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From the report ... The Government of Canada Action Plan to Reform the Administration of Grant anContribution Programs

LOOKING FORWARD (Page 14) ...

With the Action Plan, the government is taking the next step for improved management of Gs and Cs, which will lead to simplified administration, risk-based approaches and strengthened accountability.

Recipients and federal program administrators will see a reduction in the volume and complexity of reporting, monitoring and audit requirements.

Risk management will move government funding away from one-size-fits-all, risk-averse approach and will allow for the consideration of a recipient organization’s track record as a basis for smart and focused reductions in administrative burden.

The number and complexity of applications necessary to seek government funding will be streamlined and, gradually, the number of funding agreements will decrease within and across departments.

The use of technology will increase as electronic application and payment systems are introduced to simplify and streamline the funding process for recipient organizations. Technology will also help harmonize practices across departments and agencies through improved information-sharing.

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Treasury Board press release ...

The Federal Governments Action Plan to Reform the Administration of Grants & Contribution Programs

A Message from the President of the Treasury Board

It gives me great pleasure to introduce the Government of Canada’s Action Plan to Reform the Administration of Grant and Contribution Programs (Gs and Cs). The Plan outlines the activities that the government will undertake over the next three years to improve the management of Gs and Cs, as well as the expected results. The Plan is the outcome of many months of hard work by individuals and organizations both inside and outside the government, and I want to particularly acknowledge the invaluable advice provided by the recipient community.

There is no question that federal Gs and Cs are a key tool used by the government to deliver on its priorities. It is also clear that, if we want to achieve results and better meet the needs of Canadians, it is essential to change how we do business. While Gs and Cs need to be managed more efficiently, the government must ensure its accountability for these programs.

In February 2007, an Independent Blue Ribbon Panel provided recommendations aimed at simplifying the administration of Gs and Cs while, at the same time, strengthening accountability and risk-based approaches for managing the programs. Through the development of the Action Plan and other work that has taken place over the past year, we are meeting the commitments made by the government in response to the Panel’s key recommendations.

With this plan, recipients, stakeholder organizations and federal program administrators will be able to see our progress, and more importantly, our next steps and our commitment to engage them in the process. The last year has seen much activity, and a solid foundation has been laid for systemic change. This kind of change takes time, and there is still much work to be done. However, I believe that the Action Plan will serve as a vital roadmap to guide us over the next few years.

Sincerely,
The Honourable Vic Toews, P.C., M.P. President of the Treasury Board

Download full report http://www.afoabc.org/downloads/grants-contribution-program.pdf