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Section III: Supplementary Information
As Minister of the Environment, I am pleased to present the 2007–2008 Report on Plans and Priorities for Environment Canada.
Canada's New Government believes that all Canadians deserve to grow up in a world where they have clean air to breathe and clean water to drink, where well-tended land sustains healthy crops and livestock and where large tracts of unspoiled wilderness are sanctuaries that not only preserve our precious flora and fauna, but also provide opportunities for Canadians to connect with the natural world.
We are building a solid and sustainable foundation for the economy by investing in a cleaner, healthier environment that will improve the quality of life of Canadians and help Canada become a leader in the development of environmental technologies. More importantly, we believe that Canadians want their government to take real action on cleaning up the environment.
As part of our New Government's EcoAction Plan, we have proposed legislation and put forward initiatives that take real action on the environmental issues that matter to Canadians:
Canada's New Government will also regulate short-, medium- and long-term reduction targets for greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants from major industrial sectors as well as the fuel efficiency of motor vehicles, beginning with the 2011 model year.
These measures reflect the Government's commitment to achieve tangible results for Canadians and for the environment. The objectives outlined in this report are building blocks for the future economic and environmental sustainability of Canada. I encourage all parliamentarians and Canadians to read this report.
The Honourable John Baird, P.C., M.P.
Minister of the Environment
I submit for tabling in Parliament, the 2007–2008 Report on Plans and Priorities (RPP) for Environment Canada.
This document has been prepared based on the reporting principles contained in the Guide to the Preparation of Part III of the 2007–2008 Estimates: Reports on Plans and Priorities and Departmental Performance Reports:
Michael Horgan
Deputy Minister of the Environment
Environment Canada received Treasury Board approval to modify its PAA for 2007–2008. The table below provides a crosswalk between Environment Canada's 2006–2007 and 2007–2008 Main Estimates.
Totals may differ within and between tables due to the rounding of figures.
Program Activities (millions) | Operating | Capital | Grants | Contributions and other transfers | Less: Revenues credited to the vote | Adjustments (planned spending not in the Main Estimates) | Totals |
Biodiversity is conserved and protected | 87.1 | 0.5 | -- | 24.3 | (1.2) | 15.2 | 126.0 |
Water is clean, safe and secure | 79.7 | 2.9 | -- | 1.6 | (4.4) | 0.1 | 80.0 |
Canadians adopt approaches that ensure the sustainable use and management of natural capital and working landscapes | 28.5 | 0.3 | -- | 2.2 | (0.1) | 0.0 | 30.8 |
Improved knowledge and information on weather and environmental conditions influences decision-making | 127.0 | 13.5 | 0.0 | 0.2 | (14.6) | 0.1 | 126.2 |
Canadians are informed of, and respond appropriately to, current and predicted environmental conditions | 184.0 | 6.7 | -- | 9.3 | (43.3) | 0.2 | 156.8 |
Risks to Canadians, their health and their environment posed by toxic and other harmful substances are reduced | 169.7 | 5.8 | -- | 9.7 | (4.4) | 0.1 | 181.0 |
Canadians adopt sustainable consumption and production approaches | 23.5 | 0.4 | -- | 2.7 | (0.0) | 0.0 | 26.5 |
Risks to Canadians, their health and their environment from air pollutants and greenhouse gas emission are reduced | 110.9 | 9.9 | 2.0 | 7.7 | (0.0) | 0.1 | 130.5 |
Total Planned Spending | 810.5 | 40.0 | 2.0 | 57.7 | (68.2) | 15.8 | 857.8 |
Totals may differ within and between tables due to the rounding of figures.
Reason for Existence: 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:
Additional authorities are provided in the other acts and regulations administered by the Department, including the Species at Risk Act and the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. For details on departmental legislation and regulations see: http://www.ec.gc.ca/EnviroRegs. |
Planned Resources | 2007–2008 | 2008–2009 | 2009–2010 |
Financial Resources ($ millions) | 857.8 | 811.3 | 816.4 |
Human Resources (FTEs) | 6,454 | 6,459 | 6,407 |
Strategic Outcomes and Program Activities ($ millions) | 2007–2008 | 2008–2009 | 2009–2010 | |
Canada's natural capital is restored, conserved and enhanced | ||||
Biodiversity is conserved and protected | 126.0 | 118.6 | 116.3 | |
Water is clean, safe and secure | 80.0 | 80.8 | 76.7 | |
Canadians adopt approaches that ensure the sustainable use and management of natural capital and working landscapes | 30.8 | 30.1 | 28.6 | |
Strategic Outcome Total | 236.8 | 229.5 | 221.6 | |
Weather and environmental services reduce risks and contribute to the well-being of Canadians | ||||
Improved knowledge and information on weather and environmental conditions influences decision-making | 126.2 | 125.5 | 127.8 | |
Canadians are informed of, and respond appropriately to, current and predicted environmental conditions | 156.8 | 147.3 | 152.1 | |
Strategic Outcome Total | 283.0 | 272.8 | 279.9 | |
Canadians and their environment are protected from the effects of pollution and waste | ||||
Risks to Canadians, their health and their environment posed by toxic and other harmful substances are reduced | 181.0 | 160.1 | 162.0 | |
Canadians adopt sustainable consumption and production approaches | 26.5 | 23.5 | 24.1 | |
Risks to Canadians, their health and their environment from air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions are reduced | 130.5 | 125.3 | 128.9 | |
Strategic Outcome Total | 338.0 | 308.9 | 315.0 | |
Total Planned Spending | 857.8 | 811.3 | 816.4 |
Totals may differ within and between tables due to the rounding of figures.
Strategic Outcome | Priority | Program Activity/ Intermediate Outcome | Planned Spending | ||
2007–2008 | 2008–2009 | 2009–2010 | |||
Canada's natural capital is restored, conserved and enhanced | Develop and implement innovative strategies, programs, and partnerships to ensure that Canada's natural capital is sustained for present and future generations. (ongoing) | Biodiversity is conserved and protected | 126.0 | 118.6 | 116.3 |
Water is clean, safe and secure | 80.0 | 80.8 | 76.7 | ||
Canadians adopt approaches that ensure the sustainable use and management of natural capital and working landscapes | 30.8 | 30.1 | 28.6 | ||
Weather and environmental services reduce risks and contribute to the well-being of Canadians | Provide Canadians with world-class meteorological and environmental information, predictions, and services to ensure safety and to support economic activity. (ongoing) | Improved knowledge and information on weather and environmental conditions | 126.2 | 125.5 | 127.8 |
Canadians are informed of, and respond appropriately to, current and predicted environmental conditions | 156.8 | 147.3 | 152.1 | ||
Canadians and their environment are protected from the effects of pollution and waste | Develop and implement innovative strategies, programs, and partnerships to protect Canadians and their environment from the effects of harmful substances. (ongoing) | Risks to Canadians, their health and their environment posed by toxic and other harmful substances are reduced | 181.0 | 160.1 | 162.0 |
Canadians adopt sustainable consumption and production approaches | 26.5 | 23.5 | 24.1 | ||
Risks to Canadians, their health and their environment from air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions are reduced | 130.5 | 125.3 | 128.9 | ||
Totals | 857.8 | 811.3 | 816.4 |
Totals may differ within and between tables due to the rounding of figures.
INTRODUCTION
The government is committed to making Canada cleaner, greener and healthier for all Canadians and future generations. Advantage Canada, released with the Government's Economic and Fiscal Update 2006, stated that protecting Canada's environment is central to the Advantage Canada plan and an important part of Canada's ability to achieve long-term sustainable growth. In particular it stated that:
The government is focused on outcomes and achievable results to create a healthier environment now and for future generations. Through strong, clear environmental laws and regulations coupled with market forces, governments can create incentives and conditions in which businesses and people protect our natural environment and respond to environmental challenges with entrepreneurial innovation.
OPERATING ENVIRONMENT
Canada is particularly rich in natural assets, containing within its borders 20 percent of the world's natural areas, 10 percent of the world's forests, and 7 percent of the world's renewable fresh water. The Canadian economy benefits greatly from this wealth. Roughly 22 percent of Canada's gross domestic product (GDP) is derived from resources such as energy products, forests and agriculture. While Canada is blessed with a richness of natural assets, improved management of these resources is a central need.
Environment Canada is open for business 24 hours a day, 365 days of the
year from coast to coast and around the world. Every year the Department:
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Canada is not alone in its efforts to seek out effective ways to manage the environment. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) estimates that environmental impacts on human health cost OECD countries 0.5 percent of GDP, and that 20 percent of the total burden of disease in industrialized countries can be linked to environmental factors.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was established to assess scientific, technical and socio-economic information relevant to the understanding of climate change, its potential impacts, and options for adaptation and mitigation. The IPCC will release its Fourth Assessment Report (AR4) in four volumes over the course of this year. The first volume of the AR4 to be completed was that of Working Group I of the IPCC. Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis assesses the current scientific knowledge of the natural and human drivers of climate change, observed changes in climate, the ability of science to attribute changes to different causes, and projections for future climate change.
The Government has indicated that the IPCC has presented compelling scientific proof that the world's climate has changed because of human action and industrial growth, and it accepts the findings of this first volume of the Fourth Assessment Report.
Health Considerations
There is growing evidence that the state of the environment is significantly
affecting human health. Smog, for example, can worsen existing heart and
breathing problems and it results in thousands of premature deaths each year.
Smog causes hundreds of thousands of severe episodes of asthma and bronchitis
annually, particularly among children and the elderly. The Ontario Medical
Association estimates that air-related illnesses result in 60,000 emergency
visits and 17,000 hospital admissions annually in Ontario alone. Data show that
12 percent of children are estimated to have asthma and it is now a leading
cause of school absenteeism. An analysis in eight major Canadian cities
concluded that air pollution is a factor in 1 in 12 deaths—a total of 5,900
preventable deaths per year.(1)
Air quality is of increasing concern to Canadians: 60 percent consider air pollution to be the most important environmental issue. Over half believe it will eventually have a negative impact on their health, and a third believe that air pollution is already having adverse impacts.
Some of the same pollutants that cause smog also impair ecosystems and wildlife. Poor air quality, resulting in acid deposition and long-range transport of contaminants, remains one of the most serious threats to biodiversity, forests and freshwater ecosystems. Hazardous air pollutants such as mercury can be deposited into water and pose risks to wildlife and humans through their accumulation up the food chain.
Economic Considerations
The stress on and degradation of our environment carry real economic costs.
These are associated with, among other things, a decline in resource and labour
productivity and an increased burden on the health care system. In the province
of Ontario alone, poor air quality has resulted in an estimated $200 million per
year in crop damage, $77 million per year in forest damage, $374 million in lost
productivity in 2005, and direct health care costs of $507 million per year.
These types of costs affect all regions and sectors, and together they represent a serious challenge to Canada's long-term prosperity. In the Okanagan Valley and in Alberta's oil sands region, for example, economic opportunities are increasingly constrained by water availability. In the Prairies, Atlantic Canada and elsewhere, invasive pests that harm crops and forests are estimated to cost Canada's economy $7.5 billion each year.(2)
Natural disasters, particularly weather-related ones such as severe thunderstorms, winter storms, freezing rain, floods or drought, also take their toll on the economy. Based on a U.S. study, about 30 percent of Canada's gross domestic product is sensitive to weather and climate. For example, the insurance industry says it expected to pay out more than $400 million in the wake of a storm that hit southern Ontario on August 19, 2005. This storm was the worst in Ontario's history. Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland of British Columbia were hit by one of the most powerful storms in history on December 15, 2006. It resulted in over $100 million in property losses, hurricane-force winds uprooted thousands of trees in Stanley Park and a record quarter of a million customers lost power during the peak of the storm.
In addition to the Department of the Environment Act, the Minister has substantial legal
authorities and obligations related to the Department, including the
following:
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Competitiveness in the Global Economy
Within the global economy, citizens, investors and companies are responding to
the reality that environmental sustainability is an increasingly important
driver of competitiveness.
This fundamental shift in how the environment is valued can be seen in the changing nature of international trade, where countries and industries are increasingly putting in place environmental standards for imported or traded goods and services.
More than ever before, industries are pressured to behave responsibly and to adopt sustainable and ethical practices. For example, the world's top wood buyers responded to campaigns calling on them to stop buying wood from endangered forests, affecting their suppliers across North America and Europe.
Investors, including banks and insurers, monitor corporate earnings related to environmental performance and liability. For example, the Carbon Disclosure Project (which includes 225 institutional investors representing 40 percent of the world's managed assets, or a total of $31.5 trillion), sends a yearly letter to the world's largest 500 companies demanding disclosure of carbon-related financial risks and strategies.
Financial indices such as the Dow Jones Sustainability Index have emerged, adding credence to arguments that environmental sustainability is a key component of economic competitiveness in the 21st century. The companies listed on the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index have outperformed the companies on the Dow Jones World Index over the last 10 years.
Departmental Response and Priorities
The Government will adopt an approach to the environment that secures real
benefits for Canadians. By developing a better understanding of the
interdependencies of the economy, the environment and human health, Environment
Canada will be better able to identify priority areas for action. The most
pressing environmental challenges are those that have the greatest impact on
lives of Canadians.
Canada is a signatory to some 59 international environmental agreements,
including the following:
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While Environment Canada will continue to provide a wide range of valuable products and services for Canadians, including environmental research and weather information, focusing the Department's efforts on a number of key priorities will ensure that it achieves real environmental outcomes that benefit Canadians. The Government has identified several key areas for action:
Reducing Air Pollutants and Greenhouse Gas Emissions
The Government of Canada is deeply committed to delivering tangible results that
will improve the health of Canadians and their environment. There is a pressing
need for federal regulation of air pollution and greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions—national requirements that will set mandatory targets for emissions
that harm the environment and the health of Canadians.
The proposed Bill C-30, Canada's Clean Air Act (introduced in Parliament on October 19, 2006) was the first step in this new regulatory approach. The proposed Act would strengthen the legislative basis for taking action on reducing air pollution and GHGs based upon three key elements:
Following the introduction of Bill C-30, the Government released a Notice of Intent to regulate, among other things, industrial emissions of air pollutants and GHG emissions.
As Environment Canada plays a key role in delivering on the commitments of the Government's proposed Canada's Clean Air Act, the Department will continue to lead consultations with provinces and territories, Aboriginal peoples and other stakeholders on the overall regulatory framework that will guide the development of these industrial sector regulations.
On December 20, 2006, the Government announced that it will enact regulations to increase the renewable content in gasoline as part of efforts to reduce emissions from vehicle use. Regulations will require an annual average renewable content of 5 percent in gasoline by 2010, fulfilling the 2006 Speech from the Throne commitment. The Government also intends to regulate a 2 percent requirement for renewable content in diesel fuel and heating oil by 2012. In addition, $345 million will be provided to assist farmers and rural communities in seizing new market opportunities in the agricultural bioproducts sector. The funding will create two new programs, the Agricultural Bioproducts Innovation Program and the Capital Formation Assistance Program for Renewable Fuels Production, both designed to create new market opportunities for Canada's agricultural producers.
Protecting Canadians from Toxic Substances
The Government of Canada plays a key role in protecting the environment from the
risks of chemical substances under a number of laws. Under CEPA 1999, scientists
at Health Canada and Environment Canada have completed a review of 23,000 legacy
chemical substances (those in commercial use prior to 1994). By completing this
categorization exercise before September 14, 2006, the Government of Canada met
its legislated deadline under CEPA 1999, and Canada became the first country in
the world to have completed such a comprehensive examination of the properties
of substances in commercial use prior to 1994.
Categorization has provided the information baseline required to create a shift in how government and industry work together. It also provides a comprehensive way to set science-based environmental and health priorities.
This shift is reflected in the Government's new Chemicals Management Plan, announced on December 8, 2006, which will protect the environment and human health through new regulations under CEPA 1999 and other acts, using initiatives such as a challenge to industry to identify controls and restricted uses, accelerated re-evaluations of some older pesticides, and changes to the way we dispose of pharmaceuticals and personal care products. The Plan, administered jointly by Environment Canada and Health Canada includes:
Ensuring Water Quality and Quantity
The effort to ensure a safe and secure water supply in Canada will focus on
priority ecosystems such as the Great Lakes, and will also entail work with
provinces, territories and municipalities on municipal wastewater.
Supporting Clean Land and Biodiversity
Work towards clean land will begin with steps to encourage the clean-up of
contaminated sites and brownfields. Adopting a comprehensive, outcomes-based
approach to biodiversity will mean focusing on: healthy and diverse ecosystems,
viable populations of species, access to genetic resources and sustainable use
of biological resources.
The strong links between these areas mean that progress in one area will contribute to progress in another. For example, measures to reduce smog-causing pollutants can also help address GHG emissions that contribute to climate change, as well as acid rain that damages lakes and rivers and their broader ecosystems.
Science provides a foundation for sound policy decisions and actions:
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Promoting Environmental Sustainability
The approach to delivering on these priority initiatives will be guided by the
notion that preserving and enhancing environmental quality is a means to
achieving sustainable growth, where the health and well-being of Canadians is
protected, Canada's natural environment is preserved, Canada's long-term
competitiveness is strengthened and Canadians' quality of life is improved. It
will focus on achieving results, rewarding leaders and empowering citizens.
The recognition that Canada's natural assets provide goods and services that fuel the economy and help keep Canadians healthy provides a new basis for understanding and appreciating natural assets as "natural capital." The management of natural capital would benefit from the same rigor that is applied to the management of human and produced capital, including developing an understanding of its real value and tracking its status and rate of depletion.
Other aspects of this approach include an emphasis on taking a long-term perspective. Setting long-term environmental objectives will help coordinate efforts to achieve shared goals, provide predictability and planning certainty for industry, provide transparency and accountability for citizens, and will drive investments in technology. Within the federal government, improved sustainability planning and reporting across sustainable development strategies will provide greater coherence, consistency and accountability to Canadians.
Working effectively with partners
A successful approach will see Environment Canada working collaboratively with
its partners to organize efforts around common priorities and a long-term
outlook. Working with the provinces and territories to achieve shared goals will
improve transparency and accountability, and ensure that resources are used most
efficiently. Developing single-window approaches to streamline compliance
promotion and enforcement, as well as looking to the long term, will help reduce
compliance costs for another important partner, industry. Working with industry
and others such as Aboriginal peoples, governments and environmental
non-governmental organizations will help to set shared priorities and generate
recommendations about how to achieve objectives in a way that strengthens
long-term competitiveness.
To encourage the highest level of engagement from key stakeholders, targeted approaches will reach out to Canadians to encourage them to play a role in protecting the environment. These approaches will also support communities, and implement regulatory processes that are fair, sustainable and transparent.
Environment Canada's education and engagement activities focus on working with partners to contribute to ecological literacy and engaging Canadians on key issues where their actions can make a difference. For example, the Biosphère located in Montreal is the Department's centre of expertise in education, engagement and experiential learning and it is a gathering place for environmental education and training.
Principles of good governance provide a foundation for advancing the Government's priorities:
Strategic Outcomes and Departmental Plans
Environment Canada has changed its governance to enable the Department to better
deliver on its mandate of ensuring the highest quality of environment for
Canadians. This change includes implementing an integrated approach that is
supported by new results management and governance structures.
Environment Canada's results management and governance structures support the "one-department" approach by better aligning accountabilities and the way the Department's work is organized to support the results that we expect to achieve.
