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In this section:
Environmental considerations are taken into account in federal government decisions respecting policies, plans, programs and projects.
This section provides information on the Agency's two program activities:
The section provides a summary of each program activity and the key areas in which the Agency expects to deliver. It sets out expected results that will be measured, with corresponding performance indicators and targets, and presents the financial and non-financial resources that will be dedicated to each program.
The section also includes planning highlights, which identify the activities that the Agency plans to undertake under each program activity, and the benefits for Canadians that are associated with each program activity.
The Environmental Assessment Development program activity establishes and maintains the policy and legislative foundation for the practice of EA at the federal level; and develops new and innovative ways to ensure the application of federal EA remains efficient and effective. The program activity aligns most closely with the Agency's priority to play a lead role in shaping the future of federal EA. The program activity also makes important contributions to the priority of building effective relationships with Aboriginal people.
The goal of this program activity is to ensure an effective and efficient federal EA process, taking into account interactions with other EA, consultative and regulatory decision-making processes in Canada. Pursuing this objective involves working with partners and stakeholders; monitoring and evaluating emerging issues and trends; and developing appropriate legislative, regulatory and policy responses to key issues.
Through this program activity, the Agency will deliver on the following key areas:
The following table provides the high-level expected results of this program activity and the associated performance indicators and targets. There is one key expected result associated with project-related EA under the Act, and one key expected result associated with SEA under the Cabinet Directive on the Environmental Assessment of Policy, Plan and Program Proposals.
Expected Results of Program Activity: Key issues are addressed, contributing to an improved federal environmental assessment framework consistent with the purposes of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. |
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Performance Indicators | Targets |
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Expected Results of Program Activity: Federal departments have access to the training and information they need to implement the Cabinet Directive on the Environmental Assessment of Policy, Plan and Program Proposals. |
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Performance Indicators | Targets |
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Human Resources (FTEs) and Planned Spending ($ thousands) | |||||
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2011–2012 | 2012–2013 | 2013–2014 | |||
FTEs | Planned Spending | FTEs | Planned Spending | FTEs | Planned Spending |
41 | 4,306 | 33 | 3,404 | 33 | 3,404 |
In order to achieve the expected results for this program activity, the Agency plans to undertake the following activities:
A good EA system is vital to ensuring that environmental considerations are integrated into federal government decision making, thereby supporting quality of life for Canadians, environmental sustainability and economic competitiveness. The Environmental Assessment Development program activity ensures that federal EA remains effective and efficient and that it responds to Canada's evolving economic, cultural, technological, social and regulatory contexts. By delivering sound advice and approaches, the program activity contributes to the continual improvement of federal EA, allowing Canada's economy to grow while protecting the environment.
The Environmental Assessment Support program activity focuses on delivering the Agency's responsibilities under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (the Act) and related policy direction. It aligns with the Agency's operational priorities to deliver high-quality EAs of major projects and build effective relationships with Aboriginal people.
The Agency ensures high-quality EAs of major projects through its support of review panels and delivery of the comprehensive study requirements of the Act. The Agency advises and assists the Minister of the Environment in establishing review panels and supports these panels in carrying out their mandate. When the comprehensive study requirements of the Act apply to a project, the Agency is responsible for meeting these requirements and preparing a comprehensive study report for consideration by the Minister of the Environment, with the exception of projects regulated by the National Energy Board or the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission.
For review panels, and for the comprehensive studies it conducts, the Agency integrates the Government of Canada's Aboriginal consultation activities into the EA process to the greatest extent possible. This requires determining the nature and extent of consultation that may be required and integrating that consultation into the EA process. The objective is to avoid or mitigate adverse effects of the project in question on current uses of the land or on existing or potential Aboriginal and treaty rights; and identify any residual effects for the consideration of federal decision makers.
The Agency plays a central role in implementing the Cabinet Directive on Improving the Performance of the Regulatory System for Major Resource Projects, ensuring that the EA process is administered in a manner that will meet timelines set out in project agreements between federal authorities and leading the integration of federal Crown consultation activities.
The James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement (JBNQA) is a constitutionally protected comprehensive land claims agreement, signed by the Government of Canada, the Government of Quebec, the Cree and the Northern Quebec Inuit in 1975. The Agency supports its President who, as the Federal Administrator, must review and determine whether projects of a federal nature proposed in the agreement territory should proceed. It also leads federal activities regarding the application of the JBNQA environmental and social impact-assessment regimes and the Act in the JBNQA territory.
The Agency will facilitate meaningful public participation in comprehensive studies and assessments by review panels through a participant funding program required by the Act. The Agency will provide EA training and learning to its own staff, as well as deliver training and guidance to stakeholders and partners involved in EAs. By providing training and guidance, the program activity contributes to a collaborative approach to delivering high-quality EAs.
The Agency will routinely examine and document lessons learned as it employs new approaches; and will apply these lessons when developing systems and tools for the delivery of EA management responsibilities. In all these activities, the Environmental Assessment Support program activity contributes to a whole-of-government approach in addressing cross-cutting and project-specific EA issues and developing appropriate responses.
Through this program activity, the Agency will deliver on the following key areas:
Expected Results of Program Activity: The Agency contributes to a reduction in time to complete the EA of major resource projects. |
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Expected Results of Program Activity: A single environmental assessment report* produces the necessary information to support federal and provincial EA decisions when both jurisdictions require EAs of a project. |
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* "Single environmental assessment report" means a submission from the proponent addressing the environmental effects of a project.
Expected Results of Program Activity: Responsible authorities and proponents understand the Agency's role in implementing the major resource projects process. |
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Expected Results of Program Activity: Interests of Aboriginal groups in relation to EAs managed by the Agency are documented and presented to support decision making. |
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Expected Results of Program Activity: The Agency facilitates meaningful public participation in federal EAs by providing funding to support certain activities. |
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Expected Results of Program Activity: The Agency delivers high-quality EA training courses that are effective in providing practical skills and knowledge. |
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Performance Indicators | Targets |
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Human Resources (FTEs) and Planned Spending ($ thousands) | |||||
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2011–2012 | 2012–2013 | 2013–2014 | |||
FTEs | Planned Spending | FTEs | Planned Spending | FTEs | Planned Spending |
140 | 17,692 | 77 | 8,603 | 77 | 8,603 |
To achieve the expected results, the Agency plans to undertake the following activities:
The Environmental Assessment Support program activity ensures a transparent and rigorous EA process that provides a thorough description of the environmental effects of a project, including measures to mitigate adverse effects; is informed by the participation of the public and Aboriginal groups; and is completed in a timely manner. As a result, the EA process delivers the information necessary to enable decisions to be made in support of sustainable development and in consideration of the environmental, economic and social interests of all Canadians.
Human Resources (FTEs) and Planned Spending ($ thousands) | |||||
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2011–2012 | 2012–2013 | 2013–2014 | |||
FTEs | Planned Spending | FTEs | Planned Spending | FTEs | Planned Spending |
61 | 8,009 | 52 | 5,055 | 52 | 5,055 |
The Internal Services program activity covers activities and resources that support program needs, as well as an organization's corporate obligations. The groups of activities and resources are: Management and Oversight Services; Communications Services; Legal Services; Human Resources Management Services; Financial Management Services; Information Management Services; Information Technology Services; Real Property Services; Materiel Services; Acquisition Services; and Travel and Other Administrative Services. Internal Services are responsible for those activities and resources that apply across an organization only, and not for those provided specifically to a program.
Internal Services support the operating programs and activities of the Agency; and include many administrative activities normally performed outside program areas that cannot otherwise be allocated as program support overhead.
The objective of the Agency's Internal Services is to support core program activities by providing modern, timely and responsive services that are effective and efficient.
The major elements of Internal Services are:
Finance and Administration |
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Legal Services |
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Human Resources |
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Communications |
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Information Management and Information Technology |
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