Industry Canada Business Plan 2010-2011

Key Strategies and Business Objectives for 2010–2011

Three key strategies define how Industry Canada achieves its strategic outcomes and, in turn, its mandate:

Strategic Outcomes What Industry Canada intends to achieve	Key Strategies  How Industry Canada delivers its mandate
The Canadian marketplace is efficient and competitive	Advancing the marketplace through economic framework policies
Science and technology, knowledge, and innovation are effective drivers of a strong Canadian economy	Fostering the knowledge-based economy through enhanced research and innovation, training and skills
Competitive businesses are drivers of sustainable wealth creation	Supporting business through policies and programs that promote competitiveness and productivity

Industry Canada will monitor and report on the 2010–2011 business objectives, which are key deliverables to be achieved during the fiscal year, through its performance measurement and reporting process. As part of this process, the annual Report on Plans and Priorities sets out performance indicators and targets, while the annual Departmental Performance Report describes performance against these indicators and targets. In addition to the business objectives identified in the 2010–2011 business plan, the Department will take steps to address any emerging governmental or departmental initiatives.

A progress report (as of December 1, 2009) on the business objectives set out in the 2009-2010 business plan is available on the Industry Canada website.

Operational Drivers for 2010–2011

Operational drivers, such as the availability of people with the required competencies and skills, have a direct impact on Industry Canada’s ability to implement its key strategies. Some of the key operational factors and opportunities that will influence how Industry Canada delivers its programs and results in 2010–2011 are listed below, as well as information on how the Department will respond to these operational drivers. This list also demonstrates how enabling functions, including human resources management, contribute to achieving business objectives.

• Industry Canada will support second-language training to ensure employees meet their position requirements — with a focus on those in administrative, clerical and commerce positions. Second-language training will also support the Department’s succession planning by enabling career progression, particularly into EX positions.
• Enhancing diversity and employment equity remains a priority for Industry Canada, and efforts in 2010–2011 will concentrate on targeted recruitment for visible minorities across the Department, and for women, persons with disabilities and Aboriginal people as identified in Industry Canada, Human Resources Annual Performance Report 2008-2009. In addition, there will be focused attention on creating a workplace that encourages and supports diversity and professional growth for all Industry Canada employees through various sector and departmental awareness initiatives.
• Projected turnover for a variety of groups — including commerce officers, statisticians, economists and policy officers — will create opportunities to attract new employees and help current employees develop new skills and competencies. Specific measures include the following:
  • Several sectors are developing initiatives to address knowledge transfer, identify critical positions and maintain skills and talent through succession planning and leadership development. In addition, the Department will increase its use of special assignment pay programs to facilitate corporate knowledge transfer and to allow for training to meet program responsibilities.
  • The Department is pursuing a variety of entry-level recruitment initiatives to renew key groups, including university recruitment campaigns, Government of Canada career fairs and student bridging. Among other activities, Industry Canada will increase the number of students brought in through the Federal Student Work Experience Program to address a high level of expected retirements among commerce officers. In addition, collective staffing will be used to recruit patent examination officers and commerce officers.
  • The Department will pursue targeted retention strategies for key occupational groups. Occupation-specific development programs and training, as well as the Young Professionals Networks, will support engagement and development among entry-level employees. In particular, Industry Canada will explore career progression programs for EC and CO employees that include training for current and future competencies and skills with the goal of building engagement among employees in these groups. Industry Canada will also consider other options for providing employee training to develop and/or maintain specific competencies, including technical training for TI employees.
• To ensure the orderly and effective succession of executive talent, sectors will enhance learning, training, development and mentoring opportunities to ensure executive feeder groups have the critical management competencies and effective leadership skills needed to take on leadership roles vacated due to retirements.
• Talent management activities to manage employee movement will include using generic competency profiles to help identify the competencies and skills required in “at risk” positions. These activities will facilitate succession planning, identification of career opportunities for employee development and career progression, performance management to identify potential talent and the development needs of those recruits, and identification and development of feeder groups to fill positions expected to be vacated.
• The growing number of retirements and the shortage of capacity in corporate service areas such as procurement, facilities management, communications, finance, audit and evaluation, information management and information technology are affecting Industry Canada, just as they are the rest of the public service. The Department’s people management efforts will continue to focus on opportunities to introduce new skills and competencies and to develop existing talent, thereby ensuring Industry Canada’s ability to meet changing client and environmental demands.
• A number of program areas are looking to implement new technologies, tools and systems to address service delivery needs, including collaboration, case management, customer management, reporting, web portal, content management/web publishing and similar common systems that may arise. To maximize the benefits and value of investment in these areas, the Department needs to approach these projects from an enterprise-wide perspective and ensure they are delivered in accordance with business priorities.

