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Section 2: Analysis of Program Activities

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.

Parks Canada accomplishes its Strategic Outcome by ensuring Agency activities and investments are relevant to Canadians and thereby create meaningful experiences in the enjoyment of national heritage places. This, in turn, fosters a strong sense of connection in the hearts and minds of Canadians as these places are protected in ways that allow present and future generations to enjoy them.

Parks Canada has developed three tangible and measurable performance indicators that inform management of the Agency's progress towards its Strategic Outcome. Contributing directly to these high-level expectations are the results of all of the Program Activities that comprise the Agency's Program Activity Architecture. Measuring these results allows Parks Canada to assess its overall performance and to determine the progress the Agency has made in attaining its long-term goal.

Parks Canada's performance results for all Program Activities are evaluated using the following performance rating system established by Treasury Board:

• Exceeded: more than 100 percent of the expected level of performance;
• Met All: 100 percent of the expected level of performance;
• Mostly Met: 80 to 99 percent of the expected level of performance;
• Somewhat Met: 60 to 79 percent of the expected level of performance;
• Not Met: less than 60 percent of the expected level of performance.

Performance Indicator, Target Date and Performance in 2009/10

1. Maintain or improve the overall ecological integrity in all national parks from March 2008 to March 2013

As of March 31, 2010, all 42 national parks have identified key ecological integrity indicators. Twenty-nine of the parks have determined the condition of these indicators and 24 have identified their trend. Programs focussed on initiatives to improve ecological integrity in Canada's national parks have been ongoing. In 2009/10 Parks Canada provided first-year funding for multi-year active management and restoration projects through the Action on the Ground integrated funding strategy. This strategy improves upon past programs through a more targeted approach that incorporates ecological integrity indicators of key park ecosystems into the program framework. Parks Canada's performance related to this indicator will be evaluated in 2013.

The condition and trend of the ensemble of key ecological integrity indicators identified for each national park paint a picture of the overall ecological integrity of that park, and also provide the baseline against which maintenance or improvement is evaluated.

In some national parks, native biodiversity and habitat are under considerable stress from external environmental forces, such as climate change, biodiversity loss and the pervasive presence of exotic/invasive species in the greater park ecosystem, all of which influence the ecological integrity of national parks. To attenuate these risks, Parks Canada targeted investments in priority active management and restoration initiatives to improve ecological indicators and make a demonstrable difference. Examples of such initiatives include recovery actions for species at risk, active management and restoration of degraded ecosystems, restoring fire to the landscape and remediation of contaminated sites. Concrete examples of these initiatives are presented later in this report under Program Activity 2.

2. Improve the overall average commemorative integrity rating from 6.0/10 in March 2008 to 6.6/10 in March 2013

As of March 2010, Parks Canada achieved an overall average commemorative integrity rating of 6.5². This includes data from 133 sites evaluated as of that date, and new results for sites where reassessments have taken place during the period covered by this report. The formal program of establishing commemorative integrity baselines ended in 2009 with the evaluation of 133 national historic sites of a total of 167. The remaining 34 evaluations will be conducted as part of a new management planning process, but new baselines are not expected to be established in the 2010/11 fiscal year.

Parks Canada continues to perform formal re-evaluations of those elements of commemorative integrity rated as poor after five years. This process will continue until 2013, at which point all sites that had poor ratings at their original baseline evaluations will have been re-evaluated. Parks Canada's performance related to this indicator will be evaluated in 2013.

Commemorative integrity is based on three elements: Condition of Cultural Resources, Selected Management Practices and Effectiveness of Communication. Four of seven national historic sites that were re-evaluated in 2009/10 made improvements to their commemorative integrity, from significant and major impairment to minor impairment, which directly contributed to the overall improvement of commemorative integrity. Bar U Ranch improved its poor rating in the Condition of Cultural Resources element of commemorative integrity, while both Bar U Ranch and Trent-Severn Waterway improved their poor ratings for Selected Management Practices. Merrickville Blockhouse, Boishébert and Trent-Severn Waterway improved their Effectiveness of Communication element. See Figure 1 for additional details on the re-evaluations conducted in 2009/10.

As of 2009/10, 62 percent (82) of the 133 national historic sites that have been evaluated so far exhibit no or minor impairment to their commemorative integrity, 30 percent (40) exhibit significant impairment, and eight percent (11) show major or severe impairment. See Figure 2 for additional details.

Parks Canada has gradually and consistently improved its overall average commemorative integrity rating over the past three years, from 6.0 in 2007/08, based on 119 baseline evaluations completed by that date, to 6.4 in 2008/09 and 6.5 in 2009/10. These data suggest that the Agency is on track to meet its target of an overall average commemorative integrity rating of 6.6 in 2013.

FIGURE 1
Results of 2009/10 Re-evaluations of Commemorative Integrity

National Historic Site	2004/05 Baseline		2009/10 Re-evaluation
	Commemorative Integrity Score	Degree of Impairment	Commemorative Integrity Score	Degree of Impairment
Bar U Ranch NHS	3	Major	8	Minor
Boishébert NHS	4	Significant	7	Minor
Merickville Blockhouse NHS	5	Significant	9	Minor
Trent-Severn Waterway NHS	2	Major	7	Minor

FIGURE 2
Level of impairment of Commemorative Integrity at national historic sites

Level of Impairment	2008/09		2009/10
	Number of sites	Percentage of total number of sites	Number of sites	Percentage of total number of sites
No impairment	9	7%	9	7%
Minor	69	52%	73	55%
Significant	41	31%	40	30%
Major	12	9%	9	7%
Severe	2	1%	2	1%
Total	133	100%	133	100%

3. Increase the percentage of Canadians that report a personal connection to Parks Canada administered places by March 2014

The sense of connection that any one Canadian has with national heritage places is as individual as individual Canadians themselves. For some Canadians, connection is fostered by the beauty of the place, the natural or historical significance of the place, or by seeing wildlife in a natural setting; for others, connection is created through fond memories of their experiences, walking in the footsteps of their ancestors, or by having the opportunity to experience the place with family and friends.

In 2008/09, through the National Survey of Canadians, Parks Canada determined that approximately 55 percent of Canadians have a sense of connection with Canada's national heritage places. Visiting national heritage places has been found to be an important element in how Canadians develop a sense of connection with them. Nine out of 10 Canadians who have visited one of Canada's national parks report a sense of connection to them, while only two out of 10 Canadians who have not visited a national park say the same. The results were similar for national historic sites. Opportunities to learn and experience national heritage places in informal and formal settings have been found to be important in contributing to fostering appreciation and support for national heritage places.

In 2009/10, Parks Canada embarked on a number of Agency-wide initiatives designed to foster and strengthen among Canadians a sense of connection to heritage places administered by Parks Canada. These included a six-week nationwide television and Internet campaign in May and June 2009 and a three-week television campaign during the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games, feature episodes on the "Rick Mercer Report" on the CBC television network, and hosting the Olympic torch relay at 34 national parks and national historic sites. In addition, outreach initiatives, including feature and special interest stories in print and social media, broadcasts, community events, and school visits by Parks Canada staff have helped bring the spirit and wonder of Canada's national heritage places to Canadians. Parks Canada also provided training to 4,672 employees on quality service standards and interactions with visitors, and diversified its offers related to accommodation and trails in national parks to satisfy the needs of a variety of visitors. The Agency also hosted a meeting with stakeholders and partners who examined ways to inspire Canadians to connect with nature and history and to mobilize them to support the conservation of Canada's national treasures. Parks Canada's performance related to this indicator will be evaluated in 2014.

