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Section II – Analysis of Program Activities by Strategic Outcome

2.1 Strategic Outcome

The NRTEE has a 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.

The NRTEE's approach to achieving its strategic outcome is to produce, disseminate, and promote policy advice about sustainable development challenges and opportunities; to increase the understanding of decision-makers of these; to inform the debate on current and emerging issues; and to endeavour to ensure that NRTEE advice is considered in policy decisions.

Target for 2010–2011: NRTEE advice is considered in assessing relevant policy choices made by federal government policy makers.

Performance indicator: A key indicator of the NRTEE's performance is the extent to which federal government policy makers consider the NRTEE's advice in federal policy decisions and use its research results when developing policy recommendations.

2.2 Program Activities (PA)

The NRTEE has two program activities under the Main Estimates:

• Advisory Program on Environment and Economy Issues  
• Internal Services

Each will be described below in Sections 2.3 and 2.4. All the expected results from the Program Activities directly support the NRTEE's two key priorities as well as the NRTEE's single strategic outcome.

2.3 Program Activity: Advisory Program on Environment and Economy Issues

 

Program Activity: Advisory Program on Environment and Economy Issues

Human Resources (FTEs) and Planned Spending ($ thousands)
2010-11		2011-12		2012-13
FTEs	Planned Spending	FTEs	Planned Spending	FTEs	Planned Spending
18	3,329.1	18	3,332.8	18	3,332.8

Expected Results	Performance Indicators	Targets
Increased awareness and understanding	Level of awareness and understanding by federal decision-makers of NRTEE advice on selected issues	Decision-makers have high level of awareness of challenges and potential solutions proposed by the NRTEE. NRTEE is perceived as a leader, able to bring stakeholders together to discuss current and emerging issues.
Useful recommendations and advice	Usefulness of policy advice and recommendations	Informed and regular contact with government decision-makers at all appropriate levels. Detailed policy briefings provided. Policy analysis is seen as relevant, timely, and useful. High stakeholder satisfaction.
Effective communication of recommendations	Quality and reach of external communications	High visibility with stakeholders. Communications reach wide range of target audiences. Broad range of communications products, perceived to be of high quality. Periodic media coverage, generally positive.
High quality research and consultations	Effectiveness of stakeholder consultation	Frequent consultation with stakeholders at national and regional levels. Consultations confirm high-quality NRTEE research and build support for policy advice. High level of participation in NRTEE events. Events are perceived to have high added value.

Program Activity 1—Plans and Initiatives for 2010–2011 and Beyond:

2.3.1 Generate Policy Advice

The Round Table's policy research and analysis will focus on two key initiatives:

The Economic Risks and Opportunities of Climate Change for Canada

In 2010–2011, this program will explore the economic risks and opportunities for Canada from the following climate change–related issues:

1. the physical impacts of the changing climate
2. domestic policies for climate change mitigation
3. climate policies implemented by other countries

With respect to the physical impacts of climate change, the NRTEE will develop case studies to illustrate a range of economic risks while also providing an estimate of the net national cost of climate impacts including adaptation. The focus areas for the case studies will be forestry, coastal zones, human health, and public infrastructure. 

From an international perspective, Canada will also face significant economic implications as the world, and especially its trading partners, transition to a low-carbon-emission economy. To this end, the NRTEE will complete a Canada-United States case study designed to explore the economic ramifications of how American and Canadian climate policy options might interact. An international benchmarking study will be released that assesses how Canada is currently positioned for low-carbon competitiveness, compared with its major trading partners on a range of indicators. The results will provide insight and advice for Canadian policy makers on how to strategically invest for future low-carbon competitiveness. As the world moves toward increased carbon mitigation, Canada is faced with short- and long-term decisions on the future of clean technologies, trade policies, skills development, and virtually every other aspect of its economy. Later program activities will explore opportunities in these and other areas and develop policy recommendations for Canada.  

This project is expected to run until 2011–2012 and will be conducted through a phased approach with staged deliverables. The primary audience for this research will be governments, as they are responsible for policy design and implementation of climate change mitigation and adaptation. Secondary audiences include the private sector, which will be affected by policy design and implementation, as well as environmental groups and experts.

Water Sustainability and the Future of Canada's Natural Resource Sectors

The sustainability of Canada's agriculture, energy, forestry, and mining sectors is heavily dependent on the continued availability of water. Rising water consumption/use and the prospects of climate change are two key drivers that may potentially affect critical watersheds across the country, as well as the economic prosperity of Canada's important natural resource sectors.

This program seeks to evaluate the best policies, approaches and mechanisms that governments, industry, and water management authorities can use to manage water and foster both ecosystem health and the various resource sectors' economic sustainability.

The NRTEE's work will explore these issues through a phased approach and take a forward-looking perspective in the reports and recommendations developed. Building on extensive consultations with industry and other stakeholders, a first report will be published in 2010, describing the key water issues for those sectors and highlighting areas for recommendations and action. The NRTEE will investigate those key issues further leading to the publication of a second report in this fiscal year, which will focus on policy recommendations to improve water management in Canada and foster long-term sector sustainability.

For more information go to: http://www.nrtee-trnee.ca/eng/issues/programs/water/water.php .

