ARCHIVED - Natural Resources Canada

Strategic Outcome: Natural resource knowledge, landmass knowledge and management systems strengthen the safety and security of Canadians and the stewardship of Canada's natural resources and lands

Program Activity: Adapting to a changing climate and hazard risk management

Name of Transfer Payment Program: Implementation of the Adaptation Theme in Support of Canada's Clean Air Agenda (Voted)

Start date: April 1, 2008

End date: March 31, 2013

Description: The objectives of the program are to generate and effectively deliver knowledge and information needed to understand the range of risks and opportunities from a changing climate; and effectively inform and engage decision-makers across a range of social and economic sectors that have responsibilities to adapt.

Expected results:

• Information and decision-support tools needed for practitioners and decision-makers to understand risks and opportunities from a changing climate, and identify adaptation options are available;
• Practitioners and decision-makers with responsibilities to adapt are aware of regional/sectoral vulnerabilities and are engaged on adaptation;
• Mechanisms to share regional and sectoral information, tools and experiences nationally are created and used.
• Improved capacity to address adaptation issues.

Link to 3-year Transfer Payment Program Plan: http://www.nrcan-rncan.gc.ca/com/resoress/pubpub-eng.php

Strategic Outcome: Canada is a world leader on environmental responsibility in the development and use of natural resources

Program Activity: Clean Energy

Name of Transfer Payment Program: ecoENERGY for Biofuels (Voted)

Start date: April 1, 2008

End date: March 31, 2017

Description: ecoENERGY for Biofuels supports the production of renewable alternatives to gasoline and diesel and encourages the development of a competitive domestic renewable fuels industry. The program provides an operating incentive to facilities that produce renewable alternatives to gasoline and diesel in Canada, based on production volumes. ecoENERGY for Biofuels will invest up to $1.48 billion over 9 years, starting April 1, 2008, in support of biofuels production in Canada.

Expected results: Increased domestic production and development of a competitive domestic renewable fuel industry. The initial program volume is 2.5 billion litres of domestic production by March 2012, with a target of 2 billion litres of renewable alternatives to gasoline and 500 million litres of renewable alternatives to diesel.

Link to 3-year Transfer Payment Program Plan: http://www.nrcan-rncan.gc.ca/com/resoress/pubpub-eng.php

Strategic Outcome: Canada is a world leader on environmental responsibility in the development and use of natural resources

Program Activity: Clean Energy

Name of Transfer Payment Program: ecoENERGY Renewable Heat Initiative (Clean Air Agenda) (Voted)

Start date: April 1, 2007

End date: March 31, 2011

Description: As part of the ecoENERGY Initiative, the ecoENERGY Renewable Heat Program supports non‑emitting renewable thermal energy technologies used for space heating and cooling, and water heating through a mix of deployment contributions, residential pilot program contributions and industry capacity development contributions.

Expected results: It is estimated that by 2011, the ecoENERGY Renewable Heat Program will result in energy savings of 0.35 petajoules, which converts to annual emission reductions of about 20 kilotonnes of GHG, 9.8 kilotonnes of NO_X, and 19 to 32 tonnes of SO₂. For context, total clean energy/heat produced is equivalent to taking approximately 5,100 cars off the road. The total clean energy produced is also equivalent to the energy consumed by approximately 3,000 households. The emission reductions estimates are derived from assumptions regarding the displacement of the fossil fuel based energy used for space and water heating in Canada's building and housing stock based on current energy consumption profiles. Actual emission reductions achieved will be dependent upon project parameters such as: the efficiency of the heating equipment in use, the type of fuel displaced, solar thermal unit output, and the thermal loads being applied to the solar thermal units deployed.

Link to 3-year Transfer Payment Program Plan: http://www.nrcan-rncan.gc.ca/com/resoress/pubpub-eng.php

Strategic Outcome: Canada is a world leader on environmental responsibility in the development and use of natural resources

Program Activity: Clean Energy

Name of Transfer Payment Program: ecoENERGY Renewable Power Initiative (Clean Air Agenda) (Voted)

Start date: April 1, 2007

End date: March 31, 2011

Description: The ecoENERGY for Renewable Power program is investing $1.48 billion over 14 years to increase Canada's supply of clean electricity from renewable sources such as wind, biomass, low-impact hydro, geothermal, solar photovoltaic and ocean energy. It is intended to help position low-impact renewable energy technologies to make an increased contribution to Canada's energy supply and thereby contribute to a more sustainable and diversified energy mix.
Payments of the incentive will be paid over a 10‑year period to qualifying projects.
By 2011, the program will have contributed to the annual generation of 14.3 TWh of electricity or about 4,000 MW of capacity, depending on the mix of energy sources supported under the program. At present, these energy savings convert to annual emissions reductions of between 6 and 6.7 megatonnes of GHGs and related Criteria Air Contaminants (CAC) emissions.

