ARCHIVED - Environment Canada - Report

• Previous Page
• Table of Contents
• Next Page

This page has been archived.

Minister’s Message

As Canada’s Minister of the Environment, I am pleased to present the 2010–2011 Departmental Performance Report for Environment Canada. This report outlines the Department’s progress in addressing the priorities set out in the 2010–2011 Report on Plans and Priorities.

The Government of Canada remains committed to protecting and conserving Canada’s rich natural heritage. We are working to expand our protected areas and to ensure the sustainable development of our resource wealth.

The Department took major steps at the domestic, continental and international levels to address climate change and advance the clean air agenda. We made progress towards our sector-by-sector regulatory approach to reducing our greenhouse gas emissions 17% from 2005 levels by 2020 by releasing regulations addressing greenhouse gas emissions from passenger and light-duty trucks, and announcing our intention to regulate emissions from coal-fired electricity. These and other federal and provincial initiatives have already brought us one quarter of the way towards our 2020 target. Internationally, Canada continued to be actively engaged in the negotiations aimed at developing a new, fair and effective international post-2012 climate change regime, by adopting the Cancun agreements.

Environment Canada, in partnership with Health Canada, has worked collaboratively with provinces and territories, industries and environmental and health groups to develop a national air quality management system. This system is expected to be fully implemented in 2013, and will include new regulated standards for industries and new air quality standards for the country.

We also continued to take action to protect the environment and the health of Canadians from harmful substances. In 2010-2011, through the Chemicals Management Plan, we assessed hundreds of new and existing substances for potential risk to human health and the environment and added 29 to the list of toxic substances, in addition to proposing regulations to prohibit the manufacture, import and sale of most mercury-containing products in Canada. The Department is also focused on reinforcing Environment Canada’s reputation as a world-class regulator.

We completed and tabled the first Federal Sustainable Development Strategy, providing a government-wide approach to sustainability by improving the transparency of environmental decision making. Environment Canada has also coordinated the development of the first phase of an integrated environmental monitoring plan for the oil sands region.

As Environment Canada continues to work towards a clean, safe and sustainable environment, we are building on these accomplishments to ensure Canada’s continued environmental and economic success.

 

Section I: Organizational Overview

Raison d’être

A number of acts and regulations provide the Department with its mandate and allow it to carry out its programs. Under the Department of the Environment Act, the powers, duties and functions of the Minister of the Environment extend to and include matters relating to

• the preservation and enhancement of the quality of the natural environment, including water, air and soil quality;
• renewable resources, including migratory birds and other non-domestic flora and fauna;
• water;
• meteorology;
• the enforcement of any rules or regulations made by the International Joint Commission relating to boundary waters; and
• the coordination of the policies and programs of the Government of Canada respecting the preservation and enhancement of the quality of the natural environment.

Beyond the Department of the Environment Act, the Minister of the Environment has primary responsibility for other acts, including the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999), the new Federal Sustainable Development Act, and several pieces of legislation relating to the protection of biodiversity and water. These include responsibility for the enforcement of environmental laws and regulations. The Department also has a demanding role under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, primarily as a department that provides information and analysis to others (a federal authority), but also as a department with decision-making responsibilities (a responsible authority).

Environment Canada is also a key partner with other federal departments, where statutes such as the Arctic Waters Pollution Prevention Act, the Canada Foundation for Sustainable Development Technology Act, and the Marine Liability Act provide Environment Canada with secondary or shared responsibility for the successful execution of the mandates of other federal departments.

Responsibilities

Environment Canada’s role is multi-faceted. The Department is a regulator, one of the largest in the federal government, with statutory and program responsibilities relating to biodiversity and environmental protection. This is a complex and challenging role, involving the integration of leading-edge research in many disciplines and proven best practices derived from the experience of stakeholders, as well as existing policy priorities and statutory authorities. The objective is first to generate standards and guides for practices that will enhance Canada’s natural capital and, second, to set out boundaries and barriers to activities that put Canada’s environment at risk.