Program Activity 1: HERITAGE PLACES ESTABLISHMENT

Financial Resources				Human Resources
2009/10 ($000s)				2009/10 (Full-Time Equivalent)
Planned Spending	Total Authorities	Actual Spending		Planned	Actual	Difference
24,031	25,625	15,240		92	90	2

Benefits for Canadians

Creating new national parks and national marine conservation areas, and expanding existing national parks, protects portions of Canada's distinct landscapes and seascapes and their associated ecosystems. The designation of new places, persons and events of national historic significance builds on our system of national commemorations that reflects the breadth and diversity of Canadian history. These newly established heritage places contribute to regional economic development and the well-being of communities, and lead to new opportunities for visitor experience, education and long-term meaningful involvement in the place's planning and management. They are the means to pass onto future generations the living legacy that we have inherited from generations past. The establishment of these special places is essential to ensuring their ongoing protection.

Performance Expectations

The Expected Result of this Program Activity is measured by five performance indicators.

Performance Indicator 1	Target and Date	Result as of March 2010	Performance Status
Number of represented terrestrial natural regions in the system of national parks	Increase the number of represented terrestrial natural regions from 28 in March 2007 to 30 of 39 by March 2010	28 represented terrestrial natural regions in the system of national parks. No new regions represented from March 2007 to March 2010	Not Met
Performance Indicator 2	Target and Date	Progress as of March 2010	Performance Status
Number of unrepresented regions with progress in advancing through steps towards establishing national parks	Make demonstrable progress towards establishing four national parks in three unrepresented regions by March 2011	Demonstrable progress in four national park proposals in three unrepresented regions	Performance will be assessed in 2011 Progress made towards target is outlined in the following text

Performance Analysis

Parks Canada was not able to meet its target to represent additional terrestrial natural regions in the national parks system by March 2010. However, the Agency made progress in the establishment of four national parks in unrepresented regions and expanded Nahanni National Park Reserve. The national parks system currently consists of 42 operational parks representing 28 of the 39 terrestrial natural regions. With the expansion of Nahanni National Park Reserve, the national park system now totals 301,473 square kilometres, an increase of nine percent over last year.

Since March 2007, Parks Canada has concentrated its efforts on six proposed national parks and one park expansion. Progress on the establishment of these proposals is presented in Figure 3. In 2009/10, the Agency made demonstrable progress in the following proposals: Mealy Mountains, Nááts'ihch'oh, Northern Bathurst Island, and East Arm of Great Slave Lake. There was no activity in the Northern Interior Plateaux and Mountains natural region during the past year in the current candidate site, Wolf Lake. As with all unrepresented regions for which there is no confirmed or active candidate site, Parks Canada will consider other opportunities for protection if and when they arise.

The establishment of a national park begins with the identification of several natural areas that are representative of a natural region (Step 1); followed by the selection of a potential national park area (Step 2); then conducting a feasibility assessment including consultations (Step 3); negotiating park establishment agreements (Step 4); and formally protecting a park under the Canada National Parks Act (Step 5).

FIGURE 3
Progress of proposals to establish and expand national parks

Terrestrial Natural Region and National Park Area of Interest	Progress Statement in 2009/10
Mackenzie Mountains Nahanni National Park Reserve expansion and Nááts'ihch'oh(N.W.T.)	Passage of legislation (Step 5) Parliament passed legislation that resulted in a six-fold increase in the size of Nahanni National Park Reserve within the Dehcho region. Negotiation of agreements (Step 4) Parks Canada initiated public consultations and community meetings on boundary options for a new national park reserve (Nááts'ihch'oh) in the Sahtu Settlement area. The Agency concluded the negotiation of an Impact and Benefit Plan with the Sahtu Dene and Métis who then initiated a ratification process.
East Coast Boreal Mealy Mountains (N.L.)	Negotiation of agreements (Step 4) The Minister of the Environment and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador signed an agreement to open negotiations for a land transfer agreement for a 10,700 sq km national park reserve in the Mealy Mountains and confirmed the boundary of the park. Parks Canada held additional consultations with Innu from Québec, who have an overlapping claim.
Western High Arctic Northern Bathurst Island (NU)	Negotiation of agreement (Step 4) Parks Canada held several meetings with the Qikiqtani Inuit Association and representatives of the community of Resolute Bay, agreeing to open negotiations for an Inuit Impact and Benefit Agreement that would lead to the creation of a new national park on northern Bathurst Island.
Northwestern Boreal Uplands East Arm of Great Slave Lake (N.W.T.)	Feasibility assessment (Step 3) Work continued on the social and economic study, as well as on the Mineral and Energy Resource Assessment technical assessment. Parks Canada negotiated a Framework Agreement with the Łutsel K'e Dene First Nation that would commit both parties to negotiate a park establishment agreement, as well as a similar Framework Agreement with the Northwest Territory Métis Nation, committing both parties to negotiate an Impact and Benefit Plan.
Manitoba Lowlands Manitoba Lowlands (Man.)	Discussions with First Nations re agreement (Step 3) Parks Canada held discussions with the Misipawistik Cree Nation and the Government of Manitoba regarding a potential Memorandum of Understanding that would guide a community-based process to build understanding and address concerns of the Misipawistik Cree Nation associated with a possible national park located within their traditional territory.
Interior Dry Plateau South Okanagan-Lower Similkameen (B.C.)	Feasibility assessment (Step 3) Parks Canada continued its work with the Government of British Columbia to revise its approach and address considerations raised by the ranching community, other stakeholders and First Nations during the consultation process.

Note: A region may be represented by a national park or national park reserve. A reserve is an area managed as a national park but where the lands are subject to one or more claims by Aboriginal people that have been accepted for negotiation by the Government of Canada. A region is considered to be represented when one or more national parks or park reserves are operational as a consequence of: signing a park establishment agreement (federal-provincial and/or Aboriginal agreements); the lands have been transferred to Canada (from the province); and/or the park/reserve is in a schedule of the Canada National Parks Act.

Lessons Learned

Building positive and productive relationships with Aboriginal groups, other governments and communities is essential for successful outcomes in the intricate process of creating new national parks. This was evident in 2009/10 in the successful expansion of Nahanni National Park Reserve. This expansion was achieved because Parks Canada worked at building a solid relationship with the Dehcho First Nations. It also occurred because of the significant public and political support that was expressed over the years for enhanced protection of this World Heritage Site.

In the case of the Mealy Mountains proposal, a steering committee composed of government representatives, Aboriginal organizations, and local communities recommended a framework for the continuation of traditional land use activities by Labradorians within the proposed park. It was precisely this approach that enabled the governments of Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador to declare that a national park reserve in the Mealy Mountains was feasible, to agree on a park boundary and to launch negotiations to create this park reserve.

To remain consistent with the pace of current establishment projects and with the availability of financial resources to develop and initiate new proposals, Parks Canada's performance expectations in Corporate Plan 2010/11–2014/15 are to increase the number of represented terrestrial natural regions to 29 by March 2013 and to make demonstrable progress towards establishing national parks in three unrepresented regions by March 2011.

Performance Indicator 3	Target and Date	Result as of March 2010	Performance Status
Percentage of recommended designations for under-represented themes in Canada's history	33% of yearly recommended designations are for under-represented themes in Canada's history	55%	Exceeded

Information on under-represented themes: http://www.pc.gc.ca/docs/r/system-reseau/sec4/sites-lieux44_e.asp
Information on the list of designations: http://www.pc.gc.ca/clmhc-hsmbc/index_E.asp

Performance Analysis

The Minister of the Environment made 33 new designations in 2009/10. Eighteen of these were in under-represented themes in Canada's history, representing 55 percent of the total number of new designations. The three under-represented themes are: Aboriginal history, Ethnocultural communities and Women. Designations may also cover more than one theme, such as Ethnocultural communities and Women, Aboriginal history and Women, and Ethnocultural communities and Aboriginal history. Of the designations in under-represented themes, four were related to women's history, one to Aboriginal history and 11 to the history of ethnocultural communities; two touched more than one of these themes. See Figure 4 for further details. As of March 2010, 2,021 persons, places and events have been designated of national historical importance.

