Message from the Deputy Minister

I am very pleased to introduce you to the Corporate Business Plan for the Department of Western Economic Diversification (WD) for the fiscal year 2008–2009. This Corporate Business Plan provides an integrated and comprehensive executive overview of our Strategic Outcomes and Priorities, which guide our activities and frame our planning and reporting.

WD’s priorities and activities support and complement key Government of Canada initiatives, including Advantage Canada: Building a Strong Economy for Canadians, the long-term economic plan to improve business competitiveness, and Mobilizing Science and Technology to Canada’s Advantage, the federal science and technology strategy.

The Corporate Business Plan articulates WD’s priorities for the coming year. Throughout Western Canada we will support the creation and growth of knowledge-based R&D industries, and will focus on areas outside traditional resource-based industries. The western Canadian economy will also benefit from WD’s support for trade and investment promotion activities aimed to develop Asia-Pacific and continental trade corridors and links, and assistance to programs and services to help new investment attraction and penetration of key target markets. WD will also support systemic initiatives to enhance business productivity and competitiveness. We will promote rural diversification through projects that increase the capacity of rural communities to undertake applied research and development and valued added processing, as well as by encouraging the creation of new opportunities for skilled employment.

How we achieve our outcomes is as important as the activities we perform. As a result, WD will continue to implement a Modern Management Agenda to ensure that WD operates in an environment grounded in a strong culture of values and ethics, with accountability, good client service and value for money. WD will meet the standards required of a high-performing public sector organization in today’s environment.

Mrs. Oryssia Lennie
Deputy Minister, Western Economic Diversification Canada