ARCHIVED - National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy - Report

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Message from the President and CEO

The National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy (NRTEE or Round Table) is an independent policy advisory body reporting to Parliament through the Minister of the Environment. The purpose of the Round Table, according to the NRTEE Act (1993), is “to play the role of catalyst in identifying, explaining, and promoting, in all sectors of Canadian society and in all regions of Canada, principles and practices of sustainable development.”

Drawing on the insight and experience of NRTEE members, the Round Table examines the environmental and economic implications of priority issues and offers integrated advice on how to address them, with the ultimate goal of influencing federal policy development and decisions in other key sectors on these issues. Since its formation over 20 years ago, the NRTEE has established a reputation for working effectively in highly contentious areas and for providing independent, credible, and balanced research and advice.

The Round Table will complete its innovative Climate Prosperity research initiative in 2012-2013 with the release of the fifth and sixth advisory reports in this series. The fifth will explore what actions Canadian businesses need to undertake to adapt to climate change impacts and how governments can help. The sixth will characterize the opportunities, in terms of both business resilience and market growth, available to Canada through an early transition to a low carbon economy. The Round Table also plans to release in Spring, 2012 reports on two references given it by the government in early 2011. The first will provide an analysis of provincial/territorial climate change plans and policies and their likely contribution to Canada achieving its 2020 emission reduction targets. The other will deal with the possible use of life cycle approaches to support the government’s economic and environmental agendas. To support these and other initiatives, we will enhance our strategic communications and stakeholder engagement activities and expand the use of social media in the conduct of our work.

To meet its ongoing priorities, the Round Table will continue to abide by its legislated responsibilities under the Kyoto Protocol Implementation Act as required and, respond to any future requests from government for research and policy advice on specific topics of concern.

Our unique role as a knowledgeable, independent convener of views and information from across the spectrum of society has allowed us to make a substantial contribution to sustainable development and national prosperity. We are committed to assisting the Government of Canada, Parliament, and Canadians in continuing along this path.

To advance our next policy agenda, the NRTEE is engaging government, Parliamentarians, stakeholders and Canadians in seeking ideas and suggestions for new sustainable development policy advice by the Round Table.

The original version was signed by
________________________

David McLaughlin
NRTEE President and Chief Executive Officer

Section 1: Overview

1.1 Raison d'être and Responsibilities

The purpose of the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy (NRTEE or Round Table) is to play the role of catalyst in identifying, explaining, and promoting, in all sectors of Canadian society and in all regions of Canada, principles and practices of sustainable development.

The NRTEE interprets this broad mandate through a strategic focus on issues of national interest at the intersection of the environment and the economy.

Through its work, the NRTEE strives to influence policy development and decisions on issues pertaining to the environment and economy. These promote economic prosperity for all Canadians while striving to preserve the environment for current and future generations.

Created in 1988 by the Prime Minister, the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy is an independent national advisory body reporting to the federal government and Parliament through the Minister of the Environment (see Figure 1 for the agency’s internal organization and relationship to the federal government). The Round Table had its status formalized in 1993 by an Act of Parliament, Bill C-72, An Act to establish the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy (NRTEE Act).

The NRTEE is a departmental corporation (Financial Administration Act, Schedule II).

The work of the NRTEE is directed by the Round Table members drawing on their expertise and insight. The members are part-time Governor-in-Council appointees. They represent different regions of Canada and are distinguished leaders from business, labour, universities, public service, and environmental organizations.

A Secretariat in Ottawa, headed by a President and CEO, supports the members. The Round Table normally meets a minimum of four times each year in plenary sessions where members discuss priorities and review and approve the work of the Secretariat.

General information about the NRTEE and its membership can be found on the agency’s website at www.nrtee-trnee.ca

Figure 1: NRTEE internal organization and relationship to the federal government

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1.2 Strategic Outcome and Program Activity Architecture (PAA)

The NRTEE aims to achieve the following single strategic outcome: Federal policy development and decisions in other key sectors are influenced by advice on sustainable development issues pertaining to the environment and the economy.

This RPP is based on the Treasury Board-approved PAA shown in Figure 2 below.

Figure 2: NRTEE Program Activity Architecture (PAA)

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1.3 Organizational Priorities

For 2012–2013, the agency has identified two key operational priority areas, both of which contribute to the NRTEE’s single strategic outcome.

Priority	Type	Strategic Outcome(s) and/or Program Activity(ies)
To produce policy advice to decision-makers on environment and economy issues	Ongoing	Federal policy development and decisions in other key sectors are influenced by advice on sustainable development issues pertaining to the environment and the economy.
Status
The production of policy advice is an ongoing core activity essential to efforts to achieve the NRTEE’s stated strategic outcome. Specific plans in this regard focus on completing its existing policy agenda on Climate Prosperity and fulfilling two references from the Minister of the Environment. While doing so, the NRTEE will develop and move forward on the next policy advisory agenda of sustainable development. Details on these initiatives may be found in Section II.

