2005 November Report of the Auditor General of Canada

Preparedness for an election call

6.41 Elections Canada, in collaboration with other public sector organizations, should pursue its efforts and explore additional ways to rationalize and improve the overall efficiency of data collection and management of information on Canadians and Canadian geography.
(6.22–6.40)

Elections Canada will continue to be a trailblazer and to provide leadership to rationalize and improve efficiency while providing the best possible service to Canadian electors.

We will build on the 36 existing agreements with various federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal agencies to support voter registration. To date, data-sharing partnerships with electoral agencies have resulted in significant savings.

The Electoral Technology Accord signed by all provincial and territorial chief electoral officers builds upon data-sharing partnerships and demonstrates their commitment to increased co-operation to achieve cost savings and efficiencies through common processes and services, shared data, and expertise.

We will continue to maintain the National Geographic Database with Statistics Canada, as well as partner with Statistics Canada and other federal organizations to develop a common national road network through the Inter-Agency Committee on Geomatics, which is co-chaired by Natural Resources Canada and the Department of National Defence. Finally, we will pursue additional partnerships in this area with the Canada Post Corporation.

In June of this year, Elections Canada launched a strategic review of voter registration, in collaboration with all stakeholders, to continue improving list quality and voter registration services. New partnership opportunities are expected to arise from this project.

The Chief Electoral Officer's recent report to Parliament on proposed changes to the Canada Elections Act includes recommendations specifically designed to further facilitate register and geography partnerships, such as recommendation 2.20, Sharing Elector Data with Provincial Electoral Authorities for Updating Purposes, and recommendation 2.21, Sharing Neutral Address and Geographic Information.

Delivering fair and transparent elections

6.57 Elections Canada should

• assess the cost-effectiveness of its targeted revision activities,
• consider other options to REVISE, and
• evaluate the effectiveness of its communication strategy.
  (6.42–6.56)

The Chief Electoral Officer's recent report to Parliament recommends that revising agents should no longer have to work in pairs while performing targeted revision, a measure that would reduce by half revising agents' fees, related training costs, and travel allowances. Based on the 2004 general election, this would amount to a reduction of some $2.4 million in the cost of targeted revision. The Chief Electoral Officer has also recommended that there be increased flexibility regarding the registration of electors who are absent when a revising agent visits their residence. That is, the elector answering the door would be able to register other eligible electors residing there, without having to provide proof of identification for them. This would increase registration rates at no additional cost.

Elections Canada has already initiated a project to conduct a complete review of its voter registration processes. Data management and systems for lists of electors will also be examined in light of current technological advances.

The advertising campaign for the 2004 general election was developed on the basis of the assessment of the campaign used for the 2000 election and the feedback it generated from parliamentarians and others, as well as the evolving strategies for outreach to target groups. As no negative feedback was received on the 2004 campaign, the Chief Electoral Officer decided that Elections Canada would use the same communications program for the next general election. This decision enabled the agency to be ready with a tested program generating significant savings. In accordance with this recommendation, Elections Canada will undertake a review of the campaign after the next general election.

Performance measurement and reporting

6.91 Elections Canada should enhance the quality of its performance measures and ensure that performance targets and indicators are in place for all of its key activities.
(6.86–6.90)

Elections Canada will continue to build on its experience and expertise in establishing comprehensive performance indicators for election readiness and delivery activities, to determine and refine targets and indicators for its ongoing programs, particularly its advertising campaign and its voter education and outreach programs for youth, Aboriginal communities, ethnocultural groups, and people with disabilities.

6.98 Elections Canada should enhance its reporting to Parliament on its future strategic direction and on the progress made in achieving its objectives.
(6.92–6.97)

Elections Canada has already undertaken to update its strategic plan. In future appearances before Parliament, the Chief Electoral Officer will continue to draw linkages between the strategic direction of the agency, recommendations to amend electoral legislation to improve the electoral process, and the actual performance of the organization between and during elections.

Financial and human resources management

6.110 Elections Canada should

• develop and implement a human resources plan and a succession plan that are linked to its long-term strategic direction and objectives, and
• establish key performance indicators and obtain information on its performance for the management of human resources.
  (6.99–6.109)

Elections Canada's human resources plan will be formalized in the context of the Public Service Modernization Act, while continuing to meet the requirements of the Public Service Employment Act and the Canada Elections Act. This plan will be linked to the agency's strategic plan and integrated with the annual business planning cycle.

Elections Canada will also review its key performance indicators in the area of human resources management and establish additional indicators in accordance with the needs of the agency.