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Section 2: Analysis of Program Activities by Strategic Outcome

In this section:

• 2.1 Strategic Outcome
• 2.2 Program Activity: Environmental Assessment Development Program
• 2.3 Program Activity: Environmental Assessment Support Program
• 2.4 Program Activity: Internal Services

 

2.1 Strategic Outcome

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

This section describes the expected results of the Agency's program activities and their performance indicators and targets. This section also presents the financial and non-financial resources that will be dedicated to each program activity, a summary of each program's activities, planning highlights and benefits for Canadians.

The programs:

• Environmental Assessment Development Program
• Environmental Assessment Support Program

 

2.2 Program Activity: Environmental Assessment Development Program

Expected Results of Program Activity: Federal organizations have the instruments they need to meet their environmental assessment responsibilities
Performance Indicators	Targets
Percentage of federal organizations who agree that the instruments provided by the Agency set out and explain the environmental assessment requirements within the federal government	75% of federal organizations agree that the instruments provided by the Agency set out and explain the environmental assessment requirements within the federal government by 2009-2010.

 

Expected Results of Program Activity: Federal departments have access to the training and information they need to implement the Cabinet Directive on Environmental Assessment of Policy, Plan and Program Proposals
Performance Indicators	Targets
Percentage of course participants from federal departments indicating their satisfaction with training course content and materials	85% of course participants from federal departments are satisfied with training course content and materials

 

Expected Results of Program Activity: Key issues are addressed, contributing to an improved federal environmental assessment framework consistent with the purposes of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act
Performance Indicators	Targets
Percentage of key issues being addressed through the development of new or amended policies, procedures, regulations, or legislative proposals	Over 5 years, 100% of key issues are being addressed resulting in new or amended policies, procedures, regulations, or legislative proposals

 

Financial Resources ($ thousands)				Human Resources (Full Time Equivalents)
2009-2010	2010-2011	2011-2012		2009-2010	2010-2011	2011-2012
3,887	3,678	3,678		45	44	44

Program Activity Summary

The Environmental Assessment Development Program activity aligns most closely with the Agency's first priority - to build a framework for more integrated environmental assessment. Its aim is to develop, maintain and continuously improve an effective, efficient and integrated environmental assessment process at the federal level which can contribute to the Government's efforts to maintain a secure Canadian economy.

Pursuing these objectives involves consulting with partners and stakeholders; monitoring and evaluating emerging issues and challenges; developing appropriate legislative, regulatory and policy responses to key issues; strengthening environmental assessment coordination; and exploring linkages between different forms of assessment. By establishing and maintaining the policy and legislative foundation for the practice of environmental assessment federally, this program activity also supports the Agency's second priority to take on a leadership role in federal environmental assessment.

In 2009-2010, this program activity will focus on ways in which environmental assessment can contribute to building a more dynamic and sustainable economy. The Agency will identify options to improve the current legislative framework to ensure it is optimal to achieve the important objective of maintaining a healthy economy while protecting the environment. The Agency will engage in discussions with federal and provincial partners and with the Minister of the Environment's multi-stakeholder Regulatory Advisory Committee in developing these options.

Through this program activity, the Agency will also continue to deliver in key areas such as:

• strengthened environmental assessment harmonization and coordination with other jurisdictions;
• strategic environmental assessment (SEA), as was recognized by the External Advisory Committee on Smart Regulation, can play a key role in improving the timeliness of environmental impact assessments by dealing with public policy issues and decisions upfront and not at the project level;
• exploring the role for and opportunities presented by regional environmental assessments particularly in supporting cumulative effects management;
• working collaboratively with foreign governments to share information and best practices, and contribute to the international environmental assessment community via active participation in international committees and conferences;
• supporting the implementation of the horizontal initiative, led by Natural Resources Canada's Major Projects Management Office, aimed at improving the performance of the regulatory system for major resource projects; and
• developing procedures for the environmental assessment component of the regulatory system for major resource projects.

