ARCHIVED - National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy

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Message from the President and CEO

The National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy (NRTEE, or Round Table) is an independent policy advisory body reporting to Parliament through the Minister of the Environment. The purpose of the Round Table, according to the NRTEE Act (1993), 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.”

Drawing on the insight and experience of NRTEE members, the Round Table examines the environmental and economic implications of priority issues and offers independent advice on how to address them, with the ultimate goal of influencing federal policy development and decisions in other key sectors on these issues. Since its formation 20 years ago, the NRTEE has established a reputation for working effectively in highly contentious areas and for providing independent, credible, and balanced advice.

Two key overarching priorities are established for 2009–2010. The first is to produce and promote advice to decision makers on significant environment and economy issues—our core activity. The focus of this priority will be to provide policy advice on two specific areas: (i) the economics of climate change through a Canadian lens, and (ii) the relationship between water, natural resources, and climate change impacts in and across the energy, mining, forestry, and agriculture sectors.

Other priority activities will include establishing a continuous strategic outlook function to identify emerging sustainability issues, complying with the NRTEE’s legislated responsibilities under the Kyoto Protocol Implementation Act with respect to the government’s Climate Change Plan and Statement, responding to government-identified requests for advice on specific issues, and exploring the feasibility of strengthening cooperation with international sustainability research and public policy organizations.  
The NRTEE will augment its communications approaches to promote its research, recommendations, and advice to decision makers. Activities will include media relations, targeted briefings with key players in the public and private non-governmental sectors, wide-spread report distribution, special events, and leveraging the resources of the Round Table members.

Our second overarching priority—applying sound management principles—will be critical to our ability to deliver on our first priority. We take seriously our responsibility to be accountable and to ensure that the stewardship of our financial and human resources is effective and aligned with government-wide initiatives. Specifically, in 2009–2010 we will be updating our risk profile and better integrating our business and resource planning processes.

Because it is important that the NRTEE demonstrate leadership in areas where it seeks to influence others, in 2009–2010 the Round Table will initiate implementation of an action plan designed to make its operations carbon neutral.

Over the years, the NRTEE has developed expertise that positions us well to provide a unique and substantial contribution to Canada’s performance, particularly as it applies to the government-wide objective of building a globally competitive, sustainable, technologically innovative, sound economy. We are committed to assisting the Government of Canada address these challenges as quickly, effectively, and responsibly as possible.

 

_________________________
David McLaughlin
President and CEO

Section 1: Overview

1.1 Raison d’être and Responsibilities

The purpose of the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy (NRTEE) 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. Through its work, the NRTEE strives to influence policy development and decisions on issues pertaining to the environment and economy. These promote economic prosperity for all Canadians while striving to preserve the environment for current and future generations.

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. NRTEE Act, Section 4

Created in 1988 by the Prime Minister, the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy (NRTEE) is an independent national advisory body reporting to the federal government and Parliament through the Minister of the Environment. The Round Table had its status formalized in 1993 by an 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, Aboriginal communities, and environmental organizations.
A Secretariat in Ottawa, headed by a President and CEO, supports the members. 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.

General information about the NRTEE and its membership can be found on the agency’s website at www.nrtee-trnee.ca.

1.2 Strategic Outcome and Program Activity Architecture (PAA)

The NRTEE aims to achieve the following 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.

This RPP is based on the Treasury Board-approved PAA shown in Figure 1 below.

Figure 1: Program Activity Architecture
National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy

1.3 Planning Summary

1.3.1 Financial Resources ($ thousands)

The financial resources table below provides a summary of the total planned spending for the NRTEE for the next three fiscal years.

Total Planned Spending

2009–2010	2010–2011	2011–2012
5,134.0	5,134.0	5,134.0

1.3.2 Human Resources (Full-time Equivalent [FTE])

The Human Resources tables provide a summary of the total planned human resources for the NRTEE for the next three years.

Total Planned Human Resources

2009–2010	2010–2011	2011–2012
31	31	31

1.3.3 Planning Summary Table

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.
Performance Indicator: Extent to which NRTEE advice is considered in policy decisions by federal decision makers		Target: NRTEE advice is partly responsible for a number of policy decisions and is often considered in assessing relevant policy choices made by federal government policy makers.
Program Activity1	Forecast Spending 2008–09 ($ thousands)	Planned Spending ($ thousands)			Alignment to Government of Canada Outcomes
		2009–10	2010–11	2011–12	Strong Economic Growth
Advisory Program on Environment and Economy Issues	5,300.0
Internal Services
Total Planned Spending		5,134.0	5,134.0	5,134.0

1.4 Alignment with Government of Canada Outcomes

In 2009–2010, the NRTEE will continue to contribute to the Government of Canada’s outcome of Strong Economic Growth by providing relevant research and policy advice on how Canada can address sustainable development issues in the medium and long term. The NRTEE’s advice, if implemented, is consistent with Canada’s national interest and the government’s objective of building a globally competitive, sustainable, technologically innovative economy that benefits all Canadians.