Strategy 1: Advancing the Marketplace through Economic Framework Policies

Planned Human Resources and Departmental Spending for 2010–2011

Overview

Under this strategy, Industry Canada develops and administers laws, regulations, standards and policies — collectively known as economic framework policies — governing fundamental aspects of the Canadian economy. The Department is responsible for ensuring that these economic framework policies promote innovation, competition and productivity, and instill consumer, investor and business confidence.

Program Activities and Business Objectives for 2010–2011

This strategy will be implemented through the following program activities:

Marketplace Frameworks and Regulations

Through effective marketplace frameworks and regulations, Industry Canada aims to support competitive markets for the benefit of Canadian consumers, businesses and investors. Sectors supporting this program activity are responsible for establishing regulations, policies, procedures and standards for marketplace information, insolvency, foreign direct investment, federal incorporation, intellectual property, and weights and measures, while minimizing the regulatory compliance burden on businesses.

Expected Result

• Marketplace fairness, integrity, efficiency and competitiveness are protected in the areas of insolvency, foreign investment, weights and measures, federal incorporation and intellectual property.

2010–2011 Business Objectives

In support of this program activity, Industry Canada will work to achieve the following business objectives during 2010–2011:

• The Strategic Policy Sector will work to advance internal trade within Canada and modernize Canada’s intellectual property laws.
• Measurement Canada will pursue amendments to the Weights and Measures Regulations in order to improve measurement accuracy in the marketplace and strengthen consumer protection against loss due to inaccurate measurement.
• The Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy Canada will, in consultation with trustees and other stakeholders, complete its review of the compliance framework for trustees and debtors, and begin to phase in its implementation.
• As part of its new supervisory mandate over proceedings filed under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (2009), the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy will implement the legislative amendments reflected in chapters 47 and 36 of the Statutes of Canada.
• Corporations Canada will implement regulations and seek approval to charge user fees to bring into force the Canada Not-for-Profit Corporations Act, which establishes a modern governance framework for not-for-profit corporations.
• In response to stakeholder requests that NUANS become the single comprehensive source of corporate names used in all Canadian federal, provincial and territorial jurisdictions, Corporations Canada will engage non-participating jurisdictions regarding the usage of NUANS and, in the case of Quebec, regarding the provision of its data to NUANS.

• The Small Business and Marketplace Services Sector will, in close collaboration with the Strategic Policy Sector and the Department of Canadian Heritage, produce the first annual report on investment in Canada, as required under section 38.1 of the Investment Canada Act.
• The Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) will improve access to its information and services by developing an enterprise portal to increase client self-sufficiency, improve the consistency of services and reduce turnaround times.
• CIPO will also promote the effective use of intellectual property assets and information to Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises and the education sector.

Marketplace Frameworks and Regulations for Spectrum, Telecommunications and the Online Economy

Marketplace frameworks and regulations for spectrum, telecommunications and the online economy encourage business innovation, competition and growth by ensuring that Canada develops, uses and benefits both domestically and internationally from work in these areas. Industry Canada sectors involved in this program activity develop the regulations, policies, procedures and standards governing Canada’s spectrum and telecommunications industries and online economy, and promote global telecommunications and online trade.

Expected Result

• Canada’s radiocommunications and telecommunications infrastructure and the online economy are governed by a modern, efficient and effective policy and regulatory framework.