Expected results: During fiscal year 2009-10, it is expected that about 25 renewable power projects, including wind, biomass and low impact hydro, will be commissioned for a total capacity of approximately 1,000 megawatts (MW). By the end of fiscal year 2009-10, about 3,000 MW of renewable power capacity will have been commissioned representing about $900 million of incentive support under the program over 13 years.

Link to 3-year Transfer Payment Program Plan: http://www.nrcan-rncan.gc.ca/com/resoress/pubpub-eng.php

Strategic Outcome: Canada is a world leader on environmental responsibility in the development and use of natural resources

Program Activity: Clean Energy

Name of Transfer Payment Program: ecoENERGY Retrofit Initiative

Grants in support of ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes (Voted)

Contributions in support of ecoENERGY Retrofit – Small and Medium Organizations (Voted)

Start date: 2007

End date: March 2012

Description: The ecoENERGY Retrofit Initiative is a program to provide financial assistance to Canadian homeowners and small industrial and commercial businesses and institutions to support energy efficiency retrofits. There are three components:

• a home energy efficiency retrofit incentive (grant funding noted in the table below);
• an energy efficiency retrofit incentive to accelerate the implementation of energy retrofit projects for non-regulated industries with less than 500 employees per facility and commercial/institutional buildings less than 20,000 square metres in size (contribution funding noted in the table below); and;
• a one-year extension of the Existing Buildings Initiative, which supported the retrofitting of existing commercial and institutional buildings (contribution funding in 2007‑08 only).

Expected results: Energy savings, which convert to reductions of greenhouse gas emissions and Criteria Air Contaminants from participating houses and small and medium organizations.

Link to 3-year Transfer Payment Program Plan: http://www.nrcan-rncan.gc.ca/com/resoress/pubpub-eng.php

Strategic Outcome: Canada is a world leader on environmental responsibility in the development and use of natural resources

Program Activity: Clean Energy

Name of Transfer Payment Program: ecoENERGY Technology Initiative (Voted)

Start date: April 1, 2007

End date: March 31, 2011

Description: The ecoENERGY Technology Initiative is a $230 million investment in science and technology by the Government of Canada to accelerate the development and market readiness of technology solutions in clean energy. This initiative is directed towards increasing clean energy supplies, reducing energy waste, and reducing pollution from conventional energy.

Expected results: Significant progress in a broad range of R&D projects in the areas of low emission industrial processes, energy efficient built environment, clean transportation systems, distributed power, large scale projects in carbon capture and storage-e (CCS).

Link to 3-year Transfer Payment Program Plan: http://www.nrcan-rncan.gc.ca/com/resoress/pubpub-eng.php

Strategic Outcome: Natural resource sectors are internationally competitive, economically productive, and contribute to the social well‑being of Canadians

Program Activity: Economic Opportunities for Natural Resources

Name of Transfer Payment Program: The "Investing in Canada's Forest Sector" initiative (Voted)

Start date: March 12, 2009

End date: March 31, 2011

Description: The "Investing in Canada's Forest Sector" initiative consists of two main objectives:

The objective of Promoting Forest Innovation and Investment is to support the goal of sustainable natural resources development by enhancing the long-term economic opportunities for Canada's forest sector as a product of increased investment in forest innovation.

The objectives of Expanding Market Opportunities are to: maintain and grow international wood product markets; expand wood use in the North American non-residential construction market; and improve product opportunities for value added wood manufacturers.

Expected results:

Over the long-term, Promoting Forest Innovation and Investment is expected to contribute to:

• Increased competitiveness of the Canadian forest sector (maximized fibre utilization, product and process innovation, maximized economic fibre yield)
• Greater efficiency and strength in forest innovation and R&D
• A more comprehensive forest innovation system linking universities, FPInnovations and the industry that will address the complete value-chain, from seed to final forest product
• A comprehensive program of work that will develop and commercialize new technologies to help transform the sector
• Opportunities to stimulate new investments by developing revolutionary uses for Canadian forest fibre through technologies such as biotechnology and nanomaterials.

