Archived: Departmental Plan 2021 to 2022, supplementary tables, Environment and Climate Change Canada

Climate change affects all Canadians; however, experiences differ according to geographic location, gender, income level, ethnicity and other socio-economic factors. For example, large urban centers experience amplified heat waves, whereas those in rural areas who depend on agriculture can experience loss of livelihood. Studies demonstrate that women, people with lower income, and Indigenous people tend to be more vulnerable to the effects of climate change. In Canada, northern and coastal regions are particularly vulnerable to climate change.

Policy responses to climate change can disproportionally affect some subgroups of the population. For example, low income households, which are more likely to be headed by sole female parents and disproportionately include individuals with disabilities or mental illness, recent immigrants and Indigenous persons, may be more vulnerable to pollution pricing as expenditures on carbon-intensive goods make up a larger share of their expenses. This initiative may also impact employment for many Canadians, with potential losses in the traditional energy sector, and gains in the environmental, clean technology, and renewable energy sector. As the initiative is implemented, efforts are taken to mitigate and avoid, as much as possible, impacts on vulnerable groups. Disaggregated data, such as data broken down by gender, age, race, ethnicity, and income will be collected to understand how certain groups may be disproportionately impacted, and to determine ways to mitigate impacts. This includes a Just Transition, which aims to ensure that the transition away from coal-fired electricity takes into consideration those who may be adversely impacted, such as coal workers and communities.

Overall, mitigating the effects of climate change in a balanced and inclusive manner will benefit all Canadians, and in particular, help alleviate the impacts that will be disproportionally felt by certain groups.

Alignment with Gender Results Framework Goal(s): Reduced poverty and improved health outcomes

Canada’s international engagement on climate change, including our climate finance pledge for developing countries, serves to reduce the impacts of climate change on those most vulnerable (women, Indigenous people, youth, etc.). The repercussion from droughts, floods, extreme weather events, and food and water insecurity have a greater and differentiated effect on these vulnerable groups, especially the poor. To address these issues, proposed programming will specifically target women, girls, and Indigenous people by integrating GBA+ considerations into climate change actions alongside developmental considerations, such as health.

In line with Canada’s Gender Results Framework Goals, GBA+ is considered during the negotiation and implementation of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) as well as in other bilateral and regional environmental cooperation agreements with strategic partners, including the United States and Europe. Multilateral and bilateral engagement is expected to increase throughout 2021-22. Canada’s international environmental cooperation has the potential to have positive impacts on individuals and groups outside of Canada by improving environmental conditions in the most vulnerable locations, including in Southeast Asia and Latin America. GBA+ considerations are also integrated through the development of bilateral environmental cooperation activities with international partners, in order to provide women and Indigenous peoples equitable access to and benefits from the opportunities created by FTAs in green goods and services.

Canada will continue supporting the implementation of the Gender Action Plan adopted under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which aims to increase women’s participation and leadership in climate action and to better integrate gender considerations in national climate plans and policies. Applying a GBA+ lens to investment decisions will help create better social and economic opportunities for vulnerable groups in the face of climate change. In addition, such actions promote the engagement of women and vulnerable groups in the design, decision-making, and implementation of programs and projects while facilitating cooperative solutions and knowledge transfer.

Alignment with Gender Results Framework Goal(s): Reduced poverty and improved health outcomes; Promoting gender equality to build a more peaceful, inclusive, rules-based and prosperous world; Equal and full participation in the economy; Equal opportunities and diversified paths in education and skills development

Climate change can transform the economy and significantly affect the daily lives of Canadians. Climate change is influencing the frequency and intensity of extreme events, is altering ecosystems and habitats, has the potential to affect the economy across all sectors, and poses risks to human health and safety. Certain populations are more vulnerable to a changing climate depending on region of residence, sex, gender, age, income, employment status, family status, Indigenous status, visible minority status, and disability status. Prevailing social norms, attitudes and behavioural habits may also exacerbate the impacts and responses to climate change for certain populations.

