Recommendations

WD Management Response

WD should assess its WEI organization payment process

• Agreed.
• WD regions will examine this issue to determine where action is required.

WD should review its management of the WEI files

• Agreed.
• WD HQ and regions will continue to work together to share best practices in WEI file management.

Seek increased partnering opportunities between CFDCs and WEI organizations

• Agreed.
• WD will continue to facilitate meetings at both the provincial and pan west levels, bringing the members of the WCBSN together to exchange information and dialogue about opportunities to work together.
• WD will also continue to encourage cross referral of clients amongst all partners as requested or required.

WEI loan funds should be replenished

• WD HQ and regional offices are currently undertaking an analysis of the WEI investment funds and will take appropriate action.

WD and the WEI organizations should assess current reporting requirements

• Agreed
• As part of a funding renewal process for the CFDCs, WEIs, and FEDOs, WD has organized working groups amongst the various partner groups with the intention of solidifying core services and associated definitions, and to develop performance measures that accurately reflect the results being achieved by the WCBSN.
• Concurrent with these activities, WD is developing a new reporting measurement tool.
• It is WD's intention to incorporate modified performance measures in the new long term funding agreement together with the new reporting system. This is anticipated to be in place during the first quarter of the 2005/2006 fiscal year.

WD and the WEI organizations should discuss expectations for and means of measuring partnership development and maintenance

• WD will take this recommendation into consideration in the development of new performance measures and reporting systems.

Policies/guidelines concerning appropriate loan loss ratios should be developed

• WD HQ and regional offices are currently undertaking an analysis of the WEI investment funds and will review all existing documentation on loan funds, including loan loss ratios and targets taking action as appropriate.

The WEI organizations should assess service gaps

• Agreed.
• WD will continue to encourage the WEIs to identify and address service gaps in the annual operating plan, including how they plan on identifying and providing service to special interest and needs groups, and what staff training is needed to address service gaps.

The WEI organizations should discuss differential funding requirements directly with WD staff

• As part of multi-year funding negotiations, WD will dialogue with WEIs to determine their funding requirements, and WD's capacity to meet this request.

To minimize organizational disruptions, succession plans maintained by the Board of each WEI organization should be in place for the future

• Agreed.
• WD will encourage succession planning by the WEIs through the annual operating plans.

A competency-based personnel framework be developed for each staff position

• WD will discuss this with the WEIs to determine if this is feasible.

The WEI organization methods of sharing best practices between the four regions has been effective and should be continued

• Agreed
• WD will continue to foster an environment conducive to sharing of information amongst WEIs and with other members of the Western Canada Business Service Network (WCBSN).