Millennium Bureau of Canada : On 12 March 1998, Deputy Prime Minister Herb Gray announced the creation of the Millennium Bureau of Canada (MBC) to co-ordinate the government's approach to the millennium (Order-in-Council PC 1998-336). The MBC was to discuss with officials of other federal departments and agencies millennium issues such as program criteria, funding, guidelines and program eligibility, government-wide objectives, and help avoid departmental duplication. The MBC would report to Parliament through the Deputy Prime Minister, as he was responsible for all Government of Canada millennium initiatives.
On 4 June 1998, the Government launched the Canadian Millennium Partnership Program (CMPP), which was to be administered by the MBC. The CMPP, with a total program budget of 160 million dollars over three fiscal years, was designed to provide funding assistance for community-based groups and organizations at the local, regional, national and international levels and to develop projects and initiatives to mark the millennium in Canada. There were seven supporting aims to the program: Celebrating achievements of past generations and telling the stories of Canada in order to inspire generations of the future to face local, national, and international challenges and opportunities; Creating lasting legacies to establish or to renew features contributing to the quality of life in Canada; Encouraging the exploration of Canada; Exchanging culture, ideas and approaches that make the Canada of the next Millennium a richer, more diverse and resilient country; Stimulating Canadian youth to be actively involved in their communities; Respecting the environment and supporting sustainable development; and Advancing the application of appropriate innovation and technology focussed on youth and communities. CMPP funding periods were divided into four phases and applications were reviewed according to local, thematic and national/international balance, as well as to ensure that there was no duplication in projects.
Millennium endorsements, which was the Government's official designation of a millennium project, were also offered for various projects/activities like celebratory or sporting events, infrastructure development, conferences, renovations, individual activities etc. If a project was approved, the individual or organization was permitted to use the Government of Canada's Millennium Logo for non-commercial purposes and the project was included on Canada's Millennium Web site. A Millennium Endorsement did not necessarily include funding, although all projects which received CMPP funding automatically received endorsement.
In addition, through the CMPP, the MBC acted as a centre for the exchange of ideas for millennium celebrations and gave leadership to other organizations planning to mark the beginning of the 21st century.
In order to effectively manage the provision of its program, the MBC was organized into six services: Communications; Management Services; Programs; Strategic Planning and Executive Services; Contribution Management Branch and the Financial and Services Division.
On 31 March 2002 the Millennium Bureau of Canada closed.