One example of a designation in an under-represented theme is Waapushukamikw in James Bay, Québec, which was designated as a National Historic Site in April 2009. This Mistassini Cree religious practice site, famous for its hard white quartzite, was designated under the Aboriginal history theme. Another is the Refugees of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, designated a National Historic Event in January 2010 and representing the ethnocultural communities theme. This designation commemorates the first large immigration wave from the Eastern Bloc. Under the women's history theme, Ethel Johns (1879–1968), a nursing leader, educator and nurse administrator, was designated a National Historic Person in April 2009.

FIGURE 4
Ministerial designations by type

	2007/08			2008/09			2009/10
	Total	Under represented themes		Total	Under represented themes		Total	Under represented themes		Total designations as of March 31, 2010
Type	Number	Number	Percentage	Number	Number	Percentage	Number	Number	Percentage
Places	12	5	11%	13	5	11%	9	3	9%	956
Persons	15	10	22%	21	17	39%	16	12	36%	648
Events	18	12	27%	10	6	14%	8	3	9%	417
Total	45	27	60%	44	28	63%	33	18	55%	2,021

Note: Totals may not agree due to rounding

Lessons Learned

Through Parks Canada's New Commemorations Initiative, the Agency invested $900,000 over the past three fiscal years to continue the direct engagement of women's, Aboriginal and ethnocultural organizations in the development of nominations within these three under-represented themes. The objective of the Initiative is to encourage public participation in identifying and bringing forward nominations in these areas to the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada. An additional investment of $200,000 will be made in 2010/11 pending completion of a review of community consultation investment results achieved from 2000 to 2010.

This review of the Initiative's activities and outcomes was in progress at the end of 2009/10. Preliminary findings show that modest investments in direct engagement with priority communities have contributed significantly to the goal of ensuring that Canada's system of historical commemorations represents the breadth and diversity of Canada's history. Over 70 percent of all new commemorations in the three priority areas for the 2007/08 to 2009/10 period are the result of consultations funded by Parks Canada. The final evaluation report, to be completed in 2010/11, will include recommendations for the way forward.

Performance Indicator 4	Target and Date	Result as of March 2010	Performance Status
Number of represented marine regions in the system of national marine conservation areas	Increase the number of represented marine regions from three in October* 2007 to four of 29 by March 2010	Three marine regions represented. No new regions represented from October 2007 to March 2010	Not Met
Performance Indicator 5	Target and Date	Progress as of March 2010	Performance Status
Number of unrepresented regions with progress in advancing through steps towards establishing national marine conservation areas	Make demonstrable progress towards establishing national marine conservation areas in two unrepresented regions by March 2011	Demonstrable progress in two proposals for national marine conservation areas in three unrepresented marine regions	Performance will be assessed in 2011 Progress made towards target is outlined in the following text

National marine conservation areas and their establishment: http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/progs/amnc-nmca/pr-sp/index.aspx
* March 2007 was printed in error in the Corporate Plan 2009/10–2013/14. The correct date is October 2007

Performance Analysis

Parks Canada was not able to meet its target of increasing the representation of marine regions to four of 29 by March 2010 as no national marine conservation areas were established in the period covered by this report. As of March 31, 2010, three of 29 marine regions were represented. However, in June 2010, the Agency tabled in Parliament an Order in Council that legally protects the Gwaii Haanas National Marine Conservation Area Reserve and Haida Heritage Site. This action increases the number of represented regions to five, as the new national marine conservation area reserve and heritage site represent both the Hecate Strait and the Queen Charlotte Shelf marine regions. This achievement will be captured as part of Parks Canada's performance in fiscal year 2010/11.

Since 2007, Parks Canada has concentrated its efforts on four proposed national marine conservation areas in unrepresented regions and made demonstrable progress in two of these proposals: the Gwaii Haanas National Marine Conservation Area Reserve and Haida Heritage Site and the Lancaster Sound national marine conservation area. Progress in 2009/10 on the establishment of national marine conservation areas in unrepresented regions is shown in Figure 5.

The establishment of a national marine conservation area begins with the identification of several areas that are representative of a marine region (Step 1); followed by the selection of a potential national marine conservation area (Step 2); then conducting a feasibility assessment including consultations (Step 3); negotiating marine conservation area establishment agreements (Step 4); and formally protecting a marine area under the Canada National Marine Conservation Areas Act (Step 5).

FIGURE 5
Progress of proposals to establish national marine conservation areas

Marine Region and National Marine Conservation Area of Interest	Progress Statement in 2009/10
Hecate Strait/Queen Charlotte Shelf Gwaii Haanas NMCA Reserve and Haida Heritage Site (B.C.)	Negotiation of an agreement and preparation of an interim management plan (Step 4/5) The Canada – Haida Gwaii Haanas Marine Agreement for the marine conservation area reserve was signed in January 2010. The final draft of the interim management plan was developed in consultation with the Haida Nation and other interests. In collaboration with Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Parks Canada concluded consultations with the fishing sector. Work began on an Order in Council to be tabled in both the House of Commons and the Senate in order to legally designate the marine area under the Canada National Marine Conservation Areas Act. (Note: The Order in Council was tabled on June 7, 2010.)
Lancaster Sound Lancaster Sound (NU)	Feasibility assessment (Step 3) The federal Minister of the Environment, the Qikiqtani Inuit Association and the Government of Nunavut signed a Memorandum of Understanding to guide the assessment. Parks Canada will lead the study in close collaboration with the Government of Nunavut, Qikiqtani Inuit Association, and local communities, along with other federal departments.
Strait of Georgia Southern Strait of Georgia (B.C.)	Feasibility assessment (Step 3) Parks Canada and the British Columbia Government continued to analyze issues and options for the purpose of concluding the feasibility assessment. The Agency continued its work to expand consultations with First Nations.
Magdalen Shallows Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine (Que.)	Feasibility assessment (Step 3) Parks Canada is in the early stages of a feasibility assessment and is continuing to work with the Government of Québec on a Memorandum of Understanding to guide the assessment work.

Note: A marine region is considered to be represented when one or more national marine conservation areas or reserves are operational as a consequence of: signing an establishment agreement (federal-provincial and/or Aboriginal agreements); seabed and any lands have been transferred to Canada (from province); and/or the national marine conservation area/reserve is in a schedule of the Canada National Marine Conservation Areas Act.

Lessons Learned

Parks Canada's work over the last several years in advancing the Gwaii Haanas proposal, to the point where the Agency is on the verge of establishing the first marine area under the Canada National Marine Conservation Areas Act, has produced several important lessons on which the Agency can build—firstly, close collaboration with the Government of British Columbia and the Haida Nation; secondly, the use of a range of consultative techniques, such as interim advisory councils and bilateral consultations with key parties; and finally, ongoing collaboration with regional opinion leaders to be able to respond to the various issues and opportunities.

To remain consistent with the pace of current establishment projects, with the availability of financial resources to develop and initiate new proposals, and with the creation of Gwaii Haanas National Marine Conservation Area Reserve in June 2010 representing two marine regions, the Parks Canada's performance expectation in the Corporate Plan 2010/11–2014/15, to increase the number of represented marine regions to five from 2010 to 2013 (as it will be met) will be revised for the Corporate Plan 2011/12–2015/16.

Program Activity 2: HERITAGE RESOURCES CONSERVATION

Financial Resources				Human Resources
2009/10 ($000s)				2009/10 (Full-Time Equivalent)
Planned Spending	Total Authorities	Actual Spending		Planned	Actual	Difference
200,604	253,072	191,926		1,272	1,236	36

Benefits for Canadians

Conservation of healthy, diverse ecosystems within national parks helps ensure that Canadians continue to enjoy a wide range of environmental goods and services that are vital for human well-being, such as the provision of high-quality drinking water and mitigation against climate change and natural disasters. National parks contribute to Canada's economy through the provision of tourism opportunities, and enhance the physical and mental health of Canadians as sacred places and recreational resources. National historic sites and other historic places connect Canadians to their past and are tangible manifestations of the breadth and diversity of Canadian history. They also play important contemporary roles in their communities as places of gathering, business, entertainment, tourism and social unity. These heritage places are intrinsic components of the Canadian identity. The conservation of national parks and national historic sites and the ecologically sustainable use of national marine conservation areas are of prime importance as, together, they provide meaningful opportunities for Canadians to appreciate and personally connect with nationally significant places and stories and to engage directly in the management of Canada's national treasures.

