Crown Agencies Exempt
	Crown Agencies exempt from the application of section 13 [service plans] of the Budget Transparency and Accountability Act
	552513 British Columbia Ltd. British Columbia Enterprise Corporation British Columbia Public School Employers' Association BC Transportation Financing Authority BCIF Management Ltd. BC PNP Fast Track Fund Ltd. BC Railway Company Canadian Blood Services Community Social Services Employers' Association of British Columbia Creston Valley Wildlife Management Authority Health Employers' Association of British Columbia Leading Edge Endowment Fund Nechako-Kitimaat Development Fund Society Organized Crime Agency of British Columbia Post-Secondary Employers' Association Provincial Rental Housing Corporation Rapid Transit Project 2000 Ltd.

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Statement of the Minister of Finance under section 24(3) of the
Budget Transparency and Accountability Act.

As required by 24(3) of the Budget Transparency and Accountability Act(BTAA), this statement is to provide
the reasons for the Minister of Finance recommending the following:

New Additions to the Government Reporting Entity

A regulation has been enacted under which the following associations are being added to the government reporting entity:

Government has concluded that Crown Corporations Employers' Association is controlled by government under generally accepted accounting principles, and should be included in the government reporting entity. As the organization does not meet the Financial Administration Act definition of a government corporation (less than half of the board of directors is appointed by government), the association must be added to the government reporting entity by regulation.

New Exemptions from Service Plan and Annual Service Plan Report Requirements

A regulation has been enacted under which the Crown Corporations Employers' Association is being exempted from the application of section 13 (service plans) and section 16 (annual service plan reports) of the BTAA.

Because the primary purpose of the Crown Corporations Employers’ Association is to coordinate and conduct collective bargaining, coordinate compensation for exempt employees, and support employers in the areas of benefit administration and human resource practices, information regarding its specific goals, objectives, performance measures and finances is sensitive and the public release of this information as required under sections 13 and 16 of the BTAA would likely jeopardize its ability to fulfill its functions. The public will be able to access general information regarding the association in the service plans and annual reports of the responsible Ministry (Ministry of Finance).

New Additions to the Definition of Education and Health Sector Organizations

A regulation has been enacted under which the Emergency Health Services Commission and the Provincial Health Services Authority are being added to the BTAA definition of education and health sector organizations.

The Emergency Health Services Commission is a separate legal entity within the government reporting entity. Until recently, it was funded from a voted expenditure within the Consolidated Revenue Fund, which meant that it did not meet the BTAA definition of a government organization. Due to a recent change in its funding source, it now meets the definition of a government organization under the BTAA. Government has determined that the Emergency Health Services Commission would best be classified as an education and health sector organization, so that it shares the same accountability and reporting framework as the other health sector organizations overseen by the Ministry of Health.

The Provincial Health Services Authority is classified as one of the six health authorities. However, it does not meet the BTAA definition of a health authority. It is being included in the definition of education and health sector organizations so that its legal definition is consistent with its health authority classification and treatment.