2.4 – Getting set up – Regular Deputy Head meetings and memberships

Regular Deputy Head meetings

Regular Deputy Head meetings

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Weekly call with the Minister’s Chief of Staff 11:00 am - 11:30 pm MST	Weekly Departmental Executive Committee 10:00 am - 12:00 pm MST	Weekly Deputy Ministers call with the Clerk 8:00 am - 9:00 am MST	n/a	Monthly - Public Service Management Advisory Committee (PSMAC) 7:00 am - 9:00 am MST
n/a	n/a	Bi-weekly Regional Federal Council Heads call 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm MST	(fluid) Weekly Minister Vandal call with his Deputy Ministers 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm MST	n/a

 

Weekly call with Minister’s Chief of Staff – Every Monday (11 am - 11:30 am MST)

• Weekly call with Kathy Kettler, Minister’s Chief of Staff
• Opportunity to discuss priorities on a wide range of files

Departmental Executive Committee – Every Tuesday (10 am - 12 pm MST)

• Chaired by the President, the Departmental Executive Committee is the senior decision-making forum responsible for:
  • Providing overall strategic management oversight to legal, policy, and program responsibilities;
  • Setting strategic priorities and direction; and
  • Ensuring that long-term strategic outcomes are achieved
• The Committee also provides the President with advice and support in executing their executive responsibilities.
• Members include regional ADMs, CFO, DG of Communications and DG of Human Resources (Secretariat function managed by DMO and DG of Corporate and Ministerial Affairs).

Deputy Minister weekly with the Clerk – Every Wednesday (8 am - 9 am MST)

• Chaired by the Clerk of the Privy Council, Deputy Ministers from all federal departments meet weekly on Wednesday to discuss current government priorities.
• This meeting is coordinated by the Privy Council Office; an agenda is usually shared 24 hours in advance.
• Members are limited to DM level only; no alternates allowed.

Regional Federal Council Heads – Bi-weekly, Wednesday (12:30 pm - 1:30 pm MST)

• Regional Development Agency (RDA) Deputy Heads meet to discuss RDA business. Paula Isaak, Chair of Chairs for the Councils, chairs this meeting.
• The informal agenda is agreed to at the start of the call and documentation and/or official decisions are not the usual practice.
• Each Deputy Head also brings their policy ADM to the call as an observer.

Weekly Minister-Deputy Minister call – Every Thursday (1:30 pm - 3 pm MST)

• Meeting with Minister Vandal and all Deputy Ministers who report to him.
• Opportunity to discuss upcoming files, items requiring Ministerial approval, and to flag issues requiring Ministerial intervention.

Public Service Management Advisory Committee (PSMAC) – Clerk-appointed committee – Monthly Friday meeting (7 am - 9 am MST)

• Meeting with DM committee members as appointed by PCO.
• DM forum discusses public service management agenda, including approaches for external recruitment.
• Membership is limited to DM and Associate DM; no alternates allowed.

Memberships

Prairie Federal Council

• As Deputy Head of PrairiesCan, you are also the Chair of the Prairie Federal Council.
• The Regional Federal Councils bring together the senior federal officials who are responsible for programs and activities in the North, British Columbia, the Prairies, Ontario, Quebec and the Atlantic provinces.
• The councils share regional intelligence and support central agencies and Deputy Heads in delivering Government of Canada priorities efficiently and effectively across the country.
• The full Prairies Federal Council usually meets quarterly. Next scheduled meeting: early January 2023- focus on Council’s Indigenous pillar.
• The Executive Committee of the Prairies Federal Council meets bimonthly. It is mandated with developing and supporting priorities of the council. Next scheduled meeting: early December- intended to be in-part a virtual meet and greet with you.
• The Prairie Federal Council (PFC) has 54 principal members representing 44 different departments from across the Prairies, plus additional members that are alternates, youth network co-chairs and the National Manager’s Community regional manager.
• The PFC Executive Committee is comprised of the three PrairiesCan Assistant Deputy Ministers (who chair the Senior Leaders Table in each of their respective province), five Network and Pillar Champions, and council members from Public Safety, Canada School of Public Service, Public Service Commission, Natural Resources Canada, Canada, Revenue Agency, Service Canada, and Women and Gender Equality.

Federal Deputy Minister Committees

Deputy Minister Committees serve to:

• advance integrated policy development in support of government priorities and medium-term planning;
• strengthen government-wide policy coherence; and
• deepen and extend deputy minister and departmental engagement in pursuit of a whole of government approach to medium-term management, human resource and policy planning.

PCO will advise you of your participation in Deputy Minister Committees.