2.3.2 Review Stakeholders Engagement Processes

Collaborative engagement is central to effective sustainability policy development.  In 2010–2011, the NRTEE will build on recent roundtable discussions with high-level officials from federal, provincial and municipal governments, environmental and civil society organizations, business, and academia to strengthen its own policy engagement processes. This will lead to the development of ideas and strategies for improved consideration and engagement practices by the NRTEE and other government organizations, together with the implementation of collaborative processes enabling long-term policy solutions to complex areas such as sustainable development.

2.3.3 Strengthen the Strategic Outlook and Research Function

In 2010–2011, the NRTEE plans to further refine the basic strategic outlook function that was put in place in 2009–2010. The NRTEE seeks to gather information, research, and intelligence to identify emerging sustainability priority areas. The information and analysis emerging from this function will assist the NRTEE in planning its policy work and resource allocation on a more rational multi-year basis. A new occasional briefs program by NRTEE policy staff on technical policy matters will be instituted to strengthen our core research foundation.

2.3.4 Comply With Bill C-288

The NRTEE will comply with its legislated responsibilities under the Kyoto Protocol Implementation Act with respect to the government's Climate Change Plan and Statement. In order to carry out its statutory obligations, the NRTEE will undertake research, gather information, and produce a written response as required within the mandatory time frame.

2.3.5 Respond to Government References

The NRTEE recognizes the importance of responding to government “references” or requests for advice on specific issues and will do so as required.

2.3.6 Promote Advice

Promoting the research and policy advice of the Round Table is essential to raising awareness and influencing government. The NRTEE promotes its advice through media relations, its website, direct electronic distribution to stakeholders, as well as by undertaking outreach activities, speaking engagements, and collaborative activities with non-governmental sectors, stakeholders, academia, and other organizations. Each targeted audience and activity is critical to the agency's efforts to reinforce its reputation as a credible and trustworthy source of research and advice.

Enhance Stakeholder Communications Activities

In 2010–2011, the NRTEE will continue its extensive briefings and stakeholder engagement on its ongoing work. These activities will be part of a targeted effort to increase the level of awareness and understanding of its recommendations and advice by federal decision makers and national stakeholders, with the ultimate goal of influencing policy development on the issues addressed. The meetings provide a forum to present the NRTEE's advice and also to hear from stakeholders. This exchange of ideas is important for ensuring that the advice is useful and relevant; it also assists in framing future possible work on specific issues.
The agency will continue its efforts to improve the reach of its advice and influence through increased contacts with government, the media, NGOs, stakeholders, and others. By increasing its visibility, the NRTEE plans to raise its profile with the public and, in turn, strengthen its influence with various levels of government. The NRTEE will reinforce its efforts to more broadly communicate its role as a public policy advisor, and will utilize its various members to give voice to that message.

Improve Strategic Communications

NRTEE strategic communication efforts will focus on efforts to present the organization as an informed, independent, and reliable source for policy advice on sustainable development issues. This will be accomplished principally through the publication of the Round Table's policy reports. These reports are informed by meetings with, and by research derived from, leading experts and stakeholders from across the country. Agency spokespersons and members will also make themselves available to comment on areas touching on the NRTEE's mandate. The NRTEE will persist in efforts to improve its website and increasingly utilize digital media to disseminate its message. In order to further enhance its ability to influence decision makers, the NRTEE will research perceptions about its current brand and identity with major stakeholders and integrate results into its strategic communications activities.

2.4 Program Activity: Internal Services

Financial Resources ($ thousands)				Human Resources (FTEs)
2010-11	2011-12	2012-13		2010-11	2011-12	2012-13
1,914.2	1,915.7	1,915.7		13	13	13

Program Activity 2—Plans and Initiatives for 2010–2011 and Beyond:

2.4.1 Enhance Information Technology Infrastructure

The NRTEE plans to invest in and migrate its network infrastructure to a virtualized environment, resulting in security, medium-term cost savings, and “greener” operations by using less energy.

2.4.2 Overhaul the NRTEE Database

The NRTEE database serves as a key tool in communicating with stakeholders and clients. The existing database is over 10 years old and is no longer adequate to meet the needs of the organization. It will be reconfigured and updated to facilitate more efficient and effective communication and engagement with key NRTEE audiences.

2.5 Performance Measurement in 2010–2011

The NRTEE's Performance Measurement Framework and the Management Resources and Results Structure have been used as the basis for identifying the expected results and indicators for 2010–2011.

Key data sources for populating the framework are as follows:

• Feedback from federal decision-makers and national stakeholders (based on biannual surveys)
• Feedback provided by participants after NRTEE consultation sessions
• Operational data related to communications and overall management of the NRTEE
• Results from branding and identity engagement with stakeholders

The NRTEE plans to monitor the usefulness and relevance of the various elements of the framework and to make adjustments as required to ensure their ongoing value to management for planning and decision making.

2.6 Benefits for Canadians

The NRTEE benefits Canadians by addressing an issue of critical importance to Canada's long-term prosperity and quality of life, namely sustainable development. The agency provides forward recommendations to decision-makers with the ultimate goal of influencing policy on issues at the nexus of the environment and the economy. These recommendations, if implemented, are consistent with Canada's national interest and the government's objective of building a globally competitive, sustainable, technologically innovative economy.

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