In carrying out its regulatory responsibilities, Environment Canada also assumes an enforcement function necessary to ensure that companies and individuals comply with pollution prevention and wildlife acts and regulations. This effort, which includes compliance promotion, is undertaken in collaboration with provincial and territorial governments, and national and international agencies and organizations. It addresses, for example, the use of toxic substances and their release to air, water or land. Wildlife enforcement officers enforce Canadian wildlife legislation, which protects plant and animal species from human interventions, including hunting or trade, that could adversely affect long-term wildlife conservation.

The Department is also a service provider. Through its weather and environmental services program, Environment Canada produces accurate and timely weather warnings and forecasts that benefit the economy and individual Canadians alike; supports public security objectives and emergency and crisis management responses to high-impact events such as tornadoes, floods and droughts; and implements programs in direct support of ecosystem sustainability and environmental protection.

Environment Canada is a science-based department and a leader in scientific innovation, including meteorology and many of the life sciences disciplines (see Environment Canada’s Science Plan). Environment Canada is heavily engaged, therefore, in developing and applying scientific approaches to understand naturally occurring environmental processes and their interactions. This knowledge enables the Department to evaluate and assess the effects of known and emerging stressors on the environment, thus supporting the design and evaluation of the protection of biodiversity, policy options for pollution prevention, control, management and adaptation, and the delivery of state‑of-the-art weather services.

The Department increasingly pursues its work through effective partnerships. Inside the Government of Canada, Environment Canada’s services, regulations and science combine with the work of other departments to address broad federal priorities such as emergency and pandemic preparedness, ecosystem and water resource management, management of contaminated sites, implementation of land claims, northern development and sovereignty, and energy security. The delivery of Environment Canada’s mandate also gives rise to partnerships with provincial, territorial and Aboriginal governments, and non-governmental organizations. These partnerships directly support a wide range of shared objectives relating to protecting biodiversity, improving water quality, reducing pollution and enforcing various regulatory requirements.

Strategic Outcome(s) and Program Activity Architecture (PAA)

The Program Activity Architecture (PAA) provides an inventory of a department’s programs, and is therefore a basis for performance measurement as appears in the Departmental Performance Report. Environment Canada’s 2010–2011 PAA included three Strategic Outcomes that support our responsibility for providing Canadians with a clean, safe and sustainable environment:

• Threats to Canadians and their environment from pollution are minimized
• Canadians are equipped to make informed decisions on changing weather, water and climate conditions
• Canada’s natural environment is conserved and restored for present and future generations

A fourth Strategic Outcome supports the Government of Canada’s priority of strong economic growth:

• Canadians benefit from the responsible development of the Mackenzie gas resources.¹

The following diagram, which presents the Department’s 2010–2011 Strategic Outcomes and PAA, shows how programs are organized at Environment Canada.

2010–2011 Program Activity Architecture (PAA)

[text version]

Organizational Priorities

The priority status legend table below provides definitions of the performance ratings for the Department’s priorities.

Priority Status Legend

In the 2010–2011 Report on Plans and Priorities (2010–2011 RPP), Environment Canada identified three priorities. These priorities fully support ongoing progress towards program results in support of the Department’s Strategic Outcomes.²

The following table identifies the 2010–2011 priorities, provides a rating of performance for 2010–2011, and highlights a few achievements and progress as measured against these priorities and the plans for meeting these priorities as stated in the 2010–2011 RPP.

