ARCHIVED - National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy

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Message from the President and CEO

This past year was particularly busy for the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy (NRTEE or Round Table). The agency released four major reports related to its work and held extensive research and consultation meetings across the country on various issues. We also marked our 20th anniversary in 2008 with a unique forum called Securing Canada's Future in a Climate-Changing World. It consisted of three roundtable sessions with Canadian leaders in sustainability discussing Canada's environmental and economic security as seen through the lenses of Canada's ecosystems, energy economy, and Arctic environment. The resulting report, Climate Forward: A Next Step Policy Agenda for Canada, was published in June 2009.

The NRTEE continued its focus and research on the critical issue of climate change, addressing it from a number of perspectives. In early 2009, the NRTEE released Geared for Change: Energy Efficiency in Canada's Commercial Building Sector, a collaborative report with Sustainable Development and Technologies Canada (SDTC). This joint report set out a policy pathway and recommendations to overcome barriers to technology deployment that would improve the energy efficiency of commercial buildings and cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Throughout 2008 and the winter of 2009 the NRTEE conducted original research and held national and regional stakeholder consultations on how carbon pricing can help Canada meet the federal government's GHG emission reduction targets for 2020 and 2050. The results were published in April 2009 as Achieving 2050: A Carbon Pricing Policy for Canada, which recommended an economy-wide cap-and-trade system to meet environmental targets at least economic cost.
The NRTEE fulfilled its obligations under the Kyoto Protocol Implementation Act (KPIA), to undertake a review and assessment of the government's 2008 KPIA Action Plan. A companion report, Greenhouse Gas Emissions Forecasting: Learning from International Best Practices, was released to provide additional guidance to policy makers.

In the summer of 2008 we released an advisory note to the Minister of the Environment entitled Developing Ambient Air Quality Objectives for Canada. The note completed the NRTEE's work in response to the Government of Canada's request for advice on long-term climate change and clean air strategies for Canada.
The NRTEE commenced initial research and scoping work on two major new programs it will be undertaking over the next fiscal year: Water Sustainability and the Future of Canada's Natural Resource Sectors and Economic Risks and Opportunities of Climate Change for Canada. A major expert workshop on water was held in February 2009 with a summary report of proceedings made public.

Feedback from an independent third party survey, conducted as part of the performance measurement process, confirmed the high quality, relevance, and usefulness of the work of the NRTEE.

The NRTEE's website was redesigned to create a communications tool more useful and accessible to visitors, stakeholders, as well as NRTEE members. Our "single window" service approach to members continues to improve with a Members' Corner site for planning and research. A stronger emphasis was placed on the electronic distribution of reports, with a resulting significant increase in publication downloads and cost efficiencies.

Previously initiated internal organizational realignments were finalized, leading to a stronger capacity for policy and research, communications, and corporate services.
Over two decades, the NRTEE has developed unique expertise that well positions it to provide a unique and needed contribution to Canadian sustainable development policy. By working closely with our many stakeholders, we will continue to provide useful, timely, and relevant research and policy advice to the federal government, parliamentarians, governments across Canada, and all Canadians.

 

__________________________________
David McLaughlin
NRTEE President and CEO

 

Section 1: Agency Overview

1.1 Summary Information

Raison d'Être and Responsibilities

The raison d'être, or 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. It examines the environmental and economic implications of priority issues and offers independent advice on how to address them.

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

Legislative Purpose undertaking research and gathering information and analyses on critical issues of sustainable development; advising governments on ways of integrating environmental and economic considerations into their decision-making processes and on global issues of sustainable development; advising those sectors and regions on ways of incorporating principles and practices of sustainable development into their activities; promoting the understanding and increasing public awareness of the cultural, social, economic, and policy changes required to attain sustainable development; and facilitating and assisting cooperative efforts in Canada to overcome barriers to the attainment of sustainable development. National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy Act, Section 4

Created in 1988 by the Prime Minister, the NRTEE 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 a 1993 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 complete list of the NRTEE's members can be found in section 4.2.

The Round Table normally meets four times each year in plenary sessions where members discuss priorities and review and approve the work of the Secretariat. A Secretariat in Ottawa, headed by a President and CEO, supports the members. In this context, the Secretariat provides program management, policy and research analysis, communications, and administrative services to the NRTEE members.

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

1.2 Strategic Outcome

As approved by the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat (TBS) in June 2007, the NRTEE has a single Strategic Outcome and a single program activity, which the NRTEE strives to achieve in the effective pursuit of its mandate. It is as follows:

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 Architecture (PAA)

Figure 2 illustrates the NRTEE's framework for its program activity, contributing toward the Agency's single Strategic Outcome.