Performance Expectations

The Expected Result of this Program Activity is measured by two performance indicators.

Performance Indicator 1	Target and Date	Progress as of March 2010	Performance Status
Percentage of national parks with at least one improved ecological integrity indicator	Outside of national parks in the far north with an already acceptable ecological integrity status, 80% of national parks have at least one improved ecological integrity indicator from March 2008 to March 2013	Selected national parks received funding for targeted multi-year priority active management and restoration initiatives to improve ecological integrity indicators	Performance will be assessed in 2013 Progress made towards target is outlined in the following text

Action on the Ground II: http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/docs/bib-lib/~/media/docs/bib-lib/pdfs/aslt2%20aotg2_e.ashx
Principles and Guidelines for Ecological Restoration in Canada's Protected Natural Areas: http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/docs/pc/guide/resteco/index.aspx
State of Park Reports: http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/docs/bib-lib/docs5hi.aspx

Performance Analysis

As of March 2010, all 42 national parks have identified key indicators of ecological integrity, an improvement from 39 parks in 2008/09. Twenty-nine parks have determined the condition of these indicators (up from 25 in 2008/09), and of these, 24 parks³ have determined their trend (up from 23 in 2008/09). These determinations form the baseline against which changes in ecological integrity indicators will be evaluated in 2013.

In 2009/10, through the Action on the Ground integrated funding strategy, Parks Canada implemented active management and restoration projects for selected national parks. This consolidated funding source is designed to improve the integrated delivery of the Agency's programs and facilitate multi-year investments targeted at the most pressing ecological integrity issues in national parks. Figure 6 provides details for six examples of these projects.

Improvements in ecological integrity indicators resulting from management actions may be realized in one of three ways: improvement in the condition of the indicator (e.g. from poor to fair, or from fair to good); improvement in the trend of the indicator (e.g. from declining to stable); and meeting determined management effectiveness targets. Because ecosystems are complex and sometimes slow to respond to management interventions, the third method entails achieving ecological integrity outcomes (e.g. the ratio of native grasses to exotic grasses is improved by 15 percent) as a result of implementing planned active management actions. With an ecological integrity monitoring and reporting system in place, national principles and guidelines for ecological restoration established and targeted multi-year active management and restoration initiatives now underway and largely on track, Parks Canada is well positioned to report on ecological integrity improvements in future years.

Parks Canada also continued to develop coordinated ecological integrity monitoring programs for parks in the North. Given the large size and remote locations of these national parks, satellite-based remote sensing tools will be important for measuring and reporting ecological change. In 2009/10, Parks Canada, in collaboration with scientists at the Canadian Centre for Remote Sensing, began working on the development of cost-effective methods to assess changes in tundra, wetland, glaciers, and coastal ecosystems, through the ParkSPACE program that is funded by the Canadian Space Agency. A key deliverable from the ParkSPACE project is an operational plan that will identify tasks and assess the human and financial resources required over the long-term to measure ecological integrity by remote sensing for the purpose of reporting.

FIGURE 6
Examples of Action on the Ground projects and their achievements

National Park	Ecological Integrity Indicator to be Improved	Overall Project Objective	Project Achievements 2009/10	Ecological Integrity Improvement Expected by March 2013
Forillon NP	Coastal	To implement an integrated approach to addressing a priority ecological integrity issue of the Penouille peninsula	Put in place contribution agreement to conduct studies Initiated work to better understand coastal process Completed visitor use and attendance study of the Penouille Peninsula	Management effectiveness targets will be met
Grasslands NP	Grasslands	To improve ecological integrity in the Grasslands indicator	Released 34 ferrets in October 2009; 35% accounted for in spring survey Treated 70 hectares of new crested wheatgrass patches Seeded 32 hectares of cultivated fields to native vegetation Completed 94 hectares of prescribed burns Implemented interim stocking rates on 6 grazing units, totaling 56% of the park holdings in 2009/10 Increased Plains Bison population by 34 animals; the total population is 149 animals as of March 31, 2010	Management effectiveness targets will be met
Jasper NP	Native Biodiversity	To improve the population status of Woodland Caribou in the mountain parks	Conducted aerial surveys for population counts Completed scoping for habitat mapping project Completed genetic analysis Measured population growth rate Initiated development of public participation plan and communications strategy Developed communications and public engagement products Conducted consultations on the feasibility of translocation	Improvement in indicator condition
La Mauricie NP	Aquatic Forest   Wetlands	To restore the water level of selected lakes, riverine habitat and the integrity of fish communities To improve the ecological integrity of the forest of the park To restore water level of water bodies and associated wetlands	Completed plans to rehabilitate water bodies damaged by pre-park forest exploitation Two prescribed burns have been completed and plans are in place for future fires Plans completed to rehabilitate wetlands damaged by pre-park forest exploitation.	Improvement in indicator condition
Riding Mountain NP	Forest	To eliminate Bovine Tuberculosis from the Riding Mountain Regional Ecosystem	Determined target surveillance levels and objectives Tested elk populations Conducted annual wildlife (ungulates/ wolves) population survey Initiated a risk reduction program to reduce wildlife/livestock interactions	Improvement in indicator trend
Terra Nova NP	Forest	To improve the state of forest health through restoration of the critical role of fire in the ecosystem, mitigation of the impacts of hyper-abundant species and restoration of black spruce/balsam fir sites	Completed hyper-abundant moose management plan Established effectiveness monitoring Completed 30 public consultation sessions Completed prescribed burn preparation	Improvement in indicator trend

Note: For additional information on ecological integrity indicators of national parks, consult the State of Protected Heritage Areas Report 2007/2009 at http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/docs/bib-lib/~/link.aspx?_id=820E61E642C24531A83C51F48B1E689E&_z=z

Lessons Learned

Ecosystems are complex and sometimes slow to respond to management interventions. External factors outside of Parks Canada's control, such as climate change and the pervasion of invasive/exotic species, also impact the health of ecosystems. To this end, and to reflect current fiscal realities, Parks Canada modified its performance target in the Corporate Plan 2010/11–2014/15, specifying that 20 parks are to improve one ecological integrity indicator by March 2014.

Performance Indicator 2	Target and Date	Result as of March 2010	Performance Status
Percentage of the condition of cultural resources and management practices elements of commemorative integrity rated as poor are improved	70% of the condition of cultural resources elements of commemorative integrity rated as poor are improved within five years	50% (1 of 2 sites)	Somewhat Met
	70% of the management practices elements of commemorative integrity rated as poor are improved within five years	100% (3 of 3 sites)	Exceeded

Definition of the concept of Commemorative Integrity: http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/docs/pc/guide/guide/commemorative_1_0/commemorative_1_1.aspx
Cultural Resource Management Policy: http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/docs/pc/poli/princip/sec3.aspx
List of National Historic Sites administered by Parks Canada: http://www.pc.gc.ca/progs/lhn-nhs/recherche-search_e.asp?s=1

Performance Analysis

Every five years, Parks Canada conducts reassessments of all national historic sites that earned poor ratings for any element of commemorative integrity. In 2009/10, the two national historic sites whose Condition of Cultural Resources element of commemorative integrity was rated as poor in 2004/05, and the three national historic sites with a poor rating for Selected Management Practices were reassessed, with 50 percent (one of two) and 100 percent (three of three) of sites respectively showing improved ratings. Additional details are provided in Figures 7 and 8.

