The Government of Alberta will offer all directors a general orientation to public sector governance. All agencies will provide their directors with an orientation to the particular practices of their organization, including their governance practices. Agencies will pursue ongoing development opportunities for their directors, and the Secretariat will promote learning about best practices in governance.  Government officials (including ministers) who work with agencies will be offered an orientation to agency governance.

Discussion

Given the significant portion of the government’s responsibilities handled through agencies, it is important that there be a commitment to educating and strengthening the knowledge and abilities related to agency governance.  This education needs to take place among two groups: agency directors, and the government officials and ministers who work with them. Governance can be complex and success depends upon everyone understanding their roles. Orientation and on-going learning will help develop common understandings of good governance practices.

Orientation

The Agency Governance Secretariat will develop and offer high-level governance orientation programs both for agency directors and for ministers and departments.  Programs for agency directors will review good governance in the public sector and follow this Framework, and will also foster relationships among directors and key government support services. Orientation packages for ministers and departments will focus on the range of agencies and how to work with them to promote superior outcomes.

Agencies will continue to be responsible for providing their directors with an orientation on their organization and its specific governance practices, mandate and environment.

On-going learning

Agencies will plan ongoing learning for all their directors to improve individual performance. Training may cover a range of skills, with particular consideration given to financial literacy, communication, strategic planning, risk management and understanding the legal environment.

The Agency Governance Secretariat will provide tools to help agencies understand what courses currently exist and to find solutions to any gaps in training that may exist.

Leading practices

The Agency Governance Secretariat will work with ministries to ensure information on emerging leading practices in good governance is available through a variety of means, including courses, networking and other sources.

Public Agency Governance Resources

These resources are provided for information purposes only. The information and/or training programs offered by these external organizations are not being endorsed by the Agency Governance Secretariat or the Government of Alberta.