Western Economic Diversification Act

An Act to promote the development and diversification of the economy of Western Canada, to establish the Department of Western Economic Diversification and to make consequential amendments to other Acts Short title This Act may be cited as the Western Economic Diversification Act. Definitions In this Act, Department means the Department of Western Economic Diversification established by subsection 4(1); (ministère) Minister means the Minister of Western Economic Diversification; (ministre) Western Canada means the Provinces of Manitoba, British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Alberta. (Ouest canadien) Purpose The purpose of this Act is to promote the development and diversification of the economy of Western Canada and to advance the interests of Western Canada in national economic policy, program and project development and implementation. Department established There is hereby established a department of the Government of Canada called the Department of Western Economic Diversification over which the Minister of Western Economic Diversification, appointed by commission under the Great Seal, shall preside. Minister The Minister holds office during pleasure and has the management and direction of the Department. Deputy Minister The Governor in Council may appoint an officer called the Deputy Minister of Western Economic Diversification to be the deputy head of the Department. Powers, duties and functions of the Minister The powers, duties and functions of the Minister extend to and include all matters over which Parliament has jurisdiction, not by law assigned to any other department, board or agency of the Government of Canada, relating to the promotion of the development and diversification of the economy of Western Canada and the advancement of the interests of Western Canada in national economic policy, program and project development and implementation. Idem The Minister shall guide, promote and coordinate the policies and programs, including those related to industrial benefits, of the Government of Canada in relation to the development and diversification of the economy of Western Canada; lead and coordinate the efforts of the Government of Canada to establish cooperative relationships with the provinces constituting Western Canada, business, labour and other public and private organizations for the development and diversification of the economy of Western Canada; and compile detailed information on all programs and projects undertaken by the Minister for the purpose of measuring trends, development and progress in the development and diversification of the economy of Western Canada. Further duties and functions The Minister may formulate plans and integrated strategies to support development and diversification of the economy of Western Canada; oversee the implementation of programs and projects in pursuance of plans and strategies referred to in paragraph (a) and, where those programs and projects will not be undertaken by another Minister or department or agency of the Government of Canada, initiate or implement those programs and projects; plan, direct, manage and implement programs and projects intended to contribute directly or indirectly to the establishment, development, support and promotion of enterprises, and more particularly, small and medium-sized enterprises, in Western Canada, and the economic prosperity of that region; plan, direct, manage and implement programs and projects to improve the business environment in Western Canada, including programs and projects of support to business associations, conferences, studies, consultations, trade shows, demonstration projects and market research, related to the development of business opportunity data banks and networks, and to improve business communication and cooperation; initiate, implement, sponsor, promote and coordinate policy research, policy development and economic analysis to support development and diversification of the economy of Western Canada; enter into any agreement with the government of any province, or with any agency of such a government, respecting the exercise of the Minister’s powers and the carrying out of the Minister’s duties and functions; and do all such other things as are necessary or incidental to the attainment of the purpose of this Act. Financial assistance The Minister may, in accordance with terms and conditions approved by the Treasury Board, and with the approval of the Minister of Finance, make loans to any person with respect to the establishment or development of enterprises, and more particularly, small and medium-sized enterprises, in Western Canada; and guarantee the repayment of, or provide loan insurance or credit insurance in respect of, any financial obligation undertaken by any person in respect of the establishment and development of enterprises, and more particularly, small and medium-sized enterprises, in Western Canada. The Minister may, in accordance with terms and conditions approved by the Treasury Board, make grants and contributions in support of programs and projects undertaken by the Minister. Offices The principal office of the Department shall be in Edmonton, Alberta, but the Department shall maintain at least one office in each other province in Western Canada. Government services and facilities The Department shall, where appropriate, make use of the services and facilities of other departments and of boards and agencies of the Government of Canada. Regulations The Minister may make regulations specifying programs and projects in addition to those referred to in paragraph 6(1)(d) to improve the business environment in Western Canada; and generally for carrying out the purposes and provisions of this Act. Annual report The Minister shall cause to be laid before each House of Parliament on any of the first fifteen days on which that House is sitting after January 31 next following the end of each fiscal year, a report on the administration of this Act for that fiscal year. Appropriations based on Estimates The provisions made by any appropriation Act for the fiscal year in which this section comes into force, based on the Estimates for that year to defray the charges and expenses of the public service of Canada within the Department of Regional Industrial Expansion and the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development in relation to any matter in Western Canada to which the powers, duties or functions of the Minister extend by law, shall be applied to such classifications of the public service within the Department of Western Economic Diversification as the Governor in Council may determine. Transfer of powers, duties and functions Wherever under any Act, order, rule or regulation, or any contract, lease, licence or other document, any power, duty or function is vested in or exercisable by the Minister of Regional Industrial Expansion, the Deputy Minister of Regional Industrial Expansion or any other officer of the Department of Regional Industrial Expansion in relation to any matter in Western Canada to which the powers, duties or functions of the Minister extend by law, the power, duty or function is vested in and shall be exercised by the Minister of Western Economic Diversification, the Deputy Minister of Western Economic Diversification or the appropriate officer of the Department of Western Economic Diversification, as the case may be, unless the Governor in Council by order designates another Minister, deputy head or officer of a department or a portion of the public service of Canada to exercise that power, duty or function. Deemed appointment Every indeterminate employee in the public service of Canada who is transferred to a position in the Department from the public service of Canada within ninety days after the day on which this section comes into force is deemed to have been appointed to the Department in accordance with the Public Service Employment Act. [Amendments] Coming into force This Act or any provision thereof shall come into force on a day or days to be fixed by order of the Governor in Council. [Note: Act in force June 28, 1988, see SI/88-119.]