2005-2006 Report on Plans and Priorities

Table 7: Details of Transfer Payment Programs

Western Economic Diversification Canada manages the following transfer payment programs in excess of $5 million:

• Grants for the Western Diversification Program
• Western Diversification Program
• Community Futures Program
• Service Delivery Network Program
• Infrastructure Canada Program

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Grants for the Western Diversification Program

Name of Program: Grants for the Western Diversification Program (Voted)

Start Date: 1987-88

End Date: Ongoing

Total Funding: Ongoing

Purpose: To promote economic development and diversification in Western Canada and advance the interests of Western Canada in national policy, program and project development and implementation.

Objectives:

• A strengthened western Canadian innovation system.
• An expanded business sector in Western Canada.
• Increased investment in strategic federal/regional economic development priorities.
• A better understanding of Western Canada's needs, opportunities and aspirations inside and outside of the region leading to improved programs and services for western Canadians.

Outcomes: Evaluation of the Western Diversification Program completed during 2003-04.

$ thousands)	Forecast Spending 2004-2005	Planned Spending 2005 - 2006	Planned Spending 2006 - 2007	Planned Spending 2007 - 2008
Community Economic Planning, Development, Adjustment	5,000	5,000	5,000	5,000
Total Grants	5,000	5,000	5,000	5,000
Total Contributions	-	-	-	-
Total Other Transfer Payments	-	-	-	-
Total Grants for the Western Diversification Program	5,000	5,000	5,000	5,000

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Western Diversification Program

Name of Program: Western Diversification Program (Voted)

Start Date: 1987-88

End Date: Ongoing

Total Funding: Ongoing

Purpose : To promote economic development and diversification in Western Canada and advance the interests of Western Canada in national policy, program and project development and implementation.

Objectives:

• A strengthened western Canadian innovation system
• An expanded business sector in Western Canada
• Increased investment in strategic federal/regional economic development priorities
• A better understanding of Western Canada's needs, opportunities and aspirations inside and outside of the region leading to improved programs and services for western Canadians.

Outcomes: Evaluation of the Western Diversification Program completed during 2003-04. 

($ thousands)	Forecast Spending 2004-2005	Planned Spending 2005-2006	Planned Spending 2006-2007	Planned Spending 2007-2008
Collaboration and Coordination		115	115	115
Advocacy		115	115	115
Research & Analysis		578	578	578
Community Economic Planning, Development, Adjustment		24,266	23,262	20,286
Business Development & Entrepreneurship		11,673	10,027	6,383
Innovation		33,179	29,930	31,580
Total Grants	-	-	-	-
Total Contributions	83,595	69,926	64,027	59,057
Total Other Transfer Payments	-	-	-	-
Total Western Diversification Program	83,595	69,926	64,027	59,057

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Community Futures Program

Name of Program: Community Futures Program (Voted)

Start Date: May 1995

End Date: Ongoing

Total Funding: Ongoing

Purpose: Funding for network of Community Futures Development Corporations (CFDCs) in the West. CFDCs are volunteer-led, non-profit organizations that lead strategic economic planning, and provide advice and commercial loans to local entrepreneurs, which foster economic development and diversity of their communities.

Objectives:

• Strategic Community Planning: Working with communities to assess local problems, establish objectives, plan and implement strategies to develop human, institutional and physical infrastructures; entrepreneurship; employment; and the economy.
• Business Services: Delivering a range of business, counseling and information services to small-and medium-sized enterprises.
• Access to capital: Provide capital to assist businesses or to help entrepreneurs to create new businesses.

Outcomes: An audit and an evaluation of the Community Futures Program were completed in April 2003. [Audit] [Evaluation]

($ thousands)	Forecast Spending 2004-2005	Planned Spending 2005-2006	Planned Spending 2006-2007	Planned Spending 2007-2008
Community Economic Planning, Development, Adjustment		12,850	13,150	13,400
Business Development & Entrepreneurship		12,850	13,150	13,400
Total Grants	-	-	-	-
Total Contributions	23,200	25,700	26,300	26,800
Total Other Transfer Payments	-	-	-	-
Total Community Futures Program	23,200	25,700	26,300	26,800

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Service Delivery Network Program

Name of Program: Service Delivery Network Program (Voted)

Start Date: 1996-97

End Date: Ongoing

Total Funding: Ongoing

Purpose: To increase access to services in Western Canada through service delivery agreements with community-based organizations.

Objectives:

• Business Services: Delivering a range of business, counseling and information services to small- and medium-sized enterprises.
• Access to capital: Provide capital to assist businesses or to help entrepreneurs to create new businesses.

($ thousands)	Forecast Spending 2004-2005	Planned Spending 2005-2006	Planned Spending 2006-2007	Planned Spending 2007-2008
Business Development & Entrepreneurship	6,000	6,000	6,000	6,000
Total Grants	-	-	-	-
Total Contributions	6,000	6,000	6,000	6,000
Total Other Transfer Payments	-	-	-	-
Total Service Delivery Network Program	6,000	6,000	6,000	6,000

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Infrastructure Canada Program

Name of Program: Infrastructure Canada Program (Voted)

Start Date: October 10, 2000

End Date: March 31, 2006

Total Funding: $158.4M

Purpose: To improve urban and rural community infrastructure in Canada.

Objectives:

Improving Canadians' quality of life through investments that enhance the quality of the environment, support long-term economic growth, improve community infrastructure, and build 21 st century infrastructure through the use of technologies, new approaches and best practices.

($ thousands)	Forecast Spending 2004-2005	Planned Spending 2005-2006	Planned Spending 2006-2007	Planned Spending 2007-2008
Infrastructure	159,380	236,616	-	-
Total Grants	-	-	-	-
Total Contributions	159,380	236,616	-	-
Total Other Transfer Payments	-	-	-	-
Total Infrastructure Canada Program	159,380	236,616	-	-