ARCHIVED - 2008-09 - Main Estimates

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Environment

Department
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy
Parks Canada Agency

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Ministry Summary

Vote	(thousands of dollars)	2008-2009	2007-2008	Difference
		Main Estimates	Main Estimates
	Environment
	Department
1	Operating expenditures	665,201	662,633	2,568
5	Capital expenditures	43,536	40,000	3,536
10	Grants and contributions	165,065	59,697	105,368
(S)	Contributions to employee benefit plans	83,648	79,549	4,099
(S)	Minister of the Environment - Salary and motor car
	allowance	76	75	2
	Total Department	957,526	841,954	115,573
	Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
15	Program expenditures	31,514	14,844	16,670
(S)	Contributions to employee benefit plans	2,942	1,696	1,246
	Total Agency	34,456	16,540	17,916
	National Round Table on the Environment and the
	Economy
20	Program expenditures	4,723	4,704	19
(S)	Contributions to employee benefit plans	411	432	(21)
(S)	Expenditures pursuant to paragraph 29.1(1) of the
	Financial Administration Act	20	20	. . . . .
	Total Agency	5,154	5,156	(2)
	Parks Canada Agency
25	Program expenditures	455,025	447,022	8,003
30	Payments to the New Parks and Historic Sites Account	500	2,300	(1,800)
(S)	Contributions to employee benefit plans	44,019	46,006	(1,987)
(S)	Expenditures equivalent to revenues resulting from the
	conduct of operations pursuant to section 20 of the
	Parks Canada Agency Act	111,000	104,000	7,000
	Total Agency	610,544	599,328	11,216
Note: Details in the “Ministry Summary” and “Program by Activities” tables may not add to totals due to rounding.

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Department

Strategic Outcome

Canada's natural capital is restored, conserved, and enhanced.

Program Activity Descriptions

Biodiversity is conserved and protected

This program activity consists of the protection and recovery of species at risk; conservation, restoration and rehabilitation of significant habitats; and conservation of migratory birds. A primary vehicle for the achievement of results under this program is the formation of strategic partnerships for integrated management of Canada's natural capital including the sustainable management of landscapes. Key principles in support of results under this program are the use of best available science and the provision of regulatory certainty to stakeholders.

Water is clean, safe and secure

This program activity is designed to provide science and policy leadership on water quality, quantity and use. Science under this program will be focused on monitoring and research to understand what is changing in aquatic ecosystems and why, and on providing science-based tools to empower Canadians to take action. Policy leadership will include developing a national water agenda in partnership with other government departments that identifies benefits and incentives for the sustainable use of water, and ensuring that Canadian water related interests are protected globally. Involvement in transboundary arrangements will focus on ensuring that parties to water sharing agreements benefit from Canada's technical advice and monitoring information, to undertake measures to ensure compliance and meet their obligations.

Canadians adopt approaches that ensure the sustainable use and management of natural capital and working landscapes

This program activity is designed to integrate departmental action on ecosystems, by aligning science, policy, and environmental assessment in a nationally consistent inter-jurisdictional approach to ecosystem management. A further feature of this program activity will be multidisciplinary studies assessing the state of priority ecosystems and identifying the required actions for restoration and conservation.

Strategic Outcome

Weather and environmental predictions and services reduce risks and contribute to the well-being of Canadians.

Program Activity Descriptions

Improved knowledge and information on weather and environmental conditions influences decision-making

This program activity consists of environmental science and monitoring activities 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. A key benefit of results under this program will be to provide improved knowledge, information, and tools on weather and environmental conditions (e.g. a better understanding of the causes of severe weather, the mechanisms which transport chemicals through the atmosphere, the impacts of human activity on the atmosphere, and atmospheric science-based models). These benefits will support the development of policy as well as the delivery of environmental services.

Canadians are informed of, and respond appropriately to, current and predicted environmental conditions

This program activity consists of making available relevant knowledge and information on past, present and future conditions of the atmosphere, hydrosphere and cryosphere, in response to the needs of Canadians, be they policy/decision makers, business persons or individuals, or others who require this information to deliver on Ministerial or federal responsibilities and obligations (e.g. NAV Canada). Under this program activity, information on the state of the environment is disseminated by means of various services, products and tools allowing Canadians to safeguard themselves and their property against environmental hazards and to help them make better informed socio-economic and environmental decisions. Environmental information and outreach will empower Canadians to take appropriate action on protecting their environment. Partnerships, domestic and international, are critical to the success of these endeavours.