Over the long-term, Expanding Market Opportunities is expected to:

• Create export demand for wood products to assist in the diversification of markets and offer opportunities to offset the impact of the cyclical fluctuations of wood product prices and demand in key markets
• Provide architects, engineers and builders with the knowledge required to design commercial buildings using wood to help grow the demand for wood in North America
• Develop new value-added products and manufacturing processes and transfer this information to secondary wood manufacturers that will serve to enhance the competitiveness of the value-added industry.

Link to 3-year Transfer Payment Program Plan: http://www.nrcan-rncan.gc.ca/com/resoress/pubpub-eng.php

Strategic Outcome: Natural resource sectors are internationally competitive, economically productive, and contribute to the social well‑being of Canadians

Program Activity: Economic Opportunities for Natural Resources

Name of Transfer Payment Program: Leadership for Environmental Advantage in Forestry (LEAF) Initiative (Voted)

Start date: June 19, 2008

End date: March 31, 2012

Description: The purpose of this program is to advance Canada's trade interests by promoting the environmental reputation of Canada's forest sector in international markets. Its aim is to defend and promote the Canadian forest sector's environmental record internationally through addressing science and information gaps, supporting market outreach, and monitoring and reporting on trends.

Expected results: LEAF will facilitate environmental acceptance for Canadian forest products in international markets by:

• promoting Canadian forest products as an environmentally responsible choice in international markets
• allowing Canada's forest industry to address international market access barriers related to environmental considerations
• ensuring that key influencers have the information they need regarding the environmental credentials of Canada's forest sector and its products
• supporting the Canadian forest industry in working proactively with international policy decision makers to ensure that their choices are supported by science-based evidence

Link to 3-year Transfer Payment Program Plan: http://www.nrcan-rncan.gc.ca/com/resoress/pubpub-eng.php

Strategic Outcome: Canada is a world leader on environmental responsibility in the development and use of natural resources

Program Activity: Clean Energy

Name of Transfer Payment Program: The "Pulp and Paper Green Transformation Program" (Voted)

Start date: July 30, 2009

End date: March 31, 2012

Description: The objective of the "Pulp and Paper Green Transformation Program" is to improve the environmental performance of Canada's pulp and paper industry, which in turn will contribute to the environmental, and hence commercial, sustainability of the pulp and paper industry.

7. Expected results:

Over the long-term, investments in the Pulp and Paper Green Transformation Program are expected to contribute to:

• Improved energy efficiency at Canadian pulp and paper mills
• Increased production of renewable energy at Canadian pulp and paper mills
• Improved environmental performance at Canadian pulp and paper mills
• Investments in innovation and technology to contribute to an environmentally and commercially sustainable pulp and paper industry in Canada

Link to 3-year Transfer Payment Program Plan: http://www.nrcan-rncan.gc.ca/com/resoress/pubpub-eng.php

Strategic Outcome: Natural resource sectors are internationally competitive, economically productive, and contribute to the social well-being of Canadians.

Program Activity: Economic Opportunities for Natural Resources

Name of Transfer Payment Program: Canada-Newfoundland Offshore Petroleum Board (Statutory)

Start date: 1985-86

End date: Perpetuity

Description: NRCan covers 50% of the operating costs of the Canada Newfoundland Offshore Petroleum Board. The Province pays the other 50%. This is done pursuant to provisions of the Canada-Newfoundland Atlantic Accord Implementation Act.

Expected results: To provide financial support to the Offshore Board to cover its costs for the management of offshore resources on behalf of Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador.

Link to 3-year Transfer Payment Program Plan: http://www.nrcan-rncan.gc.ca/com/resoress/pubpub-eng.php

Strategic Outcome: Natural resource sectors are internationally competitive, economically productive, and contribute to the social well-being of Canadians

Program Activity: Economic Opportunities for Natural Resources

Name of Transfer Payment Program: Payments to the Newfoundland Offshore Petroleum Resource Revenue Fund (Statutory)

Start date: April 1987

End date: In Perpetuity

Description: To make payments to the province of NL equivalent to the revenue amounts received by Canada in relation to NL offshore oil and gas activities.

Expected results: Payment to the province of Newfoundland pursuant to the Canada-Newfoundland Atlantic Accord Implementation Act.

Takes into consideration royalties and corporate income taxes related to NL offshore activities. Planned spending is subject to production levels, prices, exchange rates.