Organizational Priorities for 2010–2011	Type	Linkages to Strategic Outcome(s)
1- Realize concrete progress on international, continental and domestic initiatives on climate change and clean air	Ongoing	Strategic Outcome 3: Threats to Canadians and their environment from pollution are minimized.
Status: Mostly Met
Domestically: The Government of Canada worked towards its Copenhagen target by continuing to develop and implement a sector-by-sector regulatory approach to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, aligning its efforts with the approach being taken by the United States when appropriate for Canadian circumstances. In June 2010, the Government announced its intention to develop regulations addressing GHG emissions from coal-fired electricity generation. Later, in October 2010, the Government released final regulations addressing GHG emissions from passenger vehicles and light-duty trucks. The Department worked closely with provinces and territories in the development of its approach to reduce emissions. Environment Canada signed an agreement in principle with British Columbia (April 2010) on efforts to address climate change and initiated discussions on the establishment of an agreement in principle with Quebec on efforts to address climate change. Environment Canada has worked with the provinces of Ontario, British Columbia and Manitoba since mid-2010 to develop memoranda of agreement (MOAs) relating to data sharing. In October 2010, the federal, provincial and territorial environment ministers endorsed the final recommendations of the Comprehensive Air Management System (CAMS) developed over the preceding two years. They agreed to move forward in a collaborative effort with stakeholder engagement to finalize a new system for managing air quality. The system will result in improved air quality across Canada through the implementation of new ambient air quality standards, industrial emission requirements, and local air zones and regional airsheds management. Continentally: Canada met all its commitments by continuing to collaborate with the United States through the Clean Energy Dialogue on development of clean energy technologies to reduce greenhouse gases and air pollutants. The Government adopted a regulatory sector-by-sector approach in 2010 in order to align its efforts with those being undertaken in the United States. Foundational analysis on cap-and-trade design continued. Canada engaged the United States in efforts to reduce the transboundary flow of air pollution under the Canada–United States Air Quality Agreement, including discussions on the development of an annex on particulate matter to the Agreement. Internationally: Canada met all its objectives for a post-2012 global agreement on climate change by adopting the Cancun Agreements. Canada continued to negotiate revisions to the Gothenburg Protocol to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP Convention) that will facilitate our eventual ratification, if desired. Canada participated in collaborative work with parties on the issue of black carbon. These parties included the Arctic Council’s Expert Group and the Task Force on Short-Lived Climate Forcers, which finalized its progress report and summary of recommendations, as well as the Expert Group on Black Carbon under the LRTAP Convention.

Organizational Priorities for 2010–2011	Type	Linkages to Strategic Outcome(s)
2- Enhance environmental protection through the implementation of key national initiatives	Ongoing	Strategic Outcome 1: Canada’s natural environment is conserved and restored for present and future generations. Strategic Outcome 2: Canadians are equipped to make informed decisions on changing weather, water and climate conditions. Strategic Outcome 3: Threats to Canadians and their environment from pollution are minimized.
Status: Mostly Met
A 10-year investment strategy has been developed to support long-term sustainability of the weather and environmental service. Proposals to secure funding for the strategy were developed and submitted with a key focus on addressing critical vulnerabilities in monitoring networks and maintaining access to essential supercomputing capacity. A series of innovative and transformative projects were launched to form the foundation for a renewed, modern and efficient Canadian weather and environmental service. An example is the warning re‑engineering project, which will provide improved, more impact-based decision support to Canadians and to public authorities in times of high-impact weather. The implementation of the Environmental Enforcement Act (EEA) continued through 2010–2011 with the coming into force of stage 1 provisions.3 In addition, a number of supporting activities around the implementation of the EEA were completed in 2010–2011, such as the creation and delivery of training to enforcement officers; the creation of a working group to determine policy and regulation content of administrative monetary penalties; and the development of the Environmental Offenders Registry. The Department met most of its planned commitments in the implementation of the Species at Risk Act (SARA) to prevent wildlife species from becoming extinct and secure the necessary actions for their recovery. The Department focused on completing recovery strategies, action plans and management plans for species listed under the Act where Environment Canada is the lead. Priority work in this area included ensuring that Aboriginal traditional knowledge informed the Woodland Caribou Boreal population recovery strategy. Environment Canada worked collaboratively with its partners to reduce pollution and restore ecological integrity of problem waters. Under the Action Plan for Clean Water, Environment Canada pursued research and monitoring activities for Lake Winnipeg, Lake Simcoe and Areas of Concern (AOCs) in the Great Lakes. Activities towards delisting of AOCs are also supported by the Great Lakes Action Plan. Over 130 cleanup, protection and restoration projects received funding under the Lake Winnipeg Basin Stewardship Fund, the Lake Simcoe Clean-up Fund and the Great Lakes Sustainability Fund. Environment Canada implemented the Chemicals Management Plan and mostly met its deliverables within the established timelines.4 For example, in 2010–2011, 171 existing substances underwent science-based risk assessments, which led to the issuance of 139 draft screening assessments and 44 final screening assessments. Substances found to pose a risk to human health or to the environment were subject to risk management action. Risk management actions were initiated on 39 substances that may pose a risk to our health and/or the environment.

