2018-19 Departmental Plan
Details on transfer payment programs of $5 million or more

Atlantic Innovation Fund - Voted

Start date: May 10, 2001

End date: Ongoing

Type of transfer payment: Contribution

Type of appropriation: Appropriated annually through Estimates

Fiscal year for terms and conditions: 2009-10

Link to department’s Program Inventory: Research and Development, and Commercialization; Innovation Ecosystem

Description: The Atlantic Innovation Fund (AIF) makes strategic investments in research and development (R&D) initiatives in the area of natural and applied sciences, as well as in social sciences, humanities, and arts and culture. Projects are expected to result in the successful adaptation or development as well as commercialization of technology-based products, processes or services.

Contributions to non-profit organizations are non-repayable. Contributions to for-profit businesses to fund R&D projects that involve the commercialization of a product, process, technology or service are repayable, either conditionally or unconditionally.

Expected results:

• Increase activity in and build capacity for innovation and R&D, which leads to technologies, products, processes or services that contribute to economic growth in Atlantic Canada (measured by indicators such as the dollar amount invested in R&D projects under this fund).
• Increase the capacity for commercialization of R&D outputs (measured by indicators such as the dollar amount invested in commercialization projects and revenues resulting from commercialization).
• Strengthen the region’s innovation capacity by supporting research, development and commercialization collaboration, as well as alliances among private-sector firms, universities, research institutions and other organizations in the Atlantic system of innovation, and by increasing their critical mass (measured by indicators such as the number of key collaborations created for technology development and commercialization).
• Maximize benefits from national R&D programs (measured by calculating funds invested in AIF projects by other national programs).

Fiscal year of the last completed evaluation: 2014-15

Decision following the results of the last evaluation: Continuation

Fiscal year of planned completion of the next evaluation: Evaluation of Innovation and Commercialization Sub-program 2019-20

General targeted recipient groups:

• industry-related groups (for example, for-profit businesses, airport authorities, specific industry sectors)
• non-profit organizations (for example, foundations, NGOs, universities, research institutions, health-related entities).

Initiatives to engage applicants and recipients:

It is part of the AIF process to engage potential applicants via information sessions outlining the AIF program requirements and addressing frequently asked questions. ACOA engages proponents and recipients on a regular basis, either one-on-one or via industry associations. The communication strategy also includes the use of social media to inform and engage applicants and recipients.

(dollars)

	2017-18 Forecast spending	2018-19 Planned spending	2019-20 Planned spending	2020-21 Planned spending
Total grants	0	0	0	0
Total contributions	42,961,500	40,000,000	40,000,000	40,000,000
Total other types of transfer payments	0	0	0	0
Total	42,961,500	40,000,000	40,000,000	40,000,000

Business Development Program – Voted

Start date: July 25, 1995

End date: Ongoing

Type of transfer payment: Grant and contribution

Type of appropriation: Appropriated annually through Estimates

Fiscal year for terms and conditions: 2010-11

Link to department’s Program Inventory: Inclusive Communities; Diversified Communities; Research and Development, and Commercialization; Innovation Ecosystem; Business Growth; Trade and Investment; Policy Research and Engagement

Description: Through the Business Development Program (BDP), ACOA works to create opportunities for economic growth in Atlantic Canada by helping small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) become more competitive, innovative and productive. In addition, the Agency works with communities to develop and diversify local economies. It also champions the strengths of the region, in partnership with Atlantic Canadians.

The objectives of the BDP are to:

• improve the growth and competitiveness of Atlantic Canadian SMEs;
• provide for dynamic and sustainable communities in Atlantic Canada; and
• provide for initiatives that strengthen the Atlantic economy.

In general, contributions to for-profit businesses are repayable, either conditionally or unconditionally. Under some of the BDP’s elements, non-repayable contributions to for-profit businesses may be permitted.

Contributions to non-profit organizations are generally non-repayable but are conditionally repayable if a project results in what would normally be considered a commercial activity.

Expected results:

Improve growth and competitiveness of Atlantic Canadian SMEs through:

• strengthened innovation and commercialization capacity in Atlantic Canada;
• enhanced productivity and growth capacity of Atlantic Canadian SMEs;
• expanded export activity by SMEs in Atlantic Canada; and
• new foreign direct investment opportunities in Atlantic Canada.

