Strategic Objectives and
Major Initiatives
The House Administration has established four strategic
objectives to focus its efforts and guide its activities
during the 39th Parliament, and has identified major
initiatives to be undertaken in support of each
objective.
1. To respond to the evolving role of Members and the
institution
As Canadians' expectations change, so does the role of
Members. In response, the House of Commons
Administration is constantly examining its practices, and
finding new ways to modernize, work with its partners,
and develop new tools to improve its operations and
better serve Members and Canadians.
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Supporting the evolution of parliamentary practices
and rules: As Members consider changes to the
rules that govern House proceedings, the Administration
will provide advice on how these changes may affect
House business and will assist in implementing Members'
decisions. The Administration will continue to support
committees by developing a revised budget planning
process, as well as reviewing committees' use of
professional expertise in areas pertinent to their
work.
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Ensuring a flexible technology infrastructure:
As part of a multi-year plan to ensure a managed
approach to the House of Commons' video and audio
assets, a digital asset management tool will be
implemented to provide on-demand access to proceedings
for Members of Parliament through the
ParlVU service.
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Improving Members' access to parliamentary
information: The House Administration will
continue implementation of "Today in the House," a
renewed Chamber Business section for the House of
Commons on the Parliament of Canada Web site that will
serve as a central access point for online information
about the activities of the House of Commons, featuring
publications, Webcasts of
proceedings, and
information on bills, among other details. A new
publishing tool will improve the production of online
and paper documents, particularly the reports of
international and interparliamentary delegations.
Working with the
Senate of Canada, the Library
of Parliament, and Public
Works and Government Services Canada, the House
Administration will continue to improve the way in
which information is shared throughout Parliament.
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Involving Canadians in the parliamentary
process: During the 39th Parliament, the House
Administration will continue to develop and implement
new features for the
Committees Web site.
2. To enhance ongoing services to Members and sustain the
institution
Day to day, the House Administration strives to deliver
and continuously improve the services Members require for
their work, and to develop a strong foundation of systems
and information to support the House of Commons into the
future. Activities include ensuring a safe work
environment for Members, their staff and Administration
employees, providing public access to Parliament, using
technology to share information, and ensuring continuity
between Parliaments.
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Renovating the Parliament Buildings: Under the
Long-Term Vision and Plan, a range of renovation and
new construction initiatives are anticipated to ensure
that Members are housed in facilities that meet the
demands of a modern workplace, while respecting the
historical significance and beauty of
Parliament's buildings. During the 39th Parliament,
the House Administration will pursue priority projects
under the Plan. Working with Public Works and
Government Services Canada, the House Administration
will continue to oversee the planning, design and
installation of facilities, information technologies
and infrastructure to ensure readiness and to support
the relocation of Members of Parliament, their staff
and parliamentary functions.
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Improving information technology services: The
House Administration will introduce a more
user-friendly daily list of committee meetings, and
promote the improved E-Notice Web site as a secure and
convenient alternative to traditional written notices.
The technology used to manage financial and human
resources will continue to be reviewed and updated. The
Administration will also explore the use of software
that would lead to more efficient procurement and
recruitment processes. The House Administration, as
part of a multi-year accessibility program, will
provide Web and television content that may be accessed
by persons with special needs, as well as a real-time
captioning service.
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Refining the business continuity and resumption
plan for the House of Commons: A business
continuity and resumption plan ensures that essential
services will continue if an emergency situation forces
the House of Commons to relocate in order to carry out
its parliamentary activities. The House Administration
will finalize functional plans for committee and caucus
activities. It will test relocation plans within the
National Capital Region and develop plans for alternate
sites outside the region.
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Training and orientation for Members and their
staff: The House Administration will continue to
coordinate and review the Election Readiness and
Orientation Program, which provides information and
services to new, returning and defeated Members in the
period surrounding a general election or by-election.
