Welcome to the Executive Council Office of the Yukon government

Executive Council Office – Dept. Overview | 1

Executive Council Office

Welcome!

We are pleased that you made the decision to join our

department, and hope that you enjoy your new role! Your

success in your new role is important to us. We want to

partner with you by giving you the tools and resources you

need to ensure your transition to our organization is

successful.

This document is to provide you with initial information and

an overview of the business and branches of Executive

Council Office (ECO), as well as our vision, mission, values

and mandate.

On your first day of work, you will receive further orientation

information to help familiarize yourself with processes within

government and the department of ECO.

Inside This Document

2 – Message from the Deputy

Minister

3 – Dept. Vision, Mission & Values

4 – Organizational Goals

5 – Organizational Chart

6 – Overview: Strategic Corporate

Services

8 – Overview: Corporate Programs

& Intergovernmental Relations

10 – Overview: Aboriginal Relations

11 – Overview: Government Audit

Services & Commissioner‟s Office

We are pleased to announce Yukon Government has been selected as one of Canada’s Top

Employers for 2014!! Please visit http://www.eluta.ca/jobs-at-yukon-public-service for more

information

ECO operations are located in a number of different locations and buildings (i.e. Yukon Government

Administration Building, 419 Range Road, Lynn Building). Please refer to the Government of Yukon,

Internal Telephone Directory for actual addresses.

http://www.eluta.ca/jobs-at-yukon-public-service


Message from your Deputy Minister

On behalf of the Executive Council Office (ECO) it is my pleasure to welcome you! Each member of the ECO team plays an important role in the operation of this Department and in our success as a central agency.

The following information will provide you with an introduction to the Government of Yukon, and more specifically to ECO. Our Department is constantly evolving and developing, and I encourage you to share your perspectives and ask questions throughout your time here.

I look forward to meeting you and wish you success as you begin your career in the Executive Council Office.

- Joe MacGillivray

Joe has two roles within the Executive Council Office:

As Deputy Minister of ECO:

Deputy Ministers are the most senior public servants and take political direction from an elected

minister. Responsibility for the overall management of a department including day-to-day

operations, budget, program development and overall delivery of program and services lie with

the deputy minister. Joe also works with the Premier and his office on department business.

The ECO deputy minister has an additional role different from other deputy ministers. He is

responsible for providing leadership to all deputy ministers and for communicating priorities of the

government to all departments.

As Cabinet Secretary:

The Cabinet Secretary is responsible for providing non-partisan advice to the Premier and Cabinet,

as well as Management Board. Joe is responsible to conduct and maintain the Cabinet decision-

making process. Lastly, he ensures the continuity of government when there is a transition from one

administration to another.


Where We’re Going – Our Vision

We provide exceptional public service leadership within a mature

government.

What We Do – Our Mission

Excellence in public governance for the benefit of Yukon, through

leadership and dedication to high quality advice, analysis and

initiatives.

Mandate

1. Support the Cabinet governance process by ensuring

government policy and planning are coordinated and effective

2. Demonstrate strategic corporate leadership

3. Foster respectful, durable relationships with other governments

4. Promote effective and timely communications

How We Will Get There – Our

Strategic Goals

Department Goals

1. Provide and promote government-wide strategic

leadership

2. Foster effective relationships with our clients and

other governments

3. Enhance the Yukon government‟s role and profile

nationally and internationally

Corporate Goals

4. Attract, develop and engage talented people to

continue to provide high quality service to the public

5. Practice open, accountable and fiscally

responsible government

6. Advance strategic corporate initiatives through

interdepartmental cooperation

What We Believe – Our Values

1. Leadership: We are empowered at all

Levels to take initiative and make a differ-

ence

2. Professionalism: We work with integrity,

dedication and impartiality

3. Respect: We value diverse perspectives

And encourage collaboration

4. Learning: We promote a culture of learning

and personal growth


Your Individual Goals = Organization’s Goals LINE OF SIGHT

The Government and Department‟s mandate constructs ECO‟s 5 year strategic plan. This document

is used to communicate and set the direction of the department‟s goals, objectives and priorities.

