2010-11 Estimates — Report on Plans and PrioritiesReader Rating: 1.00

Section 2: Analysis of Program Activities by Strategic Outcome

2.1 The Canadian Marketplace is Efficient and Competitive

 

Year	Financial Resources ($ millions)*	Human Resources (FTEs)
2010–11	206.2	2,940.6
2011–12	208.9	2,940.6
2012–13	204.9	2,940.6

* Minor differences are due to rounding.

As the global economy emerges from a deep recession,⁴ the Canadian marketplace requires effective frameworks and regulations to ensure Canadian businesses have every opportunity to innovate and succeed in the new economic climate.

Strong marketplace frameworks and regulations are also necessary to facilitate competitiveness and to build and maintain consumer confidence in both traditional and electronic commerce environments.

Industry Canada strives to achieve an efficient and competitive marketplace by developing and implementing policies fundamental to the functioning of a market. These include laws and regulations governing intellectual property, bankruptcy and insolvency, competition and restraint of trade, corporations and corporate securities, foreign direct investment, internal trade, weights and measures, consumer affairs, and telecommunications.

These policies are designed to promote innovation, competition and productivity, and instill business, investor and consumer confidence.

Industry Canada further contributes to an efficient and competitive Canadian marketplace by:

• delivering regulatory regimes through regulations, policies, procedures and standards for bankruptcy; foreign direct investment; federal incorporations; intellectual property; and weights and measures;
• developing domestic regulations, policies, procedures and standards that govern Canada’s spectrum and telecommunications industries and the online economy;
• ensuring that consumers have a voice in the development of government policies and are effective marketplace participants; and
• administering and enforcing the Competition Act, the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act, the Textile Labelling Act, the Weights and Measures Act, the Electricity and Gas Inspection Act, the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, the Canada Business Corporations Act, the Investment Canada Act and the Precious Metals Marking Act.

In the coming years, key priorities include:

• encouraging Canadians and non-Canadians to invest in Canada and contribute to economic growth and employment opportunities;
• developing policy tools to protect the online marketplace and promote the digital economy in the areas of authentication, cryptography and identity management;
• developing regulations to bring into force the new Canada Not-For-Profit Corporations Act;
• managing the implementation of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) framework for the conversion of the over-the-air TV to digital;
• promoting Canadian views and defending Canadian interests in international organizations on next-generation networks, cybersecurity, emergency telecom services and conformity assessment;
• minimizing the administrative cost and paperwork burden of regulatory compliance on small businesses; and
• advocating in favour of market forces.

Focusing on these priorities will help protect Canadian consumers and improve the Canadian business environment.

Challenges and Risk Areas:

The constant evolution of the global business environment, combined with the impact of rapidly changing technologies and increasing client demands, reinforces the importance of developing credible and timely strategies that promote competitive growth while meeting consumer and business needs in a recovering economy.

Program Activity
2.1.1 Marketplace Frameworks and Regulations

Human Resources (FTEs) and Planned Spending ($ millions)*
2010–11		2011–12		2012–13
FTEs	Planned Spending	FTEs	Planned Spending	FTEs	Planned Spending
1,779.6	66.1	1,779.6	68.4	1,779.6	63.9

* Minor differences are due to rounding.

Expected Result		Indicators		Targets
Marketplace fairness, integrity, efficiency and competitiveness are protected in the areas of insolvency, foreign investment, weights and measures, federal incorporation, and intellectual property		Percentage of cases for which regulatory timelines and/or service standards are met		80%

Planning Highlights and Benefits for Canadians:

Industry Canada will implement the legislative amendments reflected in Chapters 36 and 47 of the Statutes of Canada under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act. These new amendments will ensure integrity and accountability in all areas of insolvency in Canada, and will further enhance the status of Canada’s insolvency system both at home and abroad.

Following changes made to the Investment Canada Act, Industry Canada will, in 2010–11, improve the transparency and accountability of the foreign investment review framework in Canada by producing its first Annual Report.

Industry Canada will develop regulations and seek approval of 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 NUANS⁵ become the single comprehensive source of corporate names used in all Canadian federal, provincial and territorial jurisdictions, Industry Canada will strive in 2010–11 to ensure that Canadians and Canadian businesses benefit from marketplace efficiency by engaging non-participating jurisdictions on the usage of NUANS, and, in the case of Quebec, on the provision of its data to NUANS.

Industry Canada will promote the effective use of intellectual property (IP) assets and information to Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises and the education sector.

By improving marketplace conditions through these actions, Industry Canada will ensure that Canadians and Canadian businesses benefit from cutting-edge marketplace fairness, integrity, efficiency and competitiveness.

Program Activity
2.1.2 Marketplace Frameworks and Regulations for Spectrum, Telecommunications and the Online Economy

Human Resources (FTEs) and Planned Spending ($ millions)*
2010–2011		2011–12		2012–13
FTEs	Planned Spending	FTEs	Planned Spending	FTEs	Planned Spending
686	87.2	686	86.4	686	85.6

* Minor differences are due to rounding.

