Access to Information Review Task
Force (ATIRTF)
The President of the Treasury Board and the Minister of Justice established the Access to Information Review Task Force in
August 2000. Its mandate is to conduct a broad review of the Access to Information Act and the way it is administered within
the federal government. The Task issued its final report in June 2002. The information holdings will remain at the Treasury
Board Secretariat under Government Operations Sector.
Chief Information Officer Branch
(CIOB)
The Chief Information Officer Branch (CIOB) provides strategic direction and leadership for the government-wide pursuit of
excellence in service delivery, information management and information technology in the Government of Canada (GC). The CIOB is
responsible for establishing and implementing of GC policies on service, access to information, information management,
information technology, privacy and security to assure the sound management and stewardship of the government's information and
technology assets.
Climate Change Review and Sustainable
Development Sector
The Climate Change Review and Sustainable Development division supports the review of climate change programs as well as
sustainable development strategies.
Corporate Administrative Shared Services
(CASS) Initiative
The Corporate Administrative Shared Services (CASS) initiative was established to explore the feasibility of adopting a shared
services approach to deliver internal corporate and administrative functions across multiple government departments and
agencies. Shared services are defined as the consolidations of common systems and functions that are standardized with a
minimum of variation and shared by many. Typically, these services include human resources, finance and materiel management, as
well as the information systems and services that support these activities. The goals of shared services are to enhance
efficiency, reduce duplication and standardize the information produced.
Corporate Priorities and Planning
The Corporate Priorities and Planning (CPP) sector leads processes to develop and implement the management agenda for the
Government of Canada. Leadership, in this regard, is provided through engagement of Treasury Board Ministers and their
sub-committees, deputy ministers and assistant deputy ministers of line departments and central agencies (particularly PCO), as
well as external experts. This sector lays the foundation for the development and implementation of specific government-wide
management priorities, namely, the renewal of the Treasury Board policies, defining management excellence and assessing
performance for all departments through the Management Accountability Framework (MAF), providing integrated policy advice and
leadership on matters of strategic importance to the Secretary, President and Treasury Board, and maintaining a comprehensive
body of knowledge on advancements, trends and pressures in public sector management.
In supporting the development and implementation of government-wide management priorities, the sector provides leadership in governance and planning processes within TBS to identify and ensure coherence amongst corporate priorities. The sector provides the Secretary of the Treasury Board, and the other sectors within TBS, with a strategic view of the department, and advice and support in implementing priority initiatives while monitoring progress and ensuring clear accountabilities.
Corporate Services Branch (CSB)
Corporate Service Branch is composed of five divisions: Finance and Administration; Human Resources; Information Management and
Technology: Security Services; and Internal Audit and Evaluation. The respective services provided by these divisions are
available to employees of the Department of Finance, Treasury Board Secretariat and the Public Service Human Resources
Management Agency of Canada. Expenditure Management Sector (EMS) Expenditure Management Sector (EMS) provides a central focus
within the Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS) for the functions that support and strengthen the TBS's role in the government's
broader expenditure management system. The work of the EMS covers the entire expenditure management cycle - from expenditure
analysis, forecasting and expenditure management strategies, policies and operations through to results-based budgeting,
evaluation, accountability and reporting. EMS plays a strong integration role in planning and coordinating the expenditure
management initiatives and providing a whole-of-government perspective on matters related to direct program spending and
management of reserves, The sector has the responsibility to develop the expenditure management information system (EMIS) to
its full maturity and for implementation of the Management Resources and Results Structure Policy.
Labour Relations & Compensation Operations (LRCO) The Labour Relations & Compensation Operations Sector (LRCO) focuses and strengthens the capacity of the Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS) to fulfil its responsibilities as ‘employer' for the core public administration. This is an essential part of a human resources management framework that enables the federal public service to manage more efficiently the people who deliver government programs and services to Canadians, and that promotes effective labour-management relations and compensation operations in the Public Service of Canada. The Labour Relations & Compensation Operations (LRCO) areas of responsibility include: bargaining (strategy, negotiations and statistical support) for core public administration and separate agencies' mandates; essential services agreements; exclusions; union dues; bargaining agent certification; pay administration; compensation for excluded groups, RCMP and Military; various administrative and employee reimbursement policies; policy direction on discipline; adjudication of grievances; health and safety; human rights complaints; and pay equity. Legal Services. Treasury Board Legal Services provides legal advice to the Treasury Board and the Public Service Human Resources Management Agency of Canada and the President with respect to their powers and duties. The Unit, staffed by Department of Justice lawyers, supports the Treasury Board Secretariat in its role as board of management of the Public Service of Canada by ensuring that the conduct of government affairs is in accordance with the law.
