Service Delivery and Core Business Areas

Core Business Areas

The ministry has three core business areas: local government; seniors', women's and community services; and executive and support services (see Appendix 1 for the ministry organizational chart). It is also responsible for municipal services in the University Endowment Lands. The ministry administers all or parts of 19 pieces of legislation (see Appendix 2), has responsibility for the Premier's Council on Aging and Seniors' Issues and the Premier's Task Force on Community Opportunities, and appoints persons to the Islands Trust and the Municipal Insurance Association of British Columbia (see Appendix 3).

1. Local Government

The local government core business area is resourced by the Local Government Department and comprises four program areas: the Governance and Structure Division; Infrastructure and Finance Division; Intergovernmental Relations and Planning Division; and Local Government Policy and Research Branch.

Through this core business area, the ministry:

  • provides the provincial legislative, regulatory and policy frameworks that enable local governments to address community needs;
  • manages water and sewer infrastructure capital funding and infrastructure planning;
  • works with local governments to develop forward-looking regional strategies;
  • assists local governments with incorporations, amalgamations and boundary extensions;
  • fosters collaboration among the federal, provincial and local governments;
  • builds and fosters partnerships with a diverse range of stakeholders, including federal and local governments, provincial ministries, community agencies and the private sector;
  • facilitates productive relationships among local governments, provincial agencies and First Nations.

The Local Government Department is also responsible for municipal services in the University Endowment Lands. The department managed expenditures of $185.4 million with a staff of 83 full-time equivalents.

2. Seniors', Women's and Community Services

The seniors', women's and community services core business area is resourced by the Seniors', Women's and Community Services Department. The department comprises four areas: Seniors' and Women's Policy Branch, Stopping the Violence Branch, the Inner-City Partnerships Branch and Community Transition.

Under this core business area, the ministry is responsible for leadership on issues related to seniors, women, inner-cities and urban development agreements, and communities in transition. It contributes to community health and safety by funding third-party service providers to deliver transition house programs for women, and their children, who have experienced abuse; counselling programs for women who have experienced abuse and children who have witnessed abuse; and public education and partnership initiatives that aim to eliminate violence against women. The ministry also provides policy analysis, research and information to government and the public on seniors' and women's issues, as well as providing secretariat support to the Premier's Council on Aging and Seniors' Issues. In 2005/06, the ministry began four mentoring pilot projects for women entering, re-entering or transitioning in the workforce.

Through this core business area, the ministry supports revitalization in inner-city communities through public, private and community partnerships. Responsibilities include coordinating resources and providing leadership to create economic and social development opportunities in inner cities; supporting the implementation of the 2010 Winter Games Inner-City Inclusive Commitments;9 and funding the BladeRunners youth employment program. This business area also leads and coordinates the provincial government's work to address issues facing communities in transition.

The Seniors', Women's and Community Services Department managed expenditures of $49.6 million with a staff of 33 full-time equivalents.
9  The 2010 Winter Games Inner-City Inclusive Commitments arose from the 2010 Bid Corporation and its Member Partners' mutual vision to create legacies for all British Columbians. The guarantee section of the 2010 Bid Book, the Inner-City Inclusive Commitment Statement, contains 37 goals centering on employment, economic development, housing, recreation, and culture to ensure the interests of those living in Vancouver's inner-city neighbourhoods are addressed.

3. Executive and Support Services

The executive and support services core business area is composed of the Management Services Department and the offices of the Minister and Deputy Minister. The department supports programs in the Ministry of Community Services and the Ministry of Tourism, Sport and the Arts by supplying services such as:

  • corporate policy and planning;
  • legislation, regulation and regulatory reform;
  • facilities and administrative services;
  • financial services;
  • information, privacy, records management and the intranet;
  • information systems; and
  • strategic human resources.

The executive and support services core business area managed expenditures of $7.7 million with a staff of 69 full-time equivalents.

Service Delivery

The ministry's major partners and clients are local governments, inner-city residents, seniors, women who have experienced abuse, and their children, community agencies serving seniors and women, and women using mentoring services. The ministry also works closely with the Union of BC Municipalities and other local government associations, the private sector, community agencies, and the Premier's Council on Aging and Seniors' Issues, as well as other provincial ministries and agencies and the federal government. The ministry depends on its values of collaboration, professionalism, integrity, and responsiveness to ensure these relationships are continually nurtured. It relies on its values of innovation and creativity to respond with viable, long term solutions to the opportunities and challenges of an increasingly complex, ever-changing environment.