Since 2007, when the reassessment of sites with poor ratings in commemorative integrity elements began, Parks Canada has invested in 14 national historic sites to improve those ratings. Six of eight (75%) sites improved their poor rating for the Condition of Cultural Resources element of commemorative integrity, while nine of 11 (82%) sites upgraded their poor rating for the Selected Management Practices element, contributing to an improvement in the overall commemorative integrity of national historic sites. These investments are ongoing as is the poor rating reassessment process. Combined with funding obtained through Canada's Economic Action Plan, it is anticipated that the commemorative integrity of national historic sites will continue to improve in years to come.

FIGURE 7
2009/10 Reassessment results of national historic sites with poor ratings in 2004/05 for the Condition of Cultural Resources element of Commemorative Integrity

National Historic Sites with Poor Ratings	2009/10 Rating	Progress Statement	Performance Status
Bar U Ranch NHS	Fair	The site made improvements to buildings of national historic significance. 79.3% of these buildings are now in fair to good condition, following extensive conservation projects undertaken since 2004, notably to the Cook House, the Log House and Pierson House. Extensive conservation work is underway at the Percheron Box Stalls.	Met All
Lévis Forts NHS	Poor	Through Canada's Economic Action Plan, major work on re-pointing masonry to improve the structural integrity of some of the buildings will be completed in 2010–11. The condition of these cultural resources owned by the Agency will be improved at project completion. Further investment will be required in the future.	Not Met

FIGURE 8
2009/10 Reassessment results of national historic sites with poor ratings in 2004/05 for the Selected Management Practices element of Commemorative Integrity

National Historic Sites with Poor Ratings	2009/10 Rating	Progress Statement	Performance Status
Bar U Ranch NHS	Fair	Since 2004, the site has made particular progress in the development of individual maintenance plans for buildings and in the monitoring of the condition of the different categories of resources. Almost all cultural resources are subject to routine monitoring.	Met All
Trent-Severn Waterway NHS	Fair	The site improved its management practices with a greater commitment towards identifying, evaluating and mitigating impacts of interventions on cultural resources while stressing appropriate Cultural Resources Management practices. Significant improvements were made to records and documentation with the addition of a new archive facility. The need remains for conservation maintenance plans for many of its resources.	Met All
Lévis Forts NHS	Fair	Improvement has been observed in management practices related to record keeping. Improvements were also noted in the monitoring and review systems in place to determine if conservation and protection objectives are met.	Met All

Some investments to improve the commemorative integrity of national historic sites were made possible through Canada's Economic Action Plan. The following are examples of these investments:

• Grosse Île and the Irish Memorial National Historic Site, Québec – Restoration and protection of buildings associated with this site of the Irish immigration to Canada, including the First-Class Hotel; and
• Dredge No. 4 National Historic Site, Yukon – Replacement of structural members of the lift arm and reparation or replacement of rotting wooden members of the dredge.

Lessons Learned

The condition of cultural resources is a challenging element of commemorative integrity to improve, often requiring major investment. Parks Canada has seen improvement in its built cultural resources as a result of targeted investments. To further improve the condition of cultural resources, the Agency made it a priority in 2009/10 to invest strategically in some national historic sites that had poor ratings in the Condition of Cultural Resources in advance of the five-year deadline. As a result of the Economic Action Plan, Parks Canada has been given an opportunity to accelerate some of this work for the benefit of visitors to these places and to contribute to the economic development of the local community.

Program Activity 3: PUBLIC APPRECIATION AND UNDERSTANDING

Financial Resources				Human Resources
2009/10 ($000s)				2009/10 (Full-Time Equivalent)
Planned Spending	Total Authorities	Actual Spending		Planned	Actual	Difference
26,683	33,647	54,165		293	379	86

Note: Actual Spending exceeds Total Authorities due to internal realignment of programs and priorities.

Benefits for Canadians

To foster a sense of connection to Canada's places of natural and cultural heritage, it is important that Canadians have opportunities to understand, appreciate and support Parks Canada's heritage places. In turn, Canadians will increasingly take pride in these places, knowing that they have an opportunity to influence decisions and actions undertaken on their behalf.

Performance Expectations

The Expected Result of this Program Activity is measured by two performance indicators.

Performance Indicator 1	Target and Date	Progress as of March 2010	Performance Status
Percentage of Canadians that appreciate the significance of heritage places administered by Parks Canada	Increase the percentage of Canadians that appreciate the significance of heritage places administered by Parks Canada by March 2014	Parks Canada undertook key activities including outreach, external relations and media initiatives	Performance will be assessed in 2014
Performance Indicator 2	Target and Date	Progress as of March 2010	Performance Status
Percentage of Canadians that understand the importance of why Parks Canada protects and presents its administered places	Increase the percentage of Canadians that understand the importance of why Parks Canada protects and presents its administered places by March 2014	Same as above	Same as above

Parks Canada's media campaign: http://www.pc.gc.ca/cp-ac/index_e.asp

Performance Analysis

In 2008/09, using its National Survey of Canadians, Parks Canada established baselines for the percentage of Canadians who appreciate the significance of heritage places administered by Parks Canada and who understand the importance of protecting and presenting these heritage places. As a result of the survey, Parks Canada learned that 53 percent of Canadians appreciate the significance of heritage places and that 67 percent of Canadians understand the importance of protecting and presenting the heritage places administered by Parks Canada. With these baselines established, Parks Canada is now working towards increasing these percentages by 2014 through outreach, external relations and media initiatives.

In 2009/10, Parks Canada undertook a number of initiatives to help broaden the base of understanding and appreciation of its heritage places among the Canadian population over the long term. The Agency carried out two waves of a national television media campaign, first between May and June 2009, and again during the Winter Olympic Games in February 2010. Parks Canada conducted research before and after the first ad campaign wave to evaluate its impact on the overall awareness of Parks Canada within the Canadian population. The results revealed that there was a four percent increase in awareness of Parks Canada between the pre- and post-wave evaluations of the campaign.

Parks Canada also established a presence leading up to and during the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, which helped it reach a mass audience. Parks Canada collaborated with the Vancouver Olympic Committee and hosted the Olympic torch relay at 34 national parks and national historic sites during its run across Canada. The level of awareness of Parks Canada following the Olympic ad campaign had remained stable from earlier in the year.

Parks Canada used other media to inform Canadians about national heritage areas. Two episodes of the "Rick Mercer Report," with an average audience of one million per episode, featured national parks and the work of Parks Canada staff. A 13-part series entitled "A Park for All Seasons" aired weekly from January 7 to April 1, 2010 on the Oasis HD nature channel, which averages 1,800 viewers per minute of broadcast. Finally, 41 videos on national parks and national historic sites were uploaded to Parks Canada's channels on YouTube, MySpace and Yahoo. Collectively, the videos were viewed approximately 72,000 times during the period covered by this report.

Lessons Learned

Parks Canada's strategic outcome focusses on Canadians' sense of connection with Canada's natural and cultural heritage, specifically Canada's national parks, national historic sites and national marine conservation areas. In Parks Canada's Corporate Plan 2009/10–2013/14, the Agency established the general performance targets outlined on the preceding page. Parks Canada subsequently set an aggressive, specific target for the percentage of Canadians who appreciate the significance of heritage places administered by Parks Canada, published in the Corporate Plan 2010/11–2014/15. This new target of 60 percent by March 2014 aligns with corporate direction and ensures that initiatives designed to reach and engage Canadians in their homes, at school, in their communities and at leisure are targeted and strategic.

Conceptual understanding of public appreciation and understanding evolved in 2009 as well. The Agency concluded that the overarching objectives of this Program Activity are to contribute to Canadians' appreciation of places administered by Parks Canada and to garner support among Canadians for their protection and appreciation. As a result, Parks Canada modified its second performance target in the Corporate Plan 2010/11–2014/15, from the number of Canadians who understand the importance of why Parks Canada protects and presents its administered places, aiming instead for 80 percent of Canadians supporting the protection and presentation of places administered by Parks Canada by March 2014.