Organizational Priorities for 2010–2011	Type	Linkages to Strategic Outcome(s)
3- Foster capacity of enabling functions to support programs	Ongoing	Strategic Outcome 1: Canada’s natural environment is conserved and restored for present and future generations. Strategic Outcome 2: Canadians are equipped to make informed decisions on changing weather, water and climate conditions. Strategic Outcome 3: Threats to Canadians and their environment from pollution are minimized. Strategic Outcome 4: Canadians benefit from the responsible development of the Mackenzie gas resources.
Status: Mostly Met
A focus on learning was reiterated according to Environment Canada’s learning policy, as the Department ensured a minimum of 1.5% of the salary envelope be spent for learning activities. The importance of building a representative and diverse workforce was emphasized with the development and implementation of an employment equity (EE) online session to all employees and managers in order to increase awareness of the four designated groups. EE commitments were included in executive performance agreements to address the identified gaps. The Department’s corporate planning effort in 2010–2011 was directed at the budget allocation exercise for 2011–2012. Financial forecasting was improved in 2010–2011 to better manage and realign departmental spending. Corporate financial situation reports were produced monthly, the corporate budgeting and allocation process for 2011–2012 was implemented earlier, and the management variance reporting tool for managers was updated as a key instrument for internal departmental reporting, resulting in greater accuracy.

Risk Analysis

The purpose of this section is to summarize Environment Canada's response in the context of each of the Department’s six corporate risks as identified in the 2010–2011 Report on Plans and Priorities. These risks and the related mitigation strategies were managed within a broader Government of Canada context that involved both stimulus and restraint.

Although Environment Canada’s budget includes a permanent funding base, its overall budget has fluctuated over time as a result of temporary funding for time-limited initiatives, vote-netted revenue, and flow-through (one-time) funding for a number of foundations and third parties. While Budget 2010 included new measures totalling $190 million to support environmental initiatives, the Department saw a drop in its 2010–2011 planned spending due to a decrease in program funding and the Budget 2010 containment measures. These measures included restraining spending through targeted measures and reviewing government administrative costs to identify opportunities for additional savings and improved service delivery.⁵

This mix of both stimulus and restraint created challenges for managing the Department, particularly in view of the continuing expectations of Canadians for progress on environmental issues, and for ongoing departmental operations that require a stable funding base.

External Dependencies – Risk: In areas of shared responsibility such as protecting the environment and promoting sustainable development, cooperation and coordination with a broad range of program participants, suppliers, contractors and third parties are essential to meet policy objectives. If not well managed, negative impacts on program or service delivery could result.

The Department engaged with provincial and territorial governments, Aboriginal organizations, stakeholders and citizens to advance the Government’s environmental agenda. A consultation policy was adopted to facilitate effective consultation processes and meet responsibilities to consult with Aboriginal peoples. Provincial and territorial partners were also engaged through the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment to address cross-jurisdictional environmental issues such as air emissions, municipal wastewater effluent and biodiversity.

Internationally, Environment Canada maintained relationships with key partner countries and international organizations through existing bilateral, multilateral or regional fora. The Department participated in negotiations for new agreements (e.g. mercury releases, Access to Genetic Resources and Benefit-sharing), concluded a memorandum of understanding on environmental cooperation with China, and implemented bilateral work plans with partners, including Peru and Chile. Under the Commission for Environmental Cooperation, Canada, Mexico and the United States adopted a five-year strategic plan for trilateral projects focusing on new regional environmental priorities.

