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Strategic Objective 4
To apply the highest standards of public sector governance in a parliamentary context
As part of ongoing efforts to ensure accountability and transparency, the House Administration is implementing a range of management processes and best practices that promote responsible stewardship of resources.
Promoting strong stewardship and effective management of public resources
The House Administration is implementing a more strategic approach to financial management, known as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) model in order to put increased emphasis on the strong stewardship of public resources, and to meet fiduciary responsibilities through sound financial management practices. This is a corporate responsibility that must be supported by core disciplines including planning and resource management; performance management; financial accounting and reporting; risk management and internal control; as well as policy development.
The following initiatives are underway:
Planning and Resource Management/Performance Management
The strategic planning framework's effectiveness is being increased by adopting additional best practices and better integrating corporate planning with other planning cycles, including a new integrated investment planning framework. The integrated investment planning framework includes a five-year capital investment plan to support efficient investment and stewardship of House of Commons' assets and infrastructure.
Specific performance monitoring and reporting practices will be developed and established. Some standards and measures are being implemented to ensure the delivery of highly reliable, consistent financial and human resources advice and information.
Financial Management and Reporting/Risk Management and Internal Control
A quality assurance framework in the areas of Finance, Materiel Management, Procurement and Information Management is being developed. This framework will ensure that practices continue to be in compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, House of Commons' policies and procedures and requirements for reporting of financial information.
Policy Development
An integrated policy framework is being developed that includes financial and materiel management policies and guidelines to make certain that the most appropriate controls, and risk and financial management practices are in place to meet our fiduciary responsibilities in line with evolving situations and best practices.
Attracting, engaging and retaining our talent
The House of Commons, like many employers, will be facing challenges in recruitment over the coming years due to changing demographics in the Canadian workforce, as retirements are projected to increase and the market for skilled employees becomes highly competitive. To address these challenges, the House Administration will implement a recently developed corporate human resources strategy with the goal to recruit, engage, develop and retain top talent to support the work of Members and to ensure that the House of Commons is regarded as a best employer in a competitive marketplace.
An integral part of the human resources strategy will be to provide performance statistics to measure the success of the initiatives in the areas of retention and employee satisfaction. As part of its goal of managing talent, the strategy includes the formation of a learning and management development program, a strategic recruitment plan, and the creation of an employer brand to enhance the recruitment and retention of our key asset-the staff of the House Administration.
Strengthening environmental practices
The Senate, the House of Commons, the Library of Parliament and Public Works and Government Services Canada - Parliamentary Precinct Branch have partnered for the environmental management of Parliament Hill under a program entitled "Partners for a Green Hill-Preserving our Past, Protecting our Future". This program represents a commitment to preserve and enhance the Parliament Hill environment by implementing the "4Rs" of environmental protection-Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Rethink.
An implementation plan will be developed to expand the use of 100% EcoLogo-certified recycled paper for most of the House Administration's printing products.
In the planning and implementation of various projects of the Long-Term Vision and Plan for the Parliamentary Precinct, the House of Commons will strive to harmonize functions to consolidate facilities, adopt solutions that are environmentally friendly and meet the highest possible targets for green building and sustainable development.
Supporting an integrated approach to information management
Building on its Strategic Blueprint and Guiding Principles for Information Management (IM), the House Administration will continue to develop the foundation for enhanced IM practices, collaboration and information-sharing. Efforts will include the areas of information custodianship and quality management, document and records management, enterprise search and the use of portal technologies.
A records management strategy is being developed to support the consistent and collaborative approach to managing paper and electronic documents. This will entail developing tools, guidelines, retention schedules, knowledge management tools, disposal plans and evaluation mechanisms, all of which will facilitate access and sharing of information. In addition, a collaboration tool (known as "Symphonie") will be tested with users, to support IM practices and policies as well as collaborative work.
The "LegalIMS" information management system is a website application that is used to track, share and store information pertaining to legal requests. Enhancements will be made to this application which will result in a standard and consistent business process for entering information related to requests for all types of legal services.
