of the Federation, the Council of Atlantic Premiers, and the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers. IGAS is staffed by 14 people (not including the offices of the Minister or the Ottawa Representative). It is directed by the Deputy Minister and the Assistant Deputy Minister and assisted by three professional support staff. The Secretariat comprises two divisions: Social and Economic Policy: Policy formulation derives from an ongoing review and analysis of all intergovernmental issues relating to social and economic matters. These issues include education, Intergovernmental Affairs Secretariat Annual Report 2006-2007 2 labour market programs, health, social services, women’s policy, housing, justice, trade, industry, transportation/infrastructure, and national defence. Its staff complement is a director and three analysts. Resource and Fiscal Policy: Policy formulation derives from an ongoing review and analysis of all intergovernmental issues relating to constitutional issues, fiscal and resource policy matters. These issues include fisheries and oceans, agriculture, environment, tourism, parks, forestry, energy, mining, wildlife, crown lands and fiscal transfers and other fiscal arrangements. It is also responsible for the identification and analysis of the Province’s intergovernmental priorities. Its staff complement is a director and three analysts. Where appropriate, the Secretariat will supplement its staff complement with individuals or teams to manage specific projects or issues. In 2005-2006, IGAS added a temporary team to develop and manage the logistics associated with hosting the 2006 summer meeting of the Council of the Federation. IGAS currently avails of the services of a contractual Communications Specialist. The Secretariat’s core operating budget for 2006-2007 was $2,561,700. This budget included funding to support the Province’s hosting of the summer meeting of the Council of the Federation. In addition, the budget of the Ottawa office was $356,000. The Ottawa Office is funded through the Secretariat, but is not part of the Secretariat’s organizational structure and reports directly to the Office of the Premier. The position of Ottawa Representative was filled in May, 2006. 2.0 Key Accomplishments and Priorities In 2006-2007, IGAS undertook partnership and lead roles to advance the Province’s interests in a range of intergovernmental fora, both multilaterally and bilaterally. Key accomplishments and priorities focused on support to the Premier and Minister for Intergovernmental Affairs in their meetings and negotiations with the federal government and the provinces and territories. Federal-Provincial Relations Fiscal Imbalance On April 4, 2006, the federal Speech from the Throne stated, “…the Government will respond to concerns about the fiscal imbalance and will work to ensure fiscal arrangements in which all governments have access to the resources they need to meet their responsibilities.” The Province has clearly stated its position that Equalization reform would be the most efficient mechanism of change for the fiscal imbalance. During the January 2006 election,