Prime Minister Stephen Harper today tabled in Parliament the 20th Annual Report to the Prime Minister on the Public Service of Canadafrom Wayne G. Wouters, the Clerk of the Privy Council, Secretary to the Cabinet and Head of the Public Service.
 
The Report reflects on the significant changes that have unfolded in the Public Service and the world since the publication of the First Annual Report to the Prime Minister in 1992.  Over the past year, the Public Service has delivered on the government’s agenda and continued to find more efficient and effective ways of doing business, while managing personnel changes in a sensible and respectful manner.

“The Clerk’s Annual Report provides a snapshot of the great work of public servants serving Canadians and efforts to improve the operation of the government”, said Prime Minister Harper.  “I am looking forward to working closely with the Public Service as it continues to position itself to meet the needs of Canadians in the future”.

The Clerk’s Report provides an overview of the many accomplishments of the Public Service over the past year.  Among other priorities, the Public Service sought to improve the responsible development of natural resources, modernize the immigration system, secure the retirement income system for Canadians, reduce red tape for Canadian job-creators, renew border infrastructure, and strengthen Canada’s trade with a broad range of international partners.

The Report articulates the Clerk’s priorities for 2013 and beyond.  These include: a greater focus on productivity; embracing enterprise approaches to reduce duplication, streamline processes, and leverage economies of scale; and working collaboratively with internal and external partners and citizens to develop creative and workable policy and program solutions.  More broadly, the Report invites public servants to participate in a dialogue to shape the vision for the future of the public service, and to develop a plan to make this vision a reality.

The Prime Minister thanked the Clerk for this Report and his enduring commitment to excellence in serving Canadians. 

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