ARCHIVED - Registry of the Competition Tribunal - Report

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Section II – Analysis of Program Activities by Strategic Outcome

Strategic Outcome

The Registry of the Competition Tribunal provides all administrative support required for the proper conduct of the Competition Tribunal’s business and for the Tribunal to hold hearings anywhere in Canada.

Program Activity: Process Cases

2009-10 Financial Resources ($ thousands)			2009-10 Human Resources (FTEs)
Planned Spending	Total Authorities	Actual Spending	Planned	Actual	Difference
$1,641	$1,779	$882	10 FTEs	7 FTEs	3 FTEs

Expected Results	Performance Indicators	Targets	Performance Status	Performance Summary
Timely Registry services that provide the public efficient access to case records and decisions.	Percentage of case documents and decisions posted on website within 48 hours of filing.	90% of case documents and decisions posted on the website within 48 hours of filing	Met all	90% of the documents are posted within 24 hours of filing. The others are posted later after obtaining confirmation that they do not contain confidential information.
Documents are processed according to timeframes established in the Rules of Procedures.	Documents processed within established timeframes.	100% of case documents processed within established timeframes.	Met all	The training provided to Registry staff helped expedite the processing of documents.
Efficient access to electronic hearings of applications.	Percentage increase in use of electronic hearings.	25% increase in the use of the electronic hearing system.	Mostly Met	The types of hearings held before the Tribunal during the year could not have been processed efficiently in an electronic manner. Future hearings will proceed electronically unless directed otherwise by the Tribunal.

Program Activity: Internal Services

2009-10 Financial Resources ($ thousands)			2009-10 Human Resources (FTEs)
Planned Spending	Total Authorities	Actual Spending	Planned	Actual	Difference
$371	$374	$486	4 FTEs	3.9 FTEs	0.1 FTEs

The small size of the organization combined with its fluctuating workload causes challenges atypical of large organizations. To maintain an optimum level of service, the Registry must contract out many services such as staffing, compensation and financial systems from large organizations. It implemented a long-term asset replacement plan to ensure it continues to have the infrastructure it needs to support the work of the Tribunal as expeditiously as possible. The Registry updated 16 policies and procedures in line with changes resulting from Treasury Board’s work to reduce the web of rules.

Performance Analysis

Program Activity: Process Cases

The Registry of the Competition Tribunal does not have control over the number of proceedings filed. It can only react to the number of applications filed by the parties. There was an increase in the number of filings in 2009–10 compared with 2008–09. This is mainly due to the number of consent agreements filed at the Tribunal. One proceeding was ongoing at the end of this fiscal year; it will be completed in 2010–11.

Number of Proceedings

2008–09 2009–10 Number of proceedings filed 11 19 Number of proceedings completed 12 19 Number of proceedings filed from previous year and still ongoing 1 1 Number of decisions rendered 32 19

Program activity: Internal services

Employee turnover was lower than last year, providing better continuity and enabling the organization to update some of its policies and procedures, as well as allowing the allocation of more resources toward employee development. Learning plans were developed for every employee and financial resources were committed to support the developmental objectives of all staff.

The Registry’s corporate risk profile was reviewed and updated and strategies to mitigate risk were developed to ensure uninterrupted registry service will continue to be provided to Tribunal members, parties to cases and Canadians by well trained registry officers and legal advisors.

 

Lessons Learned

The number of documents filed through the Registry’s website-based e-filing system has decreased slightly. The e-filing system is working properly but the parties seem to prefer to communicate with the Registry by regular email when security and size limitations permit. To encourage the parties to take advantage of the additional security the e-filing system provides, as well as its capacity to handle much larger documents than email, the Registry is considering reducing the amount of information to be entered by the parties when they submit their documents electronically. To increase the compatibility with other operating software, the Registry is upgrading the technology being used to support the e-filing system.

Benefits for Canadians

In view of the mandate of the Competition Tribunal, the Registry was not involved in the delivery of initiatives that were part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan. However the jurisdiction of the Tribunal was expanded via a number of changes to the Competition Act. These changes will help create a more competitive business environment and enhance the ability of Canadian firms to participate in global markets.

By supporting the Tribunal in its conduct of open, fair, transparent and expeditious hearings, the Registry of the Competition Tribunal contributes to the Government of Canada outcome area of a fair and secure marketplace. Conducting proceedings in a timely manner is key to keeping Canadian businesses competitive. The outcomes of Tribunal proceedings may be felt by all Canadians because the decisions help promote the efficiency and adaptability of the Canadian economy on issues related to the Tribunal’s jurisdiction.

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