On climate change, the Department continued to support key bilateral relationships using a range of existing programs and delivery of international clean technology partnerships such as the Asia–Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate, the Global Methane Initiative, and the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership.

Business Continuity – Risk: Rapidly escalating costs, advances in technology, and hazards such as extreme weather events can present a risk to the provision of mission-critical services.

The Policy on Government Security requires departments to implement a business continuity planning program so that all critical services continue to be available in the event of a major disruption. Environment Canada’s business continuity plans (BCPs) are operationalized at least once a year to ensure their ongoing integrity. In 2010–2011, the Meteorological Service of Canada, the provider of Canada’s weather services, put its BCP into action three times (after the National Capital Region earthquake, after the Microsoft virus attack, and during a scheduled test).

To continue improving the Department’s Information Technology (IT) Security program, an improved and scalable certification and accreditation process was implemented and the new IT Security Policy Renewal Framework was approved. In addition, an IT security awareness program was launched and an enterprise-wide plan to address threats to critical systems was completed.

Resource Management – Risk: A period of fiscal restraint can reduce decision-makers’ flexibility to manage departmental resources. Effective resource management is dependent upon relevant and timely financial and risk information to make sound decisions in planning, delivering, monitoring and evaluating programs and services.

In 2010–2011 Environment Canada faced challenges in addressing the Strategic Review decisions as well as the cost containment measures announced as part of Budget 2010. The impact of these reductions, coupled with costs associated with program delivery and administration, constituted a challenge to the Department in delivering results moving forward into 2011–2012 and beyond.

Financial forecasting was improved to better manage and realign departmental spending. Corporate financial situation reports were produced monthly, the corporate budgeting and allocation process for 2011–2012 was implemented earlier, and the management variance reporting tool for managers was updated as a key tool for internal reporting, which resulted in greater accuracy.

Capital Assets Functionality – Risk: As a science-based department and the primary provider of weather and environmental services, Environment Canada faces a risk that its capital assets may become unreliable or too costly to maintain.

To mitigate this risk, the second multi-year Departmental Capital Investment Plan 2011–2012 to 2013–2014 was approved. This plan provided the opportunity to strategically shift requirements to ensure that high-priority items were funded in one of the three fiscal years covered by the plan and to provide direction for any possible in-year capital reallocation.

Information for Decision Making – Risk: Environment Canada’s mandate and reputation depends on quality information and data and on rigorous recordkeeping and data management.

A continued focus on multi-year commitments to improve the information management (IM) and information technology (IT) infrastructure resulted in significant investments for the provision of government-wide mission-critical data, including the modernization of the high-performance computing system and implementation of a standard infrastructure across storm prediction centers and aviation desks. A fully integrated corporate assets management tool was also launched, aimed at providing a single source for assets management information within the Department.

Migration to a newer version of Microsoft SharePoint, known as ECollab, has resulted in the improved management of online documents. This tool enables the Department to better track commitments and to follow through on the achievement of outcomes and results. Currently, with approximately 400 sites and subsites and 6,000 users, ECollab is used throughout the Department for collaboration and document management.

Human Resources Skills – Risk: Given retirements from the federal public service, and the need for specific knowledge- and science-based skill sets, Environment Canada will face a recruiting challenge in the coming years.

Environment Canada’s Talent Management Framework is focused on deploying talent, retaining and developing employees, empowering managers and engaging employees. Efforts have been focused on reallocating existing resources to ensure departmental capacity to respond to priorities: new development programs were put in place for economists and scientists; over 50% of managers accessed development opportunities through the EC Managers’ Network; and senior managers have sought out the EC Business Literacy Program for Executives.

Environment Canada has undertaken a review of its risk management approach with the objective of developing a process to embed comprehensive and consistent risk analysis into planning and decision making at all levels of the organization.

Summary of Performance

2010-2011 Financial Resources* ($ millions)

Planned Spending	Total Authorities	Actual Spending
1,094.4	1,171.7	1,088.9

Totals may differ between and within tables due to the rounding of figures.
* Excludes services received without charge and respendable revenues.