Integrating considerations of gender, income, age, employment status, education, family status, region of residence, disability status and of Indigenous and visible minority communities helps ensure that adaptation policy and programs fulfill the specific needs of the most vulnerable, do not exacerbate inequalities and other vulnerabilities, and ensure the equal participation of diverse groups of people in the decision-making and implementation phases of these activities.

To address these issues and build on recent efforts to include diverse perspectives in adaptation policy, a GBA+ lens will be applied to the ongoing development of adaptation policy advice and in the work of the Canadian Centre for Climate Services. In addition, in 2021-22, ECCC will engage partners, including Indigenous peoples, to develop a shared national vision and goals to enhance climate resilience in Canada. While this work will benefit all Canadians, it is likely to have the greatest impact on populations who are disproportionately affected by climate change.

Alignment with Gender Results Framework Goal(s): Equal and full participation in the economy, Eliminating gender-based violence and harassment, and promoting security of the person and access to justice; Reduced poverty and improved health outcomes

Certain populations are more vulnerable to air pollution depending on sex, gender, age, income, employment status, family status, previous health status and other factors. Detrimental health effects of air pollution can be compounded in individuals who have multiple risk factors. For example, a person could be disproportionately affected by air pollution if they are elderly, have chronic health conditions, and live in an area that has a higher degree of air pollution, compared to someone who has only one risk factor.

A GBA+ lens has been applied to the development of some policy recommendations, programs and measures to address air pollution and improve air quality. ECCC will build on this approach by exploring ways to ensure that vulnerable groups are considered in future air quality work, such as Indigenous communities in geographic areas located downwind of large industrial complexes and those affected by smoke during wildfires.

ECCC will also continue to work with provinces and territories to monitor air quality on a daily basis through the National Air Pollution Surveillance (NAPS) Program to provide information for the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI), which is tailored to vulnerable groups and provides messaging on the health risks of air pollution and personal actions to reduce these risks.

Alignment with Gender Results Framework Goal(s): Reduced poverty and improved health outcomes

In general, the Program is expected to affect Canadians positively by providing cleaner freshwater for drinking, fishing, swimming and other uses, and healthier freshwater ecosystems.

Certain elements of the Program will positively affect Indigenous peoples. Specific targeted activities under this Program seek to improve the technical capacity and engagement of Indigenous governments, organizations, individuals and communities. These activities aim to address Indigenous peoples’ particular concerns regarding freshwater ecosystems; to include Indigenous representation at key decision-making tables, where appropriate; and, to build capacity in understanding and addressing freshwater issues, especially those that have implications in Indigenous communities.

Ecosystem-specific targeted activities

Great Lakes

In 2021-22, through the Great Lakes Protection Initiative, projects that build capacity in understanding and addressing Great Lakes issues will be supported, including those that have implications for Indigenous communities. Direct support will be provided through the Indigenous Engagement program component of the Great Lakes Protection Initiative (i.e., six capacity-building projects in four Indigenous communities and two organizations). Through ongoing efforts related to lake-wide management and Areas of Concern, ECCC will continue to engage with First Nations and Métis communities across the Great Lakes basin in taking action and Great Lakes decision-making. Indigenous participation in Great Lakes governance will continue to be welcomed, including participation on the Great Lakes Executive Committee, pursuant to the Canada-U.S. Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, and annual meetings between Canada-Ontario Agreement on the Great Lakes Executive Committee Co-Chairs and First Nations and Metis partners.

Lake Winnipeg

In 2021-22, ECCC’s Lake Winnipeg Basin Program will provide funding to support Indigenous governments and peoples in efforts to reduce nutrient loading in the Lake Winnipeg Basin through Indigenous-led projects such as community-based monitoring and projects that gather and utilize Traditional Knowledge to enhance the understanding of the ecosystem health of Lake Winnipeg and its basin.

St. Lawrence

In 2021-22, the St. Lawrence Action Plan will continue to support projects that foster education and raise awareness of best practices among Indigenous peoples and communities to preserve water quality and aquatic ecosystem health. For example, an ongoing project in the watershed will engage youth in the Mohawk community of Kanesatake through activities that recognize the traditional Kanien’kéhâ:ka knowledge and through scientific samplings of territorial rivers and scientific analysis of the aquatic ecosystem.

