Intergovernmental Affairs Secretariat
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Intergovernmental Affairs Secretariat 2015-16 Annual Report 2016 For additional information, please contact: Intergovernmental Affairs Secretariat Government of Newfoundland and Labrador P.O. Box 8700 St. John’s, NL A1B 4J6 Telephone: 709-729-2134 Website: www.exec.gov.nl.ca/igas Intergovernmental Affairs Secretariat 2015-16 Annual Report MESSAGE FROM THE PREMIER It is my pleasure to present the 2015-16 annual performance report for the Intergovernmental Affairs Secretariat (Secretariat). This report was prepared in accordance with the Transparency and Accountability Act requirements for a category three government entity. It was prepared under my direction as Minister for Intergovernmental Affairs, a position I assumed on December 14, 2015. I have made my mandate letter public and it is available online. The Secretariat’s 2014-17 Strategic Plan was prepared in conjunction with the Municipal Affairs branch of the Department of Municipal and Intergovernmental Affairs. Due to departmental restructuring, the latter entity has since been split into the Secretariat and the Department of Municipal Affairs, with each reporting separately on its progress in advancing the planned goals and objectives in 2015-16 and for the remainder of the plan. This report details the Secretariat’s fulfillment of its 2015-16 planned objective of further promoting Newfoundland and Labrador’s right to equitable treatment in the federation. My signature below is indicative of my accountability for the actual results reported herein. I would like to acknowledge the efforts of Secretariat staff in accomplishing this year’s objective. Sincerely, Dwight Ball Premier and Minister for Intergovernmental Affairs TABLE OF CONTENTS SECRETARIAT OVERVIEW ....................................................................................................... 1 ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE ............................................................................................ 1 ORGANIZATIONAL CHART ..................................................................................................... 1 BUDGET AND EXPENDITURES .............................................................................................. 1 STAFF COMPLEMENT ............................................................................................................. 1 MANDATE ................................................................................................................................. 2 LINES OF BUSINESS ............................................................................................................... 2 VISION ...................................................................................................................................... 2 MISSION ................................................................................................................................... 2 SHARED COMMITMENTS ........................................................................................................... 3 HIGHLIGHTS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS ................................................................................ 7 RERPORT ON PERFORMANCE ................................................................................................ 9 ISSUE: ADVANCING THE PROVINCE’S INTERGOVERNMENTAL INTERESTS ................... 9 OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES AHEAD ..................................................................... 12 APPENDICES ............................................................................................................................ 13 APPENDIX A: FINANCIAL STATEMENT ................................................................................ 13 APPENDIX B: INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENTS SIGNED IN 2015-16 ..................... 14 SECRETARIAT OVERVIEW The Secretariat leads the Province’s relationship with other governments through the formulation of Government's intergovernmental policies and strategies. This includes recommending strategic approaches to federal-provincial-territorial relations and negotiating intergovernmental agreements in consultation with other departments. ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE The Secretariat has two divisions: Resource and Fiscal Policy, and Social and Economic Policy. The Resource and Fiscal Policy division formulates policy advice arising from ongoing review and analysis of all intergovernmental issues and priorities relating to constitutional, fiscal and resource policy matters. The Social and Economic Policy division formulates policy advice arising from ongoing review and analysis of all intergovernmental issues and priorities relating to social and economic policy matters, including national defence and foreign affairs. ORGANIZATIONAL CHART Premier and Minister for Intergovernmental Affairs Deputy Minister Secretary to the Assistant Deputy Director of Deputy Minister Minister Communications Director of Director of Social Secretary to the Resource and and Economic Assistant Deputy Fiscal Policy Policy Minister Senior Analyst (3) Senior Analyst (3) Electronic Content Management Co-ordinator BUDGET AND EXPENDITURES The Secretariat’s budget for 2015-16 was $1,972,600. See Annex A for a complete financial statement. STAFF COMPLEMENT As of March 31, 2016, the Secretariat’s complement was 12 full-time staff (five females and seven males). The entire staff complement was located in the Confederation Complex in St. John’s. Intergovernmental Affairs Secretariat | 2016-17 Annual Report Report Annual Secretariat | 2016-17 Affairs Intergovernmental 1 MANDATE The Intergovernmental Affairs Act gives the Secretariat the mandate 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; Act as the lead entity for the development of intergovernmental policy; and Take necessary action to initiate, maintain or improve intergovernmental co-operation between the government of the province and sovereign governments. The Secretariat is also mandated to promote the military diversification and long-term operation of 5 Wing Goose Bay, and to act as the point of contact for the Federal Government where no analogous provincial department exists, including foreign affairs and the coordination of international activities. The Premier’s mandate letter of December 14, 2015 identifies the following priorities: “As Minister for Intergovernmental Affairs, I will foster a collaborative and productive relationship with the Prime Minister of Canada, and Canada's Premiers and Territorial Leaders. My priority will be to advance Newfoundland and Labrador's interests in a way that achieves results for the people of our province. I will work closely with other Ministers in advancing federal/provincial issues of priority to Newfoundland and Labrador with the Government of Canada and will chair the Council of the Federation until mid-year in 2016.” LINES OF BUSINESS The Secretariat’s line of business is intergovernmental policy formulation and support. The Secretariat is responsible for monitoring and analyzing intergovernmental dimensions of constitutional, social, fiscal, economic and resource policy matters in order to formulate and provide policy advice on the development of government’s intergovernmental strategy and agenda. Further, the Secretariat coordinates and provides support for interdepartmental initiatives that have intergovernmental implications. VISION The vision of the Secretariat is of a self-reliant province that advances its interests in the federation and abroad. MISSION By March 31, 2017, the Secretariat will have promoted Newfoundland and Labrador’s interests with sovereign governments in Canada and abroad. Report Annual Secretariat | 2016-17 Affairs Intergovernmental 2 SHARED COMMITMENTS Advancing the collaborative relationship of the Provincial Government with other sovereign governments requires close collaboration with a number of departments and agencies to ensure the best outcomes for Newfoundland and Labrador. Nearly all aspects of intergovernmental work undertaken to advance the interests of the Provincial Government are collaborative in nature, therefore, the Secretariat provides a leadership, advisory and/or coordinating role in a wide variety of policy sectors involving nearly all Provincial Government departments and agencies. This section provides a focus on two examples of accomplishments in 2015-16 that were achieved with the leadership and cooperation of other Provincial Government partners. Other accomplishments involving the shared commitment of other departments and agencies are identified elsewhere in this report. VANCOUVER DECLARATION ON CLEAN GROWTH AND CLIMATE CHANGE In March 2016, the Secretariat supported the Premier in his role as chair of a winter Council of the Federation (COF) meeting in Vancouver, BC. This meeting was timed to coincide with a meeting with National Aboriginal Organization (NAO) leaders and a First Ministers’ Meeting, both initiated by Prime Minister Trudeau. With the Office of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, the Secretariat co-led the province’s participation in initiating a federal-provincial-territorial