G O V E R N M E N T S  -  P R O V I N C I A L

Context

Provincial and territorial governments are often at the front line in the delivery of infrastructure, buildings, community development and environmental management services. Provincial agencies are involved at several levels: policy development, regulation, funding and direct service delivery.

Drivers

While differences exist among Canada’s provinces and territories in their role in these services, their direct authority over key aspects of our day-to-day life derives from constitutional tradition and federal/provincial agreements. Regional economic health, political priorities and governmental funding arrangements are the key drivers behind provincial-level program delivery.

Outlook

The Canadian economy is characterized by regional differences. The resource sector, manufacturing and services are unevenly represented in each province, giving rise to cyclicality in the relative economic health of one region versus another, at any given time. Globalization of trade, however, is providing ever-larger markets for all economic sectors if the sector players are competitive. The strong demand for resources, the rise of China and India as world-scale economic players and the continued strong north-south trade patterns with the U.S, are expected to underpin continued health of the regional economies of Canada.

Changing Client Needs

A clear shift in the approach to service delivery by provincial and territorial agencies is evident. Direct delivery of services is being replaced by policy development, program management, funding and regulation as the primary tools used by provinces in delivering on their mandate. While the process has often been “bumpy”, the end result is to place service delivery closer to the end-user, usually through the community level of government. Matching resources to the service delivery responsibilities of that order of government is a current challenge.

Dillon’s Approach

Dillon continues our decades-old role of being a major service provider to provincial and territorial governments. Transportation, environmental management and community development departments are major client groups we serve. A recognized leader in our areas, we are equally called upon for direct delivery of capital projects and for policy program design.