The Department’s planned spending represents that amount approved by Parliament through the Main Estimates and increased by other anticipated adjustments for the balance of the year. Throughout the year, new and renewed funding added a total of $77.3 million to planned spending, increasing the total authorities to $1,171.7 million. The main programs contributing to this increase were the Great Lakes Action Plan – phase IV ($7.9 million), the Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators initiative ($6.4 million), the Mackenzie Gas Project ($2.5 million), international assistance to support emerging developing countries ($5.0 million), meteorological services and navigational warning services for defined regions of the Arctic Ocean ($2.6 million) and a statutory payment to the Nature Conservancy of Canada ($21.7 million). The actual spending of $1,088.9 million (93% of total authorities) reflects the departmental expenditures as reported in the Public Accounts with a resulting surplus of $82.8 million. Much of this surplus was due to the decision to “reprofile” funds (i.e. transferring 2010-2011 funds) to future fiscal years for Sustainable Development and Technology Canada (SDTC) ($37.5 million), the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan ($3.5 million) and the Great Lakes Action Plan ($3.1 million).

2010-11 Human Resources (Full-time Equivalents (FTEs))

Planned	Actual	Difference
6,973.0	6,775.0	(198.0)

The human resources required to sustain an average level of employment over 12 months are based on a 37.5-hour workweek. Environment Canada used 6,775 full-time equivalents (FTEs) in 2010–2011. This decrease of 198 FTEs or 3% under the initial planned estimate of 6,973 FTEs was caused by the financial pressure associated with the 2010 Budget decision to not provide additional funding to cover the annual increase in wages for the federal public administration.

This FTE utilization represents a decrease of 42 from that of 2009–2010 (6,817 FTEs).

Performance by Strategic Outcome

The following tables present an overview of key achievements and progress towards program results during 2010–2011 and a summary of financial information for each Program Activity. For further information on performance by Program Activity, please refer to Section II.

Strategic Outcome 1: Canada’s natural environment is conserved and restored for present and future generations

Performance Indicators	Targets	2010–2011 Performance Summary
Percentage of Canadian ecosystems where ecosystem health has been assessed as good	To be determined.6	Long-term, standardized, spatially complete and readily accessible monitoring information, complemented by ecosystem research, provides the most useful findings for policy-relevant assessments of status and trends. The lack of this type of information in many areas has hindered development of this assessment. Status and trends have been assessed by piecing together information from disparate sources. Canadian Biodiversity: Ecosystem Status and Trends 2010 (Canada’s first assessment of the health of its ecosystems) identified and rated 20 key findings7 related to the health of Canada’s ecosystems that can be used as a baseline for future assessments. Overall, 18% of ecosystem elements and relevant human activities were rated as healthy, 50% were of concern, 22% were impaired, and 10% were undetermined.8

($ millions)

Program Activity	2009‑2010 Actual Spending	2010-2011				Alignment with Government of Canada Outcomes
		Main Estimates	Planned Spending	Total Authorities	Actual Spending
Biodiversity – Wildlife and Habitat	134.7	104.1	104.5	132.3	129.3	Clean and healthy environment
Water Resources	99.4	103.0	103.8	119.8	118.0
Sustainable Ecosystems	53.8	67.5	60.5	71.5	65.8
Compliance Promotion and Enforcement – Wildlife	16.9	19.1	19.1	18.2	16.9
Total (excluding Internal Services)	304.7	293.6	287.9	341.8	330.0

Note: Numbers exclude respendable revenues and services received without charge, and totals may differ between and within tables due to the rounding of figures.