Local Governments

Under the Canadian Constitution, provinces are responsible for creating and defining the authority and responsibilities of local governments. While the Community Charter provides local governments with broad, enabling powers, the ministry sets the legislative, regulatory and policy framework within which local governments function. The provincial government also incorporates and restructures local governments as necessary, or at the request of those communities interested in joining neighbouring municipalities or becoming incorporated local governments. Ministry staff regularly review and evaluate the local government system and monitor local government financial commitments and rural area land-use decisions.

Local governments, the Union of BC Municipalities, the Local Government Management Association, the Government Finance Officers Association of BC, the Municipal Finance Authority and the ministry work collaboratively to develop policy and legislation, implement legislative changes, develop advisory materials, manage programs and problem solve in areas of mutual interest. This relationship is based on legislative requirements to consult and a strong mutual respect among the various orders of government. Ultimately local governments are accountable to their citizens.

Inner-city Communities

The ministry represents the Province as one of the three orders of government working together to address the social, economic and health concerns of Vancouver's Downtown Eastside through the Vancouver Agreement. The agreement is implemented through a variety of mechanisms, including third-party contracts. It is jointly funded by the Province and the federal government with the City of Vancouver providing in-kind resources. Funding supports the Vancouver Agreement Coordination Unit and various initiatives that serve residents in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. Service providers include not-for-profit organizations and community partners such as specialized community-based associations.

Inner-city and At-risk Youth

In 2005/06, the ministry delivered the BladeRunners program through an annual service contract with the Aboriginal Community Career and Employment Services Society (ACCESS). The program trains at-risk youth, mostly from inner cities, for employment in the construction industry. The success of the program is monitored and reported on annually by the agency.

Women Who Have Experienced Abuse and Their Children

The ministry delivers transition house services, safe homes, outreach services, Children Who Witness Abuse counselling and Stopping the Violence counselling programs to women who have experienced abuse, and their children. These services are delivered through contracts with third-party service providers, including non-profit and for-profit agencies, First Nations organizations and health authorities. Third-party service providers are required to submit monthly and quarterly data collection reports to the ministry, so the ministry can monitor and assess the effectiveness of program delivery.

Community Agencies Serving Women

The ministry supports community-based and provincial initiatives to change attitudes and behaviours that perpetuate violence against women. Projects are delivered through third party contracts with various agencies, including those which serve Aboriginal women, immigrant and visible minority women, women with disabilities, older women, youth and children. Service providers delivering community-based and provincial prevention initiatives undertake project evaluations, which the ministry uses to assess the effectiveness of service delivery.

Women Entering, Re-entering or Transitioning in the Workforce

The ministry began four pilot projects in 2005/06 to provide mentoring for women to enter, re-enter or transition within the workforce. These projects are being delivered through Grant Thornton Hiring Solutions, the YWCA, the Minerva Foundation and the Women's Enterprise Centre, and are managed by contract. The projects will be evaluated before the end of 2006/07.

The Premier's Council on Aging and Seniors' Issues

The Premier's Council on Aging and Seniors' Issues was established by government to provide recommendations on two key issues: how to support seniors as contributing members of society, and how to support seniors' independence and health. The ministry provided Secretariat support to the Council during 2005/06.

Other Ministries

The ministry provides information, advice and support to other ministries that work with local governments, seniors and women. This includes creating opportunities and resources for other ministries to work more effectively with local governments, and partnering with other ministries to further common interests and priorities.

The Public

The ministry provides accessible, up-to-date information to the general public through its websites, by telephone and by mail. Examples include: the Women's' Services Directory, the Information for Seniors Guide, the Health and Seniors' 1-800 Information Line, and the Voter's Guide to Local Elections in B.C. Most of these resources are available in languages other than English, including Chinese, Punjabi and French.

Performance Plan Summary Table

Synopsis of Ministry Performance Measure Results

 

Ministry Performance Management and Reporting Systems

The ministry uses a performance management cycle to plan, implement, monitor, evaluate and improve its business. The ministry develops its annual service plan through an inclusive, collaborative process with staff from across departments and all levels of the organization. As a team, senior management identifies the ministry's strategic context, including opportunities and challenges, and priorities of the ministry, within the context of Government's strategic plan. This information is used by the service planning team to develop, revise or confirm the strategic (vision, mission, goals and objectives) aspects of the plan, which are then refined and approved by Executive. Departments provide input to the operational (strategies, measures and targets) aspects of the plan. Branches develop annual branch business plans for their internal use, which are then used to develop Employee Performance and Development Plans. Branches track and monitor performance information, and provide quarterly reports on performance targets to Executive. Development of the annual service plan report is also a collaborative effort with a team of staff from across the ministry.

Back. Annual Service Plan Reports 2005/06 Home. Next.