Internal services: planned results

Description

Internal services are those provided within a department so that it can meet its corporate obligations and deliver its programs. There are 10 categories of internal services:

• management and oversight services
• communications services
• legal services
• human resources management services
• financial management services
• information management services
• information technology services
• real property management services
• materiel management services
• acquisition management services.

Planning highlights

Statistics Canada's internal services will continue to evolve to meet the changing context by focusing on the agency's COVID-19 response, processes, controls and oversight practices. As the government continues to address public health and economic challenges, the agency's enabling corporate and internal services will provide support and solutions to meet business and employee needs. Decision making will be informed by a data infrastructure that continues to be more integrated, providing timely insights to foster the agency's cultural values and accountability for outcomes. Internal services will keep providing more efficient and user-centric services.

Skill sets and talent management

Employees and managers across the agency will be given accessible and relevant learning and development opportunities that address and close skill gaps. Leadership programs will be broad enough to reach every employee, yet tailored to participants' evolving needs, with a focus on emerging technologies (digital enablement), diversity and inclusion, resilience, and change management. Data will inform program strategies, enable the analysis of learning demands and interest, and allow for the rapid identification of skills to mobilize talent. The performance and talent management program will be further anchored in quantitative data and informed by evidence to support consistent, objective and continuous feedback. In addition, the career mobility of equity-deserving talent will be supported through an enhanced mentorship and sponsorship program.

Accessibility

The agency will continue to partner with external organizations, including the Office of Public Service Accessibility, to develop and implement a framework for measuring accessibility goals in terms of employment, workplace accommodation, the built environment, technology, services and culture. In the coming year, Statistics Canada will develop its accessibility roadmap and action plan, which will set a course for the accessible delivery of the agency's mandate. This roadmap and action plan will also promote the conditions under which Statistics Canada can provide all Canadians with trustworthy and timely information that responds to the disability community's Nothing Without Us call to action. The disability community is one of the largest minority populations in Canada.

Statistics Canada further commits to a comprehensive accessibility system review in the coming year. This review will identify barriers for clients and employees with disabilities and will introduce design practices that will allow the agency to develop accessible policies, practices, services and programs. Developing and implementing a multi-year accessibility plan require the coordinated efforts of all staff and business units across the agency to transform workspaces; programs; and service delivery to employees, Canadian data users and the respondents from whom the agency collects data. To this end, governance structures and feedback mechanisms, in addition to consultation with networks, will be strengthened.

Internal audit and evaluation

In 2022–23, the Audit and Evaluation Branch will conduct audits and evaluations to yield insight into the appropriateness of the decision-making and governance structures and processes that enable the agency's employees to operate effectively within a strong management regime. Moreover, evaluations with a user-centric focus will assess the relevance of programs. This will provide insight into the degree to which user needs are being considered and met in program design and delivery.