Government Operations committee  Much like the other secretariats within the Privy Council Office, we work very closely with other central agencies to assess the initiatives that are coming forward and to provide advice on them. We work with agencies such as Public Works and Government Services or Shared Services Canada, because they have a whole-of-government focus.

Government Operations committee  We do work with them quite closely. The primary focus is on whole-of-government transformation, and this work is just getting started.

Government Operations committee  As I said, the focus is on improved effectiveness and efficiency. Within the context of a cabinet committee, there are proposals that would be brought forward, and we would provide advice on these.

Government Operations committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. The role of the secretariat that I lead is to provide advice to the clerk and to the Prime Minister in terms of whole-of-government transformation. Since Budget 2010, Budget 2011, and Budget 2012, the government has placed a great deal of emphasis on whole-of-government initiatives to standardize, consolidate, and re-engineer government operations.

Government Operations committee  Our focus is on effectiveness and efficiency, but with a view to improve services and reduce costs. It is a focus on transformation at the whole-of-government level. It's also with a view to improving outcomes and service.

Government Operations committee  The role the secretariat plays is very similar to other secretariats within the Privy Council Office. It is to provide secretariat support to the cabinet subcommittee on planning and priorities. In addition, my team supports the clerk in terms of public service renewable. This means looking at the trends and challenges facing the public service and supporting the public service in terms of continued excellence into the future.

Government Operations committee  When I say secretariat support, it can be everything from providing advice to working with departments to ensure that the proposals they bring forward are well-founded and well-supported. It goes right through to agenda development, minutes, and things like that. We also support the clerk as he does his annual report to the Prime Minister each year.