In preparing for the 2007–2008 planning cycle, the Department had reorganized its activities and resources into an updated Program Activity Architecture (PAA). This architecture enables the Department to better manage how its activities interact and contribute to its overarching strategic objectives. As well, it will provide an important new tool to help senior managers redirect the Department's efforts to higher priorities when necessary.
The Program Activity Architecture identifies three strategic outcomes:
In the context of the existing PAA, the Department will organize work to achieve progress towards these strategic outcomes and priorities in three main areas:
Ecosystem Sustainability
Goal: To develop and implement innovative strategies, programs, and partnerships
to ensure that Canada's natural capital is sustained for present and future
generations.
Weather and Environmental Services
Goal: To provide Canadians with world-class meteorological and environmental
information, predictions, and services to ensure safety and to support economic
activity.
Environmental Protection
Goal: To develop and implement innovative strategies, programs, and partnerships
to protect Canadians and their environment from the effects of harmful
substances.
The details of the activities to be delivered in support of the outcomes and themes are provided in Section II of the Report on Plans and Priorities.
In addition, recent changes to the organization of government transferred responsibility for the Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Initiative from the President of the Treasury Board to the Minister of the Environment. The mission and expected results of the Initiative have not changed. Under this Initiative, Environment Canada manages a grants and contributions program focused on investments in infrastructure and urban renewal. The purpose of the Initiative is to revitalize the Toronto waterfront through investments in both traditional city-building infrastructure, such as local transportation and sewers, and more contemporary urban development, including parks, green spaces, tourism-related facilities and the rebirth of underutilized post-industrial areas. It is expected that investments in these areas will result in social and economic benefits for the Toronto region. Environment Canada's planned spending excludes funding for the Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Initiative. This authority will be transferred from the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat through the Supplementary Estimates.
Indicators of Environmental Sustainability
The second annual report, Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators 2006,
prepared by Environment Canada, Statistics Canada and Health Canada, was
released on November 23, 2006. The report provides updates on three indicators:
air quality, greenhouse gas emissions and freshwater quality. The indicators are
intended as annual measuring sticks by which governments and the public can
track trends in the three areas.
The following (extracted from the report) are the three main components of the Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators (CESI):
Human activities contributing to air pollution include the use of motor vehicles, fossil fuel combustion for residential and industrial purposes, thermal-electric power generation and wood burning for residential home heating. Air quality is also influenced by the atmospheric transport of pollutants from other regions and by weather conditions.
Health Canada is researching the feasibility of developing and reporting an integrated environment and health indicator (Air Health Indicator) that would be based on the combined health risks of exposure to several air pollutants, including particulate matter and ozone.Because of issues of consistency in water quality monitoring programs across Canada, a national trend is not yet available for this indicator. The indicator results do not reflect the quality of all fresh water in Canada. They apply to selected monitoring sites in southern Canada, northern Canada and the Great Lakes that met the CESI data quality criteria. Improvements planned to the monitoring networks, the water quality guidelines and the analysis will enable a better assessment of surface water quality in the future."(3)
Linkages to Government-wide Reporting
Canada's Performance 2006: The Government of Canada's Contribution, the annual
report to Parliament by the President of the Treasury Board, includes a
selection of available indicators that provide a view of change across a certain
set of issues. These include indicators related to air quality, biodiversity,
climate change, toxic substances in the environment and water use.
To a large extent, Environment Canada's activities are primarily aligned with the Clean and Healthy Environment theme of Canada's Performance. However, in keeping with the broader policy vision of natural environment, health and competitiveness, Environment Canada's activities also contribute significantly to the government-wide themes of economic, social and international affairs.
Natural capital includes the raw materials used in the production of manufactured goods, the land and water resources that anchor our quality of life and support economic activity, as well as living ecosystems that cleanse polluted air and water, reinvigorate soil, and contribute to a predictable and stable climate. Environment Canada works to conserve, restore and enhance Canada's natural capital by developing and implementing innovative strategies, programs and partnerships. The purpose of our work in this area is to ensure that Canada's natural capital is sustained for present and future generations. This work has been organized into three program areas:
2007–2008 | 2008–2009 | 2009–2010 | ||||
$ M | FTE | $ M | FTE | $ M | FTE | |
Biodiversity is conserved and protected | 126.0 | 878 | 118.6 | 873 | 116.3 | 844 |
Water is safe, clean and secure | 80.0 | 940 | 80.8 | 943 | 76.7 | 908 |
Canadians adopt approaches to ensure the sustainable use and management of natural capital and working landscapes | 30.8 | 237 | 30.1 | 236 | 28.6 | 224 |
Totals | 236.8 | 2,055 | 229.5 | 2,052 | 221.6 | 1,976 |
Totals may differ within and between tables due to the rounding of figures.
Program Activity | Expected Results | Key Indicators |
Biodiversity is conserved and protected | Wildlife is conserved and protected |
Improvement in the status of threatened and endangered species Maintenance of healthy levels of migratory bird populations No Canadian species are threatened from international trade. |
Land and landscapes are managed sustainably | Percentage of conserved wildlife habitat area (km2) that is under direct Environment Canada protection or protected through departmental partnerships and influence | |
Water is safe, clean and secure | Aquatic ecosystems are conserved and protected |
Accrued economic, social and environmental benefits to Canadians through
sustainable and productive use of water resources
Access for Canadians to safe drinking water and protection of human health from water quality and quantity-related threats |
Canadians adopt approaches to ensure the sustainable use and management of natural capital and working landscapes | Integrated information and knowledge enable integrated approaches to protecting and conserving priority ecosystems. |
Improvement in environmental indicators for priority ecosystems Establishment and/or maintenance of shared governance mechanisms. |
Information, assessment, and understanding of the state of ecosystem sustainability support decision-making. |
Implementation of new management approaches in project environmental
assessments and strategic environmental assessments
Availability of relevant and reliable information to assess ecosystem status and change |
Over the next three years, Environment Canada will pursue the following plans and priorities for its Natural Capital Strategic Outcome and related Program Activities.
Our land, fresh water and oceans, and the diversity of life they support, provide the basis for our health and our economy. They provide a vast array of services to human society—including life-supporting natural processes that clean the air, purify the water, pollinate plants, absorb carbon dioxide, recycle nutrients, process wastes, prevent floods, control pests and replenish soils. The services provided by natural capital are often very expensive to replace or are irreplaceable.
However, a rising human population combined with increasing demand for goods and services is resulting in the overexploitation of land and water, compromising the long-term viability of ecosystems and threatening to eliminate the services they provide. To secure our essential life support systems and our economic prosperity in Canada, we need to ensure that the continued use of our lands, waterways and oceans is done in such a way that human activities do not undermine the overall ability of the ecosystem to provide ecological goods and services. We need to ensure that viable populations of species—key elements in the maintenance of ecosystem function—are maintained and used sustainably. For landscape management and sustainability to be a success in Canada, we need to broaden our focus from simply protecting areas of land and water to managing the full continuum of ecosystems—from wilderness, parks and working landscapes, to urban centres.
Environment Canada's work in this program area consists of activities to protect and recover species at risk; conserve migratory birds; conserve, restore and rehabilitate the habitats needed by these species to survive; and protect species from the risks posed by international trade. A primary vehicle for the achievement of results under this program is the formation of strategic partnerships for the integrated management of Canada's natural capital, including the sustainable management of landscapes. A key principle in support of results under this program is the use of best available science. The ultimate goal is to ensure the protection of biodiversity within healthy ecosystems, for the benefit of present and future generations of Canadians.
Initiatives and activities in this program area flow from the legal obligations under the Canada Wildlife Act (CWA), the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 (MBCA 1994), the Species at Risk Act (SARA), the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999); and the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act (WAPPRIITA).
Environment Canada's main strategy is one of prevention—"keeping common species common." Once a species or ecosystem is in peril, it is more complicated and usually more costly to take measures to reverse the problem. Therefore, efficiency is maximized by directing most of our energies to the prevention of problems—whether they be population declines, degradation or fragmentation of habitat or releases of toxic substances into the environment. This strategy focuses our work on restoring, conserving and enhancing natural capital through a holistic ecosystem approach that identifies, interprets and responds to environmental conservation concerns. Such an approach entails the integrated management of land, water, air and living resources that promotes conservation and sustainable use in an equitable way.
To assess how the new Species at Risk Act (SARA) was working, as well as the federal government's progress in delivering the agreed outputs and achieving the anticipated results of this legislation, an evaluation of the federal species at risk programs was completed in 2006. This formative evaluation was carried out by Environment Canada's Audit and Evaluation Branch in collaboration with Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Parks Canada, its delivery partners. While the species at risk program evaluation demonstrates important progress by all three core implementing departments, it did identify significant outstanding challenges. A comprehensive plan of management actions to respond to this evaluation's recommendations was drafted and its implementation is being closely tracked to ensure that appropriate adjustments are made.
Specifically, the Department is working to:
Human impacts on ecosystems are affecting the capacity of nature to continue to provide all of the essential assets and services that are needed now and for future generations. One risk is that since environmental change can take place over a long period of time, the impact and consequences of some landscape-based decisions may not become apparent until some future point. Therefore, once some impacts occur, it may be difficult to remediate them easily or to restore the natural capital loss.
Failure to ensure the conservation of migratory bird species, species at risk and species subject to international trade, or to address issues associated with wildlife disease and invasive species could lead to population declines and impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem health. From a program perspective, impacts on biodiversity could result in additional listings under the Species at Risk Act, resulting in additional processes, legal requirements and the need to develop recovery strategies. Robust monitoring and research programs are required to detect declines in populations of wildlife, understand the factors causing those declines, and take steps to mitigate potential problems.
Further details on activities related to biodiversity:
Program Area: Wildlife is conserved and protected |
Activities: Using a holistic ecosystem approach to identify, interpret and respond to wildlife conservation concerns; implementing integrated approaches to the management of land, water, air and living resources that promote conservation and sustainable use in an equitable way. Initiatives and activities in this program area flow from the legal obligations under the Canada Wildlife Act (CWA), the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 (MBCA 1994), the Species at Risk Act (SARA), the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999); and the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act (WAPPRIITA). |
Expected Results:
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Indicators:
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Partners: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Canada Border Services Agency, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Canadian Space Agency, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, National Defence, Health Canada (Pest Management Regulatory Agency), Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, Natural Resources Canada (Canadian Forest Service), Science and Engineering Research Canada, Parks Canada, Transport Canada, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, other governments |
For further information: Environmental Acts and Regulations: http://www.ec.gc.ca/EnviroRegs/ENG/Default.cfm Canadian Biodiversity Information Network (CBIN): http://www.cbin.ec.gc.ca/index.cfm Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS): http://www.cws-scf.ec.gc.ca/index_e.cfm CEPA Environmental Registry: http://www.ec.gc.ca/CEPARegistry/default.cfm Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES): http://www.cites.ec.gc.ca/eng/sct0/index_e.cfm CWS Ecological Gifts Program: http://www.cws-scf.ec.gc.ca/egp-pde/default.asp CWS Enforcement Branch: http://www.cws-scf.ec.gc.ca/enforce/index_e.cfm Environmental Damages Fund: http://atlantic-web1.ns.ec.gc.ca/edf/ CWS Habitat Stewardship Program for Species at Risk: http://www.cws-scf.ec.gc.ca/hsp-pih/ |
Program Area: Land and landscapes are managed sustainably |
Activities: Protecting and conserving specific critical habitats; facilitating a national evolution toward systems of integrated landscape management. |
Expected Results:
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Indicators:
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Partners: Aboriginal peoples, other government departments, provinces and territories, industry and industry associations, environmental and non-environmental non-government organizations. |
Water is emerging as a critical issue of the 21st century. While Canada is recognized around the world for its natural wealth in water resources, these resources are at risk.
The maintenance of sufficient quantities of high-quality water is necessary for human and ecosystem health. Despite significant reductions in point source discharges of contaminants, other key sources of pollution remain, including emerging chemicals, about which little is known. About 1 trillion litres of primary or untreated sewage pour into our water every year. Threats to water quality include the release, redistribution and biomagnification of contaminants. Losses of wetlands continue: 68 percent of original wetlands in southern Ontario, and 75 percent of those in southwestern Manitoba have been converted from their natural state. A changing climate will have profound impacts on the quantity, availability and quality of water resources and will alter ecosystem productivity as well as the habitats and overall biodiversity of aquatic, terrestrial, estuarine and marine ecosystems. Adopting an ecosystem or watershed management approach is important to maintaining healthy ecosystems and protecting human health.
Water is also an essential resource for important areas of Canada's economy such as agriculture, pulp and paper, oil and gas, electric power generation and transportation, as well as tourism and other recreational uses. Urban population growth has resulted in pressures on infrastructure for water and economic development is creating competing sectoral demand for scarce water resources.
This program area is designed to help restore, conserve and enhance Canada's aquatic natural capital by ensuring that Canada's water is clean, safe and secure and that aquatic ecosystems are conserved and protected. Environment Canada works in collaboration with other federal departments, provinces and territories (individually as well as through the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment), science networks related to work on the environment, as well as the public (including non-governmental organizations, academia and municipalities). This collaborative work allows Environment Canada to share information; determine priorities for monitoring and research; provide timely and integrated scientific information and advice to decision-makers; build best management practices; and promote sustainable water management in Canada for the efficient use of Canada's water.
Securing clean, safe and secure water for people and ecosystems requires that governments hold a domestically and internationally shared vision. Provinces are generally the primary managers of water in Canada and are responsible for much of the environmental regulation and policy making that affects water issues. However, water bodies and watersheds frequently extend across provincial and national boundaries.
Environment Canada is working to set overall direction for the management of water resources by enhancing inter-jurisdictional relations and governance structures; improving federal water management across departments; improving water quality and aquatic ecosystem health monitoring and information; enhancing the understanding of the impacts of human activities on water resources and aquatic ecosystem health; establishing actions to restore and preserve Canada's water resources; and promoting wise and efficient water management and use.
There is a risk that decision-makers and resource managers will not have adequate or sufficient science-based advice on the impacts and risks to water quality, quantity and sustainable use, including long-term infrastructure costs and those related to urban growth and economic development in Canada. To mitigate this risk, Environment Canada is working in collaboration with its partners to share information, promote sustainable water use and build best management practices in Canada.
Securing interdepartmental, intergovernmental and sectoral cooperation, support and strategic partnerships is a significant challenge. Environment Canada and interdepartmental committees are looking at ways to improve the integration of federal work related to water.
Further details on activities related to water:
Program Area: Aquatic ecosystems are conserved and protected |
Activities: National Water Strategy implementation, water science and technology integration, water management performance promotion, water quality and aquatic ecosystem monitoring and reporting, research on hydrology and the impacts of human activities and the effects of contaminants and other substances of concern on aquatic ecosystems and water resources, research and development on the conservation and remediation of water resources, science and technology support to water activities and water education and engagement |
Expected Results:
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Indicators:
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Partners: Federal, provincial, territorial and municipal governments; other federal departments (approximately 20 federal departments and agencies have interests in water); Aboriginal peoples; non-governmental organizations; the International Joint Commission; industry; academia; domestic and international water-related networks |
For further information: http://www.environmentandresources.ca/default.asp?lang=En&n=2B589A09-1 |
Ecosystems provide essential goods and services for Canadians (e.g. clean water, biodiversity, flood control). Decisions made by governments, industry, and individuals determine how natural capital is used and managed, which can affect the health of the ecosystem and its ability to provide these goods and services. Effectively communicating integrated science and policy expertise and working in partnership with decision-makers will influence the potential impacts of their choices on the ecosystem.
Priority Ecosystem Initiatives have been developed in an effort to respond to the unique environmental and sustainability issues of targeted ecosystems. They are results-based multi-stakeholder initiatives that promote and implement ecosystem management to maintain Canada's natural capital.
The environmental assessment process is a planning tool for government decision-making to promote the sustainable use and management of our natural capital. The number of proposals for large natural resource development projects is forecast to increase significantly. These large projects, considered collectively, could substantially impact ecosystem functions and natural capital reserves.
This program area will oversee the development and implementation of an ecosystem approach for environmental management. It will facilitate comprehensive departmental action on ecosystems by aligning science, monitoring, on-the-ground action and policy expertise as well as enhancing collaborative governance and decision-making mechanisms.
The goal of this work is to effectively generate and communicate integrated knowledge of ecosystems and influence decision-making and actions to ensure that our ecosystems maintain their capacity to produce ecological goods and services.
A strategic vision will be developed to define the scope and mandate of Priority Ecosystem Initiatives, including the principles for determining relative priorities for each of these ecosystems. Plans and priorities include:
Preparation to renew Priority Ecosystem Initiatives will be undertaken during the next year and efforts will be made to ensure a more homogeneous and coherent renewal process. Communities play a key role in the Ecosystem Initiatives and efforts will continue to foster capacity building and strengthen community involvement.
While environmental assessments can be conducted on a project-by-project basis, Environment Canada will enhance its ability to consider the effects of multiple projects within the ecosystem through cumulative effects assessments and regional environmental assessments.
If an ecosystem approach is not applied to departmental initiatives, we may lose the opportunity to increase the efficiency of our programs in responding to the environmental and sustainability issues of targeted ecosystems. It may also be more difficult to further integrate work with other departments, other governments and partners.
Further details on activities related to natural capital and landscapes:
Program Area: Integrated information and knowledge enable integrated approaches to protecting and conserving priority ecosystems |
Activities: Management (e.g. development and management
of agreements and memoranda of understanding (MOUs), policy development,
partnership management, performance measurement and assessment, strategic
communications supporting effective delivery of priority ecosystems). Community engagement and capacity development (e.g. activities related to the development, support and coordination of community engagement and capacity development in order to support effective delivery of priority ecosystems). Integration (e.g. implementation of an ecosystem approach for the Department, development of a Priority Ecosystem Management Framework, coordination of priority ecosystems to achieve better integration and effectiveness amongst various initiatives). Action (e.g. integrated implementation of activities and program that lead to the improvement of the state (environmental quality) of priority ecosystems across the country). |
Expected Results:
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Indicator: An improved health of priority ecosystems
across Canada:
Indicator: An improved implementation of the Ecosystem Approach to insure the conservation and protection of the natural capital provided by Canada's ecosystems:
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Partners: Other federal departments; provinces and territories, municipalities, International Joint Commission (IJC), U.S. federal and state governments, community groups, First Nations and Inuit organizations, conservation authorities, environmental non-governmental organizations, industry, academia, science institutions and programs, as well as research and science networks. |
For further information:
Ecosystem Initiatives: http://www.ec.gc.ca/ecosyst/backgrounder.html Atlantic Coastal Action Program: http://atlantic-web1.ns.ec.gc.ca/community/acap/ St. Lawrence Plan: http://www.planstlaurent.qc.ca Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem Initiative: http://www.on.ec.gc.ca/greatlakes/ Western Boreal Conservation Initiative: http://www.pnr-rpn.ec.gc.ca/nature/ecosystems/wbci-icbo/ Georgia Basin Action Plan: http://www.pyr.ec.gc.ca/georgiabasin/index-eng.htm Northern Ecosystem Initiative: http://www.pnr-rpn.ec.gc.ca/nature/ecosystems/nei-ien/index.en.html |
Program Area: Information, assessment and understanding of the state of ecosystem sustainability support decision-making |
Activities: Consolidated environmental assessments; monitoring and assessment of biodiversity and natural capital trends |
Expected Results:
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Indicators:
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Partners: Other federal departments; provinces and territories; EMAN Network (the public, environmental non-governmental organizations, academia) |
For further information:
Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network: http://www.eman-rese.ca/eman/ Environmental Assessment: http://www.ec.gc.ca/ea-ee/home/home-eng.asp |
Canadians are affected by environmental and weather conditions such as extremes in temperature and precipitation, variable lake levels, winter storms, hurricanes, tornadoes, droughts, floods, smog, sea ice conditions, road icing and aircraft turbulence. These conditions can affect our health and safety, our property, our businesses, the economy and the environment.