Program Activity 4: VISITOR EXPERIENCE

Financial Resources				Human Resources
2009/10 ($000s)				2009/10 (Full-Time Equivalent)
Planned Spending	Total Authorities	Actual Spending		Planned	Actual	Difference
227,360	290,057	274,984		1,951	2,093	142

Benefits for Canadians

National parks, national historic sites and national marine conservation areas provide Canadians with visitor experience opportunities for enjoyment and learning. Parks Canada also encourages Aboriginal peoples to reconnect with their historically used lands through activities that enhance their cultural presence. This, in turn, leads to a sense of personal connection and the continued relevance of Canada's protected heritage places to Canadians.

Performance Expectations

The Expected Result of this Program Activity is measured by two performance indicators.

Performance Indicator 1	Target and Date	Result as of March 2010	Performance Status
Percentage of visitors that consider the place is meaningful to them	On average, 85% of visitors at surveyed locations consider the place meaningful (As per Corporate Plan 2010/11–2014/15)	Overall two-year average based on 29 surveyed locations: 82% 78%, based on 14 locations surveyed in 2009/10	Mostly met

Note: The Parks Canada Agency Corporate Plan 2009/10–2013/14 published the performance target as "Increase the percentage of visitors at all surveyed locations that consider the place is meaningful to them by March 2014."

Performance Analysis

In 2008/09, by means of the Visitor Information Program survey, Parks Canada established a baseline for the percentage of visitors who consider that the surveyed location is meaningful to them. Due to the timing of the release of the Corporate Plan 2009/10–2013/14, to which this Performance Report responds, a general performance target was established before a full analysis of the 2008/09 survey data could be done. Once that analysis was completed, Parks Canada was able to establish a new specific performance target of 85 percent in the Corporate Plan 2010/11–2014/15. For the fiscal year covered by this report, Parks Canada has decided to report against this new specific and up-to-date performance target.

2009 marked the second year that Parks Canada asked visitors if the national park or national historic site they visited was meaningful to them, indicating their sense of connection to the site. The results for the two national parks and 12 national historic sites surveyed in 2009/10 are shown in Figure 9.

In 2008/09, an average of 86 percent of visitors at surveyed locations felt the place was meaningful to them. In 2009/10, surveys produced an average of 78 percent, for a two-year average of 82 percent. With these results, Parks Canada is encouraged to see that Canadians' connection to Canada's treasured places is strong, as more than three-quarters of visitors who responded to the survey in 2009/10 indicated a personal connection with the place they visited.

Through Canada's Economic Action Plan, Parks Canada made investments in projects that will contribute to enhancing visitor experience and facilitate the creation of personal connection to Canada's heritage places. Examples of these projects include:

• Prince Edward Island National Park, Prince Edward island – Responding to visitor preferences, Parks Canada is investing over nine million dollars to improve the scenic experience of the Gulf Shore Parkway by resurfacing the road and by creating safer viewing opportunities and a walking/cycling corridor. In addition, the beach facilities and interpretation products will be renewed to reflect the needs of today's visitors;
• Cartier-Brébeuf National Historic Site, Québec – Located in the heart of Québec City, this site had deteriorated heavily due to human usage. Parks Canada invested in re-naturalizing the site by landscaping the area, creating cycling and walking paths, installing street furniture, and developing interpretive kiosks. The Lairet River, which had been buried and flowed through the site through culverts, was brought back to the surface;
• The War of 1812 – Parks Canada is investing in a number of national historic sites related to the War of 1812. Much of the investment will occur along the Niagara frontier and includes rebuilding bastions and log palisades, adding washroom and interpretive exhibits; and
• Fort Langley and the Gulf of Georgia Cannery national Historic Sites, British Columbia – Improvements to interpretive and multi-media exhibits will be made.

FIGURE 9
Percentage of visitors that consider the park/site meaningful to them

Location Surveyed	Total
La Mauricie NP	84%
Riding Mountain NP	80%
Canso Islands NHS	78%
Carillon Canal NHS	67%
Forges du Saint-Maurice NHS	79%
Fort Malden NHS	73%
Grosse Île & Irish Memorial NHS	82%
L'Anse aux Meadows NHS	90%
Louis S. St. Laurent NHS	77%
Manoir Papineau NHS	77%
Port au Choix NHS	72%
Province House NHS	78%
Red Bay NHS	80%
Saint-Ours Canal NHS	73%
Average for 2009/10 surveys only	78%
Agency overall average	82%

Note: Meaningfulness has been measured since 2008. The overall average is based on 29 locations surveyed in 2008 or 2009.

Lessons Learned

A personal connection is just that, personal. Feedback from visitors at the surveyed locations in 2009/10 revealed that Canada's national parks and national historic sites were meaningful to visitors, but for many different reasons. For some visitors, previous memorable experiences, spending time with family and friends or learning about their ancestors evoked strong emotions of attachment. For others, activities such as camping, picnicking or watching boats glide along a canal helped to create that sense of personal connection. And for even others, the opportunity to learn more about an event, to indulge their interest in history or to satisfy their curiosity was the allure of Parks Canada's heritage places.

Feedback from visitors on what is important to them at national parks and national historic sites provided valuable insight into what captivates them and helps to make the place meaningful to them. For example, in some locations, visitors cited the need to have amenities that would allow them to linger and connect with the place on their own terms and to experience it with others, such as benches along a trail or at a scenic point and picnic tables near picturesque areas. Some visitors indicated that providing more and different stories and bringing a place to life—living history— would help them engage and connect more with the place, while others expressed a desire for places of solitude to rejuvenate their spirit. Parks Canada will continue to integrate visitor feedback into decision making regarding its visitor service offer to encourage more Canadians to personally connect with the places the Agency administers.

Performance Indicator 2	Target and Date	Result as of March 2010	Performance Status
Percentage of visitors that are satisfied with their visit	85% of visitors at surveyed locations are satisfied with their visit	14 of 14 surveyed locations exceeded the target	Met
Percentage of visitors that are very satisfied with their visit	50% of visitors at surveyed locations are very satisfied with their visit	14 of 14 surveyed locations exceeded the target	Met

Performance Analysis

In 2009/10, Parks Canada met its performance target with respect to visitors at surveyed locations feeling satisfied and very satisfied with their visit. Many elements contribute to a visitor's level of satisfaction, including the availability and quality of learning and recreational activities, pre-visit information, the condition of facilities, service from staff, previous visits and value for money spent. Visitors to surveyed locations evaluated these elements in the Visitor Information Program survey.

All 14 locations surveyed in 2009/10 (two national parks and 12 national historic sites) exceeded the target of 85 percent of visitors satisfied with their visit, with one location posting a result of 100 percent. All surveyed locations also exceeded the target of 50 percent of visitors feeling very satisfied with their visit. The overall average of visitors who were satisfied and very satisfied with their visit to the Parks Canada places that conducted a Visitor Information Program survey is 95 percent and 68 percent, respectively. The results for the locations surveyed in 2009/10 are shown in Figure 10.

FIGURE 10
Percentage of visitors satisfied and very satisfied with their visit

Location Surveyed	Satisfied	Very Satisfied
La Mauricie NP	94%	55%
Riding Mountain NP	89%	52%
Canso Islands NHS	98%	87%
Carillon Canal NHS	95%	71%
Forges du Saint-Maurice NHS	95%	74%
Fort Malden NHS	97%	77%
Grosse île & Irish Memorial NHS	93%	60%
L'Anse aux Meadows NHS	96%	79%
Louis S. St. Laurent NHS	99%	88%
Manoir Papineau NHS	96%	74%
Port au Choix NHS	95%	67%
Province House NHS	95%	65%
Red Bay NHS	100%	84%
Saint-Ours Canal NHS	96%	72%
Average for 2009/10 surveys only	96%	72%
Agency overall average	95%	68%

Note: Satisfaction has been measured through the Visitor Information Program since 2001. The overall average is based on 104 locations of 212 places administered by Parks Canada.

