Management Response and Action Plan (MRAP) - Audit of SPD and CHSRF

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Management Response and Action Plan (MRAP) - Audit of SPD and CHSRF

Recommendations	Management Response: Accept Accept with conditions Reject	Planned Management Action	Deliverables	Expected Completion Date	Accountability
1- It is recommended that the Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic Policy Branch, should improve departmental monitoring of funding agreements with the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation (CHSRF).	Accept	The Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic Policy Branch (SPB) (formerly the Health Policy Branch) will provide the Science Policy Directorate (SPD) (formerly the Office of the Chief Scientist), SPB with clear requirements for departmental monitoring of CHSRF program impacts and ensure that the SPD has, in conjunction with other areas of the Department, the related capacity needed to effectively undertake these functions.	Clear, senior-management approved, requirements for departmental monitoring of CHSRF programs and their impacts and linkages to departmental and governmental priorities. Appropriate resources provided to perform this monitoring function.	December 2008	SPD/SPB
		The Chief Financial Officer Branch (CFOB) will review and provide advice on CHSRF financial documents to the SPD. The SPD will provide relevant documentation to CFOB.	SPD's briefings for the Deputy Minister's (or his designate) participation at CHSRF Board meetings will now include expert analysis of CHSRF financial matters.	Already completed. Advice to be provided as required	SPD/SPB and CFOB
2. It is recommended that the Assistant Deputy Minister ,Strategic Policy Branch, and the Science Policy Directorate (SPD) encourage the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation (CHSRF) and the Board of Trustees to amend the Core and NURSE investment policy to reflect the criteria appropriate to the circumstances of the foundation while respecting the Prudent Person Principle as articulated by the Minister of Finance Investment Management Framework for Up-Front Funding (2007)	Accept	The SPD will initiate discussions with the CHSRF to bring its investment policy in line with the 2007 Minister of Finance Investment Management Framework(Framework). These discussions will take place in the context of other discussions currently underway with the CHSRF to amend the Foundation's funding agreements to reflect Treasury Board Secretariat's new accountability and reporting requirements for recipients of federal funding. In light of CHSRF's concerns about the impact of adoption of (the conservative investment approach of) the Framework, prior to engaging in discussions on this particular matter, the SPD is consulting with TBS and the Department of Finance on the implementation of the Framework. Further, given CHSRF's contention that the Framework will result in decreased investment revenues for CHSRF and, therefore, on the Foundation's long-term sustainability, the SPB, including SPD, intends to consult within the Health Portfolio and with the CHSRF on the future of health services research in Canada and the appropriate roles and responsibilities of key players in this area.	Revised Health Canada- CHSRF funding agreements	Winter 2008/2009	SPD/SPB