Planning Highlights

In order to achieve the expected results for this program activity, the Agency plans to undertake the following activities:

• In the fall of 2009, the Environmental Assessment Task Group, established under the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) and co-chaired by the Agency, will present to CCME Ministers, recommended options to streamline environmental assessments for projects subject to provincial, territorial and federal environmental assessment processes. Options will focus on models for achieving the goal of "one project-one assessment", which would allow each jurisdiction to make timely decisions using the same information, and on approaches for conducting regional strategic environmental assessments.
• Concurrently, the Agency will work with each jurisdiction to identify areas that could be addressed to ensure procedural improvements in the short term.
• The Agency will also seek to renew the bilateral agreement on environmental assessment cooperation with Quebec, which expires in May 2009, and resume discussions with Newfoundland and Labrador for the purpose of negotiating a bilateral agreement.
• In 2008-2009, the Agency began the development of a map-based Web service using a geographic information system (GIS) to assist Agency staff in the management of environmental assessments and the delivery of Aboriginal Crown consultation activities. Phase II of the project, to be undertaken in 2009-2010, will look at ways to extend the tool to support regional environmental assessments and cumulative effects assessments and extend its accessibility to stakeholders via the Web.
• In accordance with a government commitment made in response to the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development 2004 report, the Agency, with the support of the Privy Council Office, is leading an evaluation of the Cabinet Directive on the Environmental Assessment of Policy, Plan and Program Proposals. The results of the evaluation will be made public and will serve to inform the upcoming review of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act.
• The Agency will put forward a proposal to update the environmental assessment regulations applicable to port authorities to be consistent with the environmental assessment process applicable to federal authorities subject to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. The Agency will also work towards introducing proposed regulations to set up an environmental assessment process for Canada's major airport authorities. Currently, neither federal nor provincial environmental assessment laws apply to airport authorities.
• The Agency will endeavour to create innovative solutions for dealing with smaller projects that are unlikely to cause significant adverse environmental effects including the use of class screenings.
• The Agency will continue to support Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) in the negotiation of environmental assessment provisions in land claims and self-government agreements and in various INAC lead regulatory initiatives.

Benefits for Canadians

This program activity contributes to sustainable development by ensuring that environmental considerations are taken into account in federal decision making related to plans, programs, policies and projects. As the Government focuses on stimulating the economy by investing heavily in infrastructure and supporting the development of cleaner energy sources, timely and efficient environmental assessment will ensure that decisions are made taking into full account potential environmental impacts. This approach is based on the principles that protecting the environment and the health of Canadians is essential to economic growth and that it is important to ensure that our actions contribute positively to the prosperity of future generations.

 

2.3 Program Activity: Environmental Assessment Support Program

Expected Results of Program Activity: Agency contributes to a reduction in time to complete the EA of major resource projects
Performance Indicators	Targets
Percentage of times in which the Agency meets the timeline for its activities established in the Major Projects Management Office Project Agreement	Agency meets 100% of the timelines for its activities established by the Major Projects Management Office Project Agreement

 

Expected Results of Program Activity: A single environmental assessment report produces the necessary information to support federal and provincial EA decisions when both jurisdictions require EAs of a project
Performance Indicators	Targets
Percentage of times when cooperative environmental assessment report produces the necessary information to support federal and provincial EA decisions	80% of cooperative environmental assessment reports produce the necessary information to support federal and provincial EA decsions

 

Expected Results of Program Activity: Responsible authorities and proponents understand the Agency's role in implementing the major resource projects process
Performance Indicators	Targets
Percentage of responsible authorities and proponents who agree that they understand the Agency's role in relation to the EA of projects subject to the major resource projects process	85% of responsible authorities and proponents agree that they understand the Agency's role in relation to the EA of projects subject to the major resource projects process

 

Expected Results of Program Activity: Interests of Aboriginal groups in relation to the EA of projects where the Agency is EA manager are documented and presented to support decision making
Performance Indicators	Targets
Percentage of times Aboriginal interests are documented and presented to support decision making for projects where the Agency is responsible for managing the EA process	100% of EA decision support documents include documentation of Aboriginal interests

 

Expected Results of Program Activity: Agency facilitates meaningful public participation in federal EAs by providing funding to support certain activities
Performance Indicators	Targets
Percentage of funding recipients who agree that the funding provided by the Agency improved their ability to meaningfully participate in the EA process	75% of funding recipients agree that the funding provided by the Agency improved their ability to meaningfully participate in the EA process

 

