The audit of the Project Management of Project Gateway was conducted to provide assurance that an adequate control framework is in place for the project management of Project Gateway investments and to assess that Project Gateway is being designed to meet key business needs.

The audit of the Integrated Risk Management at WD was conducted to provide assurance that the framework was adequate and effective.  The audit examined the extent that risk is integrated into governance, direction setting and decision making structures at WD.

A comprehensive summary of follow-up on all outstanding recommendations for completed audits.

The audit of Accounts Receivable was conducted to provide assurance that receivables from contributions, allowances for bad debts, write offs, recoveries and interest charges at WD are managed in compliance with Treasury Board and WD policies.

The audit of Third Party Delivery was conducted to provide assurance that the risk management framework, governance and controls in place at WD for delivery of programs and projects by third parties were adequate to ensure the achievement of intended results.

The audit of the Community Adjustment Fund and Recreational Infrastructure Canada was conducted to provide assurance that the program design and new control frameworks were effective to enable successful delivery of the two initiatives in the four western Canadian provinces.

The audit of the Western Diversification Program was conducted to provide assurance that the program has adequate overall delivery, operations and review control processes in place and that they are working effectively.

The evaluation of the Policy, Advocacy and Coordination Functions assessed the relevance, design and delivery, success and cost-effectiveness of the functions within Western Economic Diversification Canada. Policy, Advocacy and Coordination is identified as one of the strategic outcomes of the department. Activities within this strategic outcome are intended to result in effective strategies, policies and programs that support the development of western Canada. The report presents the findings, conclusions and recommendations from the evaluation, and outlines the department's planned actions to implement the recommendations.

The Audit of Community Futures Program was conducted at Western Economic Diversification Canada to provide assurance on the existence and effectiveness of management practices and controls and to assess compliance to appropriate Treasury Board authorities and departmental policies.

The audit of Infrastructure Programs was co-delivered by Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD). This is a follow-up internal audit to provide assurance that WD has fulfilled its roles and responsibilities, and applied its expertise and resources in the delivery of infrastructure programs in western Canada in accordance with underlying Provincial Agreements and Memoranda of Understanding. The scope of the report covers the period April 2006 to March 2008.

The Audit of Integrated Human Resource Planning was conducted to provide an opinion as to the adequacy, effectiveness and completeness of the human resource planning and policy framework at Western Economic Diversification.  The audit primarily covered the 2007-08 planning cycle.

The evaluation of the Western Economic Partnership Agreements (WEPA) provides an independent examination of their relevance, effectiveness, and success to assist in determining whether or not the department should renew the agreements. The evaluation report summarises WEPA evaluation findings from data generated from the recently completed Western Diversification Program evaluation. The scope of the report covers the period of 2003 to 2007.

The evaluation of the Community Future Program assessed the relevance, design and delivery, success and cost effectiveness of the program in western Canada. Western Economic Diversification Canada uses service delivery agreements with 90 community futures in the four provinces of western Canada to provide capital loan funds, business services and community economic development services in non-metropolitan regions. The report presents the findings, conclusions and recommendations from the evaluation, and outlines the department's planned actions to implement the recommendations.

The evaluation of the Western Diversification Program is an independent examination and assessment of the relevance, success, cost-effectiveness, and design and delivery of the program in order to report on the impacts of the program and to provide recommendations for its future design. The scope of the evaluation covers the period from 2003 to 2007.

An Audit of Financial Management Controls was conducted at Western Economic Diversification Canada to provide assurance on the existence and effectiveness of financial management practices and controls and to assess compliance to appropriate Treasury Board and departmental policies.

The Audit of Contracting was conducted to provide assurance that Western Economic Diversification Canada's contracting function is operating efficiently, economically and effectively, and in accordance with both Treasury Board and departmental policies and directives

The Governance and Performance audit is an internal audit assurance report on governance and performance management controls existing at Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) for the period April 2006 to September 2007.

The audit of the International Trade Personnel Program (ITPP) is an internal audit assurance engagement to report on management controls used to deliver ITPP, and to identify any opportunity for improvement that could be applied to future programs.

The audit of First Jobs in Science and Technology (FJST) is an internal audit assurance engagement to report on management controls used to deliver FJST, and to identify any opportunity for improvement that could be applied to future programs.

