The Newfoundland and Labrador
System of Community Accounts
State Indicator “Mini” Workshop
Melbourne, Australia
November 19, 2008
Alton Hollett
Assistant Deputy Minister
Economics and Statistics
Department of Finance
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
Where is Newfoundland
and Labrador?
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About Newfoundland and Labrador
Quick Facts
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Canada’s most eastern Province
Population ~ 505,000
700 communities
400 with municipal government
Communities across 6,000 miles of
coastline
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The Community Accounts:
What are They?
Data and indicators
 for 400 communities
 215 NL neighborhood areas
 Many other geographies
 Social and economic indicators
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What Has Worked Well
Conceptual Framework – An Innovation
 Data organized within the Framework
 Framework straddles economy and
society
 Has been key to making data reflect what
people know
 Helps make our user “an expert”
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Our Conceptual Framework
The System of Community Accounts
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A Top Down/Bottom-up Approach
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Determinants of Population Health
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Headline Indicators: Health
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Health Account Structure
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What Has Worked Well (Cont’d)
Data and Indicators Must Inform
 Tell people about themselves,
their lives and community
 Avoid overwhelming
limit number of indicators
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What Has Worked Well (Cont’d)
Providing Data in Tables
 Construct tables carefully
 Have each variable “lead to the next”
 Think of data in tables as “answers to
questions that will be asked”
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What Has Worked Well (Cont’d)
Easy comparison of indicators and data
 Simple communication tools
 Lots of graphics – easy to understand
but avoiding technical “grand-standing”
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What Has Worked Well (Cont’d)
Engaging and Working With Clients,
Stakeholders and Topic Experts
 Listening to clients/users
 Realizing they usually know best what
works
 Working with academic community
 Learning from others
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What Has Worked Well (Cont’d)
Capable Staff
 Highly motivated
 Competent
 Innovative and creative
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What Has Worked Well (Cont’d)
Objective Reviews of System
 Focus groups
 Seek improvement but be consistent
 Careful thought re what we provide and
how we do it
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Challenges and Frustrations
Constraints
 Can never build the System fast enough
 Never enough resources
 Demand exceeds ability to supply
new data, tools etc.
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Adoption of CAs By Other
Jurisdictions
System Adopted by Two Other Provinces
Nova Scotia many years ago
Prince Edward Island to be released
March 2009
Continued Interest by others
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Adoption of CAs By Other
Jurisdictions
 Engaged consistently over years
 Willing to share experiences, expertise
and resources
 Ability to build system for others to use
 The CAs seems to have broad appeal
 Others see value for their areas
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Thank You
Contact:
Alton Hollett
Assistant Deputy Minister
Economics and Statistics
(709) 729-2906
ahollett@gov.nl.ca
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
Canada
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