Almost one-third of Canada's gross domestic product is affected by climate and weather. Important regional economies and entire economic sectors, such as forestry, agriculture and fisheries, are already being affected and could be severely affected by further climate change. Canada's northern communities and ecosystems are particularly vulnerable and impacts, including melting permafrost and shrinking sea ice cover, are already being observed. In order to reduce the social, economic and environmental impacts of climate change on Canada, action needs to be taken to strengthen our understanding of the impacts of climate change and steps need to be taken to adapt to its effects.
Environment Canada works to provide Canadians with world-class meteorological and environmental information, prediction and services to ensure safety, ecosystem sustainability and enhanced economic activity. Environment Canada's work in this area is organized under two program activities:
Program Activities | 2007–2008 | 2008–2009 | 2009–2010 | |||
$ M | FTE | $ M | FTE | $ M | FTE | |
Improved knowledge and information on weather and environmental conditions influences decision-making | 126.2 | 1,066 | 125.5 | 1,050 | 127.8 | 1,048 |
Canadians are informed of, and respond appropriately to, current and predicted environmental conditions | 156.8 | 1,462 | 147.3 | 1,472 | 152.1 | 1,480 |
Totals | 283.0 | 2,528 | 272.8 | 2,522 | 279.9 | 2,528 |
Totals may differ within and between tables due to the rounding of figures.
Program Activity | Expected Results | Key Indicators |
Improved knowledge and information on weather and environmental conditions influences decision-making | Environmental monitoring allows Environment Canada to identify, analyse and predict weather, air, water and climate conditions. | Integrity of monitoring networks and of their operations (sustainable and affordable networks) |
Science supports weather and environmental predictions and services, departmental decision-making and policy development. | Science-driven improvements to quality and utility of weather and other environmental services, as expressed by accuracy and timeliness of forecasts and the degree to which environmental science influences policy development and decision-making | |
Canadians are informed of, and respond appropriately to, current and predicted environmental conditions | Environmental forecasts and warnings are produced to enable the public to take action to protect their safety, security and well-being |
Quality and lead times of warnings Accuracy of forecasts Public satisfaction with quality as measured in surveys |
Canadians are better informed through improved weather and environmental services and leveraged partnership opportunities |
Level of satisfaction of public and weather-sensitive industries Improvements to key services for weather-sensitive economic sectors Level of access to and demand for Environment Canada's products and services Level of access to international monitoring data through initiatives such as the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) initiative |
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Canadians benefit from the creation and use of meteorological and environmental information by Environment Canada and partners in support of programs of common interest |
Level of satisfaction of partner and client organizations Accuracy and timeliness of services measured against performance benchmarks |
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Environmental information and services empower Canadians to take action on environmental priorities | Extent to which Canadians are able to use a variety of environmental data and information in their decision-making and have the motivation and tools to take action and to influence others to do so | |
Adaptive strategies to address the impacts of climate change are developed and implemented for the benefit of Canadians and the environment. |
Enhanced level of awareness and understanding by economic sectors, other
government departments and other levels of government of their vulnerability
to atmospheric change Reduction of Canada's adaptation deficit as measured by:
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Over the next three years, Environment Canada will pursue the following plans and priorities for the Weather and Environmental Predictions and Services Strategic Outcome and related Program Activities:
The availability of timely observational data and information is critical to generating knowledge and information for environmental prediction, air quality forecasts, water quality and supply analyses, climate change and ecosystem sustainability. In particular, monitoring (the systematic measurement of various parameters of the environment, such as winds, temperatures or water levels) makes it possible to detect and predict, in real time, hazardous environmental conditions; these activities are critical for reducing risks and contributing to the health and well-being of Canadians. The resulting data and information are used in the development of policy and regulations (e.g. climate change policy and building codes) and contribute to advances in environmental literacy. Observational information is also needed to quantify the impact of policy decisions.
Monitoring activities are directed at ensuring the acquisition, transmission, archiving, and accessibility of observations pertaining to weather, climate (past weather), water levels and flows, and other environmental matters. These observations are essential to making consistent, reliable data and timely information available to users 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Activities fundamental to achieving these results include: monitoring relevant parameters; establishing, maintaining and inspecting the monitoring infrastructure; providing horizontal leadership in environmental monitoring; data stewardship; and reporting on those basic parameters.
Prediction research activities range from numerical weather and chemical prediction to water cycle prediction. Analysis activities are extremely important in the areas of cloud physics, ice research and climate modeling. Climate trends and atmospheric-science-based assessments assist research scientists to develop a better understanding of the global climate picture, thereby providing a strong basis for advice to Canadians. The research-based advice will guide Canadians in changing their energy usage patterns to help improve climate conditions over the long run.
Environmental prediction science delivers credible, relevant, integrated and usable environmental predictions, environmental knowledge and advice as well as decision-making tools and information on existing and emerging issues. Environment Canada's environmental prediction science helps industry, citizens, communities and governments understand their vulnerabilities to conditions or threats related to health, safety, security, the economy or the environment. This science also provides them with knowledge, predictions, advice, decision-making tools and information that enable them to prevent the preventable, optimize opportunities and risk-manage the rest. Environment Canada recognizes the need for an emerging environmental prediction strategy stemming from our Science Plan, which clearly identifies the need for a system to integrate environmental monitoring and environmental prediction. Environment Canada will take the lead in the development and implementation of this system that will meet the needs of the evolving environmental agenda.
This program area consists of environmental science and monitoring to detect hazardous conditions, to understand what is changing in the atmosphere (weather, climate, air quality and ultraviolet radiation), hydrosphere (water) and cryosphere (ice and snow), and why. To achieve this, it is necessary throughout Canada to conduct consistent, ongoing measurements of basic parameters. A key benefit of the results under this program will be to provide improved knowledge, predictions, information and tools on weather and environmental conditions (e.g. a better understanding of the causes of severe weather, the mechanisms that transport chemicals through the atmosphere, the impacts of human activity on the atmosphere, and models based on atmospheric science). These benefits will support the development of policy as well as the delivery of environmental services.
The continuous operation of observational networks, including an increasing role for remote and space-based monitoring systems (e.g. Earth Observation satellites), is critical to enable Environment Canada to provide essential environmental predictions. Environment Canada's observational information and data are relied upon to support policies and programs in the following areas: forecasting weather, floods and droughts; conducting informed environmental assessments; assessing the impacts of climate change and the effectiveness of adaptation responses; designing buildings and infrastructures; managing and protecting natural resources, including water; and forecasting and managing air quality.
To increase data coverage in a cost-effective way, it will be necessary to make strategic investments in new monitoring technologies and strategies to move towards an appropriate mix of in-situ, remote, airborne and satellite-based monitoring systems. In addition, the current mix of data acquisition, transmission, archiving and dissemination processes is being optimized to ensure efficiency and data integrity. Finally, effective systems for managing the Department's environmental information and making it readily available to researchers and decision-makers—like the data management framework currently under development—are also critical to delivering high-quality data products and services in a manner that is convenient and timely for the clients. Together, the actions undertaken will allow the Department to better respond to growing demands for more accurate, comprehensive and timely environmental information and predictions.
From a scientific perspective, current priorities focus on improving scientific models (e.g. achieving higher resolution and accuracy), better exploiting data and improving observation systems, shifting to probabilistic outputs (by combining several predictions), and transferring technology and scientific information to operational applications.
Implementing the proposed monitoring approach requires people with very specialized scientific and technological backgrounds. This is particularly important to deliver the scientific information required to address key environmental issues over both the short term and long term (on climate change and the North, or in key sectors such as the social, security, and financial sectors).
Environment Canada will develop and implement an up-to-date formal succession plan and aggressive career development plan to address the very high retirement rate anticipated over the next five years for technical and professional staff and to ensure that appropriately trained employees are available (three to five years of training is required).
Failures of automated data collection systems could result in a lack of reliable observational data to forecast meteorological and environmental hazards. Effective maintenance and inspection programs with contingency plans for all networks minimize such risks. In particular, Quality Management System certification (ISO 9001) for data collection networks is being pursued to enhance the integrity of operations and contribute to improvements.
Further details on weather and environmental knowledge and information activities:
Program Area: Environment Canada has the environmental monitoring capability that allows it to identify, analyze and predict weather, air, water and climate conditions |
Activities: Ensuring the acquisition, transmission, archiving and accessibility of weather, climate, hydrometric and other environmental observations essential to providing users with consistent, reliable data and information in a timely fashion |
Expected Results: Environment Canada has the
environmental monitoring capability that will allow it to identify, analyse
and predict weather, air, water and climate conditions and to consolidate
its systematic meteorological, climatological and hydrometric monitoring
activities, creating the foundation for national leadership in promoting key
departmental objectives:
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Indicators:
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Partners: World Meteorological Organization; GEOSS; other government departments (National Defence, Parks Canada, Canadian Coast Guard, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Canadian Space Agency); other levels of government (provinces/territories and municipalities); NAV CANADA; U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; U.S. Geological Service; European Space Agency; Canadian Cooperative Programs |
Program Area: Science supports weather and environmental predictions and services, departmental decision-making and policy development |
Activities: Delivering credible, relevant, integrated and usable environmental predictions, environmental knowledge, advice, decision-making tools and information |
Expected Results:
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Indicators:
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Partners: Other government departments (National Defence, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Transport Canada, National Resources Canada, Health Canada, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Canadian Forest Service, Canadian Coast Guard, Canadian Space Agency, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, Parks Canada); other levels of government; international research agencies (U.S. National Centers for Environmental Prediction, U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, International Ice Patrol, International Ice Charting Working Group, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Global Climate Modelling Centres) |
Timely warnings of changing weather and environmental conditions that threaten the lives and health of Canadians form the raison d'être of this program area. Globally, about 85 percent of life-threatening hazards are hydrological or meteorological in nature. Furthermore, public opinion research(4) indicates that the vast majority of Canadians consult weather forecasts every day, for their security and decisions they make in everyday life (e.g. travel planning and recreation). Weather and environmental information is used in making policy and business decisions, particularly in weather-sensitive sectors such as transportation and agriculture. Increasingly, Canadians, governments at all levels, and private industries are seeking other types of environmental information, for example, on air quality or ultraviolet radiation.
Accessible and understandable information about the changing physical and chemical environment is a key element to help ensure the health and safety of Canadians. Information on the past, present and future states of the environment is now an important factor in business decisions, particularly in the context of a just-in-time, globally competitive economy. More and more, being able to anticipate how the environment will affect business locally or globally is a key element of competitiveness.
Environment Canada produces weather and environmental forecasts, warnings and information for the health and safety of Canadians, 24 hours a day, every day. It also produces air quality forecasts, and information products for emergency response, such as forecasts of concentrations of hazardous substances like volcanic ash, pollutants or radioactive material. Information is very useful, but, by itself, it is generally not sufficient to empower Canadians to take action to preserve and protect ecosystems or species at risk; active engagement and outreach approaches are also essential. Through community-based funding, capacity support programs and education initiatives, Environment Canada encourages citizens to take action in their own communities to reduce waste, enhance the natural environment, and reduce air and water pollution.
Scientific studies have stated that the impacts of climate change are already evident, and the 2007 report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change attributes these impacts, with over 90 percent certainty, to human activities. Such scientific studies document long-term changes—from prehistoric times to present-day observations such as first-hand experiences in Canada's northern Aboriginal communities. The economic cost of these impacts, both domestically and internationally, has become evident through, for example, insured and uninsured losses. These early climate and atmospheric impacts are dramatically increasing demands on all levels of government to act within their areas of responsibility. Impacts and adaptation programs will focus on science capacity to support the rapidly growing need for science-based advice on adaptation. This will allow decision-makers to understand and risk-manage the impacts of climate change.
This program area consists of producing and making available relevant knowledge and information on past, present and future physical and chemical conditions of the atmosphere (air), hydrosphere (water) and cryosphere (ice and snow). Building on Environment Canada's work to reduce the impact of weather and related hazards, this program area also focuses on understanding and minimizing the negative effects of climate change, optimizing opportunities of climate change for Canadians, developing adaptive strategies and helping partners to implement solutions. This responds to the assessed needs of Canadians—be they policy- or decision-makers, business people or individuals, or others who require this information to deliver on departmental or federal responsibilities and obligations (e.g. National Defence, NAV CANADA, and the Canadian Coast Guard). Under this program area, information on the state of the environment is produced by integrating environmental data (weather, ice cover, water levels, pollutant releases and transport, etc.) and scientific knowledge into a wide variety of products and services. These products and services aim to empower Canadians to safeguard themselves and their property against environmental hazards like dangerous weather or poor air quality and to help them make better-informed decisions, be they of a social, economic or environmental nature. By properly taking the past, present and future states of the environment into account, Canadians can make informed decisions for the mutual benefit of the economy and the environment. Partnerships, domestic and international, are critical to the success of these endeavours.
The production of Environment Canada's meteorological forecast services has been extensively restructured over the past few years to respond effectively to the ever-increasing demands for improved meteorological information and services, and to deliver the latter in a manner that is sustainable in the long term. Now entering the final year of a five-year plan, this transition aims to increase the efficiency of production and develop a coherent quality management system while ensuring that environmental information is properly understood and used to its fullest potential, through activities such as outreach to major clients and stakeholders, public opinion research and analysis of feedback.
In the future, Environment Canada intends to broaden its services to include other forms of environmental predictions. Traditional weather prediction services will expand to include new areas such as the evolution of key ecosystems affected by climate change, or the impacts of environmental changes on economic sectors like transportation or tourism. Other expected changes include improved services to Canadians, for example, education and engagement activities, modern dissemination systems (e.g. Environment Canada's weather information website "http://weatheroffice.ec.gc.ca/canada-eng.html," the Canadian government's most popular website with almost 900 million page views annually) and performance management. Also, activities worthy of future investments include the international Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) initiative, which will permit continued leveraging of international monitoring and science activities, thus leading to better environmental prediction services.
Environment Canada cannot achieve its results without the many win-win partnerships that help to optimize the use of its infrastructure and successfully deliver its services. An excellent example of such a partnership is the introduction of the new 511 telephone services to be offered in partnership with Transport Canada, provincial and territorial governments, the Canadian Urban Transit Association and the Intelligent Transportation Systems Society of Canada. The objective is to offer to all Canadians free bilingual access to current weather information including warnings of high impact weather events as well as travel information, such as road conditions.
The Department participates in other partnerships to deliver its programs in a cost-effective manner. For example, Environment Canada's ice service will work with the Canadian Space Agency and other government users to develop and implement policies for sharing the federal government's $445 million pre-purchase of data from RADARSAT-2. (RADARSAT is a satellite that carries radar equipment, providing the data that are used extensively by Environment Canada for ice monitoring. RADARSAT-2 is the second such satellite.) The partners will negotiate, as a coherent federal team, a fair contract that will meet all federal needs. RADARSAT-2's enhanced technology will permit improvements in ice monitoring capabilities, resulting in safer navigation, while fostering scientific innovation in Canada.
Environment Canada will continue to strengthen its links with the media, who not only want and need access to its information and services for their programming, but also represent the single most effective conduit for getting forecasts and warnings to the public—a key aspect of the Department's mandate. A special National Service Office is dedicated to maintaining and improving services for the media and operating a website dedicated to media use. Outreach and warning preparedness officers liaise with media outlets to improve the quality of the services provided and to increase the priority they give to weather warnings, thus extending the reach of this essential service while obtaining feedback from the media sector. Likewise, work with partners like public safety agencies and emergency measures organizations is crucial to assist them in planning how to mitigate and respond to emergencies, and to fulfill the Department's mandate of informing and protecting Canadians.
Another good example of partnerships to help others fulfill their mandate is the Marine Aerial Reconnaissance Program (MARP) for ice, pollution and marine security. A partnership formed in 2005 with Transport Canada to use aircraft for ice reconnaissance and pollution patrol, the MARP will be expanded to serve the Interdepartmental Marine Security Working Group (Transport Canada Marine Security and National Defence). The expanded MARP will mean that almost all marine surveillance missions are multi-tasked and will carry out the following: marine security reconnaissance (to provide data about ships navigating Canadian waters); pollution surveillance and enforcement of regulations regarding the marine environment, which will also help "ground-truth" satellite-based surveillance; and ice reconnaissance to support commercial navigation and the ice-breaking operations of the Canadian Coast Guard (Fisheries and Oceans Canada). In addition to providing important data for government operations, this expanded program will allow Canada to have, by the end of 2007–2008, a national coordination strategy for aerial reconnaissance. It will also result in significant economies of scale through increased productivity (of both staff and equipment).
Information and data about the state of Canada's environment and how it is affected as a result of human activities (for example, by releases of pollutants into the air or water) may, in some cases, be difficult for citizens to understand. Environment Canada intends to put additional emphasis in the coming years into improved public reporting and contextualization of this type of information to enable individuals, businesses and other decision-makers to take specific action to improve and protect the environment and make better-informed decisions.
Rapid scientific and technological advancements pose a challenge to environmental prediction activities with respect to the acquisition of data and the production and dissemination of forecasts. For example, new generations of satellites are being launched and will provide increasingly voluminous and useful data sets that Environment Canada needs to use for environmental predictions. These volumes of data will require the modernization of ground receiving stations, as well as additional telecommunications bandwidth, supercomputing power and mass storage. A strategic plan currently under development will address these issues and set a long-term strategy for refits and modernization. Risks related to a sudden loss of data—due to a system failure or a termination of service by a supplier—are mitigated by using multiple sources of data. Effective business continuity planning mitigates the risk of loss of weather and environmental forecasts and planning.
Forecasting is increasingly done using numerical environmental-prediction models that can only be run on the very fastest computers available, making a major failure of the Department's supercomputer a significant risk. This is mitigated by ensuring a robust and reliable supercomputing facility with systems such as uninterruptible power supplies, and by securing access to models from abroad (e.g. United States, European countries).
Adaptation solutions currently do not exist for many issues and can only be developed using a solid foundation of impacts and adaptation science coupled with strong partnerships that include decision-makers and multi-disciplinary networks. Canada must accept the challenge of developing a strong adaptation science capacity and providing the science-based solutions needed by all levels of government, economic sectors and society. Such a capacity would initially reduce the adaptation deficit in four key areas: technology (e.g. Canada's critical public infrastructure), human health (e.g. heat alert and air quality warning system), economic competitiveness (e.g. agri-environmental standards for Canadian farmers) and resilience in natural ecosystems and biodiversity.
Reliance on automated information technology (IT) systems increases the potential impact of systems failures. In order to mitigate these risks, Environment Canada:
designs, tests and implements highly resilient and robust systems, through the use of redundant components where practical;
develops and maintains service level agreements to ensure appropriate levels of service, in particular to services and systems required on a 24/7 basis, and
develops, tests and maintains continuity plans to mitigate the impact in the event of failures.
Security threats can also present a real risk to the 24/7 operations of the Department. This risk is mitigated through the implementation of Government of Canada policies, industry standards and best practices as well as vigilant monitoring of the Department's IT infrastructure.
