Canada. Western Economic Diversification Canada : The Western Economic Diversification Act (assented to June 8, 1988) established the Department of Western Economic Diversification, also known as Western Economic Diversification Canada, WED, and WD. The Act came into force June 28, 1988.
The department was organized and operating before this legislation was passed. On August 4, 1987 Order-in-Council 1987-1621, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, designated as a department the Federal Economic Development Coordinators Branch in the Western Provinces of the Department of Regional Industrial Expansion, "to be known as the Western Economic Diversification Office." Later, the name was changed to the Department of Western Economic Diversification.
Since the creation of Industry Canada in 1995, Western Economic Diversification Canada has been part of the Industry Canada portfolio, and is one of three region-specific organizations within the portfolio. The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) serves the four Atlantic provinces. The Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec (also known as Canada Economic Development, and formerly known as the Federal Office of Regional Economic Development (Quebec) or FORD(Q)) serves Quebec. Western Economic Diversification Canada serves the four Western provinces.
The legislative mandate of WD is broad. The Western Economic Diversification Act requires the Minister (1) to coordinate the policies and programs of the Government Canada in relation to the development and diversification of the economy of Western Canada, (2) to coordinate the efforts of the Government of Canada to establish cooperative relationships with the provinces constituting Western Canada, business, labour and other public and private organizations for the development and diversification of the economy of Western Canada, and (3) to collect detailed information on all programs and projects undertaken by the Minister.
Further, the Act enables the minister, among other things, (1) to formulate plans and integrated strategies to support development and diversification of the economy of western
Canada (2) to implement programs and projects in support of these plans and strategies (3) to oversee the implementation of programs and projects administered by other departments or agencies of the Government of Canada in support of these plans or strategies (4) to plan, manage and implement programs and projects intended to contribute directly or indirectly to the economic prosperity of the region, or to the establishment, development, support and promotion of enterprises, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises in Western Canada (5) to plan, direct manage and implement programs and projects to improve the business environment in Western Canada (6) to initiate, implement, sponsor, promote and coordinate policy research, policy development and economic analysis to support development and diversification of the economy of Western Canada, and (7) with the approval of the Governor in Council, to enter into agreements with the government of any province.
When it was created, WD took over the administration of several programs of the Department of Regional Industrial Expansion (DRIE) in the four western provinces. It carried on the work of DRIE's Federal Economic Development Co-ordinators, that is, the work of co-ordinating regional economic development activity and, in particular, the responsibility for "delivery of the ERDA planning agreements in each province." It also administered other DRIE programs including: subsidiary agreements under the Economic and Regional Development Agreements (ERDAs) in the four western provinces; General Development Agreements (GDAs); the Special Areas Act as it related to Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia; Western Transportation Industrial Development Program (WTID); and the Industrial and Regional Development Program (IRDP) Although several of these programs had expired, WED distributed funds to honour DRIE's commitments. In 1990-91, under the framework provided by the ERDA's framework agreements, 5-year cost-sharing agreements with provinces were concluded. These Agreements, called Western Economic Partnership Agreements, were administered by WD. The pattern of regional administration of federal programs continued when the Canada Infrastructure Works Program was introduced in approximately 1994. Federal contributions to this program came from WD in Western Canada, ACOA in Atlantic Canada, the FORD-Q in Quebec, and from Industry Canada in Ontario.
In addition to administering nation-wide programs, the Department of Western Economic Diversification administered the Western Diversification Program (WDP), a major program aimed at supporting enterprises, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises. Other regions also had programs to help small and medium-sized enterprises, although the programs were not identical in each region. Until 1995, WDP provided repayable contributions to many western enterprises. Between 1993 and 1995 it focussed on businesses with fewer than 50 employees. In 1995, WD stopped providing direct financial assistance to individual companies. Instead it made contributions "to small and medium-sized enterprises in strategic growth industries through the establishment of specialized Loan/Investment funds, on commercial terms, in cooperation with private and public sector providers of debt/equity capital.". WD also funded Community Futures Development Corporations (CFDCs), which administered the Community Futures Program and, on a much smaller scale, Women's Enterprise Initiatives (WEIs). CFDCs and WEIs made loans and provided "professional services to women, aboriginal and young entrepreneurs in rural and remote communities" In 1995 the International Trade Personnel Program (ITPP) was begun, and administered by WD, ITPP was "a pan-western initiative developed to strengthen the export competitiveness of western Canadian business." ITPP provided funding directly to eligible businesses and organizations to employ recent unemployed or under-employed post-secondary graduates for periods up to three years.
Jointly with the Department of Supply and Services, WD administered the Western Procurement Initiative, to aim of which is "to increase the level of participation of western companies in federal procurement at both the prime and sub-contractor levels"
On August 6, 2021, after 34 years, WD split into two separate regional development agencies (RDAs) in recognition of the different economic realities of each region. Canada Economic Development for the Prairies (PrairiesCan) is responsible for economic development in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, and Canada Economic Development for the Pacific (PacifiCan), for which WD's British Columbia Regional Unit is now in their control, is responsible for economic development in British Columbia. Although WD's business name has changed to PrairiesCan, its legal title is still Western Economic Diversification Canada, and it remains subject to the Western Economic Diversification Act as its legislative framework. Its mandate is to support economic growth and diversification in the Prairie provinces and advance the region's interests in Ottawa's national economic policy, programs, and projects. PrairiesCan will fulfill this mandate by working with clients and partners in its four roles: investor, pathfinder, convener and advisor.
PrairiesCan's Headquarters is in Edmonton, and regional offices are in Edmonton, Winnipeg, and Saskatoon. A liaison office is located in Ottawa.
Osbaldeston, Gordon. Organizing to Govern (Toronto: McGraw-Hill Ryerson, 1992)
WD, Annual report, 1987-1989, p.5
WD, Main Estimates, Part III, 1996-97 pages 15, 19, 29; 1999-2000, p.13
PrairiesCan, 2023-2024 Departmental Plan, p.5