ECO has a comprehensive approach to strategic and operational planning. This includes the

development of branch/unit level plans that identify and link to strategic objectives. They outline a

variety of operational functions tasked to each level (right down to individuals on the „front lines‟)

By aligning corporate, departmental and individual goals, we can ensure accountability, that our

short and long term goals are being achieved, and alignment of resources.

ECO Strategic

Plan

Annual

Plan

(Strategic

Plan

“Part B”)

Branch

Plan

Job

Descri-

ption

YOU!!

PPP

PDP

Goals

Work

force

Strategy


Branches of Executive Council Office

As a central agency within Yukon Government, ECO‟s 100+ staff provides leadership and support to the

department and to programs and services across YG (ie. policy development and interdepartmental

projects). ECO also facilitates the cabinet decision-making process by providing advice, analysis and

other services. We are comprised of several branches holding unique leadership or primary information

roles.

Deputy Minister, ECO

Gov't Audit

ADM, Aboriginal Relations

Policy & Consultation

FN Relations & Capacity Dev

Negotiation & Reconciliation

ADM, Corp. Program & Intergov. Relations

Intergovernmental Relations

Science Advisory

Bureau of Statistics

Water Board

Youth Directorate

ADM, Strategic Corporate Services

Commissioner's OFfice

Human Resources

Communications

Policy & Planning

Strategic Initiatives

Finance & Administration

Development Assessment


Strategic Corporate Services

This division is the hub for government and

department strategic planning; we support the

Premier as he fulfills his Ministerial role in the

Legislative Assembly, we support Cabinet and its

sub-Committees in decision-making, and we

provide corporate services (communications,

policy, finance and HR) to the other Divisions in the

department. The work of the teams in this Division is

both advisory and transactional in nature. On the

transaction side, as examples, we pay bills, post

news releases and write job descriptions and

process leave and training forms. On the advisory

side, as examples, we help departments fulfill their

responsibilities relating to the Yukon Environmental

and Socio-Economic Assessment Act through

advice and training, we help management in the

department to design organizational structures that

help them achieve their goals, we teach other

employees in government about the machinery of

government and how to bring items forward, and

we complete policy and communications analyses

to support Cabinet decision-making.

Human Resources

The HR unit plays a key role in helping achieve the

vision and mission of ECO. While upholding strong

values and ethical principles, we provide

strategic leadership and support to employees

and managers in a broad range of functions:

HR operational and strategic planning

Talent and succession management

o training and development

o recruitment, retention & engagement

Staff relations

Job design

Disability management

Pay and leave

Health & Safety

Wellness

The unit endeavors to ensure “the right

people are in the right positions with the right

skills”.

Deputy Minister’s Office

The Deputy Minister is the principal non-

political advisor to the Premier and works

with the Premier, Cabinet and the

community of Deputy Ministers to

communicate and advance government

priorities and initiatives. The Deputy Minister

is also the Cabinet Secretary, with

responsibility for:

Providing quality, timely non-partisan

advice and guidance to the Premier,

Ministers and government departments

on Cabinet priorities and issues

Supporting the effectiveness of the

Cabinet decision-making process

Providing secretariat services to

Cabinet and maintaining the decision

on making records of government

Ensuring the continuity of government

between administrations.

”Coming together is a

beginning.

Keeping together is

progress. Working together

is success.”


{Strategic Corporate Services cont‟d.…}

Finance & Administration

The Finance and Administration unit is responsible for managing the internal financial activities

for the department and coordinating administrative, systems and information management

support services to meet department operational requirements. The branch provides

budgetary, financial and administrative services to the department and to the Cabinet Offices

and supports management in the delivery of departmental programs.