Strategic Outcome

Canadians and their environment are protected from the effects of pollution and waste.

Program Activity Descriptions

Risks to Canadians, their health and their environment posed by toxic and other harmful substances are reduced

This program activity consists of reducing risks to the environment and to human health posed by pollutant releases related to human activities. Under this program activity, environmental and human health threats posed by toxic substances and other substances of concern are understood in terms of their fate and effects and prevention, reduction, elimination or other management measures are developed as required. These substances may exert a direct toxic effect on animals, plants or humans or, due to the volume, nature and manner of release, may pose a longer term risk to the environment and human health.

Canadians adopt sustainable consumption and production approaches

This program activity 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. Much of the activity will be centered around large sector-based approaches to enable collaborative and informed decision-making on environmental objectives. Underlying this will be the creation of a clear and predictable environmental protection regime, designed to encourage and enable sustainable production and consumption.

Risks to Canadians, their health, and their environment from air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions are reduced

This program activity is critical to protect the health of Canadians from the harmful effects of air pollutants and the environment from the impacts of greenhouse gas emissions. This will be achieved through developing an integrated sector-based approach to regulating air pollutants and controlling greenhouse gas emissions; strengthening international cooperation (particularly with the U.S.); and promoting science-based approaches to inform the development of new standards and regulations. Environment Canada will demonstrate federal leadership by implementing a broad federal-provincial-territorial approach to achieve national targets to protect the health of Canadians and the environment.

Strategic Outcome

Sustainable urban development and infrastructure renewal in the Toronto Waterfront area.

Program Activity Descriptions

Revitalization of the Toronto Waterfront

Program management and coordination of the federal contribution towards city-building infrastructure, parks, recreation and green spaces, for the renewal and revitalization of Toronto's waterfront.

Harbourfront Corporation

The Harbourfront Centre (HC) Funding Program provides support to HC to cover its operational costs to facilitate the organisation's ability to leverage funding from other governments and pursue other revenue-generating strategies. This will allow HC to provide the general public with continued access to cultural, recreational, and educational programs and activities. The ultimate outcome of this HC Funding Program will be to support the economic, social and cultural development of the Toronto waterfront.

Program by Activities
(thousands of dollars)			2008-2009 Main Estimates				2007-2008
			Budgetary			Total	Main
	Operating	Capital	Grants	Contributions	Less:		Estimates
				and other	Revenues
				transfer	credited
				payments	to the vote
Risks to Canadians, their health and their
environment posed by toxic and other
harmful substances are reduced	177,260	4,773	. . . . .	8,651	4,852	185,832	180,851
Canadians are informed of, and respond
appropriately to, current and predicted
environmental conditions	179,196	6,826	. . . . .	8,338	43,400	150,960	156,672
Biodiversity is conserved and protected	102,150	617	. . . . .	33,158	1,121	134,804	110,763
Improved knowledge and information on
weather and environmental conditions
influences decision-making	127,071	15,473	44	616	15,299	127,905	126,134
Risks to Canadians, their health, and their
environment from air pollutants and
greenhouse gas emissions are reduced	87,639	11,795	2,000	2,329	3	103,760	130,406
Revitalization of the Toronto Waterfront	2,015	. . . . .	. . . . .	85,010	. . . . .	87,025	. . . . .
Water is clean, safe and secure	80,529	3,341	. . . . .	989	3,291	81,568	79,880
Canadians adopt sustainable consumption
and production approaches	34,249	407	12,500	887	2	48,041	26,472
Canadians adopt approaches that ensure the
sustainable use and management of
natural capital and working landscapes	26,892	304	. . . . .	5,543	108	32,631	30,776
Harbourfront Corporation	. . . . .	. . . . .	. . . . .	5,000	. . . . .	5,000	. . . . .
	817,001	43,536	14,544	150,521	68,076	957,526	841,954

