Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) is responsible for policies and programs that support the development of Western Canada (Policy, Advocacy and Coordination); economically viable communities in Western Canada with a high quality of life (Community Economic Development); and a competitive and expanded business sector in western Canada and a strengthened western Canadian innovation system (Entrepreneurship and Innovation). This mandate is carried out through the following programs:

Collaboration and Coordination
Organizing and coordinating meetings, conferences or other events with other levels of government, other federal departments, industry, academia, or the not for profit sector in order to plan or precipitate actions that result in a greater degree of development and/or diversification of the western economy. This can involve the process of developing policies and programs with other governments or partners, but is distinct from the advocacy activities (below) in that it is more broadly based and less focused on specific issues and near term outcomes. The Assistant Deputy Minister Ottawa office and Director of Policy play key roles representing the department in Ottawa and coordinating pan-western activities.

Research and Analysis
Preparing and disseminating information that results in an increased understanding of western Canadian challenges, opportunities and priorities, and which provides the factual intelligence necessary to undertake internal or external policy and program development. This can include externally generated research sponsored by WD through agencies such as the Canada West Foundation and the Conference Board of Canada; or in-house research and analysis involving economic overviews, environmental scans, analysis of federal or other government documents (such as Budgets and Throne Speeches), and sectoral or issue analysis that support departmental policy, planning or program development.

Advocacy
Organizing and attending meetings (including meetings involving the Treasury Board and Cabinet submission processes), writing correspondence, or taking part in any other communication or engagement activities that promote the interests of western Canada and western Canadians. The activity should facilitate an improved understanding and awareness of regional issues and opportunities that leads to action by the federal government, partners or stakeholders to help achieve a more balanced, regionally sensitive approach to western Canadian priorities, or that results in a greater share of federal program activity or procurement in western Canada. The activity can also involve advocating on behalf of federal government priorities within western Canada.

Community Economic Planning, Development and Adjustment
Projects that help communities assess community strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and potential for new economic activity, and to implement community plans. These would not be primarily innovation related. The process involves community-based consultations/ facilitation. It also includes: projects that strive to integrate federal programs, services and horizontal initiatives directed towards western Canadian communities, such as community economic development processes and projects, and the Northern Saskatchewan Agreement, etc.; projects that support the viability of the local economy, enhance available facilities and/or increase the participation of community members; and projects that assist communities facing severe adjustment impacts due to changing economic circumstances to identify options and responses that will create new economic opportunities, and to help the communities put the plans into effect.

Infrastructure
WD delivers the Infrastructure Canada Program (ICP) in western Canada. The program was developed to meet the government's commitment to Canada's growth and the quality of life of all Canadians. Introduced in 2000, the program provides funding for physical infrastructure and will expire in March 2009. In partnership with provincial, territorial and local governments, First Nations and the private sector, the Infrastructure Canada Program is helping to renew and build infrastructure in rural and urban municipalities across Canada. The ICP is a national initiative, intended to complement and augment the existing capacity of provincial, territorial, and municipal governments to invest in physical infrastructure. It is expected that WD will continue contributing to the renewal of Canada's infrastructure through delivery of the new Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund and key Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund projects in the west on behalf of Infrastructure Canada.

Business Development and Entrepreneurship
WD addresses the needs of small and medium-sized enterprises and entrepreneurs through a variety of service delivery mechanisms and partnerships. These include more than 100 offices of the Western Canada Business Service Network consisting of Community Futures Development Corporations, Women's Enterprise Organizations, Francophone Economic Development Organizations and Canada Business Service Centres. WD has created new and alternative sources of capital for small and mediumsized businesses by working closely with financial institutions to create a specialized series of loan programs under the Loan and Investment Program. These loan programs target industry sectors important to western Canada, micro lending and targeted groups and provide patient and flexible debt capital on terms especially suited to the unique needs and cash flow requirements of these small businesses. These programs are provided on commercial terms by financial institutions such as chartered banks, credit unions, trust companies, the Farm Credit Corporation and the Business Development Bank of Canada. Each lending institution funds its own program and makes the decision on all loan approvals. WD's strategy in support of trade and investment involves activity in four key areas: research, trade policy, trade promotion and investment attraction. Activities vary from strategic participation in Team Canada missions to taking action when western companies are impacted in trade actions such as the softwood lumber dispute. WD has partnered with other federal departments, the provinces and local organizations to enhance overall support for trade and investment in the west through participation in such organizations as Trade Team Canada Inc., Regional Trade Networks, Provincial Trade Teams and Western Trade Officials. WD funding supports projects that result in industry collaboration, joint venturing and strategic alliances that support entrepreneurial development.

Innovation
WD's innovation focus is on economic development and diversification leading to wealth creation. Innovation is the process through which new economic and social benefits are extracted from knowledge. Through innovation, knowledge is applied to the development of new products and services or to new ways of designing, producing or marketing an existing product or service for the public and private markets. WD's approach to innovation recognizes that innovation occurs at the firm level, through a highly complex interdependent system that includes elements such as knowledge infrastructure, basic and applied research and development, highly skilled people, access to adequate patient financing, technology commercialization facilities, and support systems and mechanisms to link these elements to each other. The process of innovation is not linear or isolated but occurs within a broader context known as an innovation system. WD's goal is to strengthen the western innovation system in order to facilitate the development of clusters and to enhance the potential of innovation to create value and wealth.