During the 39th Parliament, the House Administration
and its partner the Library
of Parliament will continue to provide Members and
their staff with training seminars.
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Keeping the House of Commons secure: The House
Administration will continue to provide a secure
environment in which to work while offering the safe
and appropriate access required of a public
institution. It will introduce the "Security is
Everyone's Business" strategy to promote an increased
awareness among employees of security issues and
potential risks.
3. To promote understanding and to support the
advancement of legislative institutions
By producing publications and developing online
resources, the House Administration promotes an
understanding of our parliamentary system and the role of
Members of Parliament, thereby facilitating participation
in our parliamentary institutions. By sharing best
practices with its counterparts in Canada and abroad, the
Administration also supports the development of existing
and emerging legislative institutions.
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Updating major publications on parliamentary
procedure: In addition to a Web version of the
Annotated Standing Orders and a second edition
of
House of Commons Procedure and Practice, the
House Administration will produce a guide for Chair
Occupants and a practical work guide for Table
Officers.
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Providing learning opportunities for
parliamentarians and legislative officials from
jurisdictions in Canada and abroad: Procedural
training will be offered to the broader community of
House employees and, in cooperation with the Senate and
the Canada School of the Public Service, to employees
of the federal public service. Parliament will host
some 1,300 delegates at three major conferences: the
12th Asia-Pacific Parliamentarians Conference on
Environment and Development; the 44th Regional
Conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Assembly;
and the 52nd Annual Session of the NATO Parliamentary
Assembly. For more information, please visit
www.parl.gc.ca, "Interparliamentary
Affairs."
4. To apply the highest standards of public sector
governance in a parliamentary context
There is an increased focus on accountability and
transparency in all public sector institutions, and a
commitment to meeting high standards of governance. The
House Administration will continue to show leadership in
this respect by promoting the sound management of its
resources.
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Strengthening House of Commons management
practices: The House Administration will continue
to implement its multi-year policy plan to foster best
management practices and sound stewardship. It will
also audit and review programs, policies and systems as
part of a multi-year review plan, and obtain an annual
independent opinion on the fairness of the House
financial statements. A risk management approach will
be refined to ensure that the Administration identifies
and mitigates potential risks that could affect the
outcome of its initiatives.
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Managing parliamentary information: The House
Administration will continue to develop best practices
and introduce technology to manage information in a
consistent, user-friendly manner. Software will be
introduced that allows the Administration to update
online information quickly and easily, and repackage it
for use in a variety of documents. Initiatives will be
launched to produce a wider range of reports on
parliamentary exchanges and associations, and track
membership more accurately. Parliamentary Web sites
will be enhanced to provide easier access to
information. Procedural researchers will benefit from
an improved system for recording procedural events of
interest, and the creation of a consistent set of
terminology for identifying information. An annual
review of the financial management and policy guide
will also be conducted to support Members in their
committee work.
The House Administration will ensure that investments
in information management/information technology assets
are supported by a life-cycle management program, and
that the reliable, secure and responsive information
technology environment continues to meet the evolving
needs of Members.
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Sustaining a motivated and effective
workforce: Like all organizations adapting to an
aging workforce, the House Administration anticipates
an increase in retirement in the next few years. It is
carrying out a number of activities to preserve
corporate memory and ensure that employees have the
required skills to fill the available positions. The
continued development of competency profiles and the
assessment of learning needs will help the
Administration to identify the skills and qualities
required for positions, and to evaluate employee
performance. A recruitment and retention strategy and
employment equity plan will support efforts to create a
diverse workforce.
To increase the level of employee health, the
Administration will explore the expansion of the
health-risk assessment program and fitness activities,
and will continue to hold monthly sessions on
health-related topics.
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Improving environmental management on the
Hill:
Partners for a Green Hill will continue to promote
new programs and initiatives to improve environmental
management on the Hill, including a chemical products
review and promotion of the transit pass program. For
more information, please visit www.parl.gc.ca, "
About Parliament."