Supplementary Information

Governance structures

We have adopted a new GBA+ governance framework and a GBA+ statement of intent, which commits the Agency to continue integrating GBA+ into its operations and ensure the principles of diversity and gender-equality are applied across the organization, including policy making, program design, internal practices and client services. The GBA+ Coordination Centre serves to facilitate, plan, monitor and report on our GBA+ practices, including implementation of the GBA+ Readiness Framework 2018-2020. Through these measures, we will continue to pursue GBA+ activities across the Agency, notably:

• Roll out mandatory GBA+ online training to achieve 100% online course completion by 2019-2020;
• Further formalize roles and responsibilities to develop tailored tools and training for our 14 functional units;
• Complete a GBA+ pilot on a CED initiative that will further demonstrate GBA+ relevance to staff and identify best practices; and
• Adopt a consistent set of GBA+ definitions and indicators for monitoring and reporting, by way of a DM level GBA+ Network, led by CED and regrouping all RDAs as well as ISED. This network aims to promote best practices, in collaboration with Statistic Canada and Status of Women Canada.

Human resources

The total number of full-time equivalents (FTEs) that will be allocated to the implementation of the GBA+ in 2019-2020 is estimated at 1.75, including those who are part of the GBA+ Coordination Center, of the Equality Coordinator and of representatives of the GBA+ sectors.

Planned initiatives

CED delivers the Government of Canada's Women Entrepreneurship Strategy (WES) in Quebec, designed to help women start and grow a business by facilitating access to sources of funding, talent, networks and skills. This strategy will be subject to GBA + and related follow-up in 2019-2020.

The WES aims to double the number of majority women-owned SMEs in Canada by 2025. The performance indicators include: the number of SMEs that are majority-owned by women; the percentage of new businesses started by women entrepreneurs in Quebec; income growth of CED-supported businesses owned by women entrepreneurs; the number of female clients served by organizations supported by CED; and the number and value of funded projects for women entrepreneurs in Quebec.

Departmental reports will be produced every six months, under the supervision of the SFE Assistant Deputy Ministers Steering Committee. The SFE Secretariat coordinates the performance monitoring plans.

The CED Fast Forward Challenge—a competition for engineering students and young engineering graduates in Quebec—will be the subject of a pilot project to implement GBA+ in all its aspects: design , implementation and performance evaluation.

Name of transfer payment program

Quebec Economic Development Program (QEDP)

Start Date

April 1, 2012

End date

Permanent program

Type of transfer payment

Grants and contributions

Type of appropriation

Annual appropriation in the Estimates

Fiscal year for terms and conditions

2017-2018

Link to the department’s Program Inventory

The QEDP is linked to the three programs in CED’s inventory of programs: 1) Regional innovation; 2) Community vitality; and 3) Temporary or targeted support.

Description

The QEDP supports regional development and economic diversification and helps the regions pursue promising economic development opportunities going forward.

Expected results

The QEDP continues to target the three following departmental results:

1. Quebec businesses are innovative and growing
2. Quebec communities are economically diversified
3. Businesses invest in the development and commercialization of innovative technologies in Quebec

A series of nine indicators is used to measure CED’s progress in terms of the achievement of these departmental results. The indicators are primarily based on economic statistics (e.g., value of Quebec’s goods’ exports) and data from supported projects (e.g., leverage effect per dollar invested in community projects). CED plans to present the most recent measurements of these indicators at the annual presentation of its Departmental Results Report.

Fluctuations in the indicators can be attributed to a number of factors, such as the economic environment. It is for this reason that CED expects variations in its results even though, in the long term, the Agency should demonstrate positive progress with respect to its results.

Fiscal year of last completed evaluation

2018-2019

Decision following the results of last evaluation

The program was renewed and an action plan was deployed. The evaluation and the action plan are available on CED’s website.

Fiscal year of planned completion of next evaluation

2021-2022

Groupes de bénéficiaires ciblés généraux

The primary beneficiaries of the QEDP are:

• non-profit organizations;
• economic development organizations;
• municipalities and RCMs (regional county municipalities);
• organizations tasked with attracting international organizations and foreign investment;
• local businesses; and
• business associations.

Initiatives to engage applicants and recipients

CED keeps the public, SMEs and Quebec regional economic development stakeholders informed of its QEDP on an ongoing basis through a wide range of communication tools and activities geared to the profile and information needs of these diverse audiences.