Provide for dynamic and sustainable communities in Atlantic Canada with increased economic and business activity through:

• improved community capacity, including that of official language minority communities, to respond to economic and business development opportunities and challenges; and
• strengthened and expanded businesses.

Provide for policies and programs that strengthen Atlantic Canada’s economy. This is done through well-informed policy decisions reflecting opportunities and challenges of the Atlantic region’s economy, while considering enterprise and community development potential.

Fiscal year of the last completed evaluation: ACOA evaluations were conducted by PAA Sub-program (rather than by transfer payment program). Collectively, the evaluations listed below represent 100% coverage of the BDP.

• Evaluation of the Community Mobilization and Community Investment Sub-programs, 2013-14
• Evaluation of the Community-based Business Development Sub-program, 2014-15
• Evaluation of the Innovation and Commercialization Sub-program, 2014-15
• Evaluation of the International Business Development Sub-program, 2015-16
• Evaluation of the Productivity and Growth Sub-program, 2015-16
• Evaluation of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency’s tourism programming, 2016-17

Decision following the results of the last evaluation: Continuation

Fiscal year of planned completion of the next evaluation:

• Evaluation of the Community Investment Sub-program, 2018-19
• Evaluation of the Community-based Business Development Sub-program, 2019-20
• Evaluation of the Innovation and Commercialization Sub-program, 2019-20
• Evaluation of the International Business Development Sub-program, 2020-21
• Evaluation of the Productivity and Growth Sub-program, 2020-21

General targeted recipient groups:

• industry-related groups (for example, for-profit businesses, specific industry sectors)
• non-profit organizations (for example, universities and research institutions, health-related entities)
• municipalities and local organizations (for example, economic development associations)
• Crown corporations
• First Nations communities
• other Indigenous recipients and organizations

Initiatives to engage applicants and recipients: ACOA’s transfer payment programs (including the BDP) are designed, delivered and managed in such a way that they remain citizen and client-focused, are relevant to the applicants’ and recipients’ needs, and achieve the expected results for which they are designed. Engaging key stakeholders in discussions for the creation or review of ACOA’s programming is part of the Agency’s operations. To ensure the continued relevance of programming, the Agency solicits feedback from clients and stakeholders on an ongoing basis, either through information sharing or consultations and collaborations.

Additionally, BDP information is continuously shared with applicants and recipients through ACOA’s website and outreach events in communities across Atlantic Canada.

(dollars)

	2017-18 Forecast spending	2018-19 Planned spending	2019-20 Planned spending	2020-21 Planned spending
Total grants	425,100	2,166,400	2,000,000	2,000,000
Total contributions	179,711,400	160,310,731	124,690,731	124,614,731
Total other types of transfer payments	0	0	0	0
Total	180,136,500	162,477,131	126,690,731	126,614,731

Community Futures Program – Voted

Start date: May 18, 1995

End date: Ongoing

Type of transfer payment: Contribution

Type of appropriation: Appropriated annually through Estimates

Fiscal year for terms and conditions: 2009-10

Link to department’s Program Inventory: Inclusive Communities

Description: The program’s purpose is to help communities develop and implement local solutions to local problems. It provides non-repayable contributions to community futures organizations (CFOs), also known in Atlantic Canada as Community Business Development Corporations (CBDCs), and their associations. Community-based governance is at the heart of the Community Futures Program. The CBDCs are legally incorporated, non-profit, autonomous organizations managed by local volunteer board members who make decisions that shape these organizations, affect the lives of entrepreneurs and impact their communities. They provide financial and technical support to SMEs and social enterprises in rural areas. More information on services provided through the CBDCs can be found on CBDC’s website.

Expected results: The ultimate outcomes under the program are:

• economic stability, growth and job creation (measured by employment growth variance within CFO regions);
• diversified and competitive local rural economies (measured through sales by average labour units); and
• economically sustainable communities (measured by the survival rate variance of rural businesses).