 

Strategic Outcome 2: Canadians are equipped to make informed decisions on changing weather, water and climate conditions

Performance Indicators	Targets	2010–2011 Performance Summary
Percentage of the population surveyed (adult Canadians) who indicate having received enough notice to properly react to a warning of an approaching winter storm always or most of the time	85% by 2012	78% of the respondents believe that warnings give them sufficient notice always or most of the time compared to 84% in 2007 and 81% in 2002. Despite this decrease, the demands in terms of need for at least 12 hours advance notice for winter storm warnings have grown significantly over the last decade (26% in 2002 to 39% 2011) and Canadians’ belief in the clarity of information related to winter weather warnings has increased too. A large majority of respondents (87%) rate weather warning information as important and the Department has positioned itself to sustain its capacity to provide weather and environmental services. The next survey is planned for fiscal year 2014–2015.
Percentage of municipalities that account for the frequency and severity of weather and related atmospheric hazards in their emergency and/or disaster management plans	70% of Canadian municipalities by 2015	86% of 440 municipalities in Ontario surveyed reported that they had included atmospheric hazards in their disaster management planning as dictated by the provincial legislation (Bill 148). Severe weather was the number one risk facing municipalities and is included in municipal emergency preparedness plans.

($ millions)

Program Activity	2009‑2010 Actual Spending	2010-2011				Alignment with Government of Canada Outcomes
		Main Estimates	Planned Spending	Total Authorities	Actual Spending
Weather and Environmental Services for Canadians	155.8	166.2	169.9	191.9	186.8	Clean and healthy environment
Weather and Environmental Services for Targeted Users	15.4	22.7	23.4	23.1	23.0
Total (excluding Internal Services)	171.2	188.9	193.3	215.0	209.9

Note: Numbers exclude respendable revenues and services received without charge, and totals may differ between and within tables due to the rounding of figures.

 

Strategic Outcome 3: Threats to Canadians and their environment from pollution are minimized

Performance Indicators	Targets	2010–2011 Performance Summary
Canadian emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) (carbon dioxide equivalents) in megatonnes (Mt)	Canada’s national target is a 17% reduction from 2005 levels by 2020	National emissions are reported at 690 Mt, current to 2009. GHG emissions are currently 83 Mt above 2020 national target. 2009 national emissions are 5.6% below 2005 levels.
Canadian ambient air quality (ground-level ozone and fine particulate matter)	To be determined. Targets will be determined with the finalization of the air pollutant regulatory approach	A 3% decrease of the population‑weighted national indicators for ground-level ozone and fine particulate matter was observed between 2007 and 2008 during the warm season (April 1 to September 30).
Percentage decrease of concentrations of selected substances in air, soil, sediment, water and/or biota from baseline data	To be determined.9	The following are baseline values of concentrations of key contaminants in fish and in lake sediments for Lake Ontario. In future, concentrations will be compared to environmental quality guidelines as an indicator of the effectiveness of departmental actions to reduce the risk of harmful substances in the environment.10 Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs): Aquatic biota (Lake Trout): 125 ng/g ww Sediments: 23 ng/g Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS): Aquatic biota (Lake Trout): 64 ng/g ww Sediments: 28 ng/g All values are for samples taken in Lake Ontario in 2000 (the baseline year). Values are subject to revision pending completion of quality assurance.

($ millions)

Program Activity	2009‑2010 Actual Spending	2010-2011				Alignment with Government of Canada Outcomes
		Main Estimates	Planned Spending	Total Authorities	Actual Spending
Substances and Waste Management	96.5	120.6	121.9	110.3	103.7	Clean and healthy environment
Climate Change and Clean Air	128.1	240.1	240.2	212.6	160.8*
Compliance Promotion and Enforcement – Pollution	39.8	41.1	41.4	41.0	39.9
Total (excluding Internal Services)	264.5	401.9	403.4	363.9	304.5

Note: Numbers exclude respendable revenues and services received without charge, and totals may differ between and within tables due to the rounding of figures.

* The variance between the total authorities and the actual spending under the Program Activity for Climate Change and Clean Air is mainly attributable to the Department transferring 2010–2011 funds to future years for new and ongoing programs such as grants to the Sustainable Development and Technology Canada (SDTC), NextGen Biofuels Fund, and contributions to the National Vehicle Scrappage Program (delivered by the Clean Air Foundation in support of Canada’s Clean Air Agenda). Additional funds were also transferred to the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) for emerging developing country priorities as part of Canada’s climate change financing during the Governor General’s Warrant period.