Further details on activities related to informing Canadians:
Program Area: Environmental forecasts and warnings are produced to enable the public to take action to protect their safety, security and well-being |
Activities: Identifying, predicting and informing all Canadians of changes in the atmospheric environment and of potential high-impact meteorological situations or events that have consequences for their safety and well-being |
Expected Results:
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Indicators:
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Partners: Other government departments (Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada, Health Canada, National Defence, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Privy Council Office); provinces and municipalities; media; the general public; private sector; international organizations (World Meteorological Organization (WMO), International Civil Aviation Organization, Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization, Global Earth Observation); the U.S. and other G8 countries. |
Program Area: Canadians are better informed through improved weather and environmental services and leveraged partnership opportunities |
Activities: Providing better access to and delivery of information; measuring performance; leveraging partnerships; and expanding the application of environmental prediction and information |
Expected Results:
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Indicators:
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Partners: Other government departments (National Defence, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Transport Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Health Canada, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Industry Canada, Canadian International Development Agency, Canadian Space Agency, Parks Canada); other levels of government; private sector; weather-sensitive industry; media; academia; international meteorological community |
Program Area: Canadians benefit from the creation and use of meteorological and environmental information by Environment Canada and federal/provincial/territorial partners in support of programs of common interest |
Activities: Providing partners with quality environmental information that allows them to improve the safety of their operations and maximize their efficiency |
Expected Results: Environment Canada supports the weather-sensitive operations of its major government and government-mandated partners by providing them with quality environmental information that allows them to improve the safety of their operations and maximize their efficiency, for the overall betterment of the Canadian economy, the environment and Environment Canada's meteorological programs |
Indicators:
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Partners: Other government departments (Transport Canada, National Defence, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Canadian Coast Guard (Fisheries and Oceans Canada), Canadian Space Agency, Canada Centre for Remote Sensing (Natural Resources Canada), Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada); funding programs (e.g. SAR-New Initiatives Fund; Program of Energy Research and Development, Technology and Innovation); the WMO; international meteorological community; aviation industry, including airlines and airport authorities; U.S. Department of Defense; International Olympic Committee; sporting federations; municipal governments |
Program Area: Environmental information and services empower Canadians to take action on environmental priorities |
Activities: Reaching out to Canadians with Environment Canada's science, knowledge and information in order to build their awareness; to inform and educate them about environmental issues, including actions they may need to take and influence others to take |
Expected Results:
|
Indicators:
|
Partners: EcoAction, Biosphere, other government departments, schools, media, NGOs, National Pollutant Release Inventory, industry associations, academia |
Program Area: Adaptive strategies to address the impacts of climate change are developed and implemented for the benefit of Canadians and the environment |
Activities: Research and development functions, undertaken in collaboration with academia and international agencies, on the effects of atmospheric change on various segments of Canadian society, and on how to mitigate, or adapt to, these effects. These functions support sound policy development and service improvements |
Expected Results:
|
Indicators:
|
Partners: Other government departments, provinces, territories, municipalities, universities and the private sector |
4. National Survey on Meteorological Products and Services, Decima Research May 2002 (surveyed residents of the ten provinces); Attitudes Toward Weather Information in the North, Environics Research Group, August 2005 (surveyed residents of the Yukon, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Nunavik).
Environment Canada protects the health of Canadians and the environment from the effects of pollution and waste by developing and implementing innovative strategies, programs, and partnerships. Our work in this area has been organized into three program areas:
Program Activities | 2007–2008 | 2008–2009 | 2009–2010 | |||
$ M | FTE | $ M | FTE | $ M | FTE | |
Risks to Canadians, their health and their environment posed by toxic and other harmful substances are reduced. | 181.0 | 970 | 160.1 | 969 | 162.0 | 960 |
Canadians adopt sustainable consumption and production approaches | 26.5 | 194 | 23.5 | 194 | 24.1 | 194 |
Risks to Canadians, their health and their environment from air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions are reduced | 130.5 | 707 | 125.3 | 723 | 128.9 | 750 |
Totals | 338.0 | 1,871 | 308.9 | 1,886 | 315.0 | 1,904 |
Totals may differ within and between tables due to the rounding of figures.
Program Activity | Expected Results | Key Indicators |
Risks to Canadians, their health and their environment posed by toxic and other harmful substances are reduced. | Risks to Canadians, their health and their environment posed by toxic and other harmful substances are assessed. |
Number of new and existing commercial chemicals assessed
Information generated that leads to risk mitigation |
Risks to Canadians and impacts on the environment posed by toxic and other harmful substances are managed. |
Development of risk management strategies and instruments (e.g. regulations
and performance agreements) for assessed commercial chemicals
Development of risk mitigation measures (e.g. compliance promotion, environmental emergency plans) |
|
Canadians adopt sustainable consumption and production approaches. | Canadians are informed of environmental pollution and are engaged in measures to address it. |
CEPA Environmental Registry is maintained and up-to-date
CEPA Annual Report is published |
Sector-based and other approaches promote sustainable consumption and production. | Development and implementation of a Quality Management System (QMS) to ensure that decision-making under key environmental protection statutes such as CEPA 1999 is as consistent, transparent and predictable as possible | |
Risks to Canadians, their health and their environment from air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions are reduced. | Risks from pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions are managed by a regulatory system for industrial sectors. | Creation of a framework to guide development of industrial sector regulations |
Risks from air emissions are managed by regulatory systems for transportation and other sectors. | Development of regulations to reduce air pollution from vehicles and engines in alignment with U.S. standards | |
Regulatory monitoring and reporting informs Canadians and decision-makers about air pollutants and greenhouse gas risks and trends. |
Information-sharing agreements with provinces and territories are developed
Quality of information reported to and contained in the National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI) and the emission inventories for air pollutants and greenhouse gases |
|
International collaboration on air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions is consistent with Canadian interests. | International cooperation, particularly with the U.S., is strengthened |
Over the next three years, Environment Canada, in collaboration with Health Canada where required, plans to pursue the following plans and priorities for the Protecting Canadians Strategic Outcome and related Program Activities:
Toxics and other harmful substances pose considerable threats to the health and well-being of Canadians and have significant negative impacts on air, water and land. Under this program area, environmental and human health threats posed by toxic substances and other substances of concern are understood and communicated in terms of their release rate and effects, and are prevented, reduced or eliminated through appropriate risk management measures. These substances may exert a direct or indirect harmful effect on animals, plants or humans or, due to the volume, nature and manner of release, may pose an immediate or longer-term risk to the environment and human health.
In order to protect the health of Canadians and the environment from the risks posed by toxic and other harmful substances of concern, those risks must be assessed, understood, and managed, throughout the full life cycle of the substance, including the disposal or recycling of products containing them. The identification of priorities of priorities and planning of this work involves:
Since the early 1990s, Canada and other industrialized nations have had in place processes to assess health and environmental risks associated with new substances (chemicals, polymers and biotechnology materials) before they are allowed to enter the marketplace. These processes have been backed up by regulatory regimes and other measures to manage those risks in order to prevent unhealthy exposures and ensure effective protection.
However, in Canada, as in other industrialized countries, large numbers of substances that were already in use before new substance review processes were established have been allowed to remain in commercial use, pending their ultimate assessment for potential health and/or environmental effects. In Canada, this amounts to some 23,000 substances that were in commerce in the mid-1980s, prior to the promulgation of CEPA 1999.
Pursuant to CEPA 1999, the Government was required to undertake a comprehensive review, called "categorization," of these unassessed substances in commerce to identify:
CEPA 1999 requires that substances identified through this process require further evaluation to determine their precise health and environmental risks, and how those risks should best be managed.
As a result of having completed the categorization mandate in the fall of 2006, Canada is the first country in the world to have concluded a comprehensive review of all its substances in commerce. This initial categorization resulted in the identification of approximately 4,300 substances that will require assessments by Environment Canada and Health Canada scientists to determine their precise health and environmental risks and how those risks should be managed.
In December 2006, the Government announced that it would invest $300 million in a new Chemicals Management Plan that sets out a process to address the majority of these substances by 2020.
The Chemicals Management Plan consists of four interrelated components:
For the first three years, one focus will be on assessing the 200 priority substances that present the greatest potential for risk to human health and the environment given that they are still in commercial use. For those that are not in commerce, actions will be taken through the Significant New Activity provisions of the New Substances Program to review substances prior to their re-entry into commerce.
Of the 200 priority substances to be assessed over the next three years, the majority are expected to require some form of risk management. To address this challenge, significant resources will be focused on developing and implementing a broad range of risk management strategies and instruments at an unprecedented rate. These include:
For more information, visit the Chemical Substances site at: http://www.chemicalsubstances.gc.ca.
Looking forward, the Department will consider emerging potential risks such as those posed by nanomaterials or animal biotechnology by identifying, assessing and managing risks before they put human health and the Canadian environment in jeopardy.
For more information on the New Substances Program, visit: http://ec.gc.ca/substances/nsb/.
Environment Canada will continue to coordinate the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan, a government-wide federal program to assist federal departments, agencies and consolidated Crown corporations to remediate their federal contaminated sites. Environment Canada will continue to manage its own contaminated sites in accordance with its Contaminated Sites Management Plan. For more information, visit the Federal Contaminated Sites Inventory at: http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/fcsi-rscf/home-accueil.aspx?Language=EN&sid=wu21171214277.
In order to meet our obligations, as mandated by CEPA 1999, Environment Canada's mitigation strategy is to evaluate priorities on a yearly basis and focus on "must do" activities. Rigorous priority setting and leveraging of new opportunities must be accompanied by re-investment in infrastructure, capital and highly qualified personnel to ensure the continued effective and efficient program delivery from Environment Canada's research and science capacity.
Further details on activities related to reducing risks to Canadians from toxic and other harmful substances:
Program Area: Risks to Canadians, their health and their environment posed by toxic and other harmful or dangerous substances are assessed |
Activities/Expected Results:
|
Indicators:
|
Program Area: Risks to Canadians and impacts on the environment posed by toxic and other harmful substances are managed |
Activities/Expected Results:
|
Indicators:
Number of assessed substances for which control measures (e.g. regulations or performance agreements) are in place Number of permits issued Progress in remediation of contaminated sites by custodial departments New technologies advanced and deployed for reducing pollutants Level of the regulated communities' compliance with CEPA 1999 regulations and other risk management tools |
Partners: Other government departments (e.g. Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Health Canada, Natural Resources Canada, National Defence, Transport Canada, Industry Canada); other levels of government; Aboriginal governments and organizations; industry; environmental, health and other non-governmental organizations; international organizations; academia |
The generation, collection and reporting of environmental and pollution information is crucial for educating Canadians about the connection between their actions and environmental, health and economic outcomes. It is also essential for encouraging them to adopt sustainable consumption and production approaches; for supporting risk assessment and risk management activities; for assessing progress; and for enabling key decision-makers, including investors, consumers and companies to make quality decisions in support of Canada's long-term competitiveness and the health of our citizens and our environment.
Providing publicly accessible information on chemical substances and their associated risks is a means through which the Department can promote the use of environmental information in market decisions. Advancing more sustainable consumption and production is fundamental in developing a sustainable economy. The central challenge in this endeavour is to incorporate environmental and social aspects into decision-making previously dominated by economic considerations.
This program area provides a focus for the Department's longer-term efforts to reduce the cost of unsustainable consumption patterns and to shift industry towards more sustainable forms of production. Underlying this will be the creation of a clear and predictable environmental protection regime, designed to encourage and enable sustainable consumption and production.
The Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999) and its administration must be reviewed by Parliament every five years. This Parliamentary review provides the Government of Canada with an opportunity to assess the contribution of CEPA 1999 to the goals of pollution prevention, sustainable development and federal/provincial/territorial/Aboriginal cooperation. The Parliamentary review also provides an opportunity for Canadians to provide feedback on how well they feel the Act is protecting their environment and health. The CEPA 1999 review was launched in May 2006 by two Parliamentary Committees, one in the House of Commons and the other in the Senate. The House of Commons review by the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development has heard from over 30 organizations including environmental groups, industry and academics.
The Senate review by the Standing Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources has heard from approximately 20 stakeholders and is examining the successes and shortcomings of CEPA 1999 by way of case studies:
Their work will result in two separate reports with advice on how to improve the Act. Upon receipt of the reports, expected in 2007, the Government will have 120 days to table its response to the House of Commons Committee and 150 days to table its response to the Senate Committee. If the Government Response calls for changes to the legislation, Environment Canada and Health Canada will carry out a bill phase. This final phase will result in amendments to CEPA 1999.
Environment Canada also continues to advance sustainable consumption and production through initiatives that focus on helping Canadians, companies, investors and other market actors integrate environmental considerations into their decision-making.
In the area of generating and collecting data on greenhouse gases, air pollutants and criteria air contaminants, the focus will be on the continued improvement of emission estimation techniques and data quality as well as the harmonization and integration of reporting. Improvements to estimation techniques and the quality of data collected and generated will increase confidence in their use in guiding decision-making, setting priorities, ascertaining compliance and meeting various domestic and international reporting requirements (e.g. the Greenhouse Gases National Inventory Report, Canada-wide Standards for Particulate Matter and Ozone, Canada-United States Air Quality Agreement).
The harmonization and integration of reporting will reduce the efforts required for industry to report and governments to collect the data, as well as ensuring consistency in the data being used and published by different jurisdictions. Together, these efforts will allow the Department to become an authoritative source of information on pollution.
Challenges regarding pollutant information are to provide more comprehensive estimates of releases for more pollutants, and to undertake greater analysis of pollutant release data alongside other related data sources. Through the National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI), information on releases from large industrial sources is currently available for over 300 pollutants. Comprehensive inventories of air releases in Canada (including industrial and commercial sources, transportation, residential and natural sources) are available for certain pollutants: criteria air contaminants (pollutants that contribute to smog and acid rain), heavy metals (mercury, cadmium and lead) and persistent organic pollutants (dioxins and furans, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and hexachlorobenzene). In order to understand and appropriately manage pollution, it is important to have a more comprehensive view of non-industrial sources and releases to media other than air. Greater analysis of pollutant release data alongside other information sources (e.g. ambient air quality and economic information) will provide a more comprehensive picture of pollution in Canada, thus helping to target actions and support decision-making.
Further details on activities related to sustainable consumption and production:
Program Area: Canadians are informed of environmental pollution and are engaged in measures to address it |
Activities/Expected Results: Information about pollution is collected and made available to Canadians to inform them about the connection between their actions and environmental, health and economic outcomes |
Indicators:
|
Program Area: Sector-based and other approaches promote sustainable consumption and production |
Activities/Expected Results: The benefits of enhanced
environmental performance is promoted to the corporate sector Key market players are engaged in integrating sustainability into their decision-making and operations |
Indicators: Corporate sector understands business and financial benefits associated with strong environmental and sustainability performance and reporting |
Partners: Other government departments (e.g. Health Canada), other levels of government, North American Free Trade Agreement partners, small- and medium-sized enterprises, financial community, multilateral organizations, industrial sectors, etc. |
Air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions, or air emissions, come from a variety of sources, some of the most important being the combustion of fossil fuels from industries, transportation and heating. Emissions from these types of sources are not only a problem where they originate. Air pollutants released in one place can travel long distances, and consequently, can have an impact on communities hundreds and even thousands of kilometres away. Greenhouse gases, emitted into the atmosphere, contribute to the global phenomenon of climate change.
Canadians consistently rank air pollution among their main environmental concerns. They say that the quality of the air they breathe is an important factor in their quality of life—especially in our major cities. In fact, a good proportion of Canadians live in places with air pollutant levels above standards.
Until recently, smog has been mostly a summer problem. But now it is also becoming a more serious concern in the winter when stagnant conditions can allow a build-up of pollutants in the air. Recent health studies indicate that smog and poor air quality continue to be directly responsible for thousands of premature deaths each year in Canada and for hundreds of thousands of hospital admissions and emergency visits. Particularly at risk are children, the elderly and those with existing respiratory conditions that are exacerbated by air pollutants.
Canadians are also concerned about their changing environment. Greenhouse gas emissions are altering the climate. Global temperature averages have risen 0.6°C over the last 100 years and a panel of international scientists has projected that average global temperatures could rise by as much as 1.4°C to 5.8°C by the end of the 21st century. In Canada, average temperatures could rise by as much as 5°C to 10°C in some regions.
Reducing the emissions that cause climate change is a matter of national concern. Harmful air emissions affect our health, our environment and our economy as well as our quality of life.
Previously, air pollutants and GHGs were treated separately despite the fact that they often come from the same sources. Innovative strategies, programs, and partnerships are required to protect the health of Canadians and the environment from the harmful effects of air pollution. Despite progress in addressing clean air issues and reducing transboundary and international emissions and emissions from major industrial, transportation and other sectors, continued action is needed. The three climate change program evaluations that were conducted in 2006–2007 identified broad themes of lessons learned. These included the need for clearer alignment between the tools and approaches used and the desired outcomes, as well as the need for overall certainty and coordination when implementing initiatives.
An integrated approach to regulating air pollution and GHG emissions is important in order to reduce emissions and pollution in a way that achieves the best possible outcomes. An integrated approach can also increase opportunities for formulating goals that take into account potential problems and conflicts, and increase the possibility of finding an optimal solution for the mitigation of both issues.
This program area consists of reducing risks to the environment and to human health from air pollutants and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Under this program area, environmental and human health threats posed by air pollutants and GHG emissions are managed through the regulation of industry, transportation and consumer products.
In the fall of 2006, the Government began launching a series of initiatives to ensure clean air for Canadians. In October 2006, the Government tabled Canada's Clean Air Act (Bill C-30) as the foundation of an agenda to reduce air pollution and GHG emissions in Canada. Canada's Clean Air Act would strengthen the legislative basis for taking action on air pollution and GHG emissions. It contains three key elements:
The Act would create a new clean air section in the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999) to strengthen the government's ability to take action to reduce air emissions. It would authorize the government to regulate indoor and outdoor air pollutants and GHGs, and require the ministers of the Environment and Health to establish national air quality objectives, as well as to monitor and report publicly on their attainment. It would also amend CEPA 1999 to enable the government to regulate the blending of fuels and their components.
It would amend the Motor Vehicle Fuel Consumption Standards Act to enhance the Government of Canada's authority to regulate vehicle fuel efficiency. Setting mandatory fuel consumption standards would help ensure reduced GHG emissions from vehicles purchased in Canada.
It would expand authorities under the Energy Efficiency Act to allow the government to set energy efficiency standards and labelling requirements for a wider range of consumer and commercial products. Achieving the same comfort and convenience for less energy is one of the most sensible and effective ways of reducing emissions and saving money.
The Government subsequently issued a Notice of Intent to Regulate which committed to the establishment of short-, medium- and long-term industrial air pollution targets and marked the launch of the Clean Air Regulatory Agenda. The first step in this process is the development of the overall regulatory framework for key industrial sectors, including fossil-fuel-fired electricity generation, upstream oil and gas, downstream petroleum, base metal smelters, iron and steel, cement, forest products, and chemicals production.
In December 2006, the Government announced it would regulate an annual average renewable content of 5 percent in gasoline by 2010 and a 2 percent requirement for renewable content in diesel fuel and heating oil by 2012. To complement this measure, the Government will invest $345 million to assist farmers and rural communities seize new market opportunities in the agricultural bioproducts sector.