Atlantic Ecosystem Initiatives

In 2021-2022, through the Atlantic Ecosystem Initiatives, projects will be supported in the Saint John River Watershed that build capacity in understanding and addressing freshwater issues, including those that have implications in Indigenous communities. For example, Atlantic Ecosystem Initiatives will support a comprehensive examination of factors affecting water quality in the upper Saint John River basin, the results of which will be shared with Indigenous communities and local organizations to help inform future planning and initiatives to improve water quality.

Alignment with Gender Results Framework Goal(s): Reduced poverty and improved health outcomes

The Water Quality and Ecosystem Partnerships, including Indigenous engagement efforts, align with the principles and spirit of GBA+, which considers many identity factors such as race, ethnicity, religion, age, and mental or physical disability, and how the interaction between these factors influences the way we might experience government policies and initiatives.

The EcoAction Community Funding Program and the Environmental Damages Fund programs aim to affect Canadians and their communities positively by funding projects that benefit the environment. The Programs’ eligible funding recipients include environmental non-governmental organizations, community groups, youth and student groups, and Indigenous organizations.

The programs allocate funding using Calls for Proposals that are open to all eligible applicants. French and English information on how to apply for funding is available widely on program websites and social media. Staff are also available to answer inquiries and provide advice on proposal development to groups that are underrepresented or have less capacity or experience in applying for funding. Concrete actions will be taken to recognize various cultures and languages through the engagement of Indigenous communities to build awareness of funding opportunities, and with a linguistic lens when evaluating projects are involving Official Language Minority Communities. This includes: ensuring different subgroups of the population are eligible and aware of funding opportunities; using a linguistic lens when answering inquiries and evaluating proposals that involve Official Language Minority Communities; translating program material in both official languages and considering translation in Indigenous languages when appropriate; funding projects in communities negatively impacted by climate risks; directing funding to diverse communities as appropriate; and including members of diverse backgrounds, cultures, and regions in the review process. Both programs compile data on funding to Indigenous communities, some of which are located in remote regions.

Alignment with Gender Results Framework Goal(s): Equal and full participation in the economy

Although the Substances and Waste Management Program benefits all Canadians, certain populations in Canada, such as expectant mothers, children, the elderly, the economically disadvantaged, and Indigenous communities are more vulnerable to harmful substances, and benefit most from sound risk management. The Chemicals Management Program uses scientific information to properly assess the risks posed for vulnerable groups from exposure to toxic chemicals and products that contain them. Scientific information is also used to inform decisions and risk management.

Alignment with Gender Results FrameworkGoal(s): Reduced poverty and improved health outcomes

Compliance Promotion and Enforcement – Pollution

Compliance promotion officers tailor compliance promotion material based on the target audience’s needs and known compliance barriers, including the cultural and linguistic profile of a regulated community. For example, compliance promotion fact sheets for the Tetrachloroethylene (Use in Dry Cleaning and Reporting Requirements) Regulations were made available in 6 languages (English, French, Korean, Chinese, Punjabi and Persian) to take into consideration the demographics and language profiles of the regulated community. In addition, compliance promotion officers will continue to work with various Indigenous communities and organizations to deliver compliance promotion activities that meet the needs of their communities, for example, through in-person visits or workshops.

Enforcement will continue to adapt its hiring practices to ensure its workforce is more representative. Additional training will be provided regarding Treaty rights and the unique legal status and rights of Indigenous peoples in Canada to facilitate better engagement initiatives. This will notably be performed with respect to a number of laws and regulations with significant impact on these communities such as the Wastewater Systems Effluent Regulations and the Storage Tank Systems for Petroleum Products and Allied Petroleum Products Regulations. Enforcement officers will continue to adapt their engagement approaches when conducting enforcement activities with diverse communities through the use of translators, for instance.