2010–2011 Business Objectives

In support of this program activity, Industry Canada will work to achieve the following business objectives during 2010–2011:

• The Strategic Policy Sector, in collaboration with the Spectrum, Information Technologies and Telecommunications Sector (SITT), will ensure Canada’s interests related to market-based approaches to telecommunications policy and regulation are advanced in preparation for the 2010 Plenipotentiary Conference of the International Telecommunication Union.
• SITT will manage the technical aspects of the implementation of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications framework for the conversion of the over-the-air television signal to a digital signal. Completion of this conversion will allow auctioning of the 700 megahertz spectrum and allow broadcasters to bring high-definition television to the viewing public across Canada.
• Consultation processes will take place in preparation for auctions of both the 2500 and 700 megahertz bands. These auctions will support new mobile technologies and services in the Canadian marketplace.
• In collaboration with other departments, provincial and territorial governments and industry stakeholders, SITT, with the support of the Regional Operations Sector, will explore options for a Digital Economy Strategy to boost Canada’s productivity and strengthen the domestic information and communications technologies sector.
• SITT will work to modernize the Information Technology Spectrum Management System through the Spectrum Applications Modernization–Commercial Software Implementation project. This project will address the shortcomings of the current Spectrum Management System.
• SITT will work with the Competition Bureau, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission and the Office of the Privacy Commissioner to establish the National Coordinating Body and the Spam Reporting Centre. This activity will support implementation of the Electronic Commerce Protection Act, which is expected to come into force in spring 2010.
• SITT will create a senior-level advisory committee on telecommunications security to share information and address issues such as cyber security and critical infrastructure protection. Committee members will be from both the public and private sectors.
• With input from major stakeholders in the Canadian telecommunications industry and other government departments, SITT will implement the Mutual Recognition Agreement for Equivalence of Technical Requirements for telecommunication equipment with other Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) economies. This work is designed to help accelerate the introduction of new radiocommunications and telecommunications technologies, equipment and services in Canada.
• SITT will improve the Government of Canada’s capacity to respond to emergencies by establishing a permanent emergency telecommunications operations centre and implementing the National Emergency Telecommunications Exercise Program.

Consumer Affairs Program

Industry Canada collaborates with provincial and territorial governments and not-for-profit consumer organizations to ensure that consumers are effective marketplace participants and have a voice in the development of government policies. This work involves developing and disseminating information and awareness tools to consumers on priority issues, and conducting research and analysis to support effective policy development.

Expected Result

• Consumer interests are represented in the marketplace and in the development of government policies.

2010–2011 Business Objectives

In support of this program activity, Industry Canada will work to achieve the following business objectives during 2010–2011:

• Through participation in the inter-jurisdictional Consumer Measures Committee, the Office of Consumer Affairs (OCA) will explore measures to protect consumer interests, including joint analysis of current consumer pressures in priority sectors and sharing best practices with respect to compliance with federal, provincial and territorial consumer protection laws.
• With the assistance of other departments and Canadian jurisdictions, OCA will refine consumer information tools and advice, including the federal-provincial-territorial site Consumerinformation.ca and the Canadian Consumer Handbook, to help consumers meet challenges resulting from current economic conditions and ensure that the consumer information collection remains relevant and useful.
• OCA will work with partners in other departments and internationally through the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) on consumer projects pertaining to sustainable consumption, consumer vulnerability and electronic commerce.
• OCA will ensure that the Contributions Program for Non-Profit Consumer and Voluntary Organizations continues to strengthen the consumer’s role in the marketplace by promoting sound research and analysis, and encouraging the financial self-sufficiency of consumer and voluntary organizations. There will be $1.69 million available through this program in 2010–2011.

Competition Law Enforcement and Advocacy

Industry Canada’s work in the area of competition law enforcement and advocacy aims to protect and promote competitive markets and enable informed consumer choice for the benefit of all Canadians. The Competition Bureau, an independent law enforcement agency, is responsible for administering and enforcing the Competition Act, the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act, the Textile Labelling Act and the Precious Metals Marking Act. Headed by the Commissioner of Competition, the organization investigates anti-competitive practices, promotes compliance with the laws under its jurisdiction and advocates in favour of market forces.

Expected Result

• Competitive markets and informed consumer choices.

2010–2011 Business Objectives

In support of this program activity, Industry Canada will work to achieve the following business objectives during 2010–2011:

• The Competition Bureau will focus its efforts on the effective implementation of amendments to the Competition Act, many of which came into force on March 12, 2009. The Bureau will also clarify key enforcement issues in the areas of abuse of dominance, competitor collaborations and price maintenance, to ensure increased transparency, clarity and predictability for all Canadians.
• The Bureau will focus its enforcement efforts on domestic cartels, abuse of dominance and timely and effective merger reviews.
• As well, as part of its ongoing effort to ensure that Canadians know how to better protect themselves from fraudulent claims, to better recognize scams and to avoid falling victim to such scams, the Bureau will target misleading advertising over the Internet.
• The Bureau will advocate for greater reliance on competition and will work with federal, provincial and territorial governments, where appropriate, on strategies that address market inefficiencies, to further strengthen the Canadian marketplace.