Priority	Type	Strategic Outcome(s) and/or Program Activity(ies)
To promote policy advice to decision makers on environment and economy issues	Ongoing	Federal policy development and decisions in other key sectors are influenced by advice on sustainable development issues pertaining to the environment and the economy.
Status
Successful dissemination and promotion of the Round Tables reports and advice is integral to the attainment of influence in sustainable development policy decisions. The NRTEE will leverage its strong brand image and increase the use of media relations, direct stakeholder communications, electronic reporting and social media to boost its communication efforts. Additional information may be found in Section II.

1.4 Risk Analysis

Organizational Context

The Secretariat, headed by a President and CEO, provides program management, policy and research analysis, communications, and administrative services to the Round Table.

Issues to be examined by the NRTEE are identified through an internal screening and scoping process, in which the final decisions reflect current policy, environmental, economic and/or political priorities together with NRTEE members’ combined interests. The NRTEE reinforces members’ expertise and advice with stakeholder consultation and original policy research undertaken, or directed by the Secretariat, as part of its approach to conducting its work.

The NRTEE can respond to specific research requests, called references, from the federal government (which it did during 2011-12). In addition, the Round Table has a legislated responsibility to respond, as per the Kyoto Protocol Implementation Act, to the federal government’s annual Climate Change Plan, within 60 days.

Risks and Challenges

The NRTEE seeks to influence the government’s approach to important sustainable development issues. To accomplish this, the NRTEE must produce and promote relevant, neutral, credible advice in a timely manner. Its ability to do so is affected by a number of risks and challenges, of which the key ones are as follows;

• A key indicator of the NRTEE’s performance is its specific ability to influence government policy development. In Canada, particularly for the issues typically examined by the NRTEE, federal policy is not developed in isolation. It is affected by the government’s relationships with other Canadian and international jurisdictions and by a range of other factors over which the NRTEE has no control, creating a complex decision-making environment, where direct attribution of influence is difficult to measure.
• As influence is a difficult performance indicator to measure, proxies are used. In addition to the challenge described above, the NRTEE’s policy advice to government tends to focus on longer term issues and may translate into action only years after NRTEE’s reports and recommendations are published. Therefore, the causal effect may not always be clear.
• The NRTEE policy lens tends to be long term in nature and can deal with contentious sustainability issues. This longer term view risks perceived asymmetry with current shorter term government agendas, time frames, and policy frameworks.
• Independent third-party feedback consistently recognizes the Round Table’s two key strengths and unique elements as its high quality research and its’ convening power – the ability to create a safe neutral space to discuss difficult issues. These two pillars are critical to the success of the Round Table’s work and thus one of its key risks is reputational.
• The composition of the membership of the Round Table is a key element in providing guidance to the Secretariat, reviewing research and reports, engaging with stakeholders and in how the Round Table is perceived. A membership not representative both geographically and from a constituency standpoint runs the risk of weakening the reputation of the Round Table and its ability to provide timely, relevant advice. Having sufficient qualified and diverse members, including a duly appointed Chair, will help alleviate any such risks.

1.5 Planning Summary

1.5.1 Financial Resources ($ thousands)

The financial resources table below provides a summary of the total planned spending for the NRTEE for the next three fiscal years.

Total Planned Spending

2012–2013	2013–2014	2014–2015
5,240.4	5,240.4	5,240.4

1.5.2 Human Resources (Full-time Equivalent - FTE)

The Human Resources tables provide a summary of the total planned human resources for the NRTEE for the next three years.

Total Planned Human Resources

2012–2013	2013–2014	2014–2015
30	30	30

1.5.3 Planning Summary Table

Strategic Outcome: Federal policy development and decisions in other key sectors are influenced by advice on sustainable development issues pertaining to the environment and the economy.

Performance Indicator: Extent to which NRTEE advice is considered in policy decisions by federal decision makers		Targets: NRTEE advice is partly responsible for a number of policy decisions and is often considered in assessing relevant policy choices made by federal government policy makers.
Program Activity	Forecast Spending 2011–12 ($ thousands)	Planned Spending ($ thousands)			Alignment to Government of Canada Outcomes
		2012–13	2013–14	2014–15
Advisory Program on Environment and Economy Issues	3,333.3	3,327.7	3,327.7	3,327.7	Strong Economic Growth
Total Planned Spending		3,327.7	3,327.7	3,327.7

 

1.4 Expenditure Profile

Program Activity	Forecast Spending 2010–11 ($ thousands)	Planned Spending($ thousands)
		2012–13	2013–14	2014–15
Internal Services	1,915.9	1,912.7	1,912.7	1,912.7
Total Planned Spending		1,912.7	1,912.7	1,912.7

The NRTEE’s overall financial resources and expenditures profile is very stable, with only minor fluctuations over time, providing a consistent resource platform for the planning and delivery of activities, research, and reports.

1.5 Estimates by Vote

For information on the NRTEE appropriations please see the 2012–13 Main Estimates publication

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