ARCHIVED - Natural Resources Canada

1. Strategic Outcome: Natural resource knowledge, landmass knowledge and management systems strengthen the safety and security of Canadians and the stewardship of Canada's natural resources and lands

2. Program Activity: Adapting to a changing climate and hazard risk management

3. Name of Transfer Payment Program: Implementation of the Adaptation Theme in Support of Canada's Clean Air Agenda

4. Start date: April 1, 2008

5. End date: March 31, 2011

6. Description: The objectives of the program are to generate and effectively deliver knowledge and information needed to understand the range of risks and opportunities from a changing climate; and effectively inform and engage decision-makers across a range of social and economic sectors that have responsibilities to adapt.

7. Expected results:

• Information and decision-support tools needed for practitioners and decision-makers to understand risks and opportunities from a changing climate, and identify adaptation options are available;
• Practitioners and decision-makers with responsibilities to adapt are aware of regional/sectoral vulnerabilities and are engaged on adaptation;
• Mechanisms to share regional and sectoral information, tools and experiences nationally are created and used.
• Improved capacity to address adaptation issues.

14. Planned evaluations:

1. Strategic Outcome: Canada is a world leader on environmental responsibility in the development and use of natural resources.

2. Program Activity: Clean Energy

3. Name of Transfer Payment Program: ecoENERGY for Biofuels

4. Start date: April 1, 2008

5. End date: March 31, 2017

6. Description: ecoENERGY for Biofuels supports the production of renewable alternatives to gasoline and diesel and encourages the development of a competitive domestic renewable fuels industry. The program provides an operating incentive to facilities that produce renewable alternatives to gasoline and diesel in Canada, based on production volumes and industry profitability. The incentive rates are variable and depend on market conditions and average industry profitability. The incentive rate is designed to pay producers more when market conditions are less favorable and less when conditions are more favorable. ecoENERGY for Biofuels will invest up to $1.48 billion over 9 years, starting April 1, 2008, in support of biofuels production in Canada.

7. Expected results: Increased domestic production and development of a competitive domestic renewable fuel industry. The initial program volume is 2.5 billion litres of domestic production by March 2017, with a target of 2 billion litres of renewable alternatives to gasoline and 500 million litres of renewable alternatives to diesel by March 2017. The program is expected to increase domestic production of renewable fuels by about 1 billion litres of renewable alternative to gasoline and about 200 million litres of renewable alternatives to diesel by 2012.

14. Planned evaluations: To assess the progress and achievements of the ecoENERGY for Biofuels initiative, an evaluation study will report on the progress related to relevance and effectiveness prior to the completion of the terms and conditions on March 31, 2013 and report on the full impact of the program by March 2017, all in accordance to the evaluation questions and indicators in the RMAFs.

1. Strategic Outcome: Canada is a world leader on environmental responsibility in the development and use of natural resources.

2. Program Activity: Clean Energy

3. Name of Transfer Payment Program: ecoENERGY Renewable Heat Initiative (Clean Air Agenda)

4. Start date: April 1, 2007

5. End date: March 31, 2011

6. Description: As part of the ecoENERGY Initiative, the ecoENERGY Renewable Heat Program supports non‑emitting renewable thermal energy technologies used for space heating and cooling, and water heating through a mix of deployment contributions, residential pilot program contributions and industry capacity development contributions.

7. Expected results: In the 2009-10 fiscal year, 175 solar thermal systems (space heating and hot water) will be put in place in the industrial, commercial and institutional sectors. 13 contribution agreements for pilot projects in the residential sector will be signed. Substantial reductions in GHG emissions are expected in the 2009‑10 fiscal year, including approximately:

• 5 kilotonnes of GHG emissions
• 2.45 kilotonnes of NO_X, and
• 4.75 tonnes of SO_X

14. Planned evaluations: An evaluation is planned for the final year of the program.

1. Strategic Outcome: Canada is a world leader on environmental responsibility in the development and use of natural resources.

2. Program Activity: Clean Energy

3. Name of Transfer Payment Program: ecoENERGY Renewable Power Initiative (Clean Air Agenda)

4. Start date: April 1, 2007

5. End date: March 31, 2011

6. Description: The ecoENERGY for Renewable Power program is investing $1.48 billion over 14 years to increase Canada's supply of clean electricity from renewable sources such as wind, biomass, low‑impact hydro, geothermal, solar photovoltaic and ocean energy. It is intended to help position low‑impact renewable energy technologies to make an increased contribution to Canada's energy supply and thereby contribute to a more sustainable and diversified energy mix. Payments of the incentive will be paid over a 10‑year period to qualifying projects.

