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Archived: Departmental Performance Report 2013-14, Environment Canada, chapter 3

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Section I: Organizational Expenditure Overview

Organizational Profile

Appropriate Minister: The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, P.C., M.P.

Institutional Head: Michael Martin

Ministerial Portfolio: Environment Canada

Enabling Instruments:

Year of Incorporation/Commencement: 1971

Other

Environment Canada has a long history. The Department was created in 1971, but some of its component organizations are much older. The Canadian Wildlife Service was founded in 1947, the Water Survey of Canada in 1908, and the Meteorological Service of Canada in 1871.

Environment Canada has a national workforce. About 60% of the Department’s workforce is located outside the National Capital Region. Department employees are located across Canada, from Iqaluit to Burlington and Vancouver to St. John’s, and they work in field offices, laboratories, National Wildlife Areas and weather stations.

Environment Canada is a science-based department. Science is central to Environment Canada’s capacity to achieve its mandate and meet its legislative obligations. The Department conducts a wide range of environmental monitoring, research and other scientific activities in fields such as atmospheric sciences, meteorology, physics, biology, chemistry, toxicology, hydrology, ecology, engineering and informatics. The scientific information and knowledge produced is used to inform departmental programs, policies and services, and includes the collection and dissemination of knowledge to support sound environmental decision making. In 2013-14, Environment Canada developed the Environment Canada Science Strategy 2014-2019, which tells the Department’s science story and provides the direction and guidance needed to help ensure its science continues to be directed toward federal environmental priorities.

Environment Canada works collaboratively with many partners. Environmental issues have wide-ranging implications for social and economic decisions. Environment Canada works in collaboration with many partners, including other federal government departments, provincial and territorial governments, Aboriginal governments and organizations, the governments of other nations, academic institutions, environmental non-governmental organizations, and international organizations. This collaboration enhances the efforts of all partners in working for a clean, safe and sustainable environment and to achieve planned environmental results.

Environment Canada is committed to operating as a world-class regulator. As an important federal regulator, Environment Canada works within the broader federal performance-based regulatory system by developing, promoting compliance with, and enforcing a wide array of regulations to protect Canadians and their environment. The Department is committed to maintaining a regulatory system that is evidence-based, effective, efficient, transparent and adaptable.

Organizational Context

Raison d’être

Environment Canada is the lead federal department for a wide range of environmental issues affecting Canadians. The Department also plays a stewardship role in achieving and maintaining a clean, safe and sustainable environment. Environment Canada addresses issues through monitoring, research, policy development, service delivery to Canadians, regulations, enforcement of environmental laws, advancement of clean technologies and strategic partnerships. The Department’s programs focus on
a clean environment by minimizing threats to Canadians and their environment from pollution; a safe environment by equipping Canadians to make informed decisions on weather, water and climate conditions; and a sustainable environment by conserving and restoring Canada’s natural environment. The Department’s program focus reflects the increasingly evident interdependence between environmental sustainability and economic well-being.

Responsibilities

A number of acts and regulations provide the Department with its mandate and allow it to carry out its programs. Under the Department of the Environment Act, the powers, duties and functions of the Minister of the Environment extend to matters such as:

Beyond those authorities conferred under the Department of the Environment Act, the Minister of the Environment exercises additional authorities provided under other acts and regulations including (but not limited to) the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999), the Federal Sustainable Development Act, and several pieces of legislation relating to the protection of biodiversity and water and the enforcement of environmental laws and regulations (e.g., the Species at Risk Act).

The Department is a key partner to other federal departments, including the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency and Parks Canada, which are its ministerial portfolio partners, where statutes provide Environment Canada with secondary or shared responsibility for the successful execution of other federal departments’ mandates. For example, under CEPA 1999, Environment Canada provides information and analysis to others as a federal authority to support robust environmental assessments. Other statutes include the Arctic Waters Pollution Prevention Act (Transport Canada, Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada, and Natural Resources Canada); the Canada Foundation for Sustainable Development Technology Act (Natural Resources Canada); and the Fisheries Act (Fisheries and Oceans Canada).

