Common Services Policy
Sets a strategic direction and provides authority to reform administrative management and the role of common service organizations to create a more streamlined, efficient and responsive public service.
Date modified: 2006-10-26
Hierarchy
Glossary
- common service organization (CSO) (organisme de services communs)
- a department or organization, including a special operating agency (SOA), designated as a central supplier of particular services to support the requirements of departments. CSOs are listed in Appendix B of this policy.
- Crown corporation (société d'État)
- a parent Crown corporation or a wholly owned subsidiary, as defined in section 83(1) of the Financial Administration Act.
- full cost (coût total)
- the sum of all costs, direct and indirect, incurred by the government in the supply of a good, service, property, or right or privilege, and includes, for example, services provided without charge by other departments (such as accommodation and employer contributions to insurance plans); costs financed by separate authorities (such as some employee benefits); the financing costs of inventories; and annualized capital costs, including financing.
- mandatory service (service obligatoire)
- an activity of a CSO to supply goods or services that departments must obtain from the CSO. Mandatory services are mandated either in legislation or policy. See Appendix E for a list of mandatory services.
- non-federal organizations (organismes non fédéraux)
- organizations not listed in the schedules of the Financial Administration Act, including public (e.g. provincial, municipal and foreign governments), non-profit or private sector organizations, and institutions in Canada or abroad.
- optional service (service facultatif)
- an activity of a CSO to supply goods or services that departments may use when it makes sense to do so. An illustrative list of optional services is included in Appendix F.