Transfer Payments

(dollars)	2008-2009	2007-2008
	Main Estimates	Main Estimates
Grants
Grant to the Canada Foundation for Sustainable Development
Technology	12,500,000	. . . . .
Grants for the implementation of the Montreal Protocol on substances
that deplete the ozone layer	2,000,000	2,000,000
Grants to support environmental research and development	44,000	44,000
Total grants	14,544,000	2,044,000
Contributions
Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Initiative	85,010,000	. . . . .
Contributions to support environmental and sustainable development
initiatives	29,324,701	24,928,699
Habitat Stewardship Contribution Program	13,000,000	9,000,000
EcoAction 2000 - Community Funding Initiative	5,044,000	5,044,000
Contribution to the Harbourfront Centre	5,000,000	. . . . .
Contribution for Canada's share of the Commission of Environmental
Co-operation budget	3,400,000	3,400,000
Contributions for the Science Horizons Youth Internship and the
International Environmental Youth Corp programs	3,069,000	3,069,000
Contributions to support Canada's international commitments	2,978,299	8,479,301
Contribution to the Wildlife Habitat Canada Foundation	2,200,000	2,200,000
Contributions to support environmental research and development	1,495,000	1,532,000
Total contributions	150,521,000	57,653,000
Total	165,065,000	59,697,000

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Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency

Strategic Outcome

Environmental considerations are taken into account in federal government decisions respecting policies, plans, programs and projects.

Program Activity Descriptions

Environmental Assessment Development Program

This program is aimed at developing and maintaining an effective, efficient and integrated environmental assessment process at the federal level, taking into full account the interactions with other environmental assessment, consultative and regulatory decision-making processes in Canada, as well as the trans-boundary context for environmental assessment. A sound environmental assessment process is vital to achieving the Strategic Outcome. Ensuring that environmental considerations are integrated into federal government decision-making through sound environmental assessment practices supports quality of life for Canadians, environmental sustainability and economic competitiveness.

Environmental Assessment Support Program

This program comprises the Public Participation Program, James Bay Northern Quebec Agreement, the Training and Guidance Program and the Environmental Assessment Management Program - the various means by which Canadians, industry, stakeholders and interested parties interact and encounter their various obligations pursuant to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act . This includes public participation, information dissemination, guidance and record keeping. This is done with the goal of ensuring a transparent and rigorous environmental assessment process is applied under the auspices of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act .

Program by Activities
(thousands of dollars)		2008-2009 Main Estimates			2007-2008
		Budgetary		Total	Main
	Operating	Contributions	Less:		Estimates
		and other	Revenues
		transfer	credited
		payments	to the vote
Environmental Assessment Support Program	32,536	3,965	8,001	28,500	. . . . .
Environmental Assessment Development Program	5,656	300	. . . . .	5,956	. . . . .
Effective and Efficient Environmental Assessment	. . . . .	. . . . .	. . . . .	. . . . .	16,540
	38,192	4,265	8,001	34,456	16,540

Transfer Payments

(dollars)	2008-2009	2007-2008
	Main Estimates	Main Estimates
Contributions
Contributions for the support of public participation in the
environmental assessment review process - Participant Funding
Program	3,719,000	1,969,000
Contributions to support the promotion, research and development of
environmental assessments	300,000	300,000
Contribution to the Province of Quebec - James Bay and Northern
Quebec Agreement	246,000	173,500
Total	4,265,000	2,442,500

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National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy

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.

Program Activity Descriptions

Advisory Program on Environment and Economy Issues

Raising awareness and understanding among Canadians and their governments about the challenges of sustainable development and promoting viable solutions, is vital to Canada's environmental and economic future. Through this program, the National Round Table on the Environment and Economy (NRTEE) strives to influence policy development and decision making on select sustainable development issues pertaining to the environment and the economy. The NTREE conducts research, analysis, and produces information and advice on selected sustainable development issues. The agency promotes its findings and recommendations through a variety of communications channels such as media relations, stakeholder briefings and other events, publications and the agency website to influence policy and decisions of policy-makers in the federal government and other key sectors such as other levels of government, industry and non-government organizations across the country.

Program by Activities
(thousands of dollars)	2008-2009 Main Estimates 2007-2008
	Budgetary	Total	Main
	Operating		Estimates
Advisory Program on Environment and Economy Issues	5,154	5,154	5,156
	5,154	5,154	5,156

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Parks Canada Agency

Strategic Outcome

Canadians have a strong sense of connection, through meaningful experiences, to their national parks, national historic sites and national marine conservation areas and these protected places are enjoyed in ways that leave them unimpaired for present and future generations.