Figure 2: Program Activity Architecture (PAA) — National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy

1.3 Performance Summary

Financial Resources

Table 1: Financial Resources Summary, 2008–2009
($ thousands)

Planned Spending	Total Authorities	Actual Spending
5,154.0	5,598.2	5,051.6

Human Resources

Table 2: Human Resources Summary, 2008–2009
(FTEs)

Planned	Actual	Difference
27	28	1

Planning Summary

Table 3: Planning Summary, 2008–2009
($ thousands)

Strategic Outcome: Federal policy development on environment and economy issues and decisions in other key sectors are influenced by NRTEE advice on selected issues

Performance Indicators	2008-09 Performance
The extent to which NRTEE's advice is considered in federal policy decisions and its research results are used in developing policy recommendations	Stakeholder feedback indicates NRTEE research to be generally high quality, timely, relevant and useful, which supports the Strategic Outcome

Program Activity	2007-08 Actual Spending	2008-09				Alignment to Government of Canada Outcomes
		Main Estimates	Planned Spending	Total Authorities	Actual Spending
Advisory program on environment and economy issues	4,857.7	5,154.0	5,154.0	5,598.2	5,051.6	Strong economic growth
Total	4,857.7	5,154.0	5,154.0	5,598.2	5,051.6

1.4 Contribution of Priorities to Strategic Outcome

Table 4 illustrates the contribution of the NRTEE to its two key areas of priority as identified in the NRTEE's 2008–2009 Report on Plans and Priorities (one operational and one management) toward its single Strategic Outcome.

Table 4: Contribution of Organizational Priorities toward Strategic Outcome, 2008–2009

Priority 1: Operational Priorities	Type	Status	Links to Strategic Outcome(s)
Produce and promote advice to decision makers on environment and economy issues	Ongoing	Mostly met	Operational priorities were achieved in 2008-09 with minor exceptions. For specific details achievements, see section 2.2

Priority 2: Management Priorities	Type	Status	Links to Strategic Outcome(s)
Apply sound management practices in operations	Ongoing	Mostly met	Management priorities were achieved in 2008-2009 with minor exceptions. For specific details on achievements, see section 2.2

1.5 Risk Analysis

Context

Issues and risks to be examined by the NRTEE are identified through an internal screening and scoping process, in which the final decisions reflect current political, environmental, or economic priorities, and members' combined interests. The NRTEE has adopted an approach to its work that effectively balances stakeholder consultation with a reliance on members' expertise and advice, and in-house research analysis capacities.

Risk Factors

The NRTEE strives to influence the government's approach to important sustainable development issues. To accomplish this, the NRTEE must produce and promote relevant, neutral, and credible advice in a timely manner. Its ability to do so is affected by both external and internal factors.

Changes in operating environment have been, and will continue to be, a challenge for a small agency such as the NRTEE. The agency expects to experience continuing pressures to adapt and respond over the next few years, but despite these challenges, the NRTEE remains firmly focused on providing timely advice that is credible, balanced, and relevant. Key risk factors are discussed below.

The emergence of the environment—and climate change in particular—as a key priority for Canadians has put the Round Table firmly in the spotlight due to the focus of its current work. This created both an opportunity and a risk. In 2008–2009, the focus of the NRTEE's research and analysis and resulting policy advice was on this critical issue. This topic remains controversial in many circles, being the subject of policy debates both in Canada and internationally. In order to be credible in this situation, the NRTEE needs to achieve a balance between generating advice that is relevant and useful to the government in the short term, and yet is also relevant for the future. The NRTEE understands this complex environment well and manages the associated risks by producing advice that is fact-based, objective, and sound, and by consulting on an ongoing basis with its stakeholders both inside and outside government. Its communications strategy is also crafted to address this challenge.
The timing of the appointment of new members to the Round Table has, in the past, posed challenges for the NRTEE in terms of ensuring continuity for its work. In 2008–2009, no new members were appointed; thus the composition of the NRTEE's members remained stable. Through broad consultation with stakeholders during this period, the NRTEE continued to ensure that representation from all sectors and all regions of the country was reflected in its work.

Small agencies such as the NRTEE are often vulnerable to employee turnover. Internally, the NRTEE faced particular challenges in 2008–2009 due to the departure of some senior staff in its policy, communications, and operations units. The vacancies created by these departures were quickly and adequately filled through internal promotions and other short-term arrangements. Through continual operational efficiencies and adequate planning, the NRTEE has continued to succeed in delivering on its stated priorities.

1.6 Expenditure Profile

In 2008–2009, the Round Table's spending was $5.052 million. In this period, there were no transfer payment programs or significant shifts in statutory spending.

1.7 Voted and Statutory Items

Table 5 illustrates the way in which Parliament approved the NRTEE's resources, and shows the changes in resources derived from Supplementary Estimates and other authorities, as well as how funds were spent.

Table 5: Voted and Statutory Items
($ thousands)

Vote # or Statutory Item (S)	Truncated Vote or Statutory Wording	2006-07 Actual Spending	2007-08 Actual Spending	2008-09 Main Estimates	2008-09 Actual Spending
20	Operating expenditures	4,240.0	4,517.7	4,723.0	4,695.6
(S)	Contributions to employee benefit plans	294.3	339.1	411.0	356.0
(S)	Expenditures pursuant to Paragraph 29.1 (1) of the Financial Administration Act	0.9	0.9	20.0	0
Total		4,535.2	4,857.7	5,154.0	5,051.6

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