Lessons Learned

Canadians have many choices available to them when it comes to travel and tourism, and in times of economic uncertainty, the value obtained for one's dollar is very important. Parks Canada recognizes that to be competitive in Canada's domestic tourism market and to encourage more visitors to its heritage places, the Agency must ensure that it is providing visitors with the highest quality of service, whether it is associated with its programs (e.g., guided tours, interpretation, recreation activities), or services (e.g., accommodations, reservation service), and facilitating opportunities for Canadians to experience nature and history in ways that meet their needs. As a result, Parks Canada is raising its performance target for the number of visitors satisfied with their visit to 90 percent beginning in fiscal year 2010/11.

Parks Canada also recognizes that considerable work is required in order to maintain high levels of visitor satisfaction at all of its locations. An important factor contributing to a visitor's level of satisfaction is the quality of interactions with Agency staff. In 2009/10, Parks Canada implemented standards for quality service, establishing a promise of service levels to visitors, as well as guidelines that focus Agency resources on prevention activities that favour positive interactions with visitors. Both these initiatives were supported by the training that was delivered to 4,672 staff in the field.

The availability and quality of activities are additional factors leading to overall satisfaction. While the level of satisfaction in these areas remains high, in response to changing visitor needs, Parks Canada introduced new forms of camping accommodation, including yurts and cottage-tents, and froze admission fees for individuals for the year.

Program Activity 5: TOWNSITE AND THROUGHWAY INFRASTRUCTURE

Financial Resources				Human Resources
2009/10 ($000s)				2009/10 (Full-Time Equivalent)
Planned Spending	Total Authorities	Actual Spending		Planned	Actual	Difference
97,086	141,787	153,628		322	260	62

Note: Actual Spending exceeds Total Authorities due to internal realignment of programs priorities.

Benefits for Canadians

Parks Canada townsite and throughway infrastructure ensures various benefits for Canadians. Roads and highways maintained by Parks Canada that pass through national parks create vital links to a number of Canadian communities. A network of waterways supports commercial and recreational boating. Dams that form part of waterway infrastructure regulate water levels, supplying water for navigation, consumption and fire protection.

Five of Canada's national parks provide a haven for vibrant townsite communities, to which Parks Canada renders a variety of municipal or other services. The Agency also manages and maintains the provincial and inter-provincial highways and waterways that connect communities and pass through national parks and national historic sites.

Performance Expectations

The Expected Result of this Program Activity is measured by three performance indicators.

Performance Indicator 1	Target and Date	Progress as of March 2010	Performance Status
Percentage of townsite contemporary assets that are maintained and percentage of townsite contemporary assets rated as poor or fair that are improved	The condition of 75% of townsite contemporary assets is maintained, and the condition of 25% of assets rated as poor or fair is improved by March 2013	Parks Canada initiated 3 major capital projects to maintain or improve asset condition, with a total investment of $13.2 million in 2009/10	Performance will be assessed in 2013 Progress made towards target is outlined below

Lake Louise Community Plan: http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/ab/banff/docs/planll/index_e.asp
Wasagaming Community Plan: http://www.pc.gc.ca/~/media/pn-np/mb/riding/pdf/2000wasag_e.ashx
Prince Albert NP Management Plan: http://www.pc.gc.ca/~/media/pn-np/sk/princealbert/pdfs/pd-mp_e.ashx
Waterton Lakes NP Management Plan: http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/ab/waterton/plan/index_E.asp
Field Community Plan: http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng//docs/v-g/yoho/fieldplan/index.aspx

Performance Analysis

In 2009/10, Parks Canada invested approximately $13.2 million in capital projects to maintain or improve the condition of its townsite contemporary assets. Parks Canada renders a number of municipal and related services to the following townsites located in its national parks: Field in Yoho National Park, Lake Louise in Banff National Park, Wasagaming in Riding Mountain National Park, Waskesiu in Prince Albert National Park and Waterton in Waterton Lakes National Park.

Parks Canada normally conducts condition assessments of its assets on a five-year cycle and concurrently validates the data in the Asset Management System. Since efforts are currently focussed on delivering projects associated with Canada's Economic Action Plan, the Agency has deferred completing some condition assessments. Inspections of assets in Waterton and Wasagaming are expected to be completed later in 2010, Waskesiu in 2011, Field and Lake Louise in 2012.

The current information on the state of contemporary assets located in the five townsites is presented in Figure 11. Presently, 161 assets are in good condition, 28 are closed and the remaining 181 assets are in fair or poor condition. This list of asset inventory will be used in the future as a benchmark to determine future progress. Projects to improve asset condition are described in Figure 12.

FIGURE 11
State of townsite contemporary assets

Townsite	Condition Assessment
	Good	Fair	Poor	Closed	Not Rated	Total
Field	16	3				19
Lake Louise	24	4	3	4	2	37
Wasagaming	55	22	11			88
Waskesiu	36	35	20			91
Waterton	30	44	39	24		137
Total	161	108	73	28	2	372
Percentage	43%	29%	20	7.5%	.5%	100%

FIGURE 12
State of townsite contemporary assets

Townsite	Asset	Condition before the project	Project Description	Expected condition when project completed	Expected completion date
Wasagaming	Lagoon	Poor	Sewer Upgrade	Good	March 2011
Waskesiu	Townsite Roads	Fair & Poor	Resurfacing and reconstruction of 12.5 km of severely deteriorated residential roads	Good	December 2010
	Wastewater Treatment Facility	Poor	Upgrade to cells No.1 and No.2 and installation of two intermittent sand filters	Good	August 2010

Performance Indicator 2	Target and Date	Progress as of March 2010	Performance Status
Percentage of waterway contemporary assets that are maintained and percentage of waterway contemporary assets rated as poor or fair that are improved	The condition of 75% of waterway contemporary assets is maintained, and the condition of 25% of assets rated as poor or fair is improved by March 2013	Parks Canada initiated 19 projects to improve the condition of waterway contemporary assets, with an investment of $5.7 million in 2009/10	Performance will be assessed in 2013 Progress made towards target is outlined below

Performance Analysis

In addition to current investments, Parks Canada invested funds received from Canada's Economic Action Plan that will contribute to the improvement of the condition of waterway contemporary assets. Nineteen projects to improve spillways, locks, dams, bridges and retaining walls in canals that were in fair and poor condition were started during 2009/10 for a total investment of $35 million, of which $5.7 million was spent in 2009/10. These projects include work such as concrete rehabilitation for dams and bridge decks, rehabilitation of steel decks, and the application of protective coatings. These projects will improve the condition of multiple assets mainly along the Chambly, Rideau and Lachine Canals and the Trent-Severn Waterway.

Of the 231 dams managed by Parks Canada, 206 dams and water-retaining structures form part of the Agency's waterway assets and represent a complex subset. Dams are located across Canada in various national parks and national historic sites but the majority are located in Ontario and Québec. To mitigate potential hazards and ensure ongoing active management, the Agency implemented the Dam Safety Program Directive in April 2009 and has since made progress. The goal is to provide uniform safety management of Agency structures and general alignment with dam safety practices in the provinces where the structures are located, and with national and international good practice. Funding from the Economic Action Plan is being used to rehabilitate dams along the Trent-Severn Waterway; at Lock 37 Bolsover (Trent-Severn Waterway); the Jones Falls Weir (Rideau Canal) and to replace logs in log dams in the Haliburton area. In the last two years, most (31 of 42) of the dams that were inspected were found to be either in good or fair condition.