Name of transfer payment program

Community Futures Program (CFP)

Start date

May 18, 1995

End date

Permanent program

Type of transfer payment

Contributions

Type of appropriation

Annual appropriation in the Estimates

Fiscal year for terms and conditions

2010-2011

Link to the department’s Program Inventory

The CFP falls under the Community Vitality program.

Description

The CFP supports local economic development and helps communities build their capacity to realize their full potential in a sustainable manner.

The core objectives of the program are:

• stability, economic growth and job creation;
• diverse, competitive local economies in rural areas; and
• sustainable communities.

Expected results

The CFP continues to target the following departmental result: Communities are economically diversified in Quebec.

A series of three indicators is used to measure CED’s progress in terms of the achievement of this departmental result. The indicators are primarily based on economic statistics (e.g., percentage of SMEs in Quebec that are majority-owned by women, Indigenous people, youth, visible minorities or persons with disabilities) and data from supported projects (e.g., leverage effect per dollar invested in community projects). CED plans to present the most recent measurements of these indicators at the annual presentation of its Departmental Results Report.

The CFP is a national program delivered in Quebec by CED. It therefore has national indicators (e.g., CED and its partners measure the difference in the growth of sales of CFP clients that received assistance, compared with the rate for comparable businesses that did not receive any assistance.)

Fiscal year of last completed evaluation

2015-2016

Decision following the results of last evaluation

Following to the most recent evaluation of the CFP, it was decided that the program should be continued.

Fiscal year of planned completion of next evaluation

2019-2020

General targeted recipient groups

The CFP provides funding for Community Futures Development Corporations (CFDCs), Business Development Centres (BDCs) and the CFDC/BDC Network.

Initiatives to engage applicants and recipients

CED continues to inform development organizations and community stakeholders, on an ongoing basis, about Government of Canada support provided under the CFP.

Name of transfer payment program

Regional Economic Growth through Innovation (REGI)

Start date

Octobre 18, 2018

End date

Permanent program

Type of transfer payment

Grants and contributions

Type of appropriation

Annual appropriation in the Estimates

Fiscal year for terms and conditions

2018-2019

Link to the department’s Program Inventory

The REGI program falls under the Regional Innovation program.

Description

REGI is a national program that supports the economic growth of businesses and the regions through innovation. In Quebec, it is delivered by CED, and takes into account the needs of Quebec’s businesses and regions. The REGI program has two components:

1. Business scale-up and productivity: CED fosters business development by helping businesses scale up, become more productive and grow through innovation (adoption or adaptation of advanced technologies; demonstration; and commercialization and market development).
2. Regional innovation ecosystems: CED also helps create an entrepreneurial environment conducive to innovation by supporting the development of regional ecosystems that meet the needs of businesses and foster their growth and competitiveness.

Expected results

The REGI program continues to target the two following departmental results:

1. Quebec businesses are innovative and growing
2. Businesses invest in the development and commercialization of innovative technologies in Quebec

A series of six indicators is used to measure CED’s progress in terms of the achievement of these results. The indicators are primarily based on economic statistics (e.g., value of Quebec’s goods’ exports) and data from supported projects (e.g., revenue growth rate of businesses supported by CED programs). CED plans to present the most recent measurements of these indicators at the annual presentation of its Departmental Results Report.

Fluctuations in the indicators can be attributed to a number of factors, such as the economic environment. It is for this reason that CED expects variations in its results even though, in the long term, the Agency should demonstrate positive progress with respect to its results.

Fiscal year of last completed evaluation

N/A

Decision following the results of last evaluation

N/A

Fiscal year of planned completion of next evaluation

2023-2024

General targeted recipient groups

The primary beneficiaries of the REGI program are:

• businesses;
• businesses associations;
• business support organizations that provide services for businesses during the various stages of their development aimed at accelerating their growth, facilitating or enhancing their scale-up or developing their markets;
• college centres for technology transfer (CCTTs);
• non-profit organizations (NPOs) that provide services for businesses or have an impact on businesses;
• business incubators and accelerators;
• municipalities and RCMs (regional county municipalities);
• groups or associations that may include NPOs, businesses, post-secondary institutions or consortia; and
• Indigenous organizations.

Initiatives to engage applicants and recipients

CED keeps the public, SMEs and Quebec regional economic development stakeholders informed about the REGI program on an ongoing basis through a wide range of communication tools and activities geared to the profile and information needs of various audiences.