2003/04 – 2005/06 SERVICE PLAN Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries

Objectives, Strategies, Performance Measures and Targets

The operational strategy of the ministry continues as outlined in the previous (2002/03) service plan. The core business areas remain the same, but have been re-ordered to more appropriately reflect the government's economic priorities.

Development and refinement of performance measurements is ongoing, particularly of appropriate outcome indicators for the ministry's core business areas. An outcome is the impact a program has on its clients or on society.

There are many other factors outside the ministry's control that influence the goals' ultimate outcomes. Therefore the performance targets shown specifically for the goals are broad indicators that generally reflect the level of success of ministry programs and policies. Recognizing that the ministry is not able to be totally accountable for those broad measures, it will continue to monitor them in order to make adjustments to programs. Also, since outcomes tend to be the result of longer term actions, it is important for analysis to take place over several years.

This service plan does not present a work plan for individual program areas, or a detailed account of the ministry's anticipated activities, programs or initiatives over the next three years. Information about the ministry's activities is contained in individual branch business plans. The performance targets shown next to objectives and their strategies in this plan are more immediate outcome or output measures over which the ministry has more control and accountability. These are the focus of this plan, and will be reported in the annual report published by the ministry after each fiscal year.

This plan has not significantly changed in context from the previous year. Program adjustments are made according to need. Changes in this plan compared to the previous year are primarily in formatting to improve clarity and include a re-ordering of the core business areas. As well, the number of specific performance measures in this document has been reduced in order to reflect those that would be of most meaning to the public.

Core Business Area 1 — Industry Competitiveness

Core Business Area 2 — Fisheries and Aquaculture Management

Core Business Area 3 — Food Safety and Quality

Core Business Area 4 — Environmental Sustainability and Resource Development

Core Business Area 5 — Risk Management

Core Business Area 6 — Executive and Support Services