The senior management of the National Archives of Canada identified the need for corporate planning and clearer accountability in order to create "a rational conservation program taking into account new technological applications and available resources." In December 1986 the responsibility for this program development was allocated to two planning staff in the newly organized Conservation Branch. After wide and lively consultation throughout the department at three levels (working, middle management, and senior management), the planning staff produced a policy integrating conservation with all the other archival functions. The development of the first annual conservation plan and the first long-range conservation plan tested the new policy. Annual conservation plans describe specific conservation-related activities and branch responsibility for implementation, resources, and deadlines, while long-range conservation plans delineate the strategic direction of the corporate conservation program.

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