Strategy 2: Fostering the Knowledge-Based Economy through Enhanced Research, Innovation, Training and Skills

Planned Human Resources and Departmental Spending for 2010–2011

Overview

Under this strategy, Industry Canada manages science, technology and innovation policies and programs aimed at improving Canada’s research and development capacity. By investing in research, applying research and research infrastructure, and helping to attract, develop and retain highly qualified people, Industry Canada supports knowledge creation and helps equip Canadians with the skills and training they need to compete in the global knowledge-based economy.

Program Activities and Business Objectives for 2010–2011

This strategy will be implemented through the following program activities:

Canada’s Research and Innovation Capacity

To enhance Canada’s capacity for research and innovation, Industry Canada sets the strategic direction for policies and programs that promote science, technology and innovation in Canada, and works with other government departments and public and private sector stakeholders to foster an environment conducive to innovation, scientific excellence and industrial competitiveness.

Expected Result

• Science, technology and innovation policy frameworks to enhance Canada’s research and innovation capacity. 

2010–2011 Business Objectives

In support of this program activity, Industry Canada will work to achieve the following business objectives during 2010–2011:

• Working with the Regional Operations Sector, the Science and Innovation Sector (SIS) will implement the Knowledge Infrastructure Program, a Budget 2009 initiative to provide up to $2 billion over two years for research and development infrastructure projects at post-secondary institutions.
• Working with partners such as the Canada Foundation for Innovation, Genome Canada, provincial and territorial counterparts, and universities and colleges, SIS will work to improve the effectiveness of funding for research into science, technology and innovation, and to measure and maximize the impact of these investments.
• SIS will produce the 2010 State of the Nation Report on Canada’s Science, Technology and Innovation System, which will assess the state of Canada’s research and innovation, and benchmark the country’s science and technology performance against international standards of excellence.

Communications Research Centre Canada

Industry Canada’s Communications Research Centre conducts research on information and communications technologies (ICTs) and transfers new intellectual property and technologies to small and medium-sized Canadian enterprises. Through this work, the Communications Research Centre provides insight into future technologies to help the Department develop policies, regulations and program delivery; improves decision making related to ICTs across the Government of Canada; and supports the development of new products and services for Canada’s ICT sector.

Expected Results

• Industry Canada and other government organizations receive high-quality, research-based technical inputs to develop telecommunications policies, regulations and standards and support government operations.
• Canadian companies use Communications Research Centre-developed technologies to enhance their product lines.

2010–2011 Business Objectives

In support of this program activity, Industry Canada will work to achieve the following business objectives during 2010–2011:

• The Spectrum, Information Technologies and Telecommunications Sector (SITT) will provide the spectrum monitoring tools and equipment required for the 2010 G8 Summit in Huntsville, Ontario.
• SITT will demonstrate a prototype wireless network of small rapidly deployable sensors intended to provide improved surveillance capabilities for the Canadian Land Force.
• Some Communications Research Centre labs will be modernized under the Modernizing Federal Labs initiative, which was part of Budget 2009.
• SITT will provide Canadian industry with technical expertise and specialized technology, developed at the Communications Research Centre, to help close innovation gaps in ICTs and make these technologies more competitive.

Commercialization and Research and Development Capacity in Targeted Canadian Industries

Industry Canada promotes an environment conducive to commercialization and innovation by providing targeted sectors — including the automotive, aerospace, defence, pharmaceutical and ICT industries — with specialized knowledge, expertise and support that advances leading-edge research and development. Key activities include fostering collaborative relationships with public, private, not-for-profit and academic institutions, conducting research and analysis to support policy development and strategic advice, and managing federal investments in private sector research and development in targeted industries.

Expected Result

• Leveraged leading-edge research and development in targeted Canadian industries.