7. Expected results: During fiscal year 2009-10, it is expected that at least 25 renewable power projects, including wind, biomass and low impact hydro, will be commissioned for a total capacity of more than 1,000 megawatts (MW). By the end of fiscal year 2009‑10, about 3,000 MW of renewable power capacity will have been commissioned representing about $900 million of incentive support under the program over 13 years.

14. Planned evaluations: In the fiscal year 2008-2009, an evaluation of renewable power programs was started. The evaluation will look at both the ecoENERGY for Renewable Power and Wind Power Production Incentive programs. The evaluation will be completed in the fiscal year 2009‑2010.

1. Strategic Outcome: Canada is a world leader on environmental responsibility in the development and use of natural resources.

2. Program Activity: Clean Energy

3. Name of Transfer Payment Program: ecoENERGY Retrofit Initiative

Grants in support of ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes

Contributions in support of ecoENERGY Retrofit – Small and Medium Organizations

4. Start date: 2007

5. End date: March 2011

6. Description: The ecoENERGY Retrofit Initiative is a program to provide financial assistance to Canadian homeowners and small industrial and commercial businesses and institutions to support energy efficiency retrofits. There are three components:

• a home energy efficiency retrofit incentive (grant funding noted in the table below);
• an energy efficiency retrofit incentive to accelerate the implementation of energy retrofit projects by small and medium-sized organizations in the industrial, commercial and institutional sectors (contribution funding noted in the table below); and
• a one-year extension of the Existing Buildings Initiative, which supported the retrofitting of existing commercial and institutional buildings (contribution funding in 2007‑08).

7. Expected results: Energy savings, which convert to reductions of greenhouse gas emissions and Criteria Air Contaminants from participating houses and small and medium organizations.

* Spending obligation is forecasted to reach $79.0M compared to the $46.0M listed in the Main Estimates. To accommodate this spending obligation, $33.0M has been included in the Supplementary Estimates.

** The $33.0M included in 2008-09 Supplementary Estimates will be refunded in 2010-11 as the planned spending for that fiscal year has been lowered from $46.0M to $13.0M.

14. Planned evaluations: 2009

1. Strategic Outcome: Canada is a world leader on environmental responsibility in the development and use of natural resources.

2. Program Activity: Clean Energy

3. Name of Transfer Payment Program: ecoENERGY Technology Initiative (Clean Air Agenda)

4. Start date: 2007-08

5. End date: March 31, 2012

6. Description: The ecoENERGY Technology Initiative is a $230 million investment in science and technology by the Government of Canada to accelerate the development and market readiness of technology solutions in clean energy. ecoETI spans the areas of energy production, conversion and end-use.

7. Expected results: Proposals have been assessed in the identified priority areas of technology development to reduce the environmental impact of oil sands and carbon capture and storage technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from oil sands and coal‑fired electricity plants. Negotiations will begin in early 2009 and projects should be initiated in 2009‑10.

14. Planned evaluations: Will be planned once projects begin.

1. Strategic Outcomes:

SO 1. Natural resource sectors are internationally competitive, economically productive, and contribute to the social well‑being of Canadians

SO 3. Natural resource knowledge, landmass knowledge and management systems strengthen the safety and security of Canadians and the stewardship of Canada's natural resources and lands

2. Program Activity:

Economic Opportunities for Natural Resources

Natural Resource and Landmass Knowledge for Canadians

3. Name of Transfer Payment Program: Forest Industry Long-Term Competitiveness Strategy – Promoting Forest Innovation and Investment

4. Start date: December 7, 2006

5. End date: March 31, 2010

6. Description: There are three initiatives in this program: investment into forest innovation, the consolidation of Canada's three forest research institutes, and the creation of the Canadian Wood Fibre Centre. These measures will enhance economic opportunities for Canada's forest sector as a result of increased investment in forest innovation.

7. Expected results:

Investments in Forest Innovation – Transformative Technologies Program (Strategic Outcome 1)
This initiative directs and harnesses the expertise of the newly consolidated FPInnovations – in close conjunction with provinces, industry, and academia – to implement new forest investments in transformative technologies relevant to all segments of the forest sector. The funding will support pre‑competitive, non‑proprietary R&D to address the development and adaptation of emerging and breakthrough technologies such as forest biomass, forest biotechnology and nanotechnology to advance the competitiveness of the Canadian forest products industry.