This audit was conducted to provide assurance on the control environment framework and administration of the Loan and Investment Program. The audit assessed the program funding purposes, monitoring processes, agreements with recipients and the overall compliance with terms and conditions approved by Treasury Board Secretariat.

An audit of the Women’s Enterprise Initiative (WEI) was conducted to determine the adequacy of the control framework of the WEI. The audit covered the control framework in place at Western Economic Diversification Canada and the frameworks in place at each of the four western provincial Women’s Enterprise Centres.

The Audit of Hospitality was conducted at Western Economic Diversification Canada to assess the adequacy of management practices and controls in place. The audit report also assessed the extent of compliance with relevant Treasury Board Secretariat and departmental hospitality policies.

The audit of Travel was conducted to assess the adequacy of the management control framework in place at Western Economic Diversification Canada. The report also assessed the extent of compliance with Treasury Board Secretariat and National Joint Council Directive on Travel.

In 2002, the Government of Canada signed the Northern Development Agreement (NDA) with the Province of Saskatchewan. The purpose of the NDA was to enhance economic opportunities available to northerners and encourage northerners' participation in the Canadian economy.

In March 2007, the tripartite management committee, which includes representatives from the Northern Development Board Corp and the provincial and federal governments, completed an evaluation of the NDA. The tripartite management committee intends to address the recommendations contained in the report, with each party taking action where appropriate. 

The Evaluation Report that follows addresses results, successes and impacts for all three implementing parties, while the response represents action to be taken only by Western Economic Diversification Canada.

This audit examined administrative aspects of grants and contributions to determine if Western Economic Diversification Canada’s current methods and controls governing the process are in compliance with Treasury Board requirements and, in particular, its Policy on Transfer Payments.

The audit of the financial management of grants and contributions addressed financial management aspects by focusing on 20 key areas. Key issues identified pertain to the thematic areas: systems to manage agreements, financial/risk assessment of proposals, signing authorities, advance payments and holdbacks, payables at year end, agreement termination date and risk reassessments.

A management action plan has been developed and progress has been made to address and implement recommendations.

The audit of the management of physical records addressed management aspects by focusing on 6 key areas. Key issues identified pertain to the thematic areas: departmental context, departmental capabilities, linkage to information management, compliance and quality, records and information life cycle and user perspectives.

A management action plan has been developed and progress has been made to address and implement recommendations.

The objective of this audit was to conduct an assessment of policies, practices and internal management controls applied to transfer payments (grants, contributions and other transfer payments). Weaknesses and best practices were identified and relevant recommendations presented. The audit assessed the adequacy of the management framework for the transfer payment function and processes within WD.

The objective of the Audit was to provide assurance that Infrastructure Canada Program - Western Economic Diversification has met all the Treasury Board Secretariat and Infrastructure Canada requirements for audit from the inception of the Program to March 31, 2006; and the management and administrative controls of the Infrastructure Canada Program were operating effectively from the inception of the Program to March 31, 2006.

The evaluation of the WD Service Delivery Network program (SDNP) assesses the rationale, design and effectiveness of the program. The SDNP uses service delivery agreements with community-based organizations provide business services, capital loan funds, community research studies and other business development projects to increase access to business services in Western Canada. The report presents the findings and recommendations from the review, and outlines the WD's planned actions to implement the recommendations.

The RMAF for the WEPA pan-western initiative and the evaluation framework for each of the federal-provincial agreements serve as blueprints for federal and provincial government representatives to help them focus on measuring and reporting on outcomes throughout the lifecycle of the agreements. The evaluation framework addresses the requirement for both ongoing performance measurement and the need for longer-term evaluation planning.

This evaluation assesses the Aboriginal Business Services Network (ABSN) initiative and the degree of success achieved in reaching its goals and objectives.  Areas for improvement were identified and recommendations made with respect to future initiative directions.

The ABSN is an important initiative offered through Canada Business Services Centres in Western Canada and funded by Western Economic Diversification as a component of the Aboriginal Business Development Initiative.

The purpose of this evaluation was to provide an objective assessment of EDP and UEDI for the purpose of supporting senior management decision-making for continued funding of the programs. In addition, the evaluation report recommends areas where changes can be made to better meet the needs of entrepreneurs with disabilities as well as the strategic objectives of the Department.

The overall objective of this evaluation was to assess the relevance, service delivery, results and performance monitoring of the Women’s Enterprise Initiative (WEI) organizations.

