2003/04 Annual Service Plan Report -- Office of the Premier

The Premier serves as the President of the Executive Council (Cabinet) of the Government of British Columbia. As head of the government and Cabinet, the Premier provides leadership to, and cohesion among, ministers, ministries and agencies of government. The Office of the Premier provides advice and support to the Premier, Cabinet and Caucus to facilitate effective, integrated operation of the Government of British Columbia.

The office works closely with all ministries and major agencies to support their work and to ensure policy co-ordination across government. In addition, the Office of the Premier provides leadership in:

The Premier, with the support of the Office, is responsible for ensuring the New Era platform is implemented in a timely, open and accountable fashion.

Office Vision, Mission and Values

Vision

2. High-quality public health-care services that meet all patients' needs where they live and when they need it.

3. A thriving private-sector economy that creates high-paying job opportunities.

7. A leading-edge forest industry that is globally recognized for its productivity and environmental stewardship.

10. Responsible, accountable management of your public resources and tax dollars.

The Premier and the Office of the Premier have a broad responsibility for the achievement of the Government's vision, outlined in the British Columbia Government Strategic Plan 2002/03 – 2004/05; Restoring Hope and Prosperity:

British Columbia is a prosperous and just province, whose citizens achieve their potential and have confidence in the future.

Within that broad responsibility, the Office of the Premier has specific accountability for the structure of government, effective and transparent communications, and development of positive intergovernmental relations.

To ensure the achievement of the New Era vision through leadership across government and Crown agencies in innovative planning, timely decision-making and effective service delivery, supported by leading-edge technology, open and transparent communications, and positive intergovernmental relations.

The Office of the Premier's leadership of government is founded upon the New Era values of:

To make decisions in a manner that is consistent, professional, fair and balanced.

Office Operating Context

In pursuing its vision and outcomes, the Office of the Premier faces a number of challenges and opportunities that will inform and shape its planning context over the next three years:

Office Structure and Core Business Areas

The structure and core business areas of the Office of the Premier are intended to facilitate the achievement of the government's key strategic goals and objectives as stated in the New Era document and Government's Strategic Plan, and to focus the activities of the office to enable efficient addressing of core business priorities.

1. Intergovernmental Relations Secretariat

Works with all ministries and agencies of government to ensure that relations with federal, provincial and international governments advance British Columbia's interests.

2. Crown Agencies Secretariat

Oversees the system of Crown corporations and provides advice, information and support to improve good governance and accountability for results. The Board Resourcing and Development Office ensures the appointment of fully qualified directors to Crown corporations, agencies, boards and commissions (ABCs).

3. Public Affairs Bureau

Leads and co-ordinates communications with internal and external stakeholders, and ensures that information about government programs and services is accessible to British Columbians.

4. Executive and Support Services

Manages key relationships on behalf of the Premier, provides strategic advice, communications, media relations and issues management support directly to the Premier.

Comprised of the Office of the Deputy Ministers to the Premier and Cabinet Operations. The Deputy Ministers to the Premier provide leadership and co-ordination across all ministries and agencies of government for development of policies, legislation and public service reform. Cabinet Operations provides administrative support and services for Cabinet decision-making processes and facilitates the effective operation of Cabinet, and Cabinet and Government Caucus Committees (GCCs).

Update on New Era Commitments

Government has achieved 194 of its 201 New Era commitments. During the 2003/04 fiscal year, the Office of the Premier made a great deal of progress on implementing its New Era commitments. Significant achievements include:

Cut the base personal income tax rate to the lowest rate of any province in Canada for the bottom two tax brackets, on the first $60,000 of income, within our first term. Honour this commitment without cutting funding for health or education.	Done. Since January 2002, British Columbians have paid the lowest rates of personal income tax in Canada on their first $60,000 of income. In addition, the top marginal rate is the second-lowest in the country. This was achieved while increasing funding for health and education by over $770 million over the past two fiscal years. Looking forward, the three-year fiscal plan announced in Balanced Budget 2004 provides for increases of $1 billion for health services, $313 million for K-12 education and $105 million for post-secondary education.
Pass real Balanced Budget legislation, to make balanced budgets mandatory by our third full budget and to hold all ministers individually accountable.	Done. The Balanced Budget and Ministerial Accountability Act, passed in August 2001, requires 20% of ministers' salaries be withheld pending compliance with ministry and government budget projections. This personal accountability contributed to the better than planned fiscal results in each of the past two fiscal years and allowed the government to introduce Balanced Budget 2004 on schedule, as promised.
Honestly balance the budget, without cutting funding for health care or education.	Done. The government introduced a balanced budget in February 2004. Funding for health has increased by $2 billion since 2000-01, to $11.3 billion in 2004-05; K-12 education spending is being increased by $313 million over the next three years; and advanced education funding will rise $105 million over the next three years.
Cut the "red tape" and regulatory burden by 1/3 within three years.	Underway. The net reduction in regulatory requirements is 113,440 as of March 31, 2003; gross reduction is 139,421.
Consult with educators, students and administrators on the hidden costs to students and institutes of previous tuition freezes that were not properly funded by government and that have reduced student access and reduced course offerings.	Done. Legislation granting B.C.'s public post-secondary institutions autonomy over tuition-fee levels was passed in April 2002. Government has also begun the largest expansion of post-secondary opportunities in 40 years. We have committed to add 25,000 new seats to institutions throughout the province by 2010, will create two new universities in the Okanagan and the Thompson-Cariboo and are expanding campuses and capital facilities around the province.
Aggressively support and champion British Columbia's bid to host the 2010 Winter Olympics.	Done. B.C. won the 2010 Olympics on July 2, 2003.
Work to extend high-speed, broad band Internet access to every community in BC through wireless technology, cable, phone lines and fibre optics.	Ongoing. NetWork BC, launched in February 2004 will connect all communities in B.C. by 2006 and build the next-generation voice and data network for B.C.'s extended public sector.
Double the annual number of graduates in computer science, and electrical and computer engineering, within five years.	Underway. 2,485 new student spaces have been allocated to participating public post-secondary institutions since 2002-03 as part of an overall investment of $150 million in student spaces over five years.
Increase the number of medical school graduates over the next five years.	Underway. The medical school at UBC is being expanded and will include new satellite campuses at UNBC and UVic. Medical school spaces will almost double, to 224 from 128, by 2005.
Expand training and post-secondary programs to graduate more Care Aides, Licensed Practical Nurses and Registered Nurses.	Ongoing. Since 2001, the government has added approximately 2,000 new education spaces for nurses in local colleges, institutes, university colleges and universities throughout the province. More than 700 nurses have been funded to take refresher, qualifying or English-as-a-second-language courses. This allows non-practicing Canadian graduates or internationally educated non-practicing B.C. residents to be eligible to return to nursing.
Work with employers, post-secondary institutes and the Industry Training and Apprenticeship Commission to increase training and apprenticeships in trades and technical sectors.	Underway. The Industry Training Authority established in January 2004 is working to increase the number of trainees by 30 per cent over three years, and has approved new credentials and training. 42 pilot projects have been launched to test new training and delivery ideas; 16 are completed. 44 extra technical training programs have been funded at 11 institutions. A new trades and applied learning campus has been announced for Kwantlen University College, as well as an aerospace campus for BCIT and a new Okanagan College that will expand trades training.
Appoint a Citizens' Assembly on Electoral Reform to assess all possible models for electing the MLAs, including preferential ballots, proportional representation, and our current electoral system.	Done. The assembly will report its findings by December 2004.
Increase access to Crown lands and resources, to create jobs in tourism, mining, forestry, farming, ranching, and oil and gas.	Done and ongoing. A maximum of 140 days has been set to process applications. An integrated agency, Land and Water BC, was created in February 2002 to co-ordinate land and water applications. Amendments to the Oil and Gas Commission Act, passed in May 2002, streamline permitting and application reviews.
Fast-track treaty talks, to conclude fair treaty settlements.	Done and Ongoing. In the last year, Agreements-in-Principle have been signed with four First Nations: Lheidli T'enneh, Maanulth, Tsawwassen and Sliammon. These are based on the publicly endorsed principles for treaty negotiation. Instructions have been issued to all negotiators to identify opportunities for expediting agreements.