Preliminary hazard classification, the first step in the implementation of the dam safety directive, is now completed for 165 dams. This preliminary hazard identification is a key element in Parks Canada's dam safety program since the classification of the dams has a direct bearing on the frequency and type of inspections. Classification of the Rideau Canal, St. Peters Canal and Sault Ste. Marie Canal was completed in 2008; Trent-Severn Waterway was completed in 2009. The remaining 41 dams are planned for 2010. To date, 97 dams in waterways are classified as high-risk assets, meaning that there is potential hazard to life safety and/or extensive damage to assets, infrastructure and services. These dams require extra attention and more frequent inspections due to the possible consequences of their failure. So far, 158 dams have been classified as high-, significant-or low-risk and each of these dams requires a Dam Safety Review inspection, performed by a team of engineers. Parks Canada completed a Dam Safety Review on four high-risk dams in the Rideau Canal and another is underway on two dams in the Trent-Severn Waterway.

Bridges crossing waterways also represent a significant asset base. Parks Canada owns 116 road bridges, pedestrian bridges and structural culverts within its waterways. They are located along the Trent-Severn Waterway, the Rideau Canal and mainly within four navigation canals around the Montreal area: Carillon, Chambly, Lachine and Saint-Ours Canals. The condition of 73 percent of these bridges has been assessed in the last five years; 21 are in good condition, 37 are in fair condition, and 25 are in poor condition.

Along with developing and implementing policies, directives and standards, Parks Canada has taken active steps to ensure the safety of visitors and staff, strategically investing funds secured through the Economic Action Plan in the rehabilitation and recapitalization of higher-risk waterway assets.

The Lakeshore Road Bridge and the Port Severn Bridge No. 60 along the Trent-Severn Waterway National Historic Site, and Bridge No. 9 on the Chambly Canal National Historic Site are being rebuilt and improvements are being made to bridges along the Rideau Canal National Historic Site at Perth, Smith's Falls, and Rideau Narrows.

In addition to responsible decision making and realignment of resources to mitigate potential risk, the Agency is also building capacity to manage the waterway asset portfolio more effectively, ensuring that staff is aware of and implementing Agency directives and standards.

Additional information related to the condition of waterway assets and projects to improve their condition are presented in Figures 13, 14 and 15.

FIGURE 13
Hazard classification of dams

Waterway	No. of dams	No. of classifications completed	Hazard classification results
			High-risk	Significant-risk	Low-risk	Very-low risk	Not rated
Carillon, Chambly, Lachine, Sainte Anne-de-Bellevue and Saint-Ours Canals	40	0					40
Rideau Canal	40	40	17	13	7	3
St. Peters Canal	1	1				1
Sault Ste. Marie Canal	1	1		1
Trent-Severn Waterway	124	123	80	23	17	3	1
Total	206	165	97	37	24	7	41
Percentage	100%	80%	47%	18%	12%	3%	20%

FIGURE 14
Condition of bridges and dams related to waterways

Waterways	Number & Percentage	Condition Assessment
		Good	Fair	Poor	Closed	Not Rated
Bridges	116	21	37	25	6	27
	100%	18%	32%	22%	5%	23%
Dams	206	7	24	9	2	164
	100%	3%	12%	4%	1%	80%

FIGURE 15
Examples of Projects related to bridges and dams in waterways

Waterway	Asset	Condition	Project	Expected condition when project completed	Expected completion date
Chambly Canal	Bridge No. 9	To be reassessed	Major Recapitalization of Bridge No. 9	Good	December 2010
	Spillway No. 3 and No. 4	Fair	Recapitalization of Spillway No. 3 and No. 4	Good	November 2010
Lachine Canal	Locks No. 1 and No. 2	Poor	Recapitalization of Locks No. 1 and No. 2	Fair	March 2011
Rideau Canal	Perth Bridge	Poor	Recapitalization of Perth Fixed & Swing Bridge	Good	January 2011
	Retaining walls	Poor	Recapitalization of retaining walls in Ottawa Sector	Good	March 2011
	Bridge in Smiths Falls	Poor	Recapitalization of swing bridge on Abbott Street in Smiths Falls	Good	November 2010
Trent-Severn Waterway	Bridge No. 60	Poor (Closed in May 2009 for safety reasons)	Recapitalization of Bridge No. 60 – Bolsover	Good	January 2011
	Bridge No. 50	Poor (Closed in August 2008 for safety reasons)	Recapitalization of Bridge No. 50 – Bolsover	Good	July 2010
	Bridge No. 43	Poor (Closed in December 2008 for safety reasons)	Recapitalization of Bridge No. 43 – Bolsover	Good	March 2011
	Haliburton Dams	Poor	Replacement of Logs in Haliburton Dams	Good	July 2010

Performance Indicator 3	Target and Date	Result as of March 2010	Performance Status
Number of days of closure of through highways due to asset condition	No days of closure of through highways due to asset condition	0 days of closure in 2009/10	Met All

National Highway System Reports and Studies: http://www.comt.ca/english/reports-e.htm

Performance Analysis

Parks Canada observed no closures of through highways due to asset condition. To ensure that Parks Canada continues to meet this performance target, the Agency, with funding obtained through the Economic Action Plan, Gateways and Border Crossings Fund and Canada's Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Initiative, initiated many projects to improve the condition of the highways. As of March 31, 2010, the total distance of through highways managed by Parks Canada is 1,058 kilometres⁴.

The twinning (two-directional widening) of the Trans-Canada Highway near Banff National Park is ongoing. The total investment in the twinning of the Trans-Canada Highway is $267 million, with $130 million over five years (2009/10 to 2013/14) funded through the Economic Action Plan, $100 million over five years (2008/09 to 2012/13) funded through the Gateways and Border Crossings Fund and $37 million over three years (2007/08 to 2009/10) funded through Canada's Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Initiative. In 2009/10, Parks Canada Agency invested a total of $71.1 million.

A first portion of the highway east of Lake Louise (nine kilometres) was put into service in August 2009 and has led to a significant improvement in safety by addressing congestion problems at this section of the highway. The work included new bridges and fencing and crossing structures for wildlife, which enhances ecological integrity. Work is underway on another 14 kilometres closer to Lake Louise, and its completion is anticipated for fall 2011. Another nine-kilometre portion of the Trans-Canada Highway to the Alberta/British Columbia border should be completed in 2012. All work, including bridges, fencing and crossing structures, is expected to be completed by 2013/14.

Parks Canada also invested more than $13 million during fiscal year 2009/10 in various projects related to other through highways, such as the road reconstruction and resurfacing of many sections of the Cabot Trail in Cape Breton Highlands National Park to improve visitor access and public safety, pavement patching to address immediate safety concerns on Highway 16 in Jasper National Park and on Highway 93 South in Kootenay National Park, and the complete rehabilitation of the Belly River Bridge on Chief Mountain Highway in Waterton Lakes National Park. Funding from the Economic Action Plan is also being used to upgrade the conditions of roads in and around the Village of Banff (completed in 2009/10) and to improve the condition of roads in the Waskesui cottage community (to be completed over a two-year period ending in 2010/11).

Lessons Learned

Parks Canada places great importance on active and responsible management of its assets. In addition to a comprehensive policy framework, access to relevant and accurate data is key to identify potential risk areas and to support informed decision making to mitigate risk. Parks Canada secured funding through the Economic Action Plan and realigned resources to address areas of recognized risk, drawing on available data. The Agency continues to identify ways to better integrate asset management project information with existing tools and Agency systems in order to provide timely, accurate and nationally consistent data that facilitates informed decision making and thoughtful investments.

INTERNAL SERVICES

Financial Resources				Human Resources
2009/10 ($000s)				2009/10 (Full-Time Equivalent)
Planned Spending	Total Authorities	Actual Spending		Planned	Actual	Difference
79,270	83,262	87,830		487	523	36

Note: Actual Spending exceeds Total Authorities due to internal realignment of programs and priorities.

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. Internal Services include only those activities and resources that apply across an organization and not to those provided specifically to a program. Parks Canada’s 2009/10 activities related to the plans presented in Parks Canada’s Corporate Plan 2009/10–2013/14 can be found in Section 3.

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