2010–2011 Business Objectives

In support of this program activity, Industry Canada will work to achieve the following business objectives during 2010–2011:

• The Industry Sector will implement the five-year, $250-million Automotive Innovation Fund, which supports strategic research and development projects in the automotive sector to develop innovative, greener and more fuel-efficient vehicles. Science and Innovation Sector (SIS), in collaboration with the Industry Sector, will also implement the $145-million Automotive Partnership Canada program, which enhances automotive research capacity and innovation, as well as Canada’s ability to compete internationally.
• In collaboration with Environment Canada, Natural Resources Canada, and associations and firms representing Energy Intensive Trade Exposed sectors, the Industry Sector will contribute to the Government of Canada’s climate change policy agenda and advise on potential industry impacts of climate change regulation.
• The Industry Sector will also work with partners in industry, academia and other government institutions — including BIOTECanada, Canada’s Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies (Rx&D), Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada and Health Canada — to enhance the global competitiveness of Canada’s health industries by encouraging the commercialization of biotechnology.
• In collaboration with the private sector and other government partners, the Industry Sector will encourage and promote the adoption and adaptation of new technologies and skills to business processes by guiding the development of Technology Roadmaps, including one on the Soldier System, which supports Canada’s soldier modernization efforts.
• The Industrial Technologies Office will enhance the access of small and medium-sized enterprises to the Strategic Aerospace and Defence Initiative (SADI), thereby taking the needs of business into consideration and becoming more commercially responsive, and will also reduce the time it takes to process amendments without compromising the integrity of the due diligence.

Strategy 3: Supporting Businesses through Policies and Programs that Promote Competitiveness and Productivity

Planned Human Resources and Departmental Spending for 2010–2011

Overview

Under this strategy, Industry Canada uses a variety of legislative frameworks, policies, partnerships, and programs and services to help the private sector drive economic growth. The Department supports competitiveness and productivity by encouraging businesses to invest strategically and ensuring that the Government of Canada takes industry views into account when developing trade, economic, environmental and social policies that may affect the business climate.

Program Activities and Business Objectives for 2010–2011

This strategy will be implemented through the following program activities:

Entrepreneurial Economy

The Department’s work in the area of the entrepreneurial economy is aimed at enhancing the growth and competitiveness of small business and encouraging entrepreneurship. To support this program activity, Industry Canada sectors raise awareness across government of the challenges small businesses face; provide knowledge and expertise on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in a number of areas including statistics, entrepreneurship, financing, innovation and growth firms; recommend policy options; deliver programs that help support SMEs and entrepreneurial activity across Canada; and provide advice and support related to the Business Development Bank of Canada.

Expected Results

• Small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) use of government business-related information, programs and services, and facilitated compliance for business.
• Integrated business permit and licence information from all levels of government provides value to clients across Canada.

2010–2011 Business Objectives

In support of this program activity, Industry Canada will work to achieve the following business objectives during 2010–2011:

• The Small Business and Marketplace Services Sector (SBMS) will implement the new service renewal strategy for the Canada Business Network, including performance measurement, service standards, marketing and outreach, strategic planning, a telephone management strategy and integrated web presence.
• SBMS will advance plans to accelerate BizPaL expansion, both in terms of content and provincial, territorial and municipal participation, as set under federal funding ending in March 2011.
• Based on the results and recommendations of the comprehensive review of the Canada Small Business Financing Program, SBMS will improve the structure, delivery and awareness of the program, which helps Canadian SMEs gain access to debt financing to start up, grow, enhance their productivity and innovate.
• The Regional Operations Sector will foster collaboration between the Canada Business Network in Ontario and the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), and between the Canada Business Network in the Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut and the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor), with a view to eliminating duplication and assuring quality service to Canadians.
• The Regional Operations Sector will proactively engage partners to manage federal involvement in the Government of Ontario’s Open for Business Strategy, which has the potential to provide seamless service for SMEs in Ontario and greater access to information on government programs and services.

Global Reach and Agility in Targeted Canadian Industries

Industry Canada undertakes a variety of activities designed to help Canadian businesses link into global value chains and strengthen domestic and international partnerships. These activities include researching issues facing specific industries to help ensure government policies, marketplace frameworks, strategies and regulations are sensitive to economic impacts; assisting with matchmaking among companies; improving conditions for market access; promoting Canadian expertise; and managing contributions to private sector initiatives aimed at maximizing productivity and facilitating access to capital.