Policy & Planning

Policy and Planning facilitates the Cabinet decision-making process by providing advice,

analysis and other services to Cabinet and its committees. It plays a corporate role in

developing/coordinating policy and other initiatives of a corporate and/or interdepartmental

nature. This includes (but is not limited to)

Supports the Premier‟s Office on legislation, session, and community tour matters;

Works with departments to ensure submissions to Cabinet are clear, concise, and

comprehensive, with sound analysis and advice;

Leads and coordinates strategic planning corporately;

Leads and coordinates corporate policy capacity development;

Supports the implementation of the government‟s priorities by working with departments to

inform and assess progress of initiatives.

Communications

The Communications Branch has both a departmental and corporate leadership role in

meeting government communication needs. Responsibilities include:

Provide government-wide communication services including issues management, media

analysis and review and distribution of Yukon government news releases;

Support the Cabinet decision-making process by working with departments to ensure

effective communications strategies;

Carry out the Commissioner‟s and ECO‟s communications activities and support the Premier

and Cabinet Office

Development Assessment Branch

The Development Assessment Branch (DAB) is the lead agency within the Yukon Government for

administering the Yukon Environmental and Socio-Economic Assessment Act (YESAA). In this role,

the branch:

Provides corporate leadership and assistance to departments with respect to the assessment of

environmental and socio-economic effects;

Represents the Yukon government as decision body on major projects;

Provides policy guidance for YESAA implementation issues; and

Acts as the government‟s principal contact for assessors from the Yukon Environmental and

Socio-economic Assessment Board (YESAB), interested parties, and other governments.


Corporate Programs & Intergovernmental Relations

This division delivers a number of programs both internal to

government and externally. The office of the Senior Science

Advisor identifies opportunities for partner-ships internally

and with external organizations, encourages collaboration

internally and supports the sharing of information to assist

with decision-making. The Youth Directorate provides

funding for youth-serving organizations and encourages

collaboration on, and sharing of best practices in youth

engagement both within government and with the non-

government organization community. Inter government-

tal Relations assists the Premier in presenting Yukon views in

national and international intergovernmental forums and

works with departments to ensure that policy positions presented in intergovernmental forums are

consistent with advancing Yukon as a maturing government. The Water Board Secretariat works with

external applicants who require water licenses and support the independent Water Board decision

makers about the terms and conditions of licenses for water use and the deposit of waste into water.

The Bureau of Statistics produces key information about many aspects of the territorial social,

economic and demographic make-up, assists department in creating and using information to

support decision-making, and conducts survey work for internal and external clients.

Youth Directorate

The main objectives of the Youth Directorate are to:

Provide youth with supports to become involved in

social, economic and cultural activities;

Support organizations serving youth; and

Provide advice to decision makers related to

appropriate programming for youth.

Supporting youth is principally accomplished by increasing

awareness of available programs and services, involving

youth in developing programs directed towards them, and

providing opportunities for youth up to 25 years of age to

contribute to their communities.

Science Advisory

The Office of the Science Advisor guides the Yukon government on scientific matters by providing

strategic direction and policy advice on corporate science interests. The Office promotes and

supports science-based decision making across government and raises awareness of science

initiatives and findings that support and advance Yukon government priorities. The office works to

build scientific capacity and literacy within the Yukon government and Yukon. The Science Advisor

represents Yukon government‟s interests in intergovernmental science forums and coordinates and

identifies opportunities to access, apply or develop scientific knowledge.


Intergovernmental Relations

The mission of the Intergovernmental Relations Branch is to maintain effective relations with

provincial, territorial, federal, northern, regional and international governments in order to

advance the political, social, cultural, economic and environmental priorities of Yukon. In

fulfilling this mission, Intergovernmental Relations (IGR) coordinates the relations with other

governments external to Yukon to ensure they are carried out in a consistent and effective

manner. This includes providing strategic advice and support to facilitate the Premier‟s

participation in First Ministers‟ meetings, meetings of the Council of the Federation, and other

intergovernmental forums and promoting and advocating for Yukon‟s key interests in Ottawa.

The Office of Protocol organizes/coordinates diplomatic visits, ceremonies and official honors.