In early 2007, the Government also announced a series of significant initiatives that will complement the clean air legislative and regulatory agenda, including the following:
the $1.5-billion Eco-Trust and Clean Air Fund will help provinces and territories finance major projects to cut GHG emissions and pollutants by encouraging technology development and energy efficiency (contingent on approval of Budget 2007)
an investment of $2 billion in a series of ecoEnergy initiatives to promote the development and use of renewable energy sources and smarter energy use across all sectors of society
a series of ecoTransport initiatives to promote more environmentally friendly transportation choices
For more information, visit the Clean Air Online site at: http://www.ec.gc.ca/cleanair-airpur.
The Clean Air Regulatory Agenda is a major regulatory initiative, larger than any previous regulatory action taken by the federal government. Timelines set to achieve outcomes under this agenda are demanding and will require sustained and intensive efforts in consultations, regulatory policy development and related activities. Other key challenges include:
ensuring Canada's long-term competitiveness and building on our environment and economic policy framework;
implementing a regulatory system that will achieve short-, medium- and long-term emission reductions;
developing an approach that will provide clarity to industry while avoiding regulatory overlap with provincial and territorial regulations;
addressing key technical/engineering and financial challenges; and
ensuring that Environment Canada's internal capacity is best organized to provide government-wide leadership on the issue.
Further details on activities related to reducing risks from air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions:
Program Area: Risks from air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions are managed by a regulatory system for industrial sectors |
Activities/Expected Results:
|
Indicators:
|
Program Area: Risks from air emissions are managed by regulatory systems for transportation and other sectors |
Activities/Expected Results:
|
Indicators:
|
Program Area: Regulatory monitoring and reporting informs Canadians and decision-makers about air pollutants and greenhouse gas risks and trends |
Activities/Expected Results:
|
Indicators:
|
Program Area: International collaboration on air pollutants and GHG emissions is consistent with Canadian interests |
Activities/Expected Results: Strengthening international cooperation, particularly with the U.S. |
Indicators: Bilateral or multilateral agreements with other countries |
Partners: Health Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Industry Canada, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Transport Canada, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, other levels of government, international bodies (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, International Organization for Standardization, United Nations Environment Programme), academic institutions, environmental non-governmental organizations and industry associations |
Totals may differ within and between tables due to the rounding of figures.
Environment Canada's program activities support the government-wide themes of a clean and healthy environment.
Program Activities | Forecast Spending 2006–2007* | Planned Spending 2007–2008** | Planned Spending 2008–2009 | Planned Spending 2009–2010 | |
Biodiversity is conserved and protected | 126.5 | 112.0 | 104.3 | 102.3 | |
Water is clean, safe and secure | 58.0 | 84.3 | 85.0 | 80.9 | |
Canadians adopt approaches that ensure the sustainable use and management of natural capital and working landscapes | 73.5 | 30.9 | 30.3 | 28.7 | |
Improved knowledge and information on weather and environmental conditions influences decision-making | 126.1 | 140.8 | 140.5 | 142.7 | |
Canadians are informed of, and respond appropriately to, current and predicted environmental conditions | 205.8 | 200.0 | 190.9 | 196.0 | |
Risks to Canadians, their health and their environment posed by toxic and other harmful substances are reduced | 163.7 | 185.2 | 164.5 | 166.4 | |
Canadians adopt sustainable consumption and production approaches | 26.7 | 26.5 | 23.6 | 24.1 | |
Risks to Canadians, their health and their environment from air pollutants and greenhouse gas emission are reduced | 98.2 | 130.4 | 79.8 | 71.7 | |
Budgetary Main Estimates (gross) | 878.5 | 910.2 | 818.9 | 812.8 | |
Less: Respendable revenue | (74.7) | (68.2) | (68.2) | 68.9 | |
Total Main Estimates | 803.9 | 842.0 | 750.4 | 743.8 | |
Adjustments: | |||||
Supplementary Estimates | |||||
Operating budget carry forward | 31.4 | ||||
2005 Expenditure Review Committee Savings—Procurement | (4.7) | ||||
Funding to continue the environmental restoration of key aquatic areas of concern identified under the Canada-United States Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement | 8.5 | ||||
Other technical adjustments | 4.6 | (1.0) | (1.0) | (1.0) | |
Funding for existing climate change programs pending the finalization of a new environmental agenda | 12.4 | ||||
Funding for developing and reporting on environmental indicators related to clean air, clean water and greenhouse gas emissions | 3.6 | ||||
Funding to deliver results under the Species at Risk Act | 16.4 | 16.4 | 16.4 | ||
Funding related to government advertising programs for the purpose of conducting an advertising campaign on the tax credit for public transit passes | 2.4 | ||||
Budget Announcement | |||||
Funding for the Clean Air Regulatory Agenda | 45.5 | 57.2 | |||
Other | |||||
Salary increases due to the signing of new collective agreements and other salary costs | 17.1 | ||||
Employee Benefits Plan | 5.8 | ||||
Implementation of the Policy for Internal Audit | 0.2 | 0.4 | |||
Total Adjustments | 81.2 | 15.8 | 60.9 | 72.6 | |
Total Planned Spending | 885.1 | 857.8 | 811.3 | 816.4 | |
Less: Non-Respendable Revenue | (11.3) | (11.1) | (11.3) | (11.4) | |
Plus: Cost of services received without charge | 70.3 | 63.4 | 60.4 | 57.7 | |
Net Cost of Program | 944.2 | 910.0 | 860.3 | 862.7 | |
Full-time Equivalents | 6,492 | 6,454 | 6,459 | 6,407 |
* Reflects the best forecast of total net planned spending to the end of the fiscal year.
** Planned spending excludes funding for the Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Initiative. This authority will be transferred from the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat through the Supplementary Estimates.
Totals may differ within and between tables due to the rounding of figures.
The above resources reflect approvals for 2007–2008 tied to Environment Canada's environmental agenda components as well as future years for the Clean Air Regulatory Agenda. The reference levels in 2008–2009 and 2009–2010 may be further increased pending the approvals of the detailed program elements for program measures and the Chemicals Management Plan.
2007–2008 ($ millions) | |||
Vote or Statutory Item | Truncated Vote or Statutory Item Wording | 2007–2008 Main Estimates | 2006–2007 Main Estimates |
1 | Operating expenditures | 662.6 | 648.2 |
5 | Capital expenditures | 40.0 | 33.0 |
10 | Grants and contributions | 59.7 | 47.1 |
(S) | Minister of the Environment salary and motor car allowance | 0.1 | 0.1 |
(S) | Contributions to employee benefit plans | 79.5 | 75.5 |
Total Department | 842.0 | 803.9 |
$14.3 million—Operating
The increase in Operating is mainly due to:
$61.0M for Environmental Agenda Clean Air Initiatives
$9.4M in new funding for collective agreements for several occupational
groups
$8.0M in renewed funding for the Great Lakes Action Plan
$7.2M for Action Plan 2000 (Pilot Emission Removals, Reductions and Learnings
Initiative)
$3.2M to increase federal and regional capacity and science to respond to the
Mackenzie Gas Project and related resource development
These increases are offset by the following decreases:
$17.2M due to vote transfers aimed at providing sufficient capital spending
levels and enhancing program delivery by providing the required transfer
payments resources for payments to organizations with goals and objectives
aligned with those of Environment Canada
$14.9M due to the termination of the Border Air Quality Strategy
$11.4M for the Species at Risk Act (SARA) represents the temporary portion of
the funding received
$6.9M for Expenditure Review Committee program efficiency reductions
$5.8M due to a decrease in revenues credited to the vote
$5.0M for Climate Change Large Final Emitters
$4.7M for procurement savings reflects the decisions made by the Expenditure
Review Committee
$4.5M related to the Northern Pipeline
$3.0M for climate change international reporting obligations
$7.0 million—Capital
The increase in Capital is mainly due to:
$4.3M for the new Environmental Management Agenda—Clean Air Initiatives
$3.5M due to vote transfers aimed at providing sufficient capital spending
levels for Environment Canada
These increases are offset by the following decrease:
$0.8M for 2010 Environment Canada's Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games
essential services commitment
$12.6 million—Grants and Contributions
The increase in Grants and Contributions is mainly due to:
$13.7M due to vote transfers aimed at enhancing program delivery
$9.2M increase for the new Environmental Management Agenda – Clean Air
Initiatives
These increases are offset by the following decreases:
$5.9M to reflect decisions made by the Expenditure Review Committee
$4.9M decrease for the Species at Risk Act (SARA) reflects the temporary
portion of the funding received
($ millions) | 2007–2008 |
Accommodation provided by Public Works and Government Services Canada | 29.3 |
Contributions covering employers' share of employees' insurance premiums and expenditures paid by Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat (excluding revolving funds) | 30.1 |
Worker's compensation coverage provided by Human Resources and Social Development Canada | 1.5 |
Salary and associated expenditures of legal services provided by the Department of Justice Canada | 2.4 |
Total 2007–2008 services received without charge | 63.4 |
Totals may differ within and between tables due to the rounding of figures.
($ millions) | Forecast Spending 2006–2007 | Planned Spending 2007–2008 | Planned Spending 2008–2009 | Planned Spending 2009–2010 | |
Canada's natural capital is restored, conserved and enhanced | |||||
Biodiversity is conserved and protected | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.7 | |
Water is clean, safe and secure | 2.7 | 2.9 | 3.5 | 3.2 | |
Canadians adopt approaches that ensure the sustainable use and management of natural capital and working landscapes | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | |
Sub-total | 4.1 | 3.7 | 4.4 | 4.2 | |
Weather and environmental predictions and services reduce risks and contribute to the well-being of Canadians | |||||
Improved knowledge and information on weather and environmental conditions influences decision-making | 15.3 | 13.5 | 16.0 | 16.8 | |
Canadians are informed of, and respond appropriately to, current and predicted environmental conditions | 8.6 | 6.7 | 7.0 | 6.9 | |
Sub-total | 23.9 | 20.2 | 23.0 | 23.8 | |
Canadians and their environment are protected from the effects of pollution and waste | |||||
Risks to Canadians, their health and their environment posed by toxic and other harmful substances are reduced | 3.2 | 5.8 | 2.9 | 3.0 | |
Canadians adopt sustainable consumption and production approaches | 4.0 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 | |
Risks to Canadians, their health and their environment from air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions are reduced | 4.7 | 9.9 | 13.4 | 13.4 | |
Sub-total | 11.9 | 16.0 | 16.7 | 16.9 | |
Total | 40.0 | 40.0 | 44.1 | 44.8 |
Totals may differ within and between tables due to the rounding of figures.
Being a science-based department, most of Environment Canada's capital assets are focused on research and other science activities that produce a "public good"—providing knowledge in support of policy development, developing new methods to improve service delivery and providing technological solutions to meet the Department's mission. The Department operates several research institutes and laboratories, has a multitude of National Wildlife Areas, and runs thousands of air, climate and water monitoring stations in all regions of the country (many of which are operated in partnership with provinces, Canada's universities and international scientific agencies). Environment Canada has four broad categories of capital assets, including:
($ millions) | Forecast Revenue 2006–2007 | Planned Revenue 2007–2008 | Planned Revenue 2008–2009 | Planned Revenue 2009–2010 | |
Biodiversity is conserved and protected | |||||
Realty (Accommodation) | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | |
Regulatory Services | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | |
Scientific and Professional Services | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.8 | |
Subtotal | 1.1 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.2 | |
Water is clean, safe and secure | |||||
Realty (Accommodation) | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | |
Scientific and Professional Services | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4.1 | 4.1 | |
Subtotal | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.2 | 4.2 | |
Canadians adopt approaches that ensure the sustainable use and management of natural capital and working landscapes | |||||
Information Products | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | |
Realty (Accommodation) | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
Scientific and Professional Services | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
Subtotal | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | |
Improved knowledge and information on weather and environmental conditions influences decision-making | |||||
Information Products | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | |
Realty (Accommodation) | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.7 | |
Scientific and Professional Services | 12.7 | 12.4 | 13.1 | 13.1 | |
Subtotal | 14.9 | 14.6 | 15.3 | 15.3 | |
Canadians are informed of, and respond appropriately to, current and predicted environmental conditions | |||||
Information Products | 38.8 | 39.0 | 38.9 | 39.3 | |
Realty (Accommodation) | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.7 | |
Scientific and Professional Services | 3.8 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.7 | |
Subtotal | 43.2 | 43.4 | 43.3 | 43.7 | |
Risks to Canadians, their health and their environment posed by toxic and other harmful substances are reduced | |||||
Realty (Accommodation) | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | |
Regulatory Services | 2.2 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.1 | |
Scientific and Professional Services | 2.1 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.2 | |
Subtotal | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.4 | |
Total Respendable Revenue | 68.1 | 68.2 | 68.6 | 68.9 |
Totals may differ within and between tables due to the rounding of figures.
Forecasted revenues for 2006–2007 do not match those presented in Table 1, as the Program of Energy Research and Development as well as the Technology and Innovation funds from Natural Resources Canada are now received through the other government department suspense mechanism. As well, National Defence's search and rescue funding is now received through Main/Supplementary Estimates.
($ millions) | Forecast Revenue 2006–2007* | Planned Revenue 2007–2008 | Planned Revenue 2008–2009 | Planned Revenue 2009–2010 | |
Biodiversity is conserved and protected | |||||
Licences and Permits | 4.2 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 4.2 | |
Regulatory Services | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | |
Subtotal | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.4 | |
Water is clean, safe and secure | |||||
Third-party Agreements | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.3 | |
Subtotal | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.3 | |
Improved knowledge and information on weather and environmental conditions influences decision-making | |||||
Information Products | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.7 | |
Royalties | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 | |
Scientific and Professional Services | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.9 | |
Miscellaneous | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 | |
Subtotal | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.4 | |
Canadians are informed of, and respond appropriately to, current and predicted environmental conditions | |||||
Information Products | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.3 | |
Miscellaneous | 2.9 | 2.9 | 2.9 | 2.9 | |
Subtotal | 4.2 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 4.2 | |
Total Non-Respendable Revenue | 11.3 | 11.1 | 11.3 | 11.4 | |
Total Respendable and Non-Respendable Revenue | 79.4 | 79.3 | 79.9 | 80.3 |
Totals may differ within and between tables due to the rounding of figures.
* Reflects best forecast of total planned spending to the end of the fiscal year.
Table 5 lists various sources of respendable and non-respendable revenue. To clarify the types of revenues that fall under these sources, short definitions are given below:
Scientific and Professional Services: research and analysis, telecommunications, hydrometrics, consulting services, training and wildlife studies and surveys.
Information Products: data extracts and access, publications, and hydrometric and weather products.
Miscellaneous: Employee Benefit Plan (EBP) recoveries and student parking fees.
Regulatory Services: ocean disposal permit applications and monitoring fees, new chemical notification and other permits and fees.
Realty (Accommodation): living accommodations, rentals, entry fees, concessions and National Water Research Institute building recoveries.
Royalties: revenues collected from the licensing of intellectual property.
Name of User Fee | Fee Type | Fee Setting Authority | Reason for Fee Introduction or Amendment | Effective Date of Planned Change to Take Effect | Planned Consultation and Review Process |
Ocean Dumping Permit Fee Regulations (site monitoring) | Regulatory Service (R) This is a regulatory fee – charging for a right or privilege |
Financial Administration Act | Proposal to cap the fee at $300K to limit cost to large permit holders | 2007–2008 Possibly 2008–2009 |
Analysis of impacts and consultation results suggest one
client favoured. Further review of options and public policy needed. May need further consultation with client groups. |
Wildlife Area Regulations: a) Schedule II - Entrance fee for Cap Tourmente (QC) |
Service - Cost Recovery |
- Canada Wildlife Act - User Fees Act |
Increase entrance fees to cover costs | 2008–2009 | Information meetings for users will be held to gather their comments and suggestions with regard to a possible increase in entrance fees. |
Wildlife Area Regulations: b) Schedule III - Permits to hunt Snow Geese |
Service - Cost Recovery |
- Canada Wildlife Act - User Fees Act |
Increase Permit fees to cover cost | 2008–2009 | A survey form will be distributed to users to gather their comments and
suggestions with regard to a possible increase in the price of hunting
permits. Consultations will be held with regional hunting and fishing associations as well as with local outfitters to ensure that hunting permits match current prices in this industry. |
2007–2008 Regulatory Initiatives(5) | Planned Results |
Amendments to the Off-Road Compression-Ignition Engine Emission Regulations | Amendment will establish more stringent "Tier 4" emission standards for
2008 and later model year diesel engines used in construction, agriculture,
mining and forestry equipment. These planned amendments will maintain
alignment with the emission standards of the U.S. and will reduce allowable
emission levels by up to 95 percent for particulate matter and up to 37
percent for nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons. Publish in the Canada Gazette, Parts I and II. |
Marine Spark-Ignition Engine and Off-Road Recreational Vehicle Emission Regulations | New regulations to establish in Canada emission standards for 2008 and
later model year outboard engines, personal watercraft, snowmobiles,
off-road motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles. These regulations will align
standards for smog-forming emissions with those of the U.S. and set
stringent emissions limits for nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons and carbon
monoxide. Publish in the Canada Gazette, Part II. |
Amendments to the On-Road Vehicle and Engine Emission Regulations (On-Board Diagnostics for Heavy-Duty Engines) | The amendments will introduce new requirements for on-board diagnostics
(OBD) systems for on-road heavy-duty engines to align with emerging U.S.
standards and to consider new related global requirements. OBD systems are
designed to monitor emission-related components for malfunctions and
identify such malfunctions to facilitate proper repair and maintain designed
emission performance. The amendments will help to ensure that smog-forming
emission reduction targets secured under the parent regulations are
achieved. Publish in the Canada Gazette, Part I. |
Amendments to the Off-Road Small Spark-Ignition Engine Emission Regulations | The initiative will introduce new smog-forming emission standards for
large spark-ignition engines such as those found in forklifts and ice resurfacers, by amending these Regulations to include spark-ignition engines
rated over 19 kW. These planned amendments will align emission standards
with those of the U.S. and set stringent emissions limits for nitrogen
oxides, hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide. Publish in the Canada Gazette, Part I. |
Perfluorooctane Sulfonate and its Salts and Certain Other Compounds Regulations | Prohibition on the manufacture, use, sale, offer for sale and import of
perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), its salts and its precursors, and products
or formulations containing PFOS, its salts and its precursors. Publish in the Canada Gazette, Part II, winter 2007. |
Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers Regulations | Regulations to prevent the introduction of the manufacture of toxic polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in Canada and to minimize their release into the environment from all sources in Canada. For certain PBDEs, to prevent their import into Canada. |
Amendment to the Prohibition of Certain Toxic Substances Regulations, 2005 (Fluorotelomers) | Prohibit toxic substances (four new fluorotelomers-based polymers) that
pose serious risks to Canadians' health or their environment, to ensure the
substances are not introduced into the Canadian market. Publish in the Canada Gazette, Part II, fall 2007. |
Regulations Limiting Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Content in Paints and Coatings | These new regulations will implement national VOC product content
standards for certain categories of products. They will align with existing
requirements in the U.S. to reduce air emissions of VOCs, which are
precursor pollutants contributing to the formation of ground-level ozone and
particulate matter. Publish in the Canada Gazette, Part I, fall 2007. |
Regulations Limiting Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Content in Consumer Products | These new regulations will implement national VOC product content
standards for certain categories of products. They will align with existing
requirements in the U.S. to reduce air emissions of VOCs, which are
precursor pollutants contributing to the formation of ground-level ozone and
particulate matter. Publish in the Canada Gazette, Part I, fall 2007. |
Regulations Limiting Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Content in Automobile Refinish Coatings | These new regulations will implement national VOC product content
standards for certain categories of products. They will align with existing
requirements in the U.S. to reduce air emissions of VOCs, which are
precursor pollutants contributing to the formation of ground-level ozone and
particulate matter. Publish in the Canada Gazette, Part I, summer 2007. |
Challenge under the Chemicals Management Plan | The plan announces rapid regulatory action over the 2007–2010 period on
200 substances believed to be harmful to human health or the environment.
