This sub-series is a sub-registry documenting certain activity within a larger business line and separately maintained to organize the records of the Economic Sector of the Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS). The Economic Sector of the TBS is the organizational component of the expenditure management system that organizes the activities and records related to all agencies assessed by TBS to deliver programs predominantly in the realm of economic programs and related spheres of government activities (in distinction to the Social and Cultural Sector, the Government Operations Sector or the International Affairs, Security and Justice Sector). The records document the accountability mechanisms and program evaluations associated with the expenditure management system and the estimates process. The principal activity documented in the Economic Sector is the extensive evaluation of individual program activities of agencies and departments of Government through the expenditure management business line of which the annual estimates cycles are the central component. Program evaluation includes the analysis of departmental plans, programs and organizational proposals and recommendations to Treasury Board on acceptance or modification of proposals in accordance with the financial and other priorities of the government. In these ways the Economic Sector, in conjunction with the other program sectors and the Expenditure Management Sector, coordinates the process whereby the government (executive) obtains funds from Parliament. In addition the Sector has served as the Office of Primary Interest in relation to regulatory affairs/reform before this responsibility was transferred to PCO in the period circa 2001 to 2006.
The departments, agencies and crown corporations documented in this series include those administering programs related to agriculture and food processing, natural resources, industry, environment, science, applied science and technological innovation, primary statistical research, space exploration, transportation and standards development, as well as activity directed at economic development, marketing, facilitating of credit, and grants and contributions in relation to specific activities and the complex regulatory framework related to the full scope of all of these activities. National Parks have at times been incorporated into this portfolio. (At other times Parks have been linked to Social and Cultural programs.)
