Public Safety, Defence, and Immigration Portfolio Evaluation
Appendix B: Logic Model
PSDI Logic Model
The PSDI Logic Model is a graphic, strategic-level “map” that identifies the objectives, activities, outputs and intended results that PSDI intends to reach. It forms the foundational basis for the evaluation.
It is important to note that the PSDI Logic Model is a high level, strategic tool. It is not meant to reflect the organizational structures and processes of PSDI, nor the lines of accountability within PSDI. It is meant to present the core activities, outputs, and intended results of PSDI as a Portfolio.
In the logic model shown on this document, four overarching PSDI activities are identified. They create outputs or products or services delivered by and within the direct control of PSDI. For example, legal advice is an output that can be readily identified and attributed to the work of PSDI. Outcomes are the intended impacts or results of the activities and outputs. The logic model presents three levels of outcomes:
- Direct outcomes, which are the immediate results of PSDI activities and outputs and are generally within the Portfolio’s influence or control.
- Intermediate outcomes, which are results to which PSDI contributes, but are beyond the direct influence or control of PSDI. For example, all of PSDI’s activities and specific outputs such as legal advice are intended to directly result in the provision of high quality, cost- effective legal services. Client departments and agencies consider PSDI’s legal advice in light of government policy priorities, operational or other strategic considerations. PSDI’s work contributes to the decisions and actions of its clients, which in turn facilitates their abilities to fulfill their mandates and manage their legal risks.
- Ultimate outcome, which is the departmental-wide second strategic outcome, a federal government supported by high quality legal services. The work of PSDI contributes towards the attainment of this outcome.
The logic model is presented below, followed by a narrative description.
Public Safety, Defence and Immigration Portfolio Logic Model
(exclusive of CAHWC Section, and IRPA Division 9 Cases)
Logic Model - Text equivalent
Activities
Provide legal services, including national strategic legal coordination, to support the Government of Canada’s mandate in public safety, national security, defence and immigration.
This overarching set of activities is divided into three separate legal activities: Litigation Services, Legal Advisory Services and Law Management and Practice.
Outputs
The outputs for Litigation Services are:
Litigation strategies, briefings and advice
Dispute resolution
Litigation conducted
The outputs for Legal Advisory Services are:
Legal opinions, briefings and advice
Negotiations
Legislative drafting advice, instructions and support
Litigation support
The outputs for Law Management and Practice are:
Issues monitoring, briefing and reports
Trends analyses and forecasts
Practice groups
Professional development and training sessions, tools, resources
Knowledge management, tool and resources
All of the outputs contribute to Legal Risk Management
Direct Outcomes
Collectively, the outputs contribute to the following direct outcomes:
High quality, cost effective legal services are provided
Enhanced awareness/understanding within the federal government of legal issues and options for mitigating legal risks.
Intermediate Outcomes
Collectively, the direct outcomes contribute to the following intermediate outcomes:
Contribution to the achievement of the Government of Canada’s policy and operational objectives in accordance with the rule of law
Federal government departments and agencies better able to fulfill their mandates and manage their legal risks
Ultimate Outcomes
Collectively, the intermediate outcomes contribute to the following ultimate outcome:
A federal government that is supported by high quality legal services
PSDI activities and outputs
The primary legal service activities that PSDI undertakes are litigation and legal advisory services. In keeping with the Department’s focus on high quality, cost-effective legal services, PSDI undertakes a range of law management and practice activities that support and contribute to the expected level of service. In accordance with the Department’s legal risk management approach, PSDI identifies and assesses legal risks related to the legal issues of concern to its clients, and/or that may have a broader impact on the Government of Canada. National strategic coordination of legal issues and cases is woven throughout the services provided by the Portfolio, as required, and as noted earlier in this profile, there are specific structures and processes to continuously improve this function.
An overview of the three inter-related activities follows below:
Legal Advisory Services
Legal advisory services comprise a range of activities, including the research, drafting and provision of legal opinions and advice. Given the high volume of policy and legislative initiatives from the PSDI clients, legal support during policy development and approval and legislative and parliamentary processes are significant activities. Legal advisory services also comprise litigation support.
The primary outputs of legal advisory services include legal opinions, briefings and advice, negotiations, legislative drafting advice, instructions and support, and litigation support. This may include single-client, as well as multi-client files.
Litigation Services
PSDI litigation services comprise a range of activities that pertain to client strategic, organizational and corporate needs. They include consultation with clients to explore litigation options and strategies, the preparation of litigation strategies, support for dispute resolution, and the conduct of litigation. Strategic coordination and legal risk management are integral to the litigation services provided.
Law Practice and Management
PSDI actively engages and supports law practice and management initiatives in support of advancing best practices in their work with client departments. This includes legal issues monitoring, and the preparation of related briefings and reports as well as legal trends analyzes and forecasts related to legal issues and legal service practice initiatives. Practice groups, professional development and training sessions, as well as the development and application of tools and resources to aid in knowledge management and service provision are key elements of PSDI law management and practice.
Legal Risk Management
Legal risk management is an embedded activity and an output of all the legal work done by PSDI in keeping with the Departmental approach.
PSDI direct outcomes
There are two direct outcomes to the PSDI work. This first of these is:
High quality, cost-effective legal services are provided.
PSDI activities are designed to deliver high quality, cost-effective legal services. Like legal services throughout the Department, PSDI is actively engaged in efforts to ensure a cost- effective approach to service delivery. Given the nature of PSDI client priorities, files and issues, national strategic coordination is a key element influencing the quality of service delivered.
The second direct outcome is:
Enhanced awareness/understanding within the federal government of legal issues and options for mitigating legal risk.
PSDI plays a critical role in enhancing awareness and understanding within federal government departments and agencies, of legal issues and options for mitigating legal risk on public safety, national security, and defence and immigration issues. Strategic coordination and legal risk management are embedded throughout PSDI legal services.
PSDI intermediate outcomes
There are two inter-related intermediate outcomes to the PSDI work:
Contribution to the achievement of the Government of Canada’s policy and operational objectives, in accordance with the rule of law.
Through all of its activities, PSDI contributes to the efficient and effective provision of high quality legal services to its clients in policy and operational arenas. As noted in this profile, it is a complex, multi-faceted operating environment. PSDI efforts are intended to support and advance client priorities and operations. Their actions influence, yet do not control decision-making.
Government departments and agencies better able to fulfill their mandates and manage their legal risks.
PSDI works collaboratively with clients and government officials to determine options and strategies to prevent, mitigate or effectively manage legal risk. Given the often inter-related nature of PSDI client files and issues, it is important that legal risk management encompass in a strategic and synergistic way, a whole-of-government approach.
PSDI ultimate outcome
Like all legal services within the Department, PSDI’s activities are linked to the strategic outcome of the Department:
Contribution to a federal government that is supported by high quality legal services.
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