Strategic Outcome 4: Canadians benefit from the responsible development of the Mackenzie gas resources

Performance Indicators	Targets	2010–2011 Performance Summary
Decision on whether to proceed with the project is consistent with the recommendations of the Joint Review Panel and the outcome of fiscal discussions with project proponents	To be determined Subject to progress of discussions	Under authority of the Mackenzie Gas Project Office (MGPO), Environment Canada provided secretariat functions to the federal and Northwest Territories departments involved in the project, coordinating communication with central agencies and the proponent. Environment Canada provided timely input towards the completion of the Government’s response to the Mackenzie Gas Project (MGP) panel report. Environment Canada provided enhanced hydrometric monitoring at selected locations along the Mackenzie Valley and within the Mackenzie Delta. Under guidance of the MGPO, Environment Canada developed communications products to ensure the Canadian public understood the Government’s role and how the project was progressing.

($ millions)

Program Activity	2009‑2010 Actual Spending	2010-2011				Alignment with Government of Canada Outcomes
		Main Estimates	Planned Spending	Total Authorities	Actual Spending
Mackenzie Gas Project	3.4	0.0	0.0	1.9	1.8	Strong economic growth
Total (excluding Internal Services)	3.4	0.0	0.0	1.9	1.8

($ millions)

Program Activity	2009‑2010 Actual Spending	2010–201111
		Main Estimates	Planned Spending	Total Authorities	Actual Spending
Internal Services	351.3	209.7	209.8	249.2	242.7

Expenditure Profile

Canada's Economic Action Plan (CEAP)

Environment Canada received CEAP funding in 2010–2011 for the following initiatives:

• Modernizing Federal Laboratories: Funding was provided to address deferred maintenance at six Environment Canada laboratories over two years.
• Accelerating the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan: Funding was provided to accelerate assessment and remediation activities on federal contaminated sites under the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan (FCSAP).
• Arctic Research Infrastructure: Funding was provided to support the development and expansion of Arctic research field camp facilities at multiple sites in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories.

Please refer to Section II for more information on Environment Canada’s contribution to CEAP.

Departmental Spending Trend

The following chart depicts the Department’s spending trend over a six-year period (three‑year actual spending reported in Public Accounts and three‑year planned spending as per the 2011–2012 Report on Plans and Priorities).

[text version]

As seen in the chart above, Environment Canada’s actual spending as per Public Accounts for 2010–2011 was $1.089 billion, a year-over-year decrease of $6.2 million or 0.6% from 2009–2010 spending. This slight decrease is mainly due to reduced payments to foundations. Other minor variations in spending, both increases and decreases, offset one another.

The decrease in actual spending between 2008–2009 and 2009–2010 ($25.3 million) is primarily attributed to reduced payments to foundations such as the Nature Conservancy of Canada and Sustainable Development and Technology Canada (SDTC). During the same period, there was increased spending to implement the National Vehicle Scrappage Program and freshwater initiatives, as well as incremental spending related to Canada’s Economic Action Plan, such as the Modernizing Federal Laboratories Initiatives.

The projected planned spending figures for 2011–2012, 2012–2013 and 2013–2014 reflect the result of sunsetting and reduced funding for initiatives that include the Chemicals Management Plan, the Clear Air Agenda and the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan. Sunsetting programs are subject to government decisions to extend or enhance funding. In Budget 2011, the Government of Canada announced that some of these programs will be renewed, and other new investments and funding for Environment Canada will be included in the Supplementary Estimates that will be tabled in Parliament later in 2011–2012.

The spending trend chart illustrates the Department’s Main Estimates, planned spending, total authorities and actual spending for the past three years.

(1) Actual spending includes Canada’s Economic Action Plan displayed separately for information purposes.

[text version]

Estimates by Vote

For information on our departmental votes and statutory expenditures, please see the 2010–2011 Public Accounts of Canada (Volume II) publication. An electronic version of the Public Accounts is available at Public Works and Government Services Canada’s Web page, Public Accounts of Canada 2010.¹²

• Previous Page
• Table of Contents
• Next Page