Link to 3-year Transfer Payment Program Plan: http://www.nrcan-rncan.gc.ca/com/resoress/pubpub-eng.php

Strategic Outcome: Natural resource sectors are internationally competitive, economically productive, and contribute to the social well-being of Canadians

Program Activity: Economic Opportunities for Natural Resources

Name of Transfer Payment Program: Payments to the Nova Scotia Offshore Revenue Account (Statutory)

Start date: 1993-94

End date: Perpetuity

Description: To make payments to the province equivalent to revenue amounts received by Canada in relation to offshore activities.

Expected results: Payments to the province of NS pursuant to provisions of the Canada Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Resources Accord Implementation Act.

Takes into consideration royalties and corporate income taxes related to the Nova Scotia offshore. Planned spending is subject to production levels, prices, exchange rates.

Link to 3-year Transfer Payment Program Plan: http://www.nrcan-rncan.gc.ca/com/resoress/pubpub-eng.php

Strategic Outcome: Canada is a world leader on environmental responsibility in the development and use of natural resources

Program Activity: Clean Energy

Name of Transfer Payment Program: Wind Power Production Incentive Contribution Program (Voted)

Start date: April 1, 2002

End date: March 31, 2007

Note: The program officially ended in 2007. However, allocated funding will be issued to program participants until 2016‑17.

Description: The WPPI Program was set up to help establish wind energy as a full-fledged competitor in the electricity market by providing a financial incentive of about 1 cent per each kilowatt-hour produced from the installation of 1,000 MW of new wind power capacity in Canada by 2007. Eligible recipients claim payment of the incentive over a 10-year period.

NOTE: The total contribution funding for the program is $324 million of which $300 million has been committed to wind projects. Actual spending will be spread out over several years until 2016‑17. The initial WPPI budget was $260 million and an additional $69.9 million was allocated in 2005‑06 to allow the program to continue to support the development of new wind farms.

Expected results: The program contributes to the production of new electricity from wind energy projects. The program has 22 approved wind projects for a total capacity of 924 MW.

In fiscal year 2009-2010, it is expected that the program will meet or exceed its annual production target of 2,550 gigawatt-hours of production.

Link to 3-year Transfer Payment Program Plan: http://www.nrcan-rncan.gc.ca/com/resoress/pubpub-eng.php

Strategic Outcome: Canada is a world leader on environmental responsibility in the development and use of natural resources

Program Activity: Clean Energy

Name of Transfer Payment Program: Clean Energy Fund (Voted)

Start date: April 23, 2009

End date: March 31, 2014

Description: Clean energy is energy that is produced, transmitted, distributed and used with low or zero greenhouse gas (GHG) and other air emissions. The Government of Canada has committed that Canada's total GHG emissions be reduced by 20 percent from 2006 levels by 2020 and that 90 percent of Canada's electricity be provided by non-emitting sources such as hydro, nuclear, clean coal and wind power by 2020.

In support of these goals, the Clean Energy Fund provides $850 million over five years for the demonstration of promising technologies, including large-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects, and renewable energy and clean energy systems demonstrations. It also provides $150 million over five years for clean energy research and development (R&D).

Expected results: Significant progress in the area of large scale CCS demonstration projects (leading to an expected 18MT/year GHG reductions); renewable energy and clean energy systems, for example, marine, wind and solar energy and its increased integration into Canada's electricity system and the built environment; new technologies to address the environmental challenges facing oil sands; hydrogen and fuel cells; and technologies to lower CO₂ capture costs and increase knowledge on CO₂ storage.

Link to 3-year Transfer Payment Program Plan: http://www.nrcan-rncan.gc.ca/com/resoress/pubpub-eng.php

Strategic outcome: Canada is a world leader on environmental responsibility in the development and use of natural resources.

Program activity: Clean Energy

Name of recipient: Green Municipal Fund (GMF) (Statutory)

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)

Start date: March 31, 2000

End date: In perpetuity

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), is an arms' length fund representing 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.

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, economic and social benefits of the projects undertaken. Grants of up to 50% to a maximum of $350,000 are available for plans, studies and field tests. GMF can provide below-market financing for capital projects up to 80% of costs to a maximum of $4 million in loans combined with $400,000 in grants. Brownfield projects are eligible for below-market loans only, with no funding limit.

* NRCan's contribution via the GMF Funding agreement is $275 million. Environment Canada contributes the other $275 million.

Summary of annual plans of recipient: The FCM will issue the 2010-2011 Annual Statement of Plans and Objectives by January 30, 2010.