Institute Consolidation: FPInnovations (Strategic Outcome 2)
The consolidation of Canada's three forest research institutes – Forintek (wood products), Forest Engineering Research Institute of Canada (FERIC, forest harvesting), and Paprican (pulp and paper) – will provide greater efficiency, synergies and strength in innovation and R&D, and will facilitate speaking with a stronger common voice on forest sector issues. Funding for this initiative will provide for: implementing a new governance model; addressing human resources and administrative issues related to the consolidation (excluding capital projects); developing a business plan and communication strategy; and realigning the program design of the founding organizations into a new national forest research institute – FPInnovations.

Canadian Wood Fibre Centre (Strategic Outcome 2)
The virtual Canadian Wood Fibre Centre (CWFC) is an NRCan initiative intrinsically linked to the research agenda of FPInnovations to increase the economic return from Canada's forest resources. The CWFC is comprised of teams of researchers drawn from NRCan forestry centres across Canada. Their research focuses on increasing the value of Canada's forest fibre through advanced inventory systems for wood species and attributes, silviculture, economic and market analysis and linking this research – the fibre resource with markets – to optimize the value of Canadian wood fibre. CWFC researchers will seek to work in collaboration with those from FPInnovations, and elsewhere (universities, provinces and industry) to increase the value of our fibre.

14. Planned evaluations:

1. Strategic Outcomes: Natural resource sectors are internationally competitive, economically productive, and contribute to the social well‑being of Canadians

2. Program Activity: Economic Opportunities for Natural Resources

3. Name of Transfer Payment Program: Leadership for Environmental Advantage in Forestry (LEAF) Initiative

4. Start date: June 19, 2008

5. End date: March 31, 2012

6. Description: The purpose of this program is to advance Canada's trade interests by promoting the environmental reputation of Canada's forest sector in international markets. Its aim is to defend and promote the Canadian forest sector's environmental record internationally through addressing science and information gaps, supporting market outreach, and monitoring and reporting on trends.

7. Expected results: LEAF will facilitate environmental acceptance for Canadian forest products in international markets by:

• promoting Canadian forest products as an environmentally responsible and preferred choice in international markets;
• supporting the Canadian forest industry's efforts to reduce and avoid environmental market access issues in international target markets;
• ensuring that key influencers have the information they need regarding the environmental credentials of Canada's forest sector and its products; and
• supporting the Canadian forest industry in working proactively with international policy decision makers to ensure that their choices are supported by science‑based evidence.

14. Planned evaluations:

1. Strategic Outcomes: Natural resource knowledge, landmass knowledge and management systems strengthen the safety and security of Canadians and the stewardship of Canada's natural resources and lands

2. Program Activity: Adapting to a Changing Climate and Hazard Risk Management

3. Name of Transfer Payment Program: Federal Response to the Mountain Pine Beetle Infestation in British Columbia

4. Start date: March 22, 2007

5. End date: March 31, 2010

6. Description: The purpose of the program is to slow the spread of the Mountain Pine Beetle (MPB), recover economic value from trees killed by the beetle, and protect communities and forest resources in areas affected by the infestation.

7. Expected results: Canadians derive significant social and economic benefits from the assessment, development and use of forest resources. The benefits are challenged by forest management decisions and by natural disturbance events such as forest pests. The MPB has killed the majority of pine forests in British Columbia and is a major threat to the pine ecosystems in Canada. This program will improve the efficiency of efforts to control the spread and will reduce the longer term negative impacts of this record-scale forest pest epidemic.

Slowing the Spread
Measures under this area of the program include the following: slowing further MPB spread eastward; reduction in the risk of future MPB epidemics; expanded MPB control and forest rehabilitation on federal, provincial and private, non-industrial forest lands; and improved techniques for detecting MPB attack, mapping and characterizing beetle-killed areas and options for direct control of MPB.

Recovering Economic Value
This aspect of the program includes the following: improved information and abilities to schedule beetle-killed timber harvesting and to integrate this timber into existing manufacturing facilities and to maintain product markets; and improved integration of non-timber values in post-beetle management.

Protecting Communities and Forest Resources
Efforts in this area of the program include the following: reduction in community risks from wildland fire and hazardous dead trees; and identification and assessment of options to improve the long-term sustainability of MPB-affected forests and forest communities, primarily linked to natural resources.

14. Planned evaluations:

1. Strategic Outcomes: Natural resource sectors are internationally competitive, economically productive, and contribute to the social well-being of Canadians.

2. Program Activity: Economic Opportunities for Natural Resources

3. Name of Transfer Payment Program: Canada-Newfoundland Offshore Petroleum Board

4. Start date: 1985-86

5. End date: Statutory

6. Description: NRCan covers 50% of the operating costs of the Canada Newfoundland Offshore Petroleum Board. The Province pays the other 50%. This is done pursuant to provisions of the Canada-Newfoundland Atlantic Accord Implementation Act.

7. Expected results: To provide financial support to the Offshore Board to cover its costs for the management of offshore resources on behalf of Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador.

14. Planned evaluations:

1. Strategic Outcomes: Natural resource sectors are internationally competitive, economically productive, and contribute to the social well-being of Canadians

2. Program Activity: Economic Opportunities for Natural Resources

3. Name of Transfer Payment Program: Payments to the Newfoundland Offshore Petroleum Resource Revenue Fund

4. Start date: 1987-88

5. End date: Statutory

6. Description: To make payments to the province of NL equivalent to the revenue amounts received by Canada in relation to NL offshore activities.

7. Expected results: Payment to the province of Newfoundland pursuant to the Canada-Newfoundland Atlantic Accord Implementation Act.

Note: Estimates per Newfoundland and NRCan officials – Takes into consideration royalties and corporate income taxes related to NL offshore activities. Planned spending is subject to production levels, prices, exchange rates.

14. Planned evaluations:

1. Strategic Outcomes: Natural resource sectors are internationally competitive, economically productive, and contribute to the social well-being of Canadians.

2. Program Activity: Economic Opportunities for Natural Resources

3. Name of Transfer Payment Program: Payments to the Nova Scotia Offshore Revenue Account

4. Start date: 1993-94

5. End date: Statutory

6. Description: To make payments to the province equivalent to revenue amounts received by Canada in relation to offshore activities.

7. Expected results: Payments to the province of NS pursuant to provisions of the Canada Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Resources Accord Implementation Act.

Note. Estimates per Nova Scotia officials – Takes into consideration royalties and corporate income taxes related to the Nova Scotia offshore. Planned spending is subject to production levels, prices, exchange rates.

14. Planned evaluations:

1. Strategic Outcomes: Canada is a world leader on environmental responsibility in the development and use of natural resources.

2. Program Activity: Clean Energy

3. Name of Transfer Payment Program: Wind Power Production Incentive Contribution Program

4. Start date: April 1, 2002

5. End date: March 31, 2007

Note: The program officially ended in 2007. However, allocated funding will be issued to program participants until 2016‑17.

6. Description: The WPPI Program was set up to help establish wind energy as a full-fledged competitor in the electricity market by providing a financial incentive of about 1 cent per each kilowatt-hour produced from the installation of 1,000 MW of new wind power capacity in Canada by 2007. Eligible recipients claim payment of the incentive over a 10-year period.

NOTE: The total contribution funding for the program is $324 million of which $300 million has been committed to wind projects. Actual spending will be spread out over several years until 2016‑17. The initial WPPI budget was $260 million and an additional $69.9 million was allocated in 2005‑06 to allow the program to continue to support the development of new wind farms.

7. Expected results: The program contributes to the production of new electricity from wind energy projects. The program has 22 approved wind projects for a total capacity of 924 MW.

In fiscal year 2009-2010, it is expected that the program will meet or exceed its annual production target of 2,550 gigawatt-hours of production.

14. Planned evaluations: In the fiscal year 2008-2009, an evaluation of renewable power programs was started. The evaluation will look at both the Wind Power Production Incentive and the ecoENERGY for Renewable Power programs. The evaluation will be completed in the fiscal year 2009‑2010.

1. Strategic Outcomes: Natural resource knowledge, landmass knowledge and management systems strengthen the safety and security of Canadians and the stewardship of Canada's natural resources and lands

2. Program Activity: Natural Resource and Landmass Knowledge for Canadians

3. Name of Transfer Payment Program: GeoConnections

4. Start date: April 1, 2005

5. End date: March 31, 2010

6. Description: GeoConnections helps decision-makers use online location-based (or "geospatial") information, such as maps and satellite images, to tackle some of Canada's most pressing challenges. The program focuses on working with partners in public health, public safety and security, the environment and sustainable development, Aboriginal matters, and geomatics technology development.

GeoConnections is working to ensure that decision-makers in key areas benefit from the Canadian Geospatial Data Infrastructure (CGDI), a one-stop searchable portal for a wealth of location-based information.

GeoConnections is a national partnership program led by Natural Resources Canada. Although GeoConnections acts as a catalyst in creating solutions for decision-makers in the four priority areas, the program also relies heavily on its partners.

7. Expected results: Canadians have access to diverse geo-referenced data integrated into a consistent national geospatial database and industry can use this information to create valued-added geomatics products and services.

14. Planned evaluations: An evaluation is planned for 2009-10.