Fiscal year of the last completed evaluation: 2014-15

Decision following the results of the last evaluation: Continuation

Fiscal year of planned completion of the next evaluation:

• Evaluation of the Community-based Business Development Sub-program 2019-20

General targeted recipient groups:

• non-profit organizations (authorized by the minister responsible for the Community Futures Program to constitute a community for participation under the program)
• other groups, such as special-purpose entities or provincial, regional or national associations of CFOs.

Initiatives to engage applicants and recipients: The Agency will continue to engage with and align its support to the CBDC network as part of the Community Futures of Tomorrow model under a collaborative joint oversight committee. This will maximize all resources available, including the funds provided by the Community Futures Program. With a view to maintaining the long-term viability of the program, the committee acts as a governance body by ensuring that the model’s objectives are being managed collaboratively among individual CBDCs, the Atlantic Association of CBDCs, and ACOA. The Agency will continue to collaborate with the CBDC network and individual organizations to enhance their program delivery capacity and governance practices, where required, and support the network in providing training to community development officers and board members to successfully achieve results.

ACOA will continue to work with the other regional development agencies and the CBDCs to strengthen the integrity, the consistency and the collection of performance results, and will continue to implement the program’s performance measurement strategy. In collaboration with other federal departments responsible for the management of the program, ACOA will present performance results for 2017-18, and will continue to engage the CBDCs in refining the collection and use of performance information needed by all stakeholders.

(dollars)

	2017-18 Forecast spending	2018-19 Planned spending	2019-20 Planned spending	2020-21 Planned spending
Total grants	0	0	0	0
Total contributions	12,642,300	12,642,000	12,642,000	12,642,000
Total other types of transfer payments	0	0	0	0
Total	12,642,300	12,642,000	12,642,000	12,642,000

Innovative Communities Fund – Voted

Start date: April 1, 2005

End date: Ongoing

Type of transfer payment: Contribution

Type of appropriation: Appropriated annually through Estimates

Fiscal year for terms and conditions: 2009-10

Link to department’s Program Inventory: Diversified Communities; Inclusive Communities

Description: The Innovative Communities Fund (ICF) is designed to make non-repayable contributions to strategic projects that build the economies of Atlantic Canada’s communities. The ICF focuses on investments that lead to long-term employment and economic capacity-building in rural communities. Urban initiatives that stimulate the competitiveness and vitality of rural communities may also be considered on a select basis.

Expected results: The ICF capitalizes on the strengths of Atlantic Canadian communities and provides them with the tools needed to identify opportunities for sustainable economic growth. The overall expected result is to build dynamic and sustainable communities in Atlantic Canada, while focusing on increased economic and business activity. This will be measured by assessing the percentage of community development projects that meet expected results.

Fiscal year of the last completed evaluation: ACOA evaluations were conducted by PAA Sub-program (rather than by transfer payment program). Collectively, the evaluations listed below represent 100% coverage of the ICF.

• Evaluation of the Community Mobilization and Community Investment Sub-programs, 2013-14
• Evaluation of the Community-based Business Development Sub-program, 2014-15

Decision following the results of the last evaluation: Continuation

Fiscal year of planned completion of the next evaluation:

• Evaluation of the Community Investment Sub-program, 2018-19
• Evaluation of the Community-based Business Development Sub-program, 2019-20

General targeted recipient groups:

• municipalities and local organizations
• Indigenous and Francophone communities
• industry-related groups (for example, industry/sector associations)
• non-profit organizations

Initiatives to engage applicants and recipients: ACOA continues to collaborate proactively with its partners to identify strategic community projects throughout Atlantic Canada. Each ACOA regional office continues to focus on higher-impact investments in rural communities. This is done through an investment strategy document, by collaborating with municipal and provincial governments on priority sectors, and by undertaking policy research to identify the prominent sectors in a region.

(dollars)

	2017-18 Forecast spending	2018-19 Planned spending	2019-20 Planned spending	2020-21 Planned spending
Total grants	0	0	0	0
Total contributions	38,308,500	37,157,762	37,177,762	37,177,762
Total other types of transfer payments	0	0	0	0
Total	38,308,500	37,157,762	37,177,762	37,177,762