The FCM is expected to issue the 2009-2010 Annual Report by March 31, 2010. It will be posted on the FCM web site noted below.

URL to recipient site: http://www.fcm.ca.

Strategic outcome: Canada is a world leader on environmental responsibility in the development and use of natural resources.

Program activity: Clean Energy

Name of recipient: Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) for the NextGen Biofuels Fund™

Start date: July 30, 2007

End date: Agreement ends September 30, 2027; last disbursement of funds to SDTC by March 31, 2015

Description: SDTC is managing the NextGen Biofuels Fund™, which will support up to 40% of eligible project costs to a maximum of $200M per project for the establishment of first-of-kind, large-scale demonstration next-generation renewable fuel production facilities to encourage the future sustainability and success of renewable fuels. Next-generation renewable fuels are derived from non-traditional renewable feedstocks, such as forest biomass, fast-growing grasses, and agricultural residues, and are produced with non-conventional conversion technologies.

Since next-generation technologies are capital equipment intensive, they constitute a greater debt financing risk. The support provided by the NextGen Biofuels Fund™ will encourage the retention and growth of technology expertise and innovation capacity for next-generation renewable fuels production in Canada.

The funding is divided equally between NRCan ($250M) and Environment Canada ($250M) for provision to SDTC. The $200M statutory funds were approved in Bill C‑52, an Act to implement certain provisions of the Budget tabled in Parliament on March 19, 2007. This funding will be requested as required. The remaining funds ($300M) are to be appropriated by Parliament over the period of 2008/09 to 2014/15.

* SDTC NextGen Biofuels agreement is $250 million. Environment Canada contributes an equal amount of $250 million.

Summary of annual plans of recipient: SDTC Corporate Plan for 2010 released October 2009. Executive summary posted on website below.

URL to recipient site: www.sdtc.ca.

Strategic outcome: Canada is a world leader on environmental responsibility in the development and use of natural resources.

Program activity: Clean Energy

Name of recipient: Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) (Statutory payment) – SD Tech Fund™

Start date: March 26, 2001

End date: June 30, 2015

Description: To stimulate the development and demonstration of innovative Canadian technological solutions that address climate change, clean air, clean water and clean soil.

* Natural Resources contribution toward the SDTC Tech Fund is $275 million. Environment Canada contributed an equal amount of $275 million.

Summary of annual plans of recipient: SDTC publishes a corporate plan in November of each year that 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.

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.

Funding allocations in 2009 and 2010 are expected to total around $200M. Since SDTC allocates funding based on the merit of applications it does not have strict allocation targets. The anticipated 2009 disbursements are $50M (compared to $42M in 2008) for a total disbursement to date of $144M. Annual project disbursement payments are projected to be approximately $70M and $100M in 2010 and 2011 respectively.

SD Tech Fund ($550 M)

Funding Agreement Three, between the Government of Canada and the Foundation, dated March 31, 2005 for $550 million (SD Tech Fund™), provides the terms and conditions for the Foundation on providing funding for development and demonstration of technologies focusing on climate change, clean air, water and soil. According to SDTC, the 171 projects it has funded since 2002 have an estimated potential to reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions by more than 5 to 12 Mt of CO₂e by 2012 and 9 to 22 Mt of CO₂e by 2015.

URL of recipient site: www.sdtc.ca.

Part A: Green Procurement Capacity Building

Part B: Use of Green Consolidated Procurement Instruments

Part C: Reduction Initiatives for Specific Goods (Optional/Where Applicable)

Name of Horizontal Initiative: Improving the Performance of the Regulatory System for Major Natural Resource Projects

Name of lead department(s): Natural Resources Canada

Lead department program activity: Safety, Security and Stewardship - Natural Resource and Landmass Knowledge and Systems

Start date of the Horizontal Initiative: October 1, 2007

End date of the Horizontal Initiative: March 31, 2012

Total federal funding allocation (start to end date): $150 million over 5 years

Description of the Horizontal Initiative (including funding agreement): To respond to the recent growth in the number of major resource projects and move forward on commitments to create a more accountable, predictable and timely regulatory review process, the Government has allocated $150 million over five years to establish the Major Projects Management Office (MPMO) within Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) and to increase the scientific and technical capacity of key regulatory departments and agencies.

