1. Decision Making in the Federal Government – Central Agencies: Who are they and what do they do? Gavin Liddy, Treasury Board Secretariat FMI Capital Chapter - Professional Development Day May 22, 2014

2. 2 Key role of Ministers: –Which public goods are produced? –How to pay for them (Taxes/Borrowing/other eg user fee)? –Efficiency (Potential Income vs Actual or Deadweightloss)

3. Privy Council Office Advisor to the Prime Minister –Non-partisan advice –Coordination and collaboration across government and external stakeholders Secretary to the Cabinet –Management of Cabinet decision-making –Advancement of the Government’s agenda Public Service Leadership –Management of appointments of senior personnel 3

4. Department of Finance Preparation of the federal Budget and Economic Updates Development of tax and tariff policy/legislation Administration of major transfers of $ to Provinces/Territories Keeper of the Fiscal Framework – $ inflows and outflows 4

5. 5 Treasury Board Secretariat –The only permanent Cabinet Committee, established in 1867 –The only Cabinet Committee established in legislation (Financial Administration Act); –TBS is general manager of the public service serving as: Management Board; Budget Office; and People Manager. TB is responsible for the management of government, by translating policies and programs approved by Cabinet into operational reality and by providing departments with resources and administrative environment they need.

6. 6 The Central Agencies Distinguishing Roles Price $ Quantity Finance Privy Council Office (PCO) Treasury Board

7. The Process 7 2014201520162017 Cabinet Retreat MC Budget TB Sub Supps Mains

8. Cabinet Committees 8 Cabinet P&P OPs SAC EP FAS TBTB GA

9. What happens at Cabinet Meetings Cabinet meetings are held weekly when Parliament is sitting Ministers present MCs for the departments they head for discussion and approval PCO manages agenda and documents Decisions made by consensus Ministers make policy decisions and notional funding to carry out initiatives 9

10. 10 What happens at Treasury Board meetings? TB meetings are held once a week when Parliament is sitting The Secretary supports the President by setting context, introducing items and presenters TBS manages the meetings and provides advice to TB Ministers Ministers of the Treasury Board examine: –Evaluations of pan-governmental spending and management initiatives (strategic reviews, MAF, etc.) –Treasury Board Submissions (approx. 800 submissions per year) –Information on current, or emerging files –Follow up on issues raised at previous meetings

11. 11 What do Ministers ask? Policy –What problem are we trying to solve? –Why is this a good idea? –Details on execution? –Stakeholder and Caucus engagement? –Communication? Financial –Overhead - Why can’t the dept absorb the costs? –What will the investment achieve, eg results –Why was the initial estimate wrong?

12. 12 Cases DND – How much money de we have? CRA – How to make the case for more resources? Parks Canada – what is the extent of our capital shortfall? Carling Campus – business case analysis – cost per rm 2 ? Canada Post – Financing postal modernization? Shared Services Canada – is it a good idea, how to make it work?

13. 13 END