Expected Result		Indicators		Targets
Canada's radiocommunications and telecommunications infrastructure and the online economy are governed by a modern, efficient and effective policy and regulatory framework		Percentage of policies, legislation and regulations developed, updated or reviewed and consultations conducted as identified in annual business plans/strategic plans/operational plans		80% of identified initiatives

Planning Highlights and Benefits for Canadians:

Canada’s radiocommunications and telecommunications infrastructure and the online economy require modern, efficient and effective policy and regulatory frameworks. There is growing demand for advanced wireless services driven by an expanding mobility market and broadband Internet access. Industry Canada will undertake several priority actions to develop the policies, regulations, standards and treaties that will support effective spectrum management and the provision of new wireless services.

The Department will manage the technical aspects of the implementation of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications (CRTC) framework for the conversion of the over-the-air TV signal to a digital TV signal. When the conversion is completed, it will allow auctioning of the 700 MHz spectrum and allow broadcasters to bring high-definition television (HDTV) to the viewing public across Canada.

Consultation processes will take place in preparation for auctions in both the 2500 MHz and 700 MHz bands. Auctioning of these bands will help support new mobile technologies and services in the Canadian marketplace.

Industry Canada is establishing the Electronic Commerce Protection Act (ECPA) to help protect the online marketplace by deterring the most damaging and deceptive forms of spam and other related online threats from occurring in Canada. As well, the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) legislation will be updated to enhance the protection of personal information as well as consumer and business confidence in the online marketplace.

The Department is exploring options for a digital economy strategy to boost Canada’s productivity performance by focusing on the objectives of strengthening Canada’s domestic information and communications technologies (ICT) sector, and increasing rates of business ICT adoption and use. The digital economy is an economic enabler and thus critical to Canada’s future prosperity.

By delivering on these priorities, Industry Canada will ensure that policies and regulations are in place to protect Canadians and their increasing use of radiocommunications, telecommunications and ICT. It is expected that increasing the rates of use of these technologies will boost Canada’s future prosperity.

Program Activity
2.1.3 Consumer Affairs Program

Human Resources (FTEs) and Planned Spending ($ millions)*
2010–11		2011–12		2012–13
FTEs	Planned Spending	FTEs	Planned Spending	FTEs	Planned Spending
23	6.0	23	5.9	23	5.8

* Minor differences are due to rounding.

Expected Result		Indicators		Targets
Consumer interests are represented in the marketplace and in the development of government policies		Number of new outreach initiatives to assist consumers in accessing information and tools that will help them make informed purchasing decisions		1
		Number of government policies and/or legislation developed, updated or reviewed by OCA		2

Planning Highlights and Benefits for Canadians:

The challenges that face consumers and families in the current economic climate are growing. Addressing these challenges is essential to maintaining consumer trust and confidence in the marketplace. Industry Canada, through the Office of Consumer Affairs (OCA), will support consumers by focusing on areas where they may be particularly vulnerable, and by equipping them with tools they can use to help them spend wisely, thus contributing to a marketplace that is more efficient and competitive.

In conjunction with the Consumer Measures Committee (CMC), Industry Canada will explore measures to protect consumer interests through the joint analysis of current consumer pressures in priority sectors, and by sharing best practices in regulatory compliance with federal, provincial and territorial consumer protection laws.

The Department will further develop its consumer information tools, including the joint federal-provincial-territorial site Consumerinformation.ca and the Canadian Consumer Handbook, to help consumers meet the challenges posed by current economic conditions.

Industry Canada will work with partners in other departments and internationally on a variety of consumer policy projects pertaining to sustainable consumption, consumer vulnerability and electronic commerce.

Through these actions, Canadian consumers’ interests will be better protected and Canadians will be able to make more informed decisions.

Program Activity
2.1.4 Competition Law Enforcement and Advocacy

Human Resources (FTEs) and Planned Spending ($ millions)*
2010–11		2011–12		2012–13
FTEs	Planned Spending	FTEs	Planned Spending	FTEs	Planned Spending
452	46.7	452	48.1	452	49.5

* Minor differences are due to rounding.

Expected Result		Indicators		Targets
Competitive markets and informed consumer choice		Dollar savings to consumers from Bureau actions that stop anti-competitive activity		$330 million
		Percentage of economy subject to market forces		82% of GDP

Planning Highlights and Benefits for Canadians:

In 2010–11, the Competition Bureau will continue to focus its efforts on the effective implementation of the amendments made to the Competition Act 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 continue to focus its enforcement efforts on domestic bid rigging, 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 Mass Marketing Fraud (MMF) over the Internet.

The Bureau will continue to advocate for greater reliance on competition and will work with federal and provincial governments, where appropriate, on strategies that address market inefficiencies to further strengthen the Canadian marketplace.

The Bureau, as a law enforcement agency, contributes to the prosperity of Canadians by protecting and promoting competitive markets in which efficiencies and innovation are fostered, and where consumers can make informed choices.

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⁴ Bank of Canada press release

⁵ NUANS is an online search tool that determines the uniqueness of proposed business names by comparing new names with databases of existing corporate names and trademarks.