Program Activity Descriptions

Heritage Places Establishment

This program includes systems planning, completing feasibility studies, research, consulting with stakeholders and the public, negotiating with other governments and Aboriginal organizations and obtaining Ministerial approval, resulting in established national parks and national marine conservation areas and designated national historic sites of Canada and other heritage places. Canada's national parks and national marine conservation areas, as well as the persons, places and events of national historic significance to Canada are symbols to the world and are part of the fabric of the nation. Preservation of Canada's natural and cultural heritage and making it available to Canadians for discovery and enjoyment is of key importance. Establishing heritage places is essential to enhancing pride, encouraging stewardship and giving expression to our identity as Canadians, and involving Canada in the internationally shared objective of protecting and commemorating the best of the world's natural and cultural heritage.

Heritage Resources Conservation

This program includes maintenance or restoration of ecological integrity in national parks through protection of natural resources and natural processes; ensuring the commemorative integrity of national historic sites managed or influenced by Parks Canada; the protection and management of cultural resources under the administration of Parks Canada; and, the ecologically sustainable use of national marine conservation areas including protection of unique marine ecosystems. Conservation also includes fulfilling legal responsibilities assigned to Parks Canada by the Species at Risk Act and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act . Protection of our heritage resources ensures that many of Canada's most special natural and cultural heritage resources will not be lost and that current and future generations will enjoy a system of protected heritage places.

Public Appreciation and Understanding

This program aims to reach Canadians, particularly youth and urban audiences, at home, at leisure, at school and in their communities through effective and relevant learning opportunities designed to increase understanding, appreciation, support and engagement towards natural and cultural heritage. To accomplish this, Parks Canada is developing collaborations with audiences and strategic partners within formal, informal and non-formal learning contexts. Using a diversity of carefully targeted outreach education approaches, such as the Parks Canada Web site, broadcasting and new media, integration into urban venues and introduction of content into school curricula, the Agency helps build a connection to place essential to achieving its mandate. Parks Canada also intends to broaden its base of support by involving its many stakeholders, and encouraging shared leadership in the development and implementation of the Agency's future direction.

Visitor Experience

This program supports the more than 22 million person visits that are made annually to Canada's national parks, national historic sites and national marine conservation areas by Canadians and international visitors. The visitor experience is the sum total of a visitor's personal interaction with heritage sites and/or people, an interaction that awakens their senses, affects their emotions, stimulates their mind and leaves them with a sense of attachment to these special places. Activities include the provision of high quality pre- and on-site trip planning information, reception and orientation, interpretation, campgrounds, infrastructure, hiking trails, opportunities for recreational activities, visitor safety and the ongoing post-visit relationship. The meaningful experiences fostered by these activities lead to a sense of relevance and connection to Canada's system of special heritage places.

Townsite and Throughway Infrastructure

This program involves managing, operating and providing municipal services to five townsite communities within Canada's national parks. It also involves the operation of provincial and inter-provincial highways and waterways that connect communities and pass through national parks and national historic sites.

Program by Activities
(thousands of dollars)		2008-2009 Main Estimates				2007-2008
		Budgetary			Total	Main
	Operating	Capital	Grants	Contributions		Estimates
				and other
				transfer
				payments
Visitor Experience	234,664	37,054	. . . . .	. . . . .	271,718	267,206
Heritage Resources Conservation	180,303	25,398	. . . . .	6,865	212,566	199,092
Townsite and Throughway Infrastructure	33,574	41,307	. . . . .	. . . . .	74,881	12,659
Public Appreciation and Understanding	22,940	3,353	. . . . .	189	26,482	34,214
Heritage Places Establishment	24,084	790	23	. . . . .	24,897	24,649
Throughway Management	. . . . .	. . . . .	. . . . .	. . . . .	. . . . .	61,508
	495,565	107,902	23	7,054	610,544	599,328
Transfer Payments
(dollars)				2008-2009	2007-2008
			Main Estimates		Main Estimates
Grants
Grant to the International Peace Garden				22,700		22,700
Total grants				22,700		22,700
Contributions
Contributions in support of the Historic Places Initiative				5,000,000		5,000,000
Contributions in support of activities or projects related to national
parks, national marine conservation areas, national historic sites and
historic canals				2,054,300		2,054,300
Total contributions				7,054,300		7,054,300
Total				7,077,000		7,077,000

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