The Government is predisposed to prohibit activities for these substances
unless stakeholders come forward with information indicating the substances
are already used in a way that safeguards Canadians and the environment. For
each of the 200 substances:
|
Chromium Electroplating, Chromium Anodizing and Reverse Etching Regulations | Control air releases of hexavalent chromium from the electroplating
sector either by limiting release at a point source or by specifying the
conditions of use. The result will be a uniform approach to the control of
hexavalent chromium releases from this sector in Canada. Publish in the Canada Gazette, Part II, fall 2007. |
Wastewater Effluent Regulations under the Fisheries Act and CEPA 1999 | New regulations under the Fisheries Act to ensure that releases of
wastewater effluent from municipal and other publicly owned wastewater
systems do not pose unacceptable risks to human and ecosystem health or
fisheries resources. Publish in the Canada Gazette, Part I. |
Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB) Regulations | Provide a more effective and comprehensive framework for ending the use
and storage of PCBs within specified timelines. Establish reporting and
monitoring requirements to measure progress. Ensure Canada is in line with
its international commitments and obligations. Publish in the Canada Gazette, Part II, end of 2007. |
Amendments to the Export and Import of Hazardous Waste and Hazardous Recyclable Material Regulations | These amendments will incorporate provisions for the export, import and
transit of non-hazardous waste destined for final disposal. This regulatory
framework is being developed to protect the environment from risks posed by
the uncontrolled export, import and transit of non-hazardous wastes destined
for final disposal. Consistent with Canada's international obligations, the
regulatory framework would control the export from and import into Canada of
these wastes. The proposed regulatory framework will include mechanisms for
notification and prior informed consent, and tracking. Publish in the Canada Gazette, Part I, 2008. |
Interprovincial Movements of Hazardous Waste and Hazardous Recyclable Material Regulations | Regulations to replace the existing Interprovincial Movement of
Hazardous Waste Regulations to ensure consistency with the Export and Import
of Hazardous Waste and Hazardous Recyclable Material Regulations regarding
the definitions of hazardous waste and hazardous recyclable material and the
movement document (manifest) used to track movements. Publish in the Canada Gazette, Part II, in 2007–2008. |
Registration of Storage Tank Systems for Petroleum Products and Allied Petroleum Products on Federal Lands Regulations | Provide a more comprehensive framework in order to effectively prevent
soil and groundwater contamination from storage tank systems of the Federal
House and on Aboriginal lands. Publish in the Canada Gazette, Part II. |
Amendments to the Environmental Emergency Regulations | Amend the Regulations to add 34 substances and associated threshold
quantities to the current list of 174 substances that require facilities to
develop and implement Environmental Emergency Plans that address prevention,
preparedness, response and recovery. The amendment will also clarify
requirements for exceptions, annual testing requirements, eliminate
potential duplication with the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act and
ensure capability for accepting electronic filing of notices. Publish in the Canada Gazette, Part II. |
Regulations Amending the Metal Mining Effluent Regulations under the Fisheries Act | Amending the Regulations to add three natural fish-bearing water bodies
to Schedule 2 of the Regulations, designating these water bodies as tailing
impoundment areas. Publish in the Canada Gazette, Parts I and II. |
Amendments to the Pulp and Paper Effluent Regulations under the Fisheries Act | Develop amendments to the Environmental Effects Monitoring (EEM) Program
to further target monitoring efforts and resources where they are needed
most. Amendments would incorporate opportunities for program improvements
identified through departmental implementation experience and a recent
multi-stakeholder smart regulation project on EEM. Publish in the Canada Gazette, Parts I and II. |
Order amending Schedule 1 of the Species at Risk Act | Amend Schedule 1 to modify the legal list of species that immediately
provides the protection provisions prescribed under the Act, and other
provisions as needed. Publish in the Canada Gazette, Parts I and II. |
Amendments to the Migratory Birds Regulations under the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 | Draft provisions for incidental take. These provisions ensure effective
conservation of migratory bird populations while promoting sustainable
economic development. Publish in the Canada Gazette, Part I. |
Amendments to the Migratory Birds Regulations under the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 | Amendment to include provisions for disabled hunters. Publish in the Canada Gazette, Parts I and II. |
Annual hunting regulations, under the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 | To establish hunting season dates and bag and possession limits for
migratory game birds at sustainable levels using the best available science. Publish in the Canada Gazette, Parts I and II. |
Regulations Amending the Migratory Birds Regulations (overabundant Snow Geese), under the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 | Amendment to establish a special conservation spring hunting season for Snow
Geese as a population control measure, where needed. Publish in the Canada Gazette, Parts I and II. |
Amendments to the Migratory Birds Regulations, under the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 and Wildlife Area Regulations, under the Canada Wildlife Act | Update the definition of non-toxic shot to include
tungsten-iron-nickel-copper as an approved non-toxic shot alternative for
hunting migratory game birds. Publish in the Canada Gazette, Part II. |
2008–2009 Regulatory Initiatives | Planned Results |
Clean Air Sectoral Regulations (Major Industrial Sectors) | These new regulations will set targets for emissions of air pollutants
and greenhouse gases from the main industrial sectors in Canada (iron
pelletizing, base metal smelting, iron and steel, aluminum smelting, alumina
production, cement manufacturing, lime manufacturing, pulp and paper and
wood products). The approximately nine regulations will define sectoral
obligations and timelines. Start publication in the Canada Gazette, Part I by end of 2008. |
Amendments to the On-Road Vehicle and Engine Emission Regulations (On-Board Diagnostics for Heavy-Duty Engines) | The amendments will introduce new requirements for on-board diagnostics
(OBD) systems for on-road heavy-duty engines to align with emerging U.S.
standards and to consider new related global requirements. OBD systems are
designed to monitor emission-related components for malfunctions and
identify such malfunctions to facilitate proper repair and maintain designed
emission performance. The amendments will help to ensure that smog-forming
emission reduction targets secured under the parent regulations are
achieved. Publish in the Canada Gazette, Part II. |
Amendments to the Off-Road Small Spark-Ignition Engine Emission Regulations | The initiative will introduce new smog-forming emission standards for
large spark-ignition engines such as those found in forklifts and ice resurfacers, by amending these Regulations to include spark-ignition engines
rated over 19 kW. These planned amendments will align emission standards
with those of the U.S. and set stringent emissions limits for nitrogen
oxides, hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide. Publish in the Canada Gazette, Part II. |
Renewable Fuels Regulations | The Government intends to develop and implement a federal regulation
requiring renewable fuels. The regulation would require fuel producers and
importers to have an average annual renewable fuel content of at least 5
percent of the volume of gasoline that they produce or import, commencing in
2010. Publish in the Canada Gazette, Part I, fall 2008. |
Amendments to the New Substances Notification Regulations (Organisms) | Provide a more efficient, enforceable, fair and clear notification
scheme for new organisms other than micro-organisms (i.e. transgenic
animals) intended for import or manufacture (including for research
purposes) in Canada, while maintaining or improving the safeguard of the
environment and human health (pollution prevention). Publish in the Canada Gazette, Part I. |
Challenge under the Chemicals Management Plan | The plan announces rapid regulatory action over the 2007–2010 period on
200 substances believed to be harmful to human health or the environment.
The Government is predisposed to prohibit activities for these substances
unless stakeholders come forward with information indicating the substances
are already used in a way that safeguards Canadians and the environment. For
each of the 200 substances:
|
Regulations Limiting Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) Content in Paints and Coatings | These new regulations will implement national VOC product content
standards for certain categories of products. They will align with existing
requirements in the U.S. to reduce air emissions of VOCs, which are
precursor pollutants contributing to the formation of ground-level ozone and
particulate matter. Publish in Canada Gazette, Part II, fall 2008. |
Regulations Limiting Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) Content in Consumer Products | These new regulations will implement national VOC product content
standards for certain categories of products. They will align with existing
requirements in the U.S. to reduce air emissions of VOCs, which are
precursor pollutants contributing to the formation of ground-level ozone and
particulate matter. Publish in the Canada Gazette, Part II, fall 2008. |
Regulations Limiting Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) Content in Automobile Refinish Coatings | These new regulations will implement national VOC product content
standards for certain categories of products. They will align with existing
requirements in the U.S. to reduce air emissions of VOCs, which are
precursor pollutants contributing to the formation of ground-level ozone and
particulate matter. Publish in the Canada Gazette, Part II, summer 2008. |
Amendments to the Export and Import of Hazardous Waste and Hazardous Recyclable Material Regulations | These amendments will incorporate provisions for the export, import and
transit of non-hazardous waste destined for final disposal. This regulatory
framework is being developed to protect the environment from risks posed by
the uncontrolled export, import and transit of non-hazardous wastes destined
for final disposal. Consistent with Canada's international obligations, the
regulatory framework would control the export from and import into Canada of
these wastes. The proposed regulatory framework will include mechanisms for
notification and prior informed consent, and tracking. Publish in the Canada Gazette, Part II, 2009. |
Wastewater Effluent Regulations under the Fisheries Act and CEPA 1999 | New regulations under the Fisheries Act to ensure that releases of
wastewater effluent from municipal and other publicly owned wastewater
systems do not pose unacceptable risks to human and ecosystem health or
fisheries resources. Publish in the Canada Gazette, Part II, winter 2009. |
Order amending Schedule 1 of the Species at Risk Act | Amend Schedule 1 to modify the legal list of species that immediately
provides the protection provisions prescribed under the Act, and other
provisions as needed. Publish in the Canada Gazette, Parts I and II. |
Annual hunting regulations, under the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 | To establish hunting season dates and bag and possession limits for
migratory game birds at sustainable levels using the best available science. Publish in the Canada Gazette, Part II. |
Regulations Amending the Migratory Birds Regulations (overabundant Snow Geese), under the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 | Amendment to establish a special conservation spring hunting season for
Snow Geese as a population control measure, where needed. Publish in the Canada Gazette, Parts I and II. |
Amendments to Schedule I of the Wild Animal and Plant Trade Regulations, under the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act (WAPPRIITA) | Amend Schedule I of WAPPRIITA to maintain compliance with amendments to
Appendices I, II and III of the Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species (CITES). Publish in the Canada Gazette, Parts I and II. |
2009–2010 Regulatory Initiatives | Planned Results |
Clean Air Sectoral Regulations (Major Industrial Sectors) | These new regulations will set targets for emissions of air pollutants
and greenhouse gases from the main industrial sectors in Canada (iron
pelletizing, base metal smelting, iron and steel, aluminum smelting, alumina
production, cement manufacturing, lime manufacturing, pulp and paper and
wood products). The approximately nine regulations will define sectoral
obligations and timelines. Start publication in the Canada Gazette, Part II by end of 2009. |
Renewable Fuels Regulations | The Government intends to develop and implement a federal regulation
requiring renewable fuels. The regulation would require fuel producers and
importers to have an average annual renewable fuel content of at least 5
percent of the volume of gasoline that they produce or import, commencing in
2010. Publish in the Canada Gazette, Part II. |
Amendments to the New Substances Notification Regulations (Organisms) | Provide a more efficient, enforceable, fair and clear notification
scheme for new organisms other than micro-organisms (i.e. transgenic
animals) intended for import or manufacture (including for research
purposes) in Canada, while maintaining or improving the safeguard of the
environment and human health (pollution prevention). Publish in the Canada Gazette, Part II. |
Challenge under the Chemicals Management Plan | The plan announces rapid regulatory action over the 2007–2010 period on
200 substances believed to be harmful to human health or the environment.
The Government is predisposed to prohibit activities for these substances
unless stakeholders come forward with information indicating the substances
are already used in a way that safeguards Canadians and the environment. For
each of the 200 substances:
|
Order amending Schedule 1 of the Species at Risk Act | Amend Schedule 1 to modify the legal list of species that immediately
provides the protection provisions prescribed under the Act, and other
provisions as needed. Publish in the Canada Gazette, Parts I and II. |
Annual hunting regulations, under the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 | To establish hunting season dates and bag and possession limits for
migratory game birds at sustainable levels using the best available science. Publish in the Canada Gazette, Part II. |
Regulations Amending the Migratory Birds Regulations (overabundant Snow Geese), under the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 | Amendment to establish a special conservation spring hunting season for
Snow Geese as a population control measure, where needed. Publish in the Canada Gazette, Parts I and II. |
5. Regulations are under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999) unless otherwise noted.
($ millions) | Current Estimated Total Cost | Forecast Spending to March 31, 2007 | Planned Spending 2007–2008 | Planned Spending 2008–2009 | Planned Spending 2009–2010 | Future Years' Spending Requirements |
Improved knowledge and information on weather and environmental conditions influences decision-making | ||||||
Weather station construction, Eureka, Northwest Territories
(EPA*) (project implementation) |
14.8 | 13.0 | 1.8 | -- | -- | |
Hydrometric Program (project close-out) |
10.0 | 10.0 | -- | -- | -- | |
Canadian Meteorological Centre – Facility Extension (EPA) (project implementation) |
8.3 | 8.3 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Supercomputer Facility Upgrade to Electrical and Cooling
Capacity (EPA) (project implementation) |
5.7 | 0.7 | 5.0 | |||
Modernization of the Climate Observing Program (EPA) (project implementation) | 8.6 | 8.0 | 0.6 | -- | -- | -- |
Uninterruptible power system – Replacement Dorval Facility (project implementation) | 9.9 | 0.2 | 1.4 | 6.9 | 1.4 |
*Effective Project Approval (EPA) implies Treasury Board's approval of, and expenditure authorization for, the objectives of the project implementation phase. Sponsoring departments and agencies are to submit for EPA only when the scope of the overall project has been defined and when the estimates have been refined to the substantive level.
Environment Canada's delegated authority is $2.5 million for general projects, $2 million for new technology (with a $5-million replacement limit) and $2.5 million for real property projects.