Water Board Secretariat

The Water Board Secretariat is an

adjudicative board which acts as an impartial

tribunal and is responsible for issuing water

licenses for water use and waste deposit. Its

mandate is to provide for the conservation,

development and utilization of water

resources of the Yukon Territory in a manner

that will provide the optimum benefit for all

Canadians and for the residents of the Yukon

Territory in particular. The staff at the Water

Board office provides administrative, financial,

research and advisory support for the Yukon

Water Board.

Yukon Bureau of Statistics

The Yukon Bureau of Statistics is the government center

for reliable information, research and statistical services

in support of decision making by the Yukon

government, other clients and the public. The bureau‟s

primary responsibilities include:

Making readily available timely demographic,

economic and social statistical information;

Publishing major reports on Yukon-specific

information in areas of public interest such as

the economy, health, population and tourism;

Maintaining an up-to-date resource center as

a Statistics Canada focal point providing

access to national and international statistical

information

“Because the people who are

crazy enough to think they

can change the world, are

the ones who actually do”.


The Aboriginal Relations Division is the Government of Yukon’s lead for negotiating and implementing

Final and Self-Government Agreements and other reconciliation arrangements with First Nations. The

Branch promotes the interests of the Government of Yukon and residents of Yukon in the development

and implementation of these arrangements. Aboriginal Relations promotes mutually respectful

relationships between Yukon Government and all First Nations, and on aboriginal issues with federal,

provincial and territorial governments.

Aboriginal Relations

Negotiation &

Reconciliation

This branch leads the

negotiations for all

matters required for First

Nations Final Agreements,

Self-Government

Agreements and

Transboundary land claim

agreements. It directs

and assists other

departments with

negotiations that arise

from provisions included

in these agreements

(such as taxation

agreements, agreements

related to self-

government powers, joint

planning structures,

royalty sharing

arrangements etc). The

branch also develops,

manages and priorities,

plans & processes to

support the

implementation activities

resulting from the

conclusion of these

agreements.

Policy & Consultation

This branch is responsible for

managing, and evaluating

research, development and

analysis of government policies,

mandates and strategy. This is

done in respect of the

negotiation and implementation

of land claims and self-

government agreements, and

the negotiation of subsequent

agreements arising from such

implementation.

First Nations Relations &

Capacity Development

This branch is responsible

for providing corporate

leadership in the

planning, development,

implementation and

evaluation of First Nation

Relations, governance

and capacity

development initiatives

and corporate policies,

strategies and processes.

The branch liaises

between YG and Yukon

First Nation Governments

to develop

intergovernmental

accords.


ECO also has 2 other standalone units in which it supports…

Government Audit Services carries out internal

audits and provides advisory services to assist

departments in improving the efficiency,

effectiveness, economy and accountability of

Yukon government programs.

The branch provides services in accordance with an

annual audit plan established by the Audit

Committee and examines the adequacy of internal

financial and management controls throughout

government.

Government Audit Services shares information and

coordinates its activities with other providers of

assurance services, and the Office of the Auditor

General to ensure proper audit coverage and

minimize duplication of efforts.

Government Audit Services

The Commissioner is appointed by the Government

of Canada. His role is very similar to a provincial

lieutenant governor.

Responsibilities of the Commissioner include both

statutory and customary duties, as follows:

Ensure continuity of government and maintain

democratic freedoms.

Swear-in members of legislative assembly.

Read the Speech from the Throne at the

opening of each legislative session.

Summon, prorogue, and dissolve the legislature.

Provide assent to bills passed by the Legislative

Assembly, enabling them to become law.

Upon advice from Cabinet, sign orders-in-

council, Commissioner‟s warrants, statutory

appointments, and dispositions of

Commissioner‟s lands.

Represent the distinct interests of Yukon‟s

people by acting as a symbolic head of Yukon,

including attending official functions.

Commissioner’s Office

Documents

Welcome to the Executive Council Office of the Yukon government