Prime Minister Stephen Harper today tabled in Parliament the 19th Annual Report to the Prime Minister on the Public Service of Canada from the Clerk of the Privy Council, Secretary to the Cabinet and Head of the Public Service, Wayne G. Wouters. The Report outlines some of the major achievements of the Public Service over the previous year, articulates key challenges shaping the operating environment and sets the direction for the leadership and management of the Public Service for the year ahead.

“The Clerk’s Annual Report underscores some of the excellent work accomplished by civil servants over last year to help promote Canadian prosperity, meet the diverse needs of our citizens and improve the operations of the government,” said Prime Minister Harper.  “In the coming year, I look forward to working closely with the Public Service on building a leaner, more productive institution able to meet the demands of the future and the commitments in Economic Action Plan 2012.”

The Clerk’s report highlights the many accomplishments of the Public Service over the past year, including its response to natural disasters in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Quebec, concluding ambitious agreements with the United States on perimeter security and economic competitiveness, finalizing and bringing into force free trade agreements with partners in Latin America, and releasing a Canada-First Nation Joint Action Plan. It also underscores how the Public Service has modernized the way it serves Canadians by consolidating Government resources through Shared Services Canada, expanding its commitment to Open Government, and engaging citizens through wider use of Web 2.0 technologies and social media.

The Report also sets the direction for the Public Service to adapt to ongoing fiscal pressures and the changing fabric of Canadian society. This includes working collaboratively and streamlining processes across Government organizations, taking advantage of new technologies and providing Canadians with better services at a lower cost.

Finally, the Prime Minister thanked the Clerk for this Report and his ongoing efforts to improve Canada’s Public Service.

The Report is available on the Clerk’s website (www.clerk.gc.ca).