1) Name of Transfer Payment Program: Contributions to support environmental and sustainable development initiatives | ||||
2) Start Date: August 1999 | 3) End Date: March 31, 2009 | |||
4) Description: The objective of this class contribution is to enable Canadian groups, associations and organizations to become actively involved in environmental and sustainable development initiatives while accommodating regional ecosystem and socio-economic considerations. Contributions enable recipients to plan, manage and complete environmental and sustainable development initiatives at the regional or ecosystem level. This funding also serves to increase awareness and understanding of environmental and sustainable development issues and to encourage environmentally responsible action. | ||||
5) Strategic Outcomes and Expected Results:
|
||||
Forecast Spending 2006-2007 | Planned Spending 2007-2008 | Planned Spending 2008-2009 | Planned Spending 2009-2010 | |
Biodiversity is conserved and protected | 10.2 | 11.2 | 11.4 | 11.5 |
Water is clean, safe and secure | 0.4 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
Canadians adopt approaches that ensure the sustainable use and management of natural capital and working landscapes | 5.3 | 2.0 | 3.4 | 3.4 |
Improved knowledge and information on weather and environmental conditions influences decision-making | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
Canadians are informed of, and respond appropriately to, current and predicted environmental conditions | 0.4 | 2.3 | 2.2 | 2.2 |
Risks to Canadians, their health and their environment posed by toxic and other harmful substances are reduced | 2.4 | 4.2 | 2.3 | 2.3 |
Canadians adopt sustainable consumption and production approaches | 0.0 | 2.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Risks to Canadians, their health and their environment from air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions are reduced | 0.2 | 1.1 | 1.7 | 2.0 |
Total Transfer Payment Program | 19.2 | 24.9 | 21.7 | 21.7 |
1) Name of Transfer Payment Program: Habitat Stewardship Contribution Program | ||||
2) Start Date: August 20, 2000 | 3) End Date: March 31, 2008 | |||
4) Description:
|
||||
5) Strategic Outcomes and Expected Results:
|
||||
Forecast Spending 2006-2007 | Planned Spending 2007-2008 | Planned Spending 2008-2009 | Planned Spending 2009-2010 | |
Biodiversity is conserved and protected | 9.5 | 9.0 | 9.0 | 9.0 |
Total Transfer Payment Program | 9.5 | 9.0 | 9.0 | 9.0 |
1) Name of Transfer Payment Program: Contributions to EcoAction Community Funding Initiative | ||||
2) Start Date: 1998 | 3) End Date: March 31, 2009 | |||
4) Description: Provide financial support to non-profit organizations to undertake environmental projects that yield positive, measurable results and increase public capacity and awareness at the community level. | ||||
5) Strategic Outcomes and Expected Results:
|
||||
Forecast Spending 2006-2007 | Planned Spending 2007-2008 | Planned Spending 2008-2009 | Planned Spending 2009-2010 | |
Canadians are informed of, and respond appropriately to, current and predicted environmental conditions | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 |
Total Transfer Payment Program | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 |
1) Name of Transfer Payment Program: Contributions to Support Canada's International Commitments | ||||
2) Start Date: June 1999 | 3) End Date: March 31, 2009 | |||
Description: This class contribution has the following objectives: to ensure that Canadian interests are represented in international forums relating to environmental issues; to sustain and enhance Canada's participation in international multilateral and bilateral environmental organizations, agreements and protocols; to facilitate the participation of developing countries in global environmental and sustainable development issues; and to build, strengthen and maintain Canada's linkages with the international community on global environmental and sustainable development issues. | ||||
5) Strategic Outcomes and Expected Results:
|
||||
Forecast Spending 2006-2007 | Planned Spending 2007-2008 | Planned Spending 2008-2009 | Planned Spending 2009-2010 | |
Biodiversity is conserved and protected | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 |
Canadians are informed of, and respond appropriately to, current and predicted environmental conditions | 2.1 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 |
Risks to Canadians, their health and their environment posed by toxic and other harmful substances are reduced | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
Risks to Canadians, their health and their environment from air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions are reduced | 0.3 | 6.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
Total Contributions | 3.3 | 8.5 | 3.0 | 3.0 |
1) Name of Foundation: Canadian Foundation for Climate and Atmospheric Sciences (CFCAS) | ||
2) Start Date: February 2000 | 3) End Date: 2010 | 4) Total Funding : $110M |
5) Description: To invest strategically in excellent university-based research to: provide relevant science to policy makers; generate better knowledge of climate change and its impacts on the natural environment; provide results to help Canada respond to its international environmental commitments; and ensure a supply of skilled human resources to meet future environmental challenges. | ||
6) Strategic Outcomes:
|
||
7) Summary of Annual Plans of Recipient CFCAS supports efforts to:
CFCAS is currently preparing a report to Canadians on the science of climate change. It continues to support projects as well as major group and networked initiatives, stimulate research in priority areas, foster work on the impacts of our changing climate and encourage multidisciplinary research. CFCAS-funded research is increasing Canada's intellectual resources in climate and atmospheric sciences through training and retention of researchers, helping generate and disseminate relevant new knowledge, increasing the transfer of scientific findings to stakeholders and raising Canada's scientific profile internationally. Benefits include better information to support policy development, improved operational forecasting, better adaptation to climate changes and more effective management of climate-related risks. |
||
8) Planned Audits and Evaluations | ||
9) URL to Recipient Site: http://www.cfcas.org/index-eng.html | ||
1) Name of Foundation: Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) | ||
2) Start Date: March 26, 2001 | 3) End Date: June 30, 2015 | 4) Total Funding : $550M* |
5) Description: To stimulate the development and demonstration of Canadian technologies aimed at climate change, clean air, clean water and clean soil. | ||
6) Strategic Outcomes:
|
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7) Summary of Annual Plans of Recipient As of July 2006 (last funding announcement), SDTC had completed eight funding rounds and allocated a total of $217 million to 97 projects. That amount will be leveraged with an additional $560 million in contribution from private and public project partners, for a total project value of $777 million. Of those contributions, some 60 percent will come from private sources. According to SDTC, the projects it has funded sicne 2002 have an estimated potential to reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions by 12.5 megatonnes by the end of 2010. SDTC holds two rounds of funding each year (January and August), initially requesting Statements of Interest (SOI) from applicants. Contract announcements are made about nine months after the acceptance of SOIs. In 2006 and 2007, funding allocations are targeted at $100M and $106M respectively with annual project disbursement payments projected to be $49M and $79M. SDTC publishes a corporate plan in November of each year which describes plans for the current year and provides a forecast for the following year. It includes a disbursement plan, planned administration expenditures, objectives and proposed actions, an investment update, operating strategy, and performance expectations. The SDTC Annual Report and a summary of the corporate plan are tabled in the House of Commons by the Minister of Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), usually in July-August. http://www.sdtc.ca/en/news/Executive_Summary-2007.pdf |
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8) Planned Audits and Evaluations: Planned Audits and
Evaluations:
SDTC has completed its first interim evaluation for operations ending December 31, 2005, the results of which are posted on SDTC's web site (http://www.sdtc.ca/en/news/Interim_Evaluation_Report.pdf). A second interim evaluation will be due in 2009 or after two-thirds of the funds have been committed, whichever comes first. |
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9) URL to Recipient Site: http://www.sdtc.ca/en/ | ||
* EC's share is $275M | ||
1) Name of Foundation: Federation of Canadian Municipalities' (FCM) Green Municipal Fund (GMF) formerly known as the Green Municipal Enabling Fund (GMEF) and the Green Municipal Investment Fund (GMIF) | ||
2) Start Date: February 2000 | 3) End Date: In perpetuity | 4) Total Funding : $550M* |
5) Description:
The intent of the GMF is to encourage investment in environmental municipal infrastructure. Specifically, the priorities of the fund are to have a positive impact on the health and the quality of life of Canadians by reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, improving local air, water and soil quality and promoting renewable energy by supporting environmental studies and projects within the municipal sector. The GMF is equally co-funded by NRCan and Environment Canada (EC) who manage the fund at arms' length creating a strong partnership between the FCM and the Government of Canada. The FCM Board of Directors, formally designated as the decision-making body for the funds, is advised by a 15-member council with five federal appointees. The Council plays a key role, supported by the FCM secretariat and the GMF Peer Review Committee. Created in Budget 2000 with an endowment of $125M, the Green Municipal Funds were doubled in Budget 2002 with an additional $125M, consisting of the GMEF and the GMIF. The $50M GMEF has provided grants to support feasibility studies to increase municipal expertise and knowledge of leading-edge environmental technologies and practices. The $200M GMIF has provided loans and loan guarantees to leverage municipal investment in innovative environmental infrastructure projects. Budget 2005 announced $300M of additional funding to the GMF in fiscal year 2004-2005. With Budget 2005, the GMEF and GMIF were merged into one fund known as the Green Municipal Fund (GMF), combining the $250M from the old GMF with the new $300M into a revolving fund. This fund supports grants, loans and loan guarantees and is consistent with the purpose and intent of the original agreements. $150 million dollars of this fund is to be used exclusively to provide loans for the clean-up and redevelopment of brownfields. The amount of GMF financing available to municipalities is directly related to the environmental benefits and/or innovation of the projects undertaken, with grant/loan combinations of up to 80% of eligible costs available for projects with exceptional environmental benefits. |
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6) Strategic Outcomes:
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7) Summary of Annual Plans of Recipient In accordance with the agreement, the FCM submits their annual statement of plans and objectives to the Minister at the end of each fiscal year. |
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8) Planned Audits and Evaluations: | ||
9) URL to Recipient Site: http://www.fcm.ca/english/gmf/gmf.html | ||
* EC's share is $275M | ||
1) Name of Foundation: Clayoquot Biosphere Trust | ||
2) Start Date: February 2000 | 3) End Date: In perpetuity | 4) Total Funding: $12M |
5) Description: To create an endowment fund for the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust (CBT) – the cornerstone of the Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The CBT will use the income from the endowment fund to support local research, education and training in the Biosphere Reserve region. | ||
6) Strategic Outcomes:
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7) Summary of Annual Plans of Recipient
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8) Planned Audits and Evaluations: | ||
9) URL to Recipient Site: http://www.clayoquotbiosphere.org/ |
Over the next three years, Environment Canada will be involved in the following horizontal initiatives either as the lead or as a partner:
2007–2008
Horizontal Initiative: Canadian Group on Earth Observation |
Core Department(s): Agriculture and Agri-food Canada, Canadian Space Agency, Environment Canada, Fisheries and Oceans, Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Natural Resources Canada, Public Safety Canada |
Start Date: 2003 |
Description: The Group on Earth Observations (GEO) was established following the Earth Observation Summit on July 31, 2003. This initiative was led by the United States to promote the development of a comprehensive, coordinated and sustainable Earth Observation System(s) among governments and the international community to improve our ability to understand and address global environmental and economic challenges. The Canadian Group Earth Observations (CGEO) is part of Canada's contribution to this initiative. |
Shared Outcome(s):
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Governance Structure(s): A Canadian interdepartmental committee has been struck that mirrors the GEO structure with five Canadian Technical Groups with representatives from combinations of five core departments (AAFC, CSA, DFO, EC, NRCan). Industry Canada, Health Canada and Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada have also made significant contributions to the efforts. The full complement of participants is evolving and we have seen numbers grow and the diversity of membership expand since the summit. established five subgroups to address Architecture, Capacity Building, Data Utilization, International Cooperation, and User Requirements and Outreach. |
Federal Partners:
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For further information: http://www.cgeo-gcot.gc.ca/main-eng.htm |
Horizontal Initiative: An Accelerated Action Plan for Federal Contaminated Sites – FCSAAP. (succeeded by the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan (FCSAP), approved March 2005) | |||
Lead Department(s): Environment Canada, Treasury Board Secretariat | |||
Start Date: April 1, 2003 (FCSAP in effect since April 2005) | |||
End Date: FCSAAP funding to March 31, 2008. Replaced by FCSAP in April 2005 which is expected to be 12-15-years. Currently funding has been approved until March 31, 2010 | |||
Total Funding: Total Funding Allocated: for both FCSAAP and FCSAP $1,629.1M | |||
Description: The Federal Contaminated Sites Accelerated Action Plan (FCSAAP) and its successor program, the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan (FCSAP) provide a long-term mechanism to address federal contaminated sites having the highest human health and ecological risks. At the end of March 2004, federal contaminated sites represented a financial liability of about $3.5 billion. Although responsibility for the actual management and remediation of federal contaminated sites rests with responsible custodial departments, the overall program is administered jointly by Environment Canada and Treasury Board Secretariat. | |||
Shared Outcome(s): Reduce federal financial liability and risks to human health and the environment, including fish habitat. Increase public confidence in the overall management of federal real property through the effective risk management/remediation of individual federal contaminated sites. | |||
Governance Structure(s) for FCSAAP and its successor program, FCSAP: FCS ADM Steering Committee is supported by the Contaminated Sites Management Working Group and the FCSAP Secretariat (EC), which provides overall program coordination. | |||
Federal Partners: | |||
Federal Partners | Total Approved (2003-2010) | Planned Spending for 2006-2007 | Expected Results for 2006-2007 |
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada | 2,022,249 | 446,000 | Remediation/risk management at one project. Assessment of approximately 40 sites.* |
Canada Border Services Agency | 1,013,544 | 214,320 | Remediation/risk management at one project. |
Canadian Food Inspection Agency | 183,783 | 0 | |
Correctional Service of Canada | 2,165,850 | 247,670 | Remediation/risk management at two projects. Assessment of 5 sites.* |
Environment Canada | 88,937,799 (includes secretariat, expert support, and Environment Canada project funds) | 11,955,095 |
Provision of scientific and technical advice to custodial departments, with respect to the ecological risk evaluation of federal contaminated sites. Provision of ecological risk assessment training and guidance. Clerical and administration of ADM Steering committee and CSMWG, administers non-financial aspects of the program including management of project selection process, and development and maintenance of secure website and reporting. Remediation/risk management at 6 projects. Assessment of approximately 120 sites.* |
Department of Fisheries and Oceans | 46,325,069 (includes expert support and Fisheries and Oceans project funds) | 12,882,103 |
Provision of scientific and technical advice to custodial departments, with respect to the risk management of federal contaminated sites. Participation in the project submission process including review of information provided by departments and provision of fish habitat portion of ecological risk evaluation score. Remediation/risk management at 88 projects. Assessment of up to 734 sites.* |
Health Canada | 43,869,533 (includes expert support and Heath Canada project funds) | 6,723,032 |
Provision of scientific and technical advice to custodial departments, with respect to the human health risk management of federal contaminated sites. Provision of human health risk assessment training and guidance. Participation in the project submission process including review of human health related information provided by departments and provision of human health risk score. Remediation/risk management at 5 projects. Assessment of 12 sites. |
Department of Indian and Northern Affairs | 372,103,356 | 102,023,357 |
Northern Affairs – Care and maintenance of 9 abandoned mines and 1 staging area. Remediation/risk management at 14 projects. Assessment of approximately 40 sites.* Indian and Inuit Affairs – Remediation/risk management at 27 projects. Assessment of approximately 30 sites.* |
Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Inc. | 202,000 | 130,000 | Assessment of two sites. |
Department of National Defence | 298,843,843 | 46,048,078 | Remediation/risk management at 29 projects. Assessment of approximately 140 sites.* |
Natural Resources Canada | 1,129,000 | 306,000 | Assessment of 6 sites.* |
National Capital Commission | 225,000 | 225,000 | Assessment of 15 sites.* |
Parks Canada Agency | 6,848,240 | 2,087,796 | Remediation/risk management at 6 projects. Assessment of approximately 40 sites.* |
Public Works and Government Services | 11,926,834 (includes expert support and PWGSC project funds) | 3,974,296 |
Remediation/risk management at 7 projects. Assessment of approximately 20 sites.* Development of project management tools, the dissemination of information on innovative technologies and technologies used at individual projects. |
Royal Canadian Mounted Police | 4,148,980 | 2,150,041 | Remediation/risk management at 3 projects. Assessment of approximately 125 sites.* |
Transport Canada | 47,942,218 | 16,270,313 | Remediation/risk management at 11 projects. Assessment of approximately 15 sites.* |
Treasury Board Secretariat | 2,266,971 | 482,083 | Ensures consistency with Treasury Board policies on management of federal contaminated sites, reviews financial aspects of proposals, administers fund and advises EC on monitoring of government-wide progress. |
Unallocated Program Management Resources | 1,000,000 ($500,000 in each of 2008-2009 and 2009-2010) | 0 | |
Accommodation Charges | 7,117,071 | 1,304,029 | |
TOTAL | 1,121,671 128 | 207,509,213 | |
*The assessment process includes the first five steps of the 10-step process for addressing a contaminated site as described in A Federal Approach to Contaminated Sites (2000), i.e. identification, historical review, initial testing, classification, and detailed testing. |
Horizontal Initiative: Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem Initiative |
Lead Department(s): Environment Canada |
Start Date: April 1, 2005 |
End Date: March 31, 2010 |
Total Funding: $40 million over five years |
Description of the Horizontal Initiative (including funding agreement): The Federal Great Lakes Program is a model of horizontal integration. Its purpose is to ensure Canada's commitments under the Canada–United States Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA) are met, and to ensure a healthy Great Lakes environment. The program was first launched in 1989 as the Great Lakes Action Plan Phase I, which has been renewed twice (in 1994 and 2000) and extended in March 2005 (as the 2005-2010 Great Lakes Action Plan for Areas of Concern). The Federal Great Lakes Program is led by Environment Canada and currently engages seven other federal departments or agencies and provides the federal focal point for cooperation with both Ontario and the United States at the federal and state levels. The Canada–Ontario Agreement Respecting the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem (COA) is the mechanism used to harmonize objectives and coordinate actions between federal and provincial departments, while the Binational Executive Committee brings together federal, state and provincial departments from Canada and the United States to plan and manage initiatives developed pursuant to the GLWQA which require binational coordination. The ecosystem approach employed to restore and maintain environmental quality in the Great Lakes Basin and the binational and multi-jurisdictional nature of the resource require a high degree of horizontal integration of science, policy and program implementation, provided for through the Federal Great Lakes Program. |
Shared Outcome(s): Through the leadership and horizontal coordination provided by Great Lakes Program, federal departments, provincial ministries and U.S. federal and state agencies are united around a shared, results-based agenda and a vision for a healthy and prosperous Great Lakes Basin ecosystem. Shared outcomes include a healthy environment, healthy citizens and sustainable communities. |
Governance Structure(s): The current Great Lakes Program is a partnership of seven Government of Canada departments and one agency: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Environment Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Health Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Parks Canada Agency, Public Works and Government Services Canada, and Transport Canada. Together with other stakeholders, they have established a shared vision of a healthy, prosperous and sustainable Great Lakes Basin ecosystem. The Government of Canada's role in achieving this vision is one of leadership, stewardship and working cooperatively with partners to ensure past and present environmental problems are addressed and future problems prevented. Funding for the Government of Canada's Great Lakes Program was renewed in 2005 as the 2005-2010 Great Lakes Action Plan for Areas of Concern. The initiative consists of $40 million over five years ($8 million per year) targeted at continuing the environmental restoration of key aquatic Areas of Concern (AOC) identified under the Canada–U.S. Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. In addition, it is estimated that the department will contribute an additional $40-50 million over five years ($8-10 million per year) in support of Great Lakes work. Ontario is a key partner in conserving and protecting human health and environmental quality in the Great Lakes Basin. It is an essential partner in ensuring that Canada's commitments under the GLWQA are met. The provincial Ministries of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs; the Environment; and Natural Resources along with the eight federal departments or agencies are signatories to the COA, which provides the framework for coordinated, cooperative and integrated efforts in the Basin. First signed in 1971, the Agreement has undergone a series of renewals, the most recent being in the spring of 2002. The current COA expires in March 2007. Canada and Ontario launched a formal review of the current COA in fall 2005 to assess how the current Agreement has worked and how well it has been implemented. Both governments are working toward formalizing another renewed COA in 2007. The Great Lakes Executive Committee (GLEC) is the senior federal management body within the Canadian Federal Great Lakes Program. It is responsible for ensuring that Canada's commitments under the GLWQA are met through the effective and efficient delivery of the Great Lakes Program. The role of GLEC is to: approve strategic directions and priorities for the Great Lakes Program; coordinate federal positions, strategies and initiatives in support of binational activities and discussions, and establish direction for and review of annual spending of the Great Lakes Sustainability Fund. |
Federal Partners:
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For further information: http://www.on.ec.gc.ca/greatlakes/default.asp |
Contact: Alison Kennedy, A/Manager (416) 739-5913 |
Horizontal Initiative: Implementation of the Species at Risk Act | ||||
Lead Department(s): Environment Canada | ||||
Start Date: 2000 | ||||
End Date: ongoing (a Treasury Board submission must be prepared to secure funding for 2007-2008 and beyond) | ||||
Total Funding: $438,000,000 | ||||
Description: This Horizontal Initiative supports the development and implementation of the National Strategy for the Protection of Species at Risk and the Species at Risk Act (SARA) that came fully into force in June 2004. Environment Canada (EC), Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) and Parks Canada Agency (PCA) are the departments/agency responsible for the protection of species at risk under federal jurisdiction. The three departments received funds from Treasury Board in 2000 for the "Implementation of the National Strategy for the Protection of Species at Risk and their Critical Habitat" and in 2003 for "Implementation of the Act respecting the protection of wildlife species at risk in Canada". | ||||
Shared Outcome(s): Implementation of SARA, species at risk protected, biodiversity protected. | ||||
Governance Structure(s): CESCC (Canadian Endangered Species Conservation Council - F/P/T Ministers responsible for wildlife); Canadian Wildlife Deputy Ministers; CWDC (Canadian Wildlife Directors Committee - F/P/T Directors responsible for wildlife); ADMs Committee (EC, DFO, PCA); Director General Operations Committee (EC, DFO, PCA and others). | ||||
Federal Partners:
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Federal Partners | Names of Programs | Total Allocation | Planned Spending for 2006-2007 | Expected Results for 2006-2007 |
Environment Canada | Environment Canada Species at Risk Program | 283,844,000 | 46,879,000 |
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Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Fisheries and Oceans Species at Risk Program | 103,219,000 | 17,826,000 | |
Parks Canada Agency | Parks Canada Species at Risk Program | 50,937,000 | 10,295,000 | |
Contact: Yanik Perigny, Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment Canada, (819) 956-5975 | ||||
For further information: http://www.speciesatrisk.gc.ca/default_e.cfm |
For further information on the above-mentioned horizontal initiatives, see: http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/rma/eppi-ibdrp/hrdb-rhbd/profil-eng.asp.
Environment Canada's Sustainable Development Strategy (SDS) 2007–2009 highlights for Canadians key commitments that the Department will undertake over the next three years to strengthen the integration of sustainable development in the planning and delivery of our strategic outcomes. Commitments in the SDS focus on two key aspects of Environment Canada's approach to sustainable development: strengthening the Department's capacity to integrate social and economic considerations into our decision-making processes; and continuing to provide the environmental information, programs and services that enable Canadians to better integrate the true value of the environment into their decision-making. The SDS is aligned along four goals:
Each goal is supported by intermediate and shorter-term outcomes as outlined in the logic model that follows. In support of the SDS, Environment Canada is also developing a set of performance measures that will better enable the Department to assess how well the objectives of the SDS are being met.
The SDS 2007–2009 also highlights Environment Canada's commitment to the coordinated federal approach for the fourth round of departmental sustainable development strategies. This was a government-wide initiative, led by Environment Canada, to strengthen coherence and accountability across departmental sustainable development strategies.
This collaborative effort resulted in a document, Coordinating the Fourth Round of Departmental Sustainable Development Strategies, that included a set of six common federal sustainable development goals: clean and secure water for people, marine and freshwater ecosystems; clean air for people to breathe and ecosystems to function well; reduce greenhouse gas emissions; communities enjoy a prosperous economy, a vibrant and equitable society, and a healthy environment for current and future generations; sustainable development and use of natural resources; and strengthen federal governance and decision-making to support sustainable development.
Each commitment in Environment Canada's SDS is tagged to one or more federal sustainable development goals. Action to deliver on Environment Canada's SDS commitments over the three-year time period of the Strategy will concurrently advance departmental and federal goals. In addition, under the Department's responsibility to provide leadership, guidance and coordination of the federal SDS process, Environment Canada will explore options to promote greater government-wide coherence and effectiveness in achieving sustainable development.