Each WD Region (Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia) has established a WEI organization. The provincial non-profit Women’s Enterprise Initiative organizations are responsible for the administration and delivery of WEI services. The mandate of the WEI organizations is to encourage the establishment and growth of women-owned and controlled businesses, encourage self-employment and business development, and to promote economic equality between men and women. Support from WD enables the four provincial organizations to provide enhanced business services to women entrepreneurs including business advisory services, lending, information services and referrals, training and skills development, networking, and mentoring.

This report highlights the Results-Based Management and Accountability Framework in place for the Canada-Saskatchewan Northern Development Agreement (NDA).

In 2002, the Government of Canada and the Government of Saskatchewan established a framework agreement designed to promote and support sustainable economic development in Northern Saskatchewan. The agreement known as the Canada-Saskatchewan Northern Development Agreement (NDA) is being administered through a tripartite effort between Western Economic Diversification (WD), the Minister of Saskatchewan Northern Affairs (SNA) and the Northern Development Board Corporation (NDBC).

The overall objective of this evaluation was to assess the relevance, design, effectiveness of performance monitoring, and results of the Francophone Economic Development Organizations (FEDOs). The report provides an assessment of the degree to which the process is meeting its objective and identifies opportunities to improve the effectiveness of the process.

FEDOs are independent entities that offer a full range of business development services to the Francophone community throughout each province. Support from WD enables the four provincial FEDOs to provide enhanced services to Francophones including training, access to capital, information services, marketing advice, networking and mentoring.

The overall purpose of the evaluation was to assess the relevance, design, success and monitoring of both programs the Community Economic Development Internship Program (CEDIP) and the Community Economic Development Opportunity (CEDO) program.

CEDIP’s mandate is to hire recent post-secondary graduates to assist with economic development and diversification in their communities. CEDO is a funding vehicle for services and economic development projects conducted by CFDCs, WEIs and FEDOs.

The objective of the evaluation was to assess the relevance, governance and delivery, monitoring, results and impacts of the WCBSN. The report provides an assessment of the degree to which the process is meeting its objective and identifes opportunities to improve the effectiveness of the process.

The purpose of the study is to evaluate the International Trade Personnel Program (ITPP) and First Jobs in Science and Technology Program (FJST) programs, providing an assessment of changes to the programs’ duration from three years to one year, and recommendations on future program directions. 

ITPP addresses two important concerns in the Canadian economy:  enhancing competitiveness in the global marketplace and facilitating youth employment.  FJST is intended to help SMEs become more competitive in the national and international economy, and to offer employment to recent graduates.

WD shares the responsibility for meeting the requirements of the Official Languages Act (OLA). WD's contribution to the implementation of the Official Languages Act is guided by a four-year Action Plan, which targets Part VII of the Act, particularly Section 41. The objectives of Section 41 are to enhance the vitality of the English and French linguistic minority communities in Canada; support and assist their development; and foster the full recognition and use of both English and French in Canadian society. The objective of the evaluation is to assess the relevance, success and effectiveness, including strengths and weaknesses, of the implementation and outcomes of WD's Official Languages Action Plan.

WD's Audit and Evaluation Branch undertook this project to help management develop new contribution audit policies and processes for the Western Diversification Program (WDP) and the Innovation and Community Investment Program (ICIP). The project considered contribution audit policies for both programs and any mandatory processes necessary to implement the policies. The policies pertain to contribution audits and do not cover program audits or audits such as those that would be performed by WD's Audit and Evaluation Department.

The Vancouver Agreement (VA) Management Committee leads initiated this evaluation process to develop an evaluation framework that would describe the VA in terms of its original intentions, actual operations and people's perceptions of it, and to make recommendations for a governance framework, including the basis for accountability and evaluation. The unusual nature of the VA as a collaborative partnership makes it a difficult initiative to describe especially in terms of special benefits and particular results that derive from different governments with different jurisdictions and mandates that also have common clients and interests. The challenge in the study was to go beyond traditional models and approaches in order to assess and evaluate governance issues.

The objective of this audit was to conduct an assessment of contracting practices in place at WD and their compliance with established Government policies and regulations. Weaknesses and best practices were identified and relevant recommendations presented. The audit assessed the adequacy of the management framework for the procurement function and processes in WD.