a set of indicators that could serve as the basis for a governmentwide performance
plan.3
In an October 1997 report, the Treasury Board Secretariat reaffirmed its
interest in the concept, observing:
Agreement of key societal indicators . . .would contribute significantly to more
effective and integrated policy and planning. Many jurisdictions have also
found that engaging citizens in determining what matters and what to count
can be a way of building a more meaningful relationship between government
and citizens. (Treasury Board Secretariat 1997, 16)
At the same time, however, the Secretariat observed that the development of
key indicators would be “a multiyear undertaking.” It seemed to suggest that
the more effective method of developing indicators would be on a sector-bysector
basis. The Secretariat observed that several federal departments were
engaged in negotiations with provinces regarding program delivery in which
the development of jointly agreed-upon outcome measures was being actively
discussed (Treasury Board Secretariat 1997). A 1998 report from the Secretariat
once again confirms the government’s interest in the identification of
“broad indicators” but suggests that this project will take several years (Treasury
Board Secretariat 1998a, 9). A list of possible indicators drafted by an
internal working group (see annex 1.E) was not adopted in the 1998 report
(Treasury Board Secretariat 1998b).