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Section 3 Supplementary Information

In this section:

• 3.1 Financial Highlights
• 3.2 List of Supplementary Information Tables
• 3.3 Other Items of Interest

3.1 Financial Highlights

The financial highlights presented within this Departmental Performance Report are intended to serve as a general overview of the Agency's financial position and operations. Detailed financial statements can be found on the Agency's Web site.

($)

Condensed Statement of Financial Position At End of Fiscal Year (March 31, 2010)	% Change	2008–2009	2009–2010
Assets
Total Assets	153%	858,100	2,171,549
Total	153%	858,100	2,171,549
Liabilities
Total Liabilities	12%	8,744,694	7,689,128
Equity
Total Equity	30%	(7,886,594)	(5,517,579)
Total	153%	858,100	2,171,549

($)

Condensed Statement of Financial Operations At End of Fiscal Year (March 31, 2010)	% Change	2008–2009	2009–2010
Expenses
Total Expenses	2%	37,667,617	38,391,476
Revenues
Total Revenues	40%	3,365,290	4,710,677
Net Cost of Operations	-2%	34,302,327	33,680,799

3.2 List of Supplementary Information Tables

All electronic supplementary information tables found in the 2009–10 Departmental Performance Report can be found on the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat website.

• Sources of Respendable and Non-Respendable Revenue;
• User Fees Act;
• Response to Parliamentary Committees and External Audits; and
• Internal Audits and Evaluations.

 

3.3 Other Items of Interest

Statistical Summary of Environmental Assessments

The table below provides a statistical summary of environmental assessments conducted by responsible and regulated authorities. It outlines the total number of projects that underwent an environmental assessment under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act during the 2009-2010 reporting period.

Fiscal Year 2009-2010			EA Decisions Taken this Fiscal Year
EA Type	Ongoing on April 1, 2009	Initiated this fiscal year	Not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects	Likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects	Terminated
Screening	2,686	3,470	2,786	0	371
Class Screening	N/A	N/A	374	N/A	N/A
Comprehensive Study	21	11	3	0	3
Review Panel	12	1	2	0	2

Note: In addition, within the 2009-2010 reporting period, a total of 2,711 screenings were completed by the Business Development Bank of Canada and Farm Credit Canada. Since June 11, 2006, these Crown corporations are required to conduct environmental assessments of their projects subject to the requirements of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, but with a modified process with respect to reporting on the Registry Internet site.

Screenings

A screening is the most common type of environmental assessment. It is a systematic approach to identifying and documenting the environmental effects of a proposed project and determining the need to eliminate or minimize (mitigate) the adverse effects, to modify the project plan or to recommend further assessment through mediation or an assessment by a review panel.

Screenings are used to assess a wide range of projects. Screenings will vary in time, length and depth of analysis, depending on the circumstances of the proposed project, the existing environment and the likely environmental effects. Some screenings may require only a brief analysis of the available information and a brief report while others may need new background studies and will be more thorough and rigorous.

The responsible authority must ensure that the screening of the project is carried out and must prepare or ensure the preparation of a report which summarizes the findings of the screening.

Class Screenings

A class screening is a special type of screening that can streamline the environmental assessment process for certain types of projects, while ensuring high-quality assessments.

The Agency has determined that these types of projects are not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects, providing that the design standards and mitigation measures described in the class screening report are applied.

Class screenings enhance the integrity of environmental assessments. Each class screening undergoes a rigorous process of technical review and a mandatory public consultation period before the Agency's President can formally declare it for use as a model or replacement class screening.

There are two types of federal class screenings:

• Model class screenings — Individual, location-specific reports are produced based on a standard report for a defined class.
• Replacement class screenings — One report can be used for all future projects within a defined class.

To support the development of class screenings, the Agency provides technical and procedural environmental assessment advice, coordinates the participation of federal/provincial departments in the process, and administers the public consultation process.

Comprehensive Studies

The majority of federal projects are assessed through a screening; however, some projects require a comprehensive study. These projects are described in the Comprehensive Study List Regulations. These tend to be large projects having the potential for significant adverse environmental effects. They may also generate public concerns.

The responsible authority must provide opportunities for public participation throughout the comprehensive study. The public has an opportunity to participate in the comprehensive study before the Minister of the Environment makes a decision on whether the project should proceed as a comprehensive study or be referred to a mediator or review panel. This public input must be taken into account by the Minister of the Environment when issuing his/her environmental assessment decision statement.

The public also has an opportunity to review the comprehensive study report before any decisions are made on the project. Funding is available to assist the public to participate in a comprehensive study.

During this reporting period, the Agency's role in the comprehensive study process was to provide advice to responsible authorities, project proponents and the public; ensure that the comprehensive study report complies with the requirements of the Act; manage the public comment period; and provide advice to the Minister of the Environment in support of the Minister's track decision on the environmental assessment and the determination of potential adverse environmental effects. Public participation is facilitated by the Participant Funding Program, which provides financial assistance to eligible individuals and public organizations with legitimate interests in the project.

Review Panels

Distinguished by extensive public participation, review panels and joint review panels with other jurisdictions are the most visible and public type of environmental assessment. Review panels are independent from government, with members appointed by the Minister of the Environment.

The review panel conducts its assessment in an open and public manner, with individuals and groups presenting information and views through public comment periods and public hearings. Public participation is facilitated by the Participant Funding Program, which provides financial assistance to eligible individuals and public organizations with legitimate interests in the project.

At the completion of the review process, the review panel's report, including conclusions and recommendations, is submitted to the Minister of the Environment. The recommendations are advisory and the responsible authority, with the approval of the Governor in Council, considers and responds publicly to all recommendations.

The Agency's primary roles in a review panel process are to provide advice and coordination to federal expert authorities and responsible authorities; maintain the public registry; manage the review process and provide technical and administrative support to the review panel; administer the Participant Funding Program; and design and implement a public information program with the review panel.

For further information about environmental assessments undertaken under the Act, consult the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency's Web site.

 

Contacts for Further Information

Director of Communications

Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency

160 Elgin Street, 22^nd Floor

Ottawa, ON K1A 0H3

Tel: 613-957-0712

Fax: 613-957-0946

E-mail: info@ceaa-acee.gc.ca

The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency's Web site

www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca

Treasury Board Secretariat's Web site

www.tbs-sct.gc.ca

 

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[Footnotes]

1

Commencing in the 2009-2010 Estimates cycle, the resources for Program Activity: Internal Services are displayed separately from other program activities; they are no longer distributed among the remaining program activities, as was the case in previous Main Estimates. This has affected the comparability of spending and FTE information by Program Activity between fiscal years.

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