Expected Results of Program Activity: Agency provides high-quality EA training courses that are effective in providing practical skills and knowledge
Performance Indicators	Targets
Percentage of course participants who agree that the training provided by the Agency was effective in providing practical skills and knowledge	85% of course participants agree that the training provided by the Agency was effective in providing practical skills and knowledge

 

Financial Resources ($ thousands)				Human Resources (Full Time Equivalents)
2009-2010	2010-2011	2011-2012		2009-2010	2010-2011	2011-2012
20,653	16,254	15,714		142	130	130

 

Program Activity Summary

The Environmental Assessment Support Program activity aligns most closely with the Agency's second and third strategic priorities: to play an active leadership role in federal environmental assessment; and to build the capacity and organization to deliver on existing and new responsibilities. The EA Support Program contributes to these operational priorities by:

• supporting a whole-of-government approach to addressing strategic and project-specific environmental assessment issues, including supporting implementation of the major resource projects initiative;
• managing the environmental assessment process for most major resource projects;
• leading the integration of federal Crown consultation activities into those environmental assessments that the Agency is managing;
• supporting and facilitating public participation in federal environmental assessments;
• providing environmental assessment training and learning to Agency staff;
• providing training and guidance to stakeholders and partners involved in environmental assessments; and
• developing systems and tools for delivery of environmental assessment management responsibilities.

The Program Activity includes:

• coordinating federal involvement in the environmental assessment of large projects and projects undergoing a cooperative environmental assessment with another jurisdiction, such as a province;
• managing the federal environmental assessment process and related Aboriginal consultation activities for major resource projects;
• providing funding to individuals and not-for-profit organizations to support meaningful public participation in federal environmental assessments;
• providing funding to Aboriginal groups to support their participation in federal environmental assessments and related consultation activities;
• developing and delivering relevant and up-to-date training and guidance in relation to federal environmental assessment to support compliance with the Act; and
• establishing and managing mechanisms to support an improved federal environmental assessment process.

Through a number of sub-activities the Agency will foster:

• a more effective, efficient, predictable and timely environmental assessment process for Canadians;
• sound understanding of federal environmental assessment requirements by interested parties;
• meaningful consultation with Aboriginal groups in relation to federal environmental assessment;
• public participation in the review of projects; and
• good working relations with stakeholders and partners, including provinces, territories and Aboriginal groups.

Planning Highlights

To achieve the expected results, the Agency plans to undertake the following activities:

• development of national standards and guidance for the delivery of environmental assessments for which the Agency is federal environmental assessment coordinator or environmental assessment manager;
• implementation of improvements to the environmental assessment process for major resource projects;
• renewal of the terms and conditions for the Agency's Participant Funding Program; and
• delivery of a comprehensive program of training events to both Agency staff and outside parties, including training to support the major resource projects initiative.

Benefits for Canadians

Through facilitating delivery of a timely, high-quality federal environmental assessment process, this program activity contributes to Canada's sustainable development and energy objectives, which in turn contribute to economic security and prosperity for Canadians.

 

2.4 Program Activity: Internal Services

Financial Resources ($ thousands)				Human Resources (Full Time Equivalents)
2009-2010	2010-2011	2011-2012		2009-2010	2010-2011	2011-2012
7,509	7,499	6,999		57	57	57

Internal Services are groups of related activities and resources that are administered to support the needs of programs and other corporate obligations of an organization. These groups are: Management and Oversight Services; Communications Services; Legal Services; Human Resources Management Services; Financial Management Services; Information Management Services; Information Technology Services; Real Property Services; Material Services; Acquisition Services; and Travel and Other Administrative Services. Internal Services include only those activities and resources that apply across an organization and not those provided specifically to a program.

Internal Services support the operating programs and activities of the Agency and include many administrative activities normally performed outside program areas and cannot otherwise be allocated as program support overhead. The objective of the Agency's Internal Services is to support the core program activities by providing modern, timely and responsive services that are effective and efficient.

The major elements of Internal Services are:

Finance and Administration	Corporate finance and administrative functions, including senior management functions not directly attributable to any specific element of the operations program activity
Legal Services	Legal services provided by Justice Canada
Human Resources	Human resources management services and products
Communications	Communication resources associated with the provision of internal and external communications services and products, including translation costs
Information Management/Information Technology	The provision of general information management/information technology infrastructure and services

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