1.5 Contribution of Priorities to Strategic Outcome

For 2009–2010, the agency has identified two key areas of priority, one operational and one management, both of which contribute to the NRTEE’s single strategic outcome.

Priorities	Type	Links to Strategic Outcome	Description
Operational To produce and promote advice to decision makers on environment and economy issues	Ongoing	Federal policy development and decisions in other key sectors are influenced by advice on sustainable development issues pertaining to the environment and the economy.	Timely, actionable and relevant advice is essential to the NRTEE’s credibility and its ability to influence decision makers; dissemination of the advice is another essential component of its work. Key plans for 2009–2010 include the following: An examination of the economics of climate change through a Canadian lens. Research, analysis, and advice on the sustainability of water supply, natural resources development, and climate change. (See Section 2 for additional information and other plans.)
Management To apply sound management practices in operations	Ongoing	Federal policy development and decisions in other key sectors are influenced by advice on sustainable development issues pertaining to the environment and the economy.	Sound management enables the NRTEE to focus on its primary program activity. Key management plans for 2009-2010 include: Updating risk management profile Improving the integration of operational and financial planning processes Implementing a phased Carbon Neutral Action Plan

 

1.6 Risk Analysis

1.6.1 Organizational Context

The Secretariat, headed by a President and CEO, provides program management, policy and research analysis, communications, and administrative services to the NRTEE.
Issues 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 NRTEE’s members’ combined interests. The NRTEE balances members’ expertise and advice with stakeholder consultation and original policy research undertaken or directed by the Secretariat, as part of its approach to conducting its work.
The NRTEE also responds to specific requests from the federal government. In addition, the Round Table has a legislated responsibility to respond as per the Kyoto Protocol Implementation Act to the federal government’s annual Climate Change Plan within 60 days. This annual reporting requirement exists until 2012.

1.6.2 Risks and Challenges

The NRTEE seeks to influence the government’s approach to important sustainable development issues. To accomplish this, the NRTEE must produce and promote relevant, neutral, credible advice in a timely manner. Its ability to do so is affected by both risks and challenges. These are discussed below.
A key indicator of the NRTEE’s performance is its ability to influence government policy development. In Canada, particularly for the issues typically examined by the NRTEE, federal policy is not developed in isolation. It is affected by the government’s relationships with other Canadian and international jurisdictions, and by a host of other factors over which the NRTEE has no control, creating a complex decision-making environment.

• The emergence of the economy as the primary issue of national interest poses a potential risk for the NRTEE as it may make it more difficult for the NRTEE to get the attention of decision makers whom the Round Table seeks to influence. Finding ways to promote the integrated relationship between the environment and the economy in its work and advice is one way to mitigate this risk.
  
• The members’ expertise and insight is critical in directing the research and analysis of the Round Table’s work. There is risk in having insufficient members and representation of interests, experience and regional diversity. According to the NRTEE Act, the Round Table is to comprise a maximum of 24 members and a Chair. In 2009–2010, eight NRTEE members’ terms will expire; new members will need to be appointed quickly to ensure the Round Table’s ongoing effectiveness. In addition, the timing of the members’ appointments should strive to take the NRTEE’s planning schedule into consideration to ensure continuity of programs and help integrate new members into existing plans. Ongoing liaison with the Minister’s office on this issue, together with orientation for new members, can help address these challenges.

1.7 Expenditure Profile

The NRTEE’s overall financial resources and expenditures indicate only minor fluctuations over time.

1.8 Voted and Statutory Items

Voted and Statutory Items displayed in the Main Estimates ($ thousands)
Vote # or Statutory Item (S)	Truncated Vote or Statutory Wording	2008–09	2009–10
		Main Estimates	Main Estimates
	Operating expenditures	4,723.0	4,732.0
(S)	Contributions to employee benefit plans	411.0	402.0
(S)	Expenditures pursuant to Paragraph 29.1 (1) of the Financial Administration Act	20.0	-
Total		5,154.0	5,134.0

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