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Audits and Evaluations

Results-based Management and Accountability Framework

For Human Resources Management
Program architecture activity 1.4.2.1

Appendix B: Central Agencies in the Public Service which play an important role in Human Resources Management

Canada Public Service Agency

The PS Agency was created to promote a more modern, results-based approach to human resources management across the public service. The PS Agency collaborates with central agencies, departments and organizations, and unions to promote a range of public service modernization initiatives.

The PS Agency's priorities are based on three strategic pillars:

• the modernization of human resources management and the strengthening of accountability;
• effective, honest leadership and a quality work environment;
• a representative and accessible public service.

The modernization of human resources management and the strengthening of accountability are the cornerstones of the PS Agency's strategic plan. This plan consists of implementing the PSMA, which is designed to bring about a modernized classification system that will establish cost-effective practices, processes and HR renewal systems across the public service. The PS Agency's Human Resources Management Modernization Branch plays a central role in the implementation of the PSMA. It is mandated with ensuring leadership and monitoring a wide variety of functional sectors. Its primary responsibility is to monitor the implementation of the PSMA, to oversee the ongoing reform of the classification system, to harmonize employment services and to develop the HR component of Corporate Administrative Shared Services.

Public Service Commission

The Public Service Commission (PSC) is an independent agency that reports to Parliament. It is responsible for protecting the integrity of the hiring process in the federal public service and the non-partisanship of public servants.

The PSC strives to build a public service that is dedicated to excellence. It protects the principles of merit, non-partisanship, representativeness and the use of both official languages.

It develops policy and guidance to public service managers and holds them responsible for their hiring decisions. It conducts audits and investigations to determine the effectiveness of the hiring system and makes improvements in this regard. Lastly, it reports the results to Parliament.

It recruits talented Canadians from all regions of the country to the public service. It constantly updates its recruitment services to meet the needs of a modern and innovative public service.

Treasury Board

The Treasury Board is a Cabinet committee of the Queen's Privy Council of Canada. It was established in 1867 and was given statutory powers in 1869.

The Treasury Board is responsible for accountability and ethics, financial, personnel and administrative management, comptrollership, approving regulations and most Orders-in-Council.

The formal role of the President is to chair the Treasury Board. He carries out his responsibility for the management of the government by translating the policies and programs approved by Cabinet into operational reality and by providing departments with the resources and the administrative environment they need to do their work. The Treasury Board has an administrative arm, the Secretariat, which was part of the Department of Finance until it was proclaimed a department in 1966.

Privy Council Office

The Privy Council Office (PCO) is the hub of public service support to the Prime Minister and Cabinet and its decision-making structures. Led by the Clerk of the Privy Council, PCO facilitates the smooth and effective operations of Cabinet and the Government of Canada through the work of the PCO secretariats

PCO helps to clearly articulate and implement the Government's policy agenda and to coordinate timely responses to issues facing the government and the country. It also works to maintain the highest professional and ethical standards in the federal Public Service.

PCO's main roles are:

• providing professional, non-partisan advice to the Prime Minister and Cabinet;
• managing the Cabinet's decision-making system (including coordinating departmental policy proposals and conducting policy analysis);
• arranging and supporting meetings of Cabinet and Cabinet committees;
• advancing the development of the Government's agenda across federal departments and agencies and with external stakeholders;
• providing advice on the government's structure and organization; managing the appointment process for senior positions in federal departments, Crown corporations and agencies;
• preparing Orders-in-Council and other statutory instruments to give effect to Government decisions;
• fostering a high-performing and accountable public service.

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