Archived: Report on Plans and Priorities 2016-17, Environment and Climate Change Canada, chapter 1

As the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, I am pleased to present the 2016-17 Report on Plans and Priorities.

This 2016-17 Report on Plans and Priorities of Environment and Climate Change Canada provides information on how the Department will support the Government on achieving our agenda in the coming year and I am fully confident that Environment and Climate Change Canada is prepared to successfully support me and work with our partners inside and outside government to deliver for Canadians. However, given our commitment to more effective reporting, this year’s report will be the final submission using the existing reporting framework.

The Prime Minister and the President of the Treasury Board are working to develop new, simplified and more effective reporting processes that will better allow Parliament and Canadians to monitor our Government’s progress on delivering real change to Canadians. In the future, Environment and Climate Change Canada’s reports to Parliament will focus more transparently on how we are using our resources to fulfill our commitments and achieve results for Canadians.

These new reporting mechanisms will allow Canadians to more easily follow our Department’s progress towards delivering on our priorities, which were outlined in the Prime Minister’s mandate letter to me.

The report summarizes what actions we will undertake to implement our plan to address climate change and ensure a clean and prosperous environment, and a sustainable economy for present and future generations. Growing our economy and protecting our environment go hand-in-hand. Engaging Canadians and working with our partners and stakeholders at all levels is essential to achieve success. As such, our work will be results-based and informed by science, scientific evidence, engagement and feedback from Canadians.

We will build on the successful conclusion of the Paris Climate Change Conference and will develop a new pan-Canadian framework on climate change - a framework that will support our communities and our economy by making significant new investments in green infrastructure and clean technologies as we move toward a low-carbon economy. We will approach this task the same way we approached the Paris climate conference - in collaboration with our provincial, territorial and Indigenous partners, fully engaged with all Canadians, and showing global leadership that Canadians can be proud of.

We will continue to protect biodiversity and sensitive ecosystems by managing and expanding the National Wildlife Areas and the Migratory Bird Sanctuaries by working with our colleagues from other departments and Agencies, such as Parks Canada. By responding quickly to the advice of scientists and completing robust species-at-risk recovery plans in a timely way, we will enhance the protection of Canada’s endangered species and we will increase the proportion of Canada’s marine and coastal areas that are protected. In order to achieve these tasks, the Department will work closely with the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency to restore robust oversight and thorough environmental assessments, and to renew Canada’s reputation for environmental stewardship.

Renewing our commitments to protecting the Great Lakes, the St. Lawrence River Basin and the Lake Winnipeg Basin are some of the actions we will take to ensure that our freshwater is treated as a precious resource that deserves protection and careful stewardship. In addition, we will continue the implementation of the Chemicals Management Plan by working closely with provinces and territories to set stronger air quality standards, monitor emissions, and provide incentives for investments that lead to cleaner air, cleaner water and healthier communities.

The Department will continue to provide high quality weather and climate services to Canadians and continue to undertake activities such as forecasting severe weather events and providing seasonal predictions to better protect and help Canadians adapt to the challenges of climate change.

We will actively collaborate with Parks Canada to engage Canadians and inspire broad awareness of the importance of conserving and protecting our land, water and wildlife as we support government-wide efforts to celebrate Canada’s 150^th anniversary in 2017.

These are just a few highlights of how we are planning to deliver our priorities for 2016-17 and look forward to providing leadership in the ongoing stewardship of a clean environment and sustainable economy.

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The Honourable Catherine McKenna, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Environment and Climate Change