Alignment with Gender Results Framework Goal(s): Equal opportunities and diversified paths in education and skills development; Equal and full participation in the economy

Preserving biodiversity is necessary for maintaining strong ecosystems, which in turn, deliver important and diverse ecosystem services to Canadians. The performance indicators considered in the Species at Risk Program reflect not only the ability to protect species at risk, but also examine how the Program might impact, either directly or indirectly, demographic groups who may be more vulnerable due to a combination of socio-economic factors. Other groups may also be impacted including private landowners, industry, other orders of government, non-governmental organizations, and Indigenous peoples.

ECCC expects that the Program will have more direct effects on Indigenous peoples, given that Indigenous reserves and lands often provide important refuge for species at risk. Canada’s Indigenous peoples are also the holders of Indigenous Traditional Knowledge (ITK) essential to achieving the protection and recovery goals for many species. Additionally, the Program consults with Indigenous peoples to ascertain impacts to Treaty rights. Therefore, expected negative Program effects may be related to consultation fatigue and the continuous, repeated gathering of ITK on species at risk. Efforts will be made to reduce these effects by focusing more on ecosystem-based and multi-species conservation approaches as well as improving coordination among federal departments and provincial/territorial governments.

Alignment with Gender Results Framework Goal(s): Gender equality in leadership roles and at all levels of decision-making; Equal and full participation in the economy

ECCC is responsible for implementing the Migratory Birds and Other Wildlife Program and the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change provides advice to the Governor in Council with respect to migratory birds and other wildlife. Such advice is based on science, including Indigenous Traditional Knowledge, and consultations with affected parties for expected socio-economic impacts. Where socio-economic or cultural impacts are significant, the department collaborates with conservation stewards, stakeholders and other orders of government to incorporate, when possible, their concerns into the decision-making processes and implementation activities to avoid or mitigate disproportionate impacts on certain groups.

Alignment with Gender Results Framework Goal(s): Gender equality in leadership roles and at all levels of decision-making

The core outcome of this Program is the protection of important wildlife habitat through the regulation, purchase or donation of land and water for conservation purposes. Impacts and benefits would accrue to different demographics along the process of achieving this outcome. While the processes of land and water securement and protection tend to involve and favour specific groups of Canadians (landowners, governments, non-government organizations), the long-term ecosystem services, such as climate regulation, erosion control, tourism and recreation, education, knowledge systems, and cultural heritage, that are gained by conserving ecosystems and landscapes are most often to the benefit of lower-income, rural and Indigenous communities.

Alignment with Gender Results Framework Goal(s): Equal and full participation in the economy; Gender equality in leadership roles and at all levels of decision-making; Equal opportunities and diversified paths in education and skills development

The Biodiversity Policy and Partnerships Program aims to engage with domestic and international governments, Indigenous organizations, non-government organizations, businesses, and Canadians to develop and meet Canada’s biodiversity commitments. The conservation and protection of biodiversity is necessary for maintaining strong ecosystems, which in turn, deliver important and diverse ecosystem services to all Canadians. For example, healthy ecosystems can filter toxic substances from air, water, and soil, protect us against flooding, storm surges, and erosion, sequester carbon, maintain the water cycle, and help stabilize local climates.

To increase capacity to conserve biodiversity in Canada, the Program will continue to develop, review, and share Canadian positions and policy frameworks, provide targeted funding, conduct research, and maintain and share data and information. Indicators will be assessed to gauge the level of engagement of the population and, in the case of Indigenous peoples, the level of satisfaction with those engagement activities. This information will be used to adjust engagement activities as needed in 2021-22.

Alignment with Gender Results Framework Goal(s): Equal opportunities and diversified paths in education and skills development; Gender equality in leadership roles and at all levels of decision-making

Resource development affects the environment and can have economic, social and health consequences that are felt more heavily by some demographic groups. ECCC provides expert advice and knowledge to decision-makers for subjects within its mandate, such as water quality and biodiversity. This engagement will help to determine potential impacts of development to Canadians, including vulnerable populations.

Alignment with Gender Results Framework Goal(s): Reduced poverty and improved health outcomes

Compliance Promotion and Enforcement – Wildlife

ECCC is aware that certain instruments under the Acts it is responsible for enforcing may present more challenges to compliance for specific groups, such as visible minorities, linguistic groups, and/or Indigenous peoples. The various compliance promotion strategies utilized need to respond to these challenges.

• The Program will provide training and material to inform on elements that must be considered when engaging in compliance promotion and enforcement activities with regulatees that may be Indigenous or part of a visible minority or linguistic group.
• Through a group of officers who meet regularly with Indigenous representatives such as in wildlife co-management committees, ECCC will continue to build and promote mutual understanding and partnership.
• Imagining new ways of working together, the department successfully implemented a service agreement for a Quebec Collège d’enseignement général et professionnel (QC-CEGEP) to develop a collegial training program adapted to Indigenous students’ unique realities, culture and history. The Program will continue to address the special considerations required to meet GBA+ requirements through policy analysis and the development of service agreements with the affected groups.

As a result, enforcement officers take into account established precepts when determining a fair and appropriate enforcement response.

Furthermore, ECCC has developed guidelines for entry and engagement on Indigenous lands, which support staff by: raising awareness and respect for Aboriginal treaty rights; instilling a greater awareness for the unique cultural and legal context of regulatory enforcement on lands where Indigenous peoples manage or control access or where Indigenous peoples exercise Aboriginal or treaty rights; and providing contact information and resources to leverage existing branch and departmental knowledge.

Alignment with Gender Results Framework Goal(s): Gender equality in leadership roles and at all levels of decision-making. ECCC has made strides in ensuring gender equality in leadership roles within the directorate with representation at the various levels of management.

Canadians, and especially people living in northern and rural areas, are dependent on weather forecasts, warnings and expert advice to safely plan their daily activities. Canadians and other stakeholders rely on ECCC for authoritative information on weather, water, climate, marine, ice and air quality. Weather warnings provide information that can assist vulnerable Canadians, such as the elderly, children, or those with certain chronic illnesses or their caretakers, to make informed decisions in weather scenarios that may pose increased risks to these populations (e.g. extreme heat, extreme cold). This also applies to information that might be used to support other populations such as the homeless (i.e. extreme cold responses). An important aspect of these warnings is determining how best to communicate with all Canadians, especially those who are most vulnerable. Recognizing the different needs of Canadians, ECCC provides weather and environmental information through a wide range of platforms including the WeatherCAN application, weather radios, webinars, tailored weather products focusing on potential impacts of a weather situation, and stakeholder engagement. ECCC is also improving the accessibility and documentation of its weather and environmental data and services. Together, these strategies will help better communicate risk to a wide variety of Canadians and prepare them for potential impacts of hazardous weather.

Alignment with Gender Results Framework Goal(s): Equal opportunities and diversified paths in education and skills development; Promoting gender equality to build a more peaceful, inclusive, rules-based and prosperous world

Disasters in Canada, including water-related disasters such as floods and droughts, have shown that major events such as these can have significant psycho-social impacts, especially on those citizens who lack sufficient social infrastructure or those who were vulnerable prior to the event. Hydrometric data can be used in combination with socio-economic data to identify potential impacts of water hazards on various groups and implement mitigation measures accordingly. For instance in the case of flooding, hydrometric data provide the core information to develop flood maps which, when combined with geo-referenced socio-economic data, such as household revenue, age and sex, can be used to generate detailed risk assessments to prioritize actions targeting the groups that are the most at risk, including optimizing the monitoring network to enhance coverage for Canadians.

Alignment with Gender Results Framework Goal(s): Equal opportunities and diversified paths in education and skills development; Promoting gender equality to build a more peaceful, inclusive, rules-based and prosperous world

ECCC is committed to integrating GBA+ in evaluation. A GBA+ lens is applied in evaluation design and methodologies. Among other things, evaluations can consider how GBA+ has informed program design and delivery.

In its role as an enabler in the delivery of services by program Branches, ECCC’s Corporate Services and Finance Branch (CSFB) is applying a social procurement lens during procurement processes. This pilot initiative aims to consider impacts on gender, diversity and Indigenous groups, and aims to integrate GBA+ in all procurement activities.

Furthermore, a built-in GBA+ component as been integrated in the consideration of project investment in IM/IT. Digital tools, primarily remote work and the use of GCworkplace, have been deployed to enhance inclusion and meet the needs of all employees. CSFB has encouraged flexible work arrangements for employees to ensure that family situations and family roles are considered, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

To enhance inclusion, workplace solutions such as GCworkplace are considered and where feasible, implemented in new projects. The GCworkplace vision was formed and is oriented towards the following seven dimensions: flexible, digital, efficient, green, inclusive, collaborative, and healthy. Additionally, a single window approach for accommodation requests and a Return to Work application were both developed with a GBA+ lens in mind.

CSFB also benefits from a high representation of women throughout the senior management cadre, enabling decision-making that incorporates balanced and diverse perspectives.

On Human Resources, the Department will continue to support the overall implementation of the ECCC Diversity & Inclusion / Employment Equity action plan, and work through avenues such as the Leadership Council on Diversity & Inclusion and the Diversity & Inclusion Working Group to ensure that ECCC works towards addressing key employment equity areas of under-representation.

The Department will continue to contribute to a leadership culture that promotes and builds a healthy, harassment-free, accessible, respectful and supportive work environment.

ECCC will continue to use and develop tools and resources to support the mainstreaming of GBA+ in all ECCC activities and build a culture of inclusiveness.

Alignment with Gender Results Framework Goal(s): Gender equality in leadership roles and at all levels of decision-making; eliminating gender-based violence and harassment, and promoting security of the person and access to justice

General information

Name of horizontal initiative

Nature Legacy for Canada

Lead department(s)

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC)

Federal partner organization(s)

Parks Canada (PCA); Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO); Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)

Start date of the horizontal initiative

2018-19

End date of the horizontal initiative

2023-24

Description of the horizontal initiative

Natural spaces will be protected by establishing and expanding protected areas, managing them to high standards, and linking them onto a well-connected network of protected lands, inland water and coastal and marine areas. Species will be conserved by developing and implementing, in collaboration with partners, protection and recovery measures for priority species, in priority areas, and to address risks; and the rights and responsibilities of Indigenous peoples in conserving species and spaces will be respected and supported.

Governance structures

A senior management committee (Senior Oversight Committee), chaired by ECCC, was established at the ADM level with representation from ECCC, PCA, DFO and NRCan to guide the initiative, address any issues, and overcome any roadblocks that become apparent.

The Committee meets at least once a year to consider a status report on the implementation of the Nature Legacy for Canada.

Total federal funding allocated (from start to end date)(dollars)

$1,168,087,505 from June 2018 to March 2024

Total federal planned spending to date (dollars)

$372,529,496

Total federal actual spending to date (dollars)

$337,695,741

Date of last renewal of the horizontal initiative

Not applicable

Total federal funding allocated at the last renewal and source of funding (dollars)

Not applicable

Additional federal funding received after the last renewal (dollars)

$46,500,000 (Offcycle funding decision providing Southern Mountain Caribou (SMC))

Total planned spending since the last renewal

Not applicable

Total actual spending since the last renewal

Not applicable

Fiscal year of planned completion of next evaluation

2023-24

Planning highlights

The Speech from the Throne committed Canada to conserve 25% of our country’s land and 25% of our country’s oceans by 2025 and work toward 30% of each by 2030. We will continue to develop an ambitious plan to achieve these targets. Recognizing that the loss of nature is a global issue requiring global action, Canada will also advocate that countries around the world set a “high ambition” 30% conservation goal for 2030, as advocated by the Prime Minister in September 2020.

The Pan-Canadian Approach to Transforming Species at Risk Conservation in Canada (Pan-Canadian Approach) reflects a shift to more multi-species and ecosystem-based conservation, and more targeted and collaborative federal, provincial and territorial, and Indigenous partnership approach focussed on conservation planning and action on shared priority places, species, and sectors.

We will continue to implement the Pan-Canadian Approach by supporting the recovery and conservation of six identified shared priority species (Barren-ground Caribou (including the Dolphin and Union population), Boreal Caribou, Greater Sage-grouse, Peary Caribou, Southern Mountain Caribou, and Wood Bison) and other species of federal interest, through investments, including investments from partners and ongoing collaborative conservation planning arrangements.

We will continue to invest in projects to support partner and stakeholder engagement, integrated conservation planning and ongoing species at risk conservation in 11 federal-provincial-territorial priority places. We will continue to administer the Canada Nature Fund’s Community-Nominated Priority Places for Species at Risk—a $15.6 million, four-year funding initiative to support community-led projects that protect and conserve species at risk. We will also continue to work with a variety of partners and stakeholders in the agriculture, forest, and urban development sectors to develop conservation action plans to align sector policy and practice with positive outcomes for species at risk, and other wildlife such as migratory birds, and sector sustainability.

We will work with provinces and territories, Indigenous peoples, key industry sectors, and private foundations and trusts to continue to expand and effectively manage a network of protected and conserved areas across Canada. For example, the federal and provincial governments will work with the ranching community to conserve prairie grasslands and manage pastures in southwestern Saskatchewan in an environmentally, economically, and socially responsible way in order to support wildlife habitat protection, livestock production, and local and Indigenous community interests. We will also continue to collaborate with partners to conserve ecosystems and landscapes in ways that benefit lower income, rural and Indigenous communities. Additionally, we will continue to administer the Target 1 Challenge program of the Canada Nature Fund – a up to $175 million, four-year funding initiative to support projects that will create new protected and conserved areas, including Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas, across Canada that will contribute to Canada’s Target 1.

We will continue to work with our three Indigenous governance bodies to co-deliver the Indigenous Guardians Pilot to support the more than 70 First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities’ Guardians initiatives in protecting sensitive and culturally important areas and species, monitoring ecological health, and maintaining Indigenous cultural sites. The Pilot will conclude in 2022, with the completion of an evaluation of the funded initiatives’ benefits and the Pilot’s effectiveness. Supporting Indigenous leadership in conservation is a central component of Canada’s effort to protect 25% of Canada lands and 25% of Canada’s oceans by 2025, and lay a foundation for achieving 30% of each by 2030. Work funded under the Canada Nature Fund will support the establishment of up to 30 Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs), across Canada through funding opportunities, such as the Target 1 Challenge program.

Contact information

Nature Legacy Secretariat
Canadian Wildlife Service
Environment and Climate Change Canada
315 Saint-Joseph Boulevard, Gatineau QC J8Y 3Z5
ec.secretariatdupatrimoinenaturel-naturelegacysecretariat.ec@canada.ca

Horizontal initiative framework: departmental funding by theme (dollars)

2021-22 Planning information

* This amount includes any additional funding received after the last renewal.

** Amounts include offcycle funding decision providing Southern Mountain Caribou (SMC) with new funding of $46.5M. Southern Mountain Caribou is inherently tied to Nature Legacy and its outcomes under Species and Spaces Themes.

* This amount includes any additional funding received after the last renewal.

** Amounts include offcycle funding decision providing Southern Mountain Caribou (SMC) with new funding of $46.5M. Southern Mountain Caribou is inherently tied to Nature Legacy and its outcomes under Species and Spaces Themes.

* This amount includes any additional funding received after the last renewal.

** Amounts include offcycle funding decision providing Southern Mountain Caribou (SMC) with new funding of $46.5M. Southern Mountain Caribou is inherently tied to Nature Legacy and its outcomes under Species and Spaces Themes.

* This amount includes any additional funding received after the last renewal.

** Amounts include offcycle funding decision providing Southern Mountain Caribou (SMC) with new funding of $46.5M. Southern Mountain Caribou is inherently tied to Nature Legacy and its outcomes under Species and Spaces Themes.

*** The COVID-19 pandemic precluded consultations with indigenous collaborators to have the result in 2020, it is expected to be reported on in 2021.

* This amount includes any additional funding received after the last renewal.

** Amounts include offcycle funding decision providing Southern Mountain Caribou (SMC) with new funding of $46.5M. Southern Mountain Caribou is inherently tied to Nature Legacy and its outcomes under Species and Spaces Themes.