Environment Canada's SDS 2007–2009 is available at http://www.ec.gc.ca/sd-dd_consult/SDS2007/index_e.cfm.
The Audit and Evaluation Plan for 2007–2008 to 2009–2010 is being developed for consideration by the Departmental Audit and Evaluation Committee (DAEC) in April 2007. Once approved by DAEC, the plan will be posted on Environment Canada's website at the following address: http://www.ec.gc.ca/ae-ve/.
The following table provides a list of all evaluation projects and internal audit engagements completed in 2006–2007, those currently in progress and expected to be completed in 2007–2008 and those already planned for 2007–2008 in last year's Audit and Evaluation Plan. Note that the list of projects planned for 2007–2008 may change in the context of the audit and evaluation planning process for 2007–2008.
Name of Internal Audit/Evaluation | Status | Expected Completion Date |
Co-location of Science Research Centres on University Campuses | Completed – May 2006 | |
Federal Species at Risk Programs | Completed – July 2006 | |
One-Tonne Challenge Program | Completed – July 2006 | |
Pilot Emission Removals, Reductions and Learnings (PERRL) Initiative | Completed – July 2006 | |
Opportunities Envelope | Completed – July 2006 | |
Intellectual Property Management | Completed – July 2006 | |
Bilateral Cooperation Program under the Multilateral Fund of the Montreal Protocol | Completed – February 2007 | |
Building Public Confidence in Pesticide Regulation and Improving Access to Pest Management Products * | Completed – February 2007 | |
Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) | In progress | April 2007 |
Canadian Regulatory System for Biotechnology * | In progress | April 2007 |
Ecosystem Initiatives – Georgia Basin Action Plan | In progress | April 2007 |
Environmental Emergencies Program (including Public Security and Anti-Terrorism – PSAT) | In progress | Fall 2007 |
Smog-Causing Emission Regulations in the Transportation Sector | In progress | Fall 2007 |
Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program * | In progress | Fall 2007 |
Species at Risk Act | Planned | 2007–2008 |
Ocean Action Plan * | Planned | 2007–2008 |
National Agri-environmental Standards Initiative (NAESI) * | Planned | 2007–2008 |
Canadian Biodiversity Strategy | Planned | 2007–2008 |
Public SCRIBE | Planned | 2007–2008 |
Environmental Enforcement Intelligence Program (EEIP) (including PSAT) | Planned | 2007–2008 |
Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan | Planned | 2007–2008 |
Tracking of Cross-boarder Movement of Hazardous Wastes and Hazardous Recyclable Materials (including PSAT) | Planned | 2007–2008 |
Climate Change: Science | Planned | 2007–2008 |
Climate Change: National Inventory | Planned | 2007–2008 |
Ecosystem Initiatives | Planned | 2007–2008 |
Protected Areas (National Wildlife Areas, Migratory Bird Sanctuary) | Planned | 2007–2008 |
Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network (EMAN) | Planned | 2007–2008 |
International activities | Planned | 2007–2008 |
Sector Sustainability Tables (SSTs) | Planned | 2007–2008 |
Outreach | Planned | 2007–2008 |
MSC Transition | Planned | 2007–2008 |
Ice Program | Planned | 2007–2008 |
Weather Predictions | Planned | 2007–2008 |
Internal Audits | ||
Eleventh Session of the Conference of the Parties (CoP11) | Completed – July 2006 | |
Continual Auditing: Acquisition Cards | Completed – July 2006 | |
Continual Auditing: Compensation | Completed – October 2006 | |
Montreal Protocol | Completed – February 2007 | |
Audit of Mandatory Disclosures | In progress | April 2007 |
Contingency Plan for Meteorological Service of Canada Weather Prediction Program | In progress | April 2007 |
Information Management / Information Technology (IM/IT) Audit Plan | In progress | April 2007 |
Travel | In progress | April 2007 |
Financial Audit Plan | In progress | April 2007 |
Hospitality | In progress | April 2007 |
Canadian Wildlife Service Control Self-Assessment | Planned | 2007–2008 |
Continual Audit: Revenues | Planned | 2007–2008 |
Decision Support Systems | Planned | 2007–2008 |
Delegation Authority | Planned | 2007–2008 |
Information Technology Security | Planned | 2007–2008 |
High Value and/or Number of Services Contracts and Grants and Contributions | Planned | 2007–2008 |
Employment Equity | Planned | 2007–2008 |
Environment Canada's Transformation Agenda | Planned | 2007–2008 |
Occupational Health and Safety | Planned | 2007–2008 |
Specified Purpose Accounts | Planned | 2007–2008 |
Vote Netted Revenue | Planned | 2007–2008 |
Management Controls – Maintenance of Monitoring Stations | Planned | 2007–2008 |
Hydrometric Monitoring Stations – Federal/Provincial Agreements | Planned | 2007–2008 |
Cash Advances | Planned | 2007–2008 |
Financial Statements | Planned | 2007–2008 |
Classification | Planned | 2007–2008 |
Staffing | Planned | 2007–2008 |
Corporate Administrative Shared Services (CASS) | Planned | 2007–2008 |
Continual Auditing: Acquisition Cards | Planned | 2007–2008 |
Continual Auditing: Compensation | Planned | 2007–2008 |
Motor Vehicle Policy | Planned | 2007–2008 |
Electronic Link to Internal Audit and/or Evaluation Plan: http://www.ec.gc.ca/ae-ve/. |
* Interdepartmental Evaluation
Clear, consistent and integrated departmental policy advice, coordinated interactions with partners and stakeholders and effective communication are important tools to help Environment Canada deliver on its mandate and commitments.
Environment Canada is leading the development of federal strategies to integrate environmental sustainability into government-wide policy priorities in a concrete manner. As part of this work, the Department is advancing a policy framework that recognizes the inextricable linkages between the environment, our economic competitiveness and the health of Canadians.
Environmental Canada's work to develop a unified departmental policy approach is organized into two program areas:
Over the next three years, Environment Canada plans to focus on:
A key priority is to improve the coordination of the existing but dispersed policy capacity of the Department in order to work more effectively and bring department-wide perspectives and scientific evidence to bear on all major policy work. Increased focus will be placed on policy research and economic analysis, and on strengthening the linkages between science and policy.
Improving the coordination and strategic direction of Environment Canada's education and engagement activities is also an important priority. Emphasis will be placed on particular target groups (such as consumers, small- and medium-sized enterprises, youth, educators and communities) where greater return can be expected by understanding their needs and challenges, and working to address them. Key partners will be identified and approached, in particular those that are better positioned than Environment Canada to deliver education and engagement activities because they have a deeper and broader reach.
Environment Canada's indicator-related work is being repositioned to provide better management of environmental and environment-related data within the Department; enhanced comparability of the available data and the mechanisms by which these data are made available; and data and information that are more relevant to departmental priorities as well as indicators that can be used to communicate environmental implications to citizens, policy makers and decision-makers. The Department will continue to develop the partnerships, principles and technologies required to integrate disparate environmental data and information in a consistent, credible and timely manner.
Over the next three years, Environment Canada will work towards the implementation of its Sustainable Development Strategy 2007–2009, as well as the refining of associated action plans and performance measures. More broadly, Environment Canada will continue to fulfill its role to provide leadership, guidance and coordination of the departmental sustainable development strategy process. Environment Canada will build on the collaboration established during the development of the fourth round of strategies resulting from an Environment Canada-led initiative to identify the six federal sustainable development goals that guided departments in selecting their strategy commitments. Environment Canada will be exploring options and learning from other jurisdictions, to promote greater government-wide coherence and effectiveness in achieving sustainable development.
Integrated Science
As one of the largest science-based departments in the federal government, Environment Canada has a critical interest in federal science and technology (S&T) policy. A new federal science and technology strategy is being developed, and there are several other interdepartmental S&T policy initiatives under way. Environment Canada is working to ensure that the new federal strategy and other S&T policy initiatives address the need for a strong and integrated environmental S&T capacity in Canada that is focused on national priorities. Environment Canada is also working to promote alignment between the federal S&T strategy and its own science and technology.
Ensuring that science and technology inform the development of policy is key to maintaining public confidence in Environment Canada's work. The Department will examine ways of better understanding the policy needs for S&T and of ensuring effective dialogue between S&T experts, policy developers, regulators and decision-makers. Public interest in environmental issues is extremely high. Increasing access to Environment Canada's S&T knowledge and expertise is key to strengthening its impact on policy development, regulations and decision-making.
Environment Canada recently completed departmental S&T plans that provide new opportunities for the strategic management of the Department's S&T. Environment Canada will be working to integrate the science and technology plans, facilitate their implementation and develop a performance measurement framework for the integrated plan.
Environment Canada does not achieve environmental outcomes on its own. Advancing departmental priorities such as clean air, climate change and chemicals management will require close cooperation with external players in the economy and society. This program area focuses on managing partnerships and working relationships with provincial and territorial governments, protecting and promoting Canada's environmental interests internationally, and engaging stakeholders in Canada's environmental agenda.
Many planned activities are new for Environment Canada, and stem directly from the Department's vision of helping Canada to build a globally competitive and sustainable economy. Realizing this vision means integrating environmental decision-making into all aspects of our economy, which will require all players to be more engaged in sustainable development policy creation and implementation. This includes improving the Department's decision-making structures and giving stakeholders a more coherent strategy around which to engage, thus reducing conflicting policy signals and burdensome demands on stakeholders' time and resources.
Environment Canada's partnerships and consultations work advances constructive consultations and participation in departmental priorities, and strengthens our relationships with key partners and stakeholders, including industry, NGOs, Aboriginal governments and organizations, market influencers and thought leaders. A strong policy framework for consultations and Aboriginal involvement was developed over the past year to guide the Department, and this year's activities will focus on implementing these policies by providing the tools and services needed to inform Environment Canada's consultations and ensure effective engagement with Aboriginal peoples.
Environment Canada's work under federal-provincial/territorial relations is being repositioned to focus on the most important departmental priorities, and to provide a more consistent departmental approach to intergovernmental affairs. Because provinces and territories share responsibility for environmental management with the federal government, their active engagement is essential to ensure the successful implementation of policy across Canada. The oversight and coordination of federal-provincial/territorial relations is, therefore, key to supporting the implementation of Environment Canada's agenda both on a national basis and on a regional or bilateral basis within a national context.
Environment Canada's education and engagement activities focus on working with partners to contribute to ecological literacy and engaging Canadians on key issues where their actions can make a difference.
Integrated and effective corporate services help Environment Canada to carry out its mandate. The Department continues to transform its way of doing business in order to be better positioned to play the central role it was given by Parliament to coordinate the policies and programs of the Government of Canada with respect to the preservation and enhancement of the quality of the natural environment. Environment Canada's internal transformation agenda helps the Department deliver on its goal to protect the health of Canadians, preserve our natural environment and strengthen Canada's long-term competitiveness.
Environment Canada is putting significant effort into repositioning its enabling programs and services in order to better support results-based management and internal governance in a way that allows the Department to successfully address the environmental priorities of Canadians. This work is organized into two program areas:
Over the next three years, Environment Canada plans to:
The Department is completing the transformation process that will enable it to fully plan, manage and report by results. The transformation has involved the re-definition of the results structure (Program Activity Architecture), the establishment of new management structures and processes, and the re-structuring of the organization.
These changes promote integrated management and decision-making in the context of a clearer view of results and strategic direction. Financial and human resources are clearly linked to results through a planning process that connects capacity to work. Performance information will support informed departmental decisions and transparent and balanced public reporting.
Results in this area are aimed at transforming Environment Canada's management framework in order to strengthen control and accountability, provide high-quality service, support and systems related to governance and program delivery, and support key departmental and government-wide management initiatives. The Department's corporate services activities are organized as follows:
Environment Canada has significantly revised and improved its overall approach to planning. The former decentralized approach has given way to a centralized "one-department" approach that aligns planning, priority-setting and resource allocation functions to the new Program Activity Architecture. The revised approach significantly enhances the overall transparency of proposed plans and priorities, enabling senior executive direction, engagement and strategic decision-making.
The planning process integrates corporate planning and decision-making and ensures that internal decision-making on priorities is aligned to annual reporting to Parliament through the Report on Plans and Priorities. Senior managers undertake business planning through results-based committees and teams. Managers at all levels from across the Department are engaged in the process to ensure consistent application of planning and reporting requirements. National management meetings are held to provide opportunities for managers to work through significant planning tasks on a collaborative basis.
As part of Environment Canada's internal transformation, most of the Department's Information Management and Information Technology (IM/IT) staff have been transferred to a single branch under the direction of a Chief Information Officer (CIO). A small number of IM/IT staff with highly specialized program area knowledge and skills remains "embedded" in program areas.
The objective of consolidating IM/IT capacities is to provide more effective, efficient and equitable levels of IM/IT services to all areas of program delivery across the Department. Another objective of consolidation is to further develop the capacity to provide the coherent, authoritative and trusted information systems needed to achieve government and departmental objectives.
Management efforts in the IM/IT domain are directed towards re-alignment of our IM/IT resources to ensure the best outcomes from existing and evolving technological capacities. They are also focused on ensuring that Environment Canada's data and information holdings can be and are treated as critical departmental assets. This involves providing leadership in Information Management through the development of an integrated IM plan for the Department, by developing and promoting policies and best practices for the management of information, and implementing and maintaining technologies to support the function.
Another key focus will be ensuring that the informatics systems used in support of our mission-critical and other service support requirements continue to operate without interruption. This is particularly true for the systems used on a 24/7 basis in support of weather prediction and environmental emergency response, for example, given their direct link to the safety and well-being of Canadians. A prime example of such a system is the departmental supercomputer and related infrastructure used in the production of weather warnings and forecasts. This equipment was recently upgraded to allow it to process more sophisticated weather and climate forecast models.
Information management and information technology are key enablers of program delivery in all strategic outcome areas through the provision of hardware infrastructure(6) and general-use software applications (e.g. email, office application suites, corporate finance and human resource applications). Within each strategic outcome area, IM/IT is also a key enabler of specific program activities through the development and implementation of specialized application software for the collection, storage, analysis and dissemination of environmental data and products as well as the implementation and maintenance of any specialized hardware infrastructure required by these activities.
Ongoing investment will be required to support the existing infrastructure as well as to respond to new work requirements and evolving technologies being introduced in the workplace. The ongoing development of a comprehensive IM/IT architecture will help to guide these efforts by fostering the adoption and use of consistent policies, standards and technologies that comply with those in use in the Government of Canada. The architecture will be supplemented by other efforts to ensure the efficient and effective application of IM/IT in the Department. These efforts include software management boards along with new "greening" policies to promote the effective use and life cycle management of IT while reducing the potential negative environmental impacts associated with that use. Through these policies, we hope to establish Environment Canada as a leader in this area.
Environment Canada has indicated its intention to be one of the first departments to participate in the Government of Canada's Corporate and Administrative Shared Services (CASS) initiative(7). Shared services are viewed as a way of producing more effective, efficient and economical delivery of common services within and across government departments.
As part of that initiative, participating departments will migrate their human resource management systems to the PeopleSoft suite of applications.
The Department of Justice Canada is responsible for the legal affairs of the government as a whole and for providing legal services to individual departments and agencies. Services provided by the Department of Justice Canada include providing legal advice, preparing legal documents, drafting legislation, regulating or conducting litigation, and overseeing the legal mechanisms used to achieve the overall objectives of the government.
The Department of Justice Canada provides legal services to Environment Canada primarily through Environment Canada's Legal Services unit. The Department of Justice Canada also provides services through its Environmental Drafting Services Section, the Federal Prosecution Service and other units located at Justice headquarters and in the regions.
High-quality legal advice enables Environment Canada to take decisions that are based on a thorough understanding of its legal authorities and relevant legal risks. Legal Services is committed to deliver results by ensuring that Environment Canada has access to appropriate levels of legal expertise; by identifying primary legal risks to the Department; and by making legal training available to Environment Canada officials where needs arise.
Like Environment Canada's other corporate functions, Environment Canada Legal Services is moving towards a "one-department" model with the aim of providing effective and efficient legal support of departmental priorities and objectives.
Audits and evaluations are used to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of departmental policies, programs and management. The November 2004 Report of the Auditor General to the House of Commons outlined the need to improve the quality of the internal audit function across government and a new government-wide Policy on Internal Audit came into effect on April 1, 2006. The audit and evaluation functions are carried out under the authority of the Federal Accountability Act (December 2006), the Treasury Board Policy on Internal Audit (April 2006) and the Treasury Board Evaluation Policy (coming into force in April 2007). The new Federal Accountability Act underscores the importance of the audit and evaluation functions in providing the necessary support to the Deputy Minister in his role as accounting officer. The proposed Treasury Board Evaluation Policy requires departments to evaluate programs, policies and initiatives, to use a risk-based planning approach in identifying projects, to use structured and disciplined approaches in carrying out evaluations, and to ensure the four key evaluation issues are addressed (i.e. relevance, success, cost effectiveness, and design and delivery).
Audits and evaluations are particularly important in the context of the implementation of the new governance framework. To reflect a stronger commitment to the audit and evaluation functions across the federal government, the internal audit and evaluation functions have been bolstered to ensure a comprehensive audit and evaluation program based on sound risk analysis of all departmental activities. To accomplish this, the Department is renewing and strengthening the capacity of the audit and evaluation function to ensure that it is well positioned to provide assurance and advice to senior management.
To enhance results-oriented and accountable management, the Audit and Evaluation Branch provides the Deputy Minister and senior management with objective, independent and evidence-based information, assurance and advice on management practices, controls and information, and on the performance of programs, policies and initiatives.
Environment Canada has identified as its overarching goal the attainment of the highest level of environmental quality as a means to enhancing the well-being of Canadians, preserving our natural environment and advancing long-term competitiveness. It is the responsibility of Environment Canada's enforcement program to enforce the laws administered by the Department in a fair, predictable and consistent manner to both manage risks and support Canadian competitiveness by providing a level playing field for regulatees. Canadians have a right to expect the government to not only regulate where necessary, but also to ensure those regulations are adhered to once put in place.
Each year, Annual National Inspection Plans identifying priority areas of compliance verification for the coming year are developed in consultation with Environment Canada program areas and enforcement partners. The National Inspection Plan is the cornerstone of planning and reporting for the Enforcement Branch, feeding both internal plans and reports as well as annual reports to Parliament.
An integral component of the Enforcement Program is the assurance that its enforcement personnel are properly trained. Field work presents unique challenges and hazards that require continued review, renewal and updates of learning to ensure the safety of our officers. Several initiatives currently under way include: the development of a core learning program for Wildlife Enforcement Officers; designation and designation renewal for Enforcement Officers; implementation of the Career Progression Program; and a learning management strategy that will continue to ensure effective and efficient enforcement operations through national enforcement learning programs and products.
With respect to contributing to the government's environmental agenda, many benefits are derived from enforcement involvement in the regulatory development and amendment process. In the development of regulatory instruments for government initiatives such as the Clean Air Agenda and the Chemicals Management Plan, the Enforcement Branch will provide valuable input into the regulatory drafting process, contribute to a speedy and efficient review of regulatory text, and provide guidance to secure the enforceability of the proposed regulations and other enforceable instruments. By continuing to work with programs to develop regulatory frameworks and instruments, the Enforcement Branch will contribute to the attainment of the Department's over-arching goals.
6. Hardware infrastructure includes computer equipment, network infrastructure and any other required hardware (routers, switches etc.).
7. http://www.psmod-modfp.gc.ca/initiatives/cass-smap-eng.asp