Expected Result

• Adaptable Canadian industries are linked to global value chains and have the capacity to prepare for and respond to risks and opportunities in the domestic and global markets.

2010–2011 Business Objectives

In support of this program activity, Industry Canada will work to achieve the following business objectives during 2010–2011:

• SBMS will deliver the Marquee Tourism Events Program, which was established to increase tourism within Canada.
• The Industry Sector will deliver programs and services to support Canadian industries, including the Structured Financing Facility, which is designed to ensure shipyard capability exists in Canada for federal marine procurement, and the Industrial and Regional Benefits Policy, which provides the framework for using federal defence and security procurement to lever long-term industrial and regional development within Canada.
• To inform business leaders and government policy directions, the Industry Sector will conduct collaborative research and analysis on knowledge-intensive business services and the role of innovation in services and core business functions, and will develop key performance indicators.

Community, Economic and Regional Development

Through FedNor, housed in the Regional Operations Sector, Industry Canada helps stimulate the Northern Ontario economy. FedNor delivers community, economic and regional development activities in Northern Ontario in the same manner that regional development agencies support community economic development activities in other regions of Canada. Achieving this objective involves providing support to a variety of regional and community businesses and partners in order to improve capacity, enhance access to capital and markets, build modern infrastructure, adopt technology, encourage innovation and develop human capital.

Expected Result

• A significant increase in the capacity of selected Northern Ontario communities and businesses helping them to thrive in the 21st-century economy.

2010–2011 Business Objectives

In support of this program activity, Industry Canada will work to achieve the following business objectives during 2010–2011:

• Through the Northern Ontario Development Program, FedNor will help more than 3000 eligible businesses and organizations become more sustainable and competitive by investing in priority areas, including community economic development, trade and tourism, innovation, information and communications technologies, business financing support and human capital.
• FedNor will provide financial support to Community Futures Organizations through the Community Futures Program. These organizations will help more than 800 rural businesses in Northern Ontario create, expand, maintain and strengthen their businesses by offering a variety of services, including repayable financing, information and advice, assistance in the development and implementation of strategic community economic development plans and support for local development projects.
• Through the Community Adjustment Fund for Northern Ontario, FedNor will provide more than $19.5 million in economic stimulus funding to mitigate the short-term impacts of the current economic downturn by creating employment opportunities and to address transitional and adjustment challenges in restructuring industries or communities.
• Through Computers for Schools, and in collaboration with other departments, private sector donors and licensed Canadian distributors, the Regional Operations Sector will manage the distribution of up to 85 000 refurbished computers to schools, libraries and not-for-profit organizations across Canada, and engage up to 250 youth interns to refurbish computers with the goal of enhancing information and communications technologies skills among young Canadians.
• The Regional Operations Sector will implement section 41 of the Official Languages Act, which sets out requirements for the advancement of linguistic duality and development of official language minority communities, by delivering the Economic Development Initiative under the Government of Canada’s Roadmap to Linguistic Duality 2008–2013: Acting for the Future. This initiative will be delivered by FedNor in Northern Ontario and by FedDev Ontario in Southern Ontario.
• Through the Broadband Canada: Connecting Rural Canadians initiative, the Spectrum, Information Technologies and Telecommunications Sector will increase the number of Canadian households with access to affordable broadband services and provide essential infrastructure to Canadians in remote and rural areas. The provinces and territories, other government departments and Internet service providers will be key partners in this work.

Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America — Canadian Secretariat

The Canadian Secretariat of the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America seeks to strengthen Canada’s competitiveness by providing analysis and advice on international business issues and developments. Industry Canada supports and coordinates the Department’s engagement in various international meetings and summits — including senior-level Canada-U.S. meetings, North American Leaders’ Summits, and G8 and G20 meetings — and leads the management of the Research Fund on North American Borders, Security and Prosperity.

Expected Result

• Industry Canada is successful in advancing its strategic priorities in the context of North America and other international bilateral and multilateral forums.

2010–2011 Business Objectives

Industry Canada will work to achieve the following business objective in support of this program activity during 2010–2011:

• The Strategic Policy Sector will lead the management of the Research Fund on North American Borders, Security and Prosperity to improve the Government of Canada’s understanding of the impact of border measures on Canadian competitiveness.