The MPMO has been created to provide a single point of entry into the federal regulatory system for all stakeholders and to provide overarching management of the federal regulatory process for major natural resource projects in both operational and policy areas. New capacity funding provided through this initiative will ensure key regulatory departments and agencies are positioned to respond to the recent growth in the number of new major resource projects and will better enable departments to meet their legal responsibilities for Aboriginal Crown consultation associated with their regulatory decisions relative to major resource projects.

This initiative will provide the oversight and capacity needed to address the issues affecting the performance of the federal regulatory system. In short, it will lay the foundation for a more predictable and accountable regulatory system that will improve the competitiveness of Canada's resource industries while ensuring careful consideration of environmental standards and technical requirements.

Shared outcome(s): Among the more tangible improvements resulting from this initiative will be the timeliness and predictability of the regulatory process. The environmental review and permitting of major resource projects is targeted to be reduced from upwards of four years to an average of about two years.

Other important outcomes from this proposal include:

• a more accountable, predictable and timely regulatory review process that will facilitate investment and planning decisions and improve the competitiveness of Canada's resources industries;
• high quality assessments of the environmental and social effects of resource development so that federal decisions in relation to projects safeguard the environment and promote sustainability; and
• Aboriginal consultation responsibilities will be fulfilled in a more consistent, adequate and meaningful manner.

Governance structure(s): The Cabinet Directive on Improving the Performance of the Regulatory System for Major Resource Projects has established a new governance framework for federal government departments and agencies to facilitate the effective, coordinated, and concurrent discharge of their statutory duties, functions and obligations related to the regulation of major resource projects. It encourages federal government departments to work together to identify areas where the consistency, efficiency and effectiveness of the federal regulatory system can be improved and to develop and implement system improvements. These activities are intended to improve the accountability, transparency, timeliness and predictability of the federal regulatory system for major natural resource projects.

The Minister of Natural Resources is the lead Minister for the Initiative. In collaboration with his counterparts in other regulatory departments, the Minister of Natural Resources will report biannually to Cabinet on progress made towards achieving the objectives of the initiative, and will report annually to Parliament and the public through NRCan's annual reporting requirements.

A Major Projects Deputy Ministers' Committee has been created to serve as the governance body for the implementation of the initiative. This Committee will provide direction for the resolution of project-specific issues and oversee the application of the Cabinet Directive. Membership on this committee includes the Deputy Minister of NRCan (Chair), the Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the Deputy Minister of the Environment, the Deputy Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, the Deputy Minister of Transport, the Associate Deputy Minister of Industry, the Deputy Minister of Justice, the Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet (Operations) - Privy Council Office, the President of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency, the President of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission and the Chair of the National Energy Board. The MPMO has been established to provide overarching management of the federal regulatory system for major resource projects. It will achieve this by working with the federal regulatory departments / agencies to identify areas where the consistency, efficiency and effectiveness of the federal regulatory process can be improved and work with these departments and agencies to implement change. The MPMO will also provide support to the Major Projects Deputy Ministers' Committee, through the provision of data, analysis and other information.

To ensure effective communication with federal regulatory departments on key issues and to facilitate collaboration and cooperation, interdepartmental working groups have been established at the ADM, DG and working levels.

Planning Highlights: To achieve the expected results, NRCan and its federal partners plan to undertake the following key initiatives:

• Develop and implement a whole-of-government strategy to modernize the regulatory review process for natural resource projects by:
  • Enhancing coordination and collaboration on high-quality, timely and predictable environmental assessment within the regulatory approval process;
  • Improving the process and capacity of Aboriginal engagement and consultations with respect to major resource projects;
  • Identifying and implementing process improvements to continue to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the federal regulatory system for major resource projects; and,
  • Working with partners to strengthen northern regulatory regimes.
• Increase the transparency and accountability of the federal regulatory review process through:
  • Increased oversight and regular monitoring, tracking and reporting on progress against commitments in project agreements; and,
  • Participation in the federal interdepartmental governance mechanism for major projects i.e., Major Projects Deputy Ministers' Committee.
• In addition, NRCan will work to identify opportunities to improve integration of federal and provincial regulatory review processes.

*Totals do not equal the total allocation under the initiative (i.e.; $150 million over five years) due to changes that have occurred in departmental Program Activity Architectures since the beginning of the initiative.

Results to be achieved by non-federal partners (if applicable):

Contact information:
Mr. Philip Jennings
Assistant Deputy Minister
Major Projects Management Office
Natural Resources Canada
155 Queen Street, 2^nd Floor
Ottawa, ON K1A 0E4