Legal Services lawyers give specialized legal advice to the Treasury Board Secretariat and the Government of Canada in connection with the Secretariat's central agency functions pertaining to the legislation for which the Treasury Board and the President of the Treasury Board is responsible. The Legal Services Unit provides advice with respect to the enactment of and the amendment to legislation and regulations, as well as strategic advice concerning policy development and other initiatives. The Unit conducts labour and employment-related litigation before the Public Service Labour Relations Board and other administrative tribunals, the Federal Court of Canada, the Federal Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada representing the employer Office of the Comptroller General (OCG).
Office of the Comptroller General
The Office of the Comptroller General (OCG) cultivates rigorous stewardship of public funds and value for money and promotes
stronger financial and audit controls at all levels across the federal public service. It does this by setting and reviewing
financial, accounting and auditing standards and policies for the Government of Canada and by overseeing all government
spending, including review and sign-off on new spending initiatives. In addition, the OCG provides functional direction to the
financial federal government's internal audit and financial management communities and nurtures and manages their professional
development. It also guides the introduction of modern, timely, enterprise-wide financial information systems to track all
spending and provides appropriate guidance and tools for effective scrutiny and decision-making and reporting of financial
information that is linked to results.
Program Sectors (Government Operations,
Economic, Social and Cultural and
International Security, and Justice
Sectors)
The Program Sectors support the Treasury Board in its role as a management board by providing analysis and advice on strategic
resource allocation for the departments and agencies of government. In fulfilling this role, the Program Sectors provide advice
on the effective use of resources; program design, viability and responsiveness; funding pressures and mitigation strategies;
and broad government operations issues and management strategies. The Program Sectors also play a lead role in relation to the
oversight of the operations of Crown Corporations. These three sectors, along with the Expenditure Management Sector and the
Expenditure Operations and Estimates Division of the Comptroller General's Office, work together in making recommendations to
the Treasury Board on allocating financial resources in light of government priorities, fiscal targets, pressures relating to
existing programs and results achieved; developing and maintaining accountability frameworks within which Parliament approves
resources and in light of which departments and agencies report on their use, thereby co-ordinating the process whereby the
government obtains funds from Parliament; monitoring the implementation of approved policies and programs, and advising the
Treasury Board on success in achieving intended results; advising the Treasury Board President, in his role as a member of
Cabinet, on the resource implications of new government policy and project initiatives while promoting innovative management
and increased efficiency and effectiveness in delivering programs; and providing analysis and recommendations to the Treasury
Board on Crown corporation corporate plans and budgets.
The Government Operations Sector is comprised of the Assets and Acquired Services Directorate (AASD), the Government Operations and Services Directorate and the Governance Directorate.
The AASD is the government's policy centre for planning investment in and managing procurement projects, real property and materiel assets and related services. The Directorate provides leadership and oversight for informed decision-making by Ministers and officials in central agencies and departments; develops, maintains and modernize the government's policies for the efficient management of public assets and acquired services; provides policy support, interpretation and advice to TBS and departments; manages the central registry of all federal real property and federal contaminated sites; co-manages the federal Contaminated Sites Accelerated Action Plan with Environment Canada; prepares reports to Parliament on the Application of the Alternative Fuels Act , and develops and implements a Professional Development and Certification Program for the procurement, real property and materiel communities.
The Government Operations and Services Directorate provides advice to senior management and Treasury Board Ministers on a broad range of policy and program design issues and financial and management practices. The directorate is divided into three divisions: Public Works and Government Services Canada Division (PWGSCD), Government Operations and HR Management.
The Governance Directorate (GD) is central to the development of governance tools to identify major risks to sound management of public institutions, particularly Crown corporations, their expenditures and to the integrity of existing programs and activities within and across those institutions. The Directorate is primarily responsible for initiatives related to the governance regimes for the full spectrum of organizational forms, ranging from almost full federal control/presence, (e.g. " Special Operating Agencies), to minimal federal control/ presence, (e.g. Shared Governance Corporations). The Governance Directorate has specific program responsibility for the oversight of all 46 Crown corporations, including the implementations of the Review of the Governance Framework for Canada's Crown Corporations. The GD produces the President's Annual Report to Parliament on Crown Corporations and other Corporate Interests, and is also responsible for the implementation of the Policy on Alternative Service Delivery.
Secretary and Associate Secretaries'
Office
The Secretary is the deputy minister who directs the work of the Secretariat and advises the President and the Treasury Board
on the organization and management of that part of the Public Service under the Treasury Board's jurisdiction. The Office of
the Secretary is responsible for the daily administrative functions of the organization.
Strategic Communications and Ministerial
Affairs (SCMA)
SCMA is the focal point in the Secretariat, for ensuring that the President, Secretary and Associate Secretaries and exempt
staff are provided with the briefing, correspondence and logistical support related to Treasury Board meetings, parliamentary
affairs, Cabinet Affairs and dealings with other government departments and non-governmental organizations. It manages and
coordinates the Treasury Board's meetings; coordinates the Secretariat's access to information and privacy activities; tracks
and assists in the preparation of replies to correspondence addressed to the President and the Secretary. It also acts as a
clearinghouse and maintains the official file for all submissions received by the Treasury Board from all government
departments. It maintains tracks and distributes all Treasury Board submissions and cabinet documents and papers from the Privy
Council Office to the Secretariat.
SCMA also provides strategic communications advice to the President and the Secretary of the Treasury Board as well as to other branches within the Secretariat. As part of this effort, it provides operational support and professional services in communications, advertising, publishing and public opinion research. Its communicators provide strategic direction through communications plans, write and produce news releases, media lines, speeches and presentations in support of Secretariat communications. SCMA provides an electronic media monitoring service to the Secretariat through the TBS News Centre, as well as research and analysis of current issues and media trends. Media relation's activities are also provided to facilitate the department's communications needs and to address specific questions from national and local media. It also manages and coordinates Parliamentary Affairs activities for the TB Portfolio.
SCMA is also responsible for corporate communications. It provides strategic advice and services in the areas of internal communications, outreach, consultation, publishing, web services and web development. It is also responsible for public enquiries, the fairs and exhibits program and coordinating requests for copyrighted material. It manages the TBS Web site and is the departmental lead on Government On-Line (GOL) and "Common Look and Feel" - (CLF) standards.
SCMA is responsible for Regional Federal Councils and for coordinating the Secretariat's intergovernmental and international relations. SCMA ensures information sharing with key federal, provincial/territorial, national, and international partners and stakeholders to facilitate a more effective, responsive, and integrated approach to developing and delivering federal programs and services throughout Canada. SCMA liaises with the Privy Council Office and other departments on government-wide activities and issues. It also serves, as the Treasury Board policy centre for the Federal Identity Program and the Communications Policy of the Government of Canada.
Transformation Alignment Office (TAO)
In 2005, the Government of Canada launched an ambitious program of internal and external service renewal through a series of
initiatives. The initiatives are loosely coupled and led by different departments and agencies, but share a common theme of
improved services to Canadians and to the Government of Canada employees who serve Canadians. The initiatives are as follows:
IT Shared Services, Service Canada, Corporate Administrative Shared Services, Procurement Reform and Real Property Reform
(Including Shared Travel and the Government of Canada Marketplace projects). The horizontal initiatives have far ranging
implications on a number of fronts such as quality of service to Canadians, governance, policies, the funding required to start
and sustain the initiatives, the employees of the federal government and when combined, on the operations of individual
departments and agencies. All of the above initiatives are government-wide. The purpose of the TAO is to lead an integrated
approach to internal and external service transformation across the Government of Canada.