Strategic Outcomes and Program Alignment Architecture

Environment Canada fulfills its mandate by promoting three Strategic Outcomes, each contributing to the Government of Canada Outcome of a clean and healthy environment. There are 9 Programs, 26 Sub-Programs, and 19 Sub-Sub-Programs that are aligned to support the achievement of the Department’s three Strategic Outcomes. Together, the Strategic Outcomes, Programs, Sub-Programs, and Sub-Sub-Programs support progress against the Department’s stewardship mandate of providing a clean, safe and sustainable environment.

The Department’s Strategic Outcomes, Programs, Sub-Programs, Sub-Sub-Programs, as well as its Internal Services for 2013-14 are shown below.

1. Strategic Outcome: Canada’s natural environment is conserved and restored for present and future generations.

2. Strategic Outcome: Canadians are equipped to make informed decisions on changing weather, water and climate conditions.

3. Strategic Outcome: Threats to Canadians and their environment from pollution are minimized.

Internal Services

Organizational Priorities

Environment Canada is maintaining four priorities for 2013-14. These priorities reflect the Department’s stewardship mandate that, in turn, directly supports the Government of Canada’s outcome of a clean and healthy environment. The Department has achieved progress in delivering these priorities, as set out in the following tables.

Priority Type Strategic Outcome(s) and/or Program(s)

Priority 1: A Clean Environment

Manage substances and waste, and reduce pollution that directly or indirectly harms human health or the environment.

 Ongoing

Links to:

Strategic Outcome 3: Threats to Canadians and their environment from pollution are minimized.
Programs: 3.1, 3.2, 3.3
Summary of Progress

Progress Achieved:

On climate change and clean air . . .

  • Finalized regulations to improve fuel efficiency and cut greenhouse gas emissions from new on-road heavy-duty vehicles and engines;
  • Put in place new Canadian Ambient Air Quality Standards that set more stringent and comprehensive objectives for fine particulate matter and ground level ozone for outdoor air quality than previous standards. Air quality science informed the development of these standards;
  • Participated in key international clean air and climate change activities and negotiations, including:
    • The 19th Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change by contributing to a clear path forward to an effective post-2020 climate change agreement, delivering on Canada’s reporting obligations, and continuing to oversee and track the roll-out of initiatives funded with Canada’s $1.2 billion from fast-start financing;
    • The Montreal Protocol, with ongoing efforts to advance international action to reduce the consumption and production of hydrofluorocarbons;
    • The Climate and Clean Air Coalition, by contributing to the development of practical and collaborative initiatives to reduce short-lived climate pollutants;
    • The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, where Environment Canada continued to lead Canada’s delegation and contribute scientific knowledge on climate change;
    • The Arctic Council--currently chaired by the Minister--by co-chairing the Task Force for Action on Black Carbon and Methane in its work to reduce these emissions;
    • Other multilateral and regional fora, such as the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution and the Commission of Environmental Cooperation, and bilateral initiatives, including the United States-Canada Clean Energy Dialogue and the Canada-United States Air Quality Agreement; and
  • Continued air quality monitoring in the oil sands, and continued to deliver on its commitment to increase transparency and improve accessibility of monitoring results and data (through the departmental website and Government of Canada data portal).

On managing substances and waste . . .

  • Participated on the ground following the Lac-Mégantic railway disaster, providing scientific and technical advice to firefighters, police, response contractors, the Province of Quebec and Transport Canada; and through the Meteorological Service of Canada, used modelling to predict where smoke and pollutants would travel to support the work of firefighters and community evacuation teams;
  • Continued to deliver on the Chemicals Management Plan (CMP) - Canada remains on track to meet its international commitment to address nearly 4,300 chemicals in Canada by 2020;
  • Continued to provide a strong science foundation for the CMP by carrying out research and monitoring that has addressed about 175 substances and resulted in about 120 scientific papers since 2011 to support the CMP and the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999;
  • Following four years of participation in global negotiations, signed the Minamata Convention on Mercury to protect human health and the environment from releases of mercury and mercury compounds, and hosted the first technical expert meeting on atmospheric emissions;
  • Met Canada’s objectives for international management of chemicals and wastes at the first simultaneous meetings of the Conferences of the Parties to the Stockholm, Rotterdam and Basel Conventions; and
  • Chaired the Meetings of the Parties to the London Protocol and Convention. An important amendment to the London Protocol to further regulate ocean fertilization and better protect the world’s oceans from pollution was adopted at this year’s meetings.

On enforcement of pollution regulations . . .

  • Took enforcement measures that resulted in penalties, including one of the largest fines ever levied--a $500,000 fine (under the Fisheries Act) for the illegal use of a pesticide in the ocean off southwestern New Brunswick.

 

Priority Type Strategic Outcome(s) and/or Program(s)

Priority 2: A Safe Environment

Provide Canadians with high-quality information on immediate and long-term environmental conditions.

 Ongoing

Links to:

Strategic Outcome 2: Canadians are equipped to make informed decisions on changing weather, water and climate conditions.
Programs: 2.1, 2.2
Summary of Progress

Progress Achieved:

  • Delivered critical weather services 24/7 to meet the needs of targeted users and Canadians;
  • Provided weather forecasting, water sampling, and air and smoke dispersion modelling in support of the communities and environments hit by severe weather events, including the Calgary flood, the Toronto ice storm and other winter storms and tornados, and supported the response to the Lac-Mégantic railway disaster;
  • Expanded weather warning and prediction services in the North through the Arctic Meteorological Areas (METAREAs) initiative to deliver ice and marine forecasts to mariners and northerners;
  • Had over 600 million page views on the Weatheroffice website, accounting for over one half of all traffic on the Government of Canada website. The Department’s Datamart portal experienced millions of downloads of climate information daily;
  • Continued to lead international efforts under the Global Framework for Climate Services in developing the Framework and priorities for action; and
  • Upgraded hydrogen generation systems at three Upper Air Monitoring stations to replace aging technology and provide greater reliability and safety.

 

Priority Type Strategic Outcome(s) and/or Program(s)

Priority 3: A Sustainable Environment

Ensure that land, water and biodiversity are sustained.

 Ongoing

Links to:

Strategic Outcome 1: Canada’s natural environment is conserved and restored for present and future generations.
Programs: 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4
Summary of Progress

Progress Achieved:

  • Advanced the Department’s strong record of conservation through further development of the National Conservation Plan. The Department continues to foster strong and long-term partnerships with various stakeholders, who helped shape the Plan’s vision and key themes: conserving Canada’s lands and waters, restoring ecosystems, and connecting Canadians to nature;
  • Published an Emergency Order under the Species at Risk Act, to protect the Greater Sage-Grouse, which faces imminent threats to its survival;
  • Continued research and action to address bird mortality from human activity, which will contribute to the dissemination of knowledge on impacts to birds and ultimately to inform management actions;
  • Participated in a Ministerial meeting of signatory nations to the 1973 Agreement on the Conservation of Polar Bears. The Minister also chaired the Arctic Council’s Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna working group on biodiversity;
  • Renewed the Canada-Quebec agreement on the protection and recovery of species at risk;
  • Celebrated receiving the thousandth ecological gift under the Department’s Ecological Gift Program. Since the program’s inception in 1995, over 150,000 ha of wildlife habitat have been donated and conserved;
  • Awarded $4.5 million over four years to 83 community projects to meet a range of local environmental needs and challenges;
  • Provided scientific and technical expertise to decision-makers under multiple environmental assessment regimes in support of the Responsible Resource Development Initiative. The Department also participated in whole-of-government Aboriginal consultation activities in relation to a number of project reviews;  
  • Through its comprehensive approach to protecting water resources and ecosystems, provided leadership and coordination to major ecosystem initiatives and water boards in support of ecosystem management and water quality and quantity--many of these initiatives involved negotiation and collaboration with numerous partners and stakeholders in Canada and the United States;
  • Signed an agreement with partners involved in the $138.9 million Randle Reef sediment remediation project in Hamilton Harbour; invested $29 million to restore ecological health to Lake Simcoe and South-eastern Georgian Bay; and established some 18 contribution agreements aimed at improving water quality in the Lake Winnipeg Basin;
  • Monitored and published data and results of water and biodiversity monitoring in the Alberta oil sands; and
  • In Parliament, tabled the second Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (2013-16), which updates the whole-of-government view of environmental priorities; added 3 new indicators to the Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators and updated another 18 indicators.

On enforcement of wildlife regulations. . .

  • Resulted in penalties, including one of the largest fines ever levied--a $385,000 fine (under the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act) for the illegal export of some 250 Narwhal ivory tusks to the United States.

 

Priority Type Strategic Outcome(s) and/or Program(s)

Priority 4: Management Priority

Ensuring that activities and resources are aligned to support delivery of programs, services and results to Canadians.

 Ongoing Links to all Strategic Outcomes and Programs
Summary of Progress

Progress Achieved:

  • Collaborated with Shared Services Canada (SSC) to put in place a governance model between SSC and Environment Canada to ensure that vital services are maintained during the transition to sharing information management/information technology services; and continued to implement the Government of Canada’s transformation agenda to modernize the workplace, through improving the departmental website, making greater use of technology to reduce printing and face-to-face meeting costs, and completing the transformation of the Department’s library to a virtual library;
  • Developed Environment Canada’s People Management Strategy for 2013-16 based on strategic discussions to identify priorities and to assist in reallocating resources in support of these priorities; and
  • Supported the Department’s international work with organizations such as the United Nations Environment Programme, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, and the Commission for Environmental Cooperation.

Risk Analysis

This section describes the Department’s corporate risks as identified in the 2013-14 Report on Plans and Priorities, summarizes Environment Canada's response to these corporate risks, and provides the relevant links to the Departmental Program Alignment Architecture and organizational priorities. The mitigation measures (i.e., the risk response strategies) are aimed at minimizing the threats to the Department’s capacity to deliver on its mandate and to meet its operational and management priorities.

Risk Risk Response Strategy Link to Program Alignment Architecture

Engagement:

Risks related to engagement with domestic and international partners and stakeholders to help conserve and protect the environment.

 Short-term and longer-term actions include building and strengthening relations with citizens, stakeholders and partners, including through collaborative planning networks/processes to facilitate better sharing of information, understanding of strategic priorities and potential changes, clarity of roles and responsibilities, and more timely mitigating actions as required. Examples of these actions include: work with Interpol and the Commission for Environmental Cooperation; memoranda of understanding for data exchanges; online tools for consultations; establishment of a Liaison Office with Shared Services Canada and creation of interdepartmental committees. In addition, departmental and topic-specific training sessions (e.g., stakeholder relations training, Policy on Public Participation and Aboriginal Consultations) have been provided. 1.1 Biodiversity, 1.2 Water Resources, 1.3 Sustainable Ecosystems, 2.1 Weather and Environmental Services for Canadians, 2.2 Weather and Environmental Services for Targeted Users, 3.1 Substances and Waste Management, 3.2 Climate Change and Clean Air and 4.1 Internal Services

Business Continuity:

Risks related to the provision of critical services to support the health and safety of Canadians.

 The Department will continue to utilize established channels, protocols and agreements within the Department and with its key stakeholders such as Shared Services Canada, to ensure that the risks associated with the delivery of its services are managed; the viability and readiness of business continuity plans will continue to be tested, both nationally and regionally; training will continue to be provided for stakeholders and staff responsible for responding to emergencies. Technology and system backups are in place, as is an Emergency Preparedness Plan. 2.1 Weather and Environmental Services for Canadians, 2.2 Weather and Environmental Services for Targeted Users and 3.1.4 Environmental Emergencies

Skills:

Risks related to the development and retention of employees with essential skills.

 Key considerations for building a capable workforce include employee well-being, employee training, ensuring managers are properly equipped to perform their managerial role, and promoting a culture of performance management. The Department will examine, with other science-based departments, options for updating resourcing models for scientists (classifying, recruiting, deploying, compensating). The Department has completed strategies such as Meteorological Service of Canada’s People Plan, and is implementing the Public Service Performance Management Program. Strategic Outcomes 1, 2 and 3.

Risk Narrative

Environment Canada’s objectives and Strategic Outcomes, along with the risks the Department faces, are influenced by the environment in which it operates. For the risks included in the 2011-13 Corporate Risk Profile and 2013-14 RPP, key risk considerations external to the Department were as follows:

Risk management continues to be a key activity for the Department. At the management level, risk information is used to inform departmental priority setting, business and resource planning, and decision making. To assist managers to strengthen their risk-based planning and decision making and foster a culture of responsible and informed risk taking, the Department will continue to advance risk management and awareness across all organizational levels.

Actual Expenditure

Budgetary Financial Resources (dollars) Table note a
2013-14
Main Estimates		 2013-14
Planned Spending		 2013-14
Total Authorities Available for Use		 2013-14
Actual Spending
(authorities used)		 Difference (actual minus planned)
959,359,318 951,598,759 1,059,384,177 978,949,548 27,350,789

The Department’s planned spending reflects approved funding by Treasury Board to support departmental Strategic Outcomes and Programs. Throughout the year, new and renewed funding added $107.8 million to planned spending, increasing the total authorities to $1,059.4 million. The increase was mainly attributed to funding received for a payment made to the Nature Conservancy of Canada, the retroactive payments of salaries and wages for the renewal of collective agreements, and funding provided via the Treasury Board central votes (e.g., operating and capital budget carry-forwards, severance payments and maternity leave).

The actual spending of $978.9 million (92.4% of total authorities) reflects the departmental expenditures as reported in the Public Accounts, and is higher than planned spending mostly due to increased payments in lieu of severance pay, and retroactive salaries and wages for the renewal of collective agreements, which was offset by unused funding for the Sustainable Development Technology Canada Foundation.

Human Resources (Full-Time Equivalents - FTEs) Table note a.1
2013-14 Planned 2013-14 Actual 2013-14 Difference
(actual minus planned)
6,518 6,307 -211

The human resources required to sustain an average level of employment for one full-time equivalent (FTE) over a 12-month period is based on a 37.5-hour work week. Environment Canada used 6,307 FTEs versus the planned FTEs of 6,518 in 2013-14, a decrease of 211 FTEs (3.2%). Planned and actual FTEs should be read in relation to planned and actual spending, respectively, in the 2013-14 Financial Resources table above.

Budgetary Performance Summary for Strategic Outcomes and Programs (dollars)

Strategic Outcome 1: Canada’s natural environment is conserved and restored for present and future generations.
Program 2013-14
Main Estimates		 2013-14
Planned Spending		 2014-15
Planned Spending		 2015-16
Planned Spending		 2013-14
Total Authorities Available for Use		 2013-14
Actual Spending (authorities used)		 2012-13
Actual Spending (authorities used)		 2011-12
Actual Spending (authorities used)
Program 1.1 Biodiversity - Wildlife and Habitat 99,530,109 99,756,179 91,592,394 77,524,130 122,992,217 120,519,001 124,279,701 138,780,378
Program 1.2 Water Resources 96,788,965 96,788,964 91,196,857 88,228,013 104,913,126 100,322,337 108,552,181 107,643,683
Program 1.3 Sustainable Ecosystems 66,589,903 71,635,870 92,013,642 82,871,755 70,851,606 70,727,194 67,500,282 66,180,594
Program 1.4 Compliance Promotion and Enforcement - Wildlife 16,623,597 16,849,667 15,821,926 15,321,593 18,545,835 18,208,956 16,695,292 17,467,430
Strategic Outcome 1 Subtotal 279,532,574 285,030,680 290,624,819 263,945,491 317,302,784 309,777,488 317,027,456 330,072,085
Strategic Outcome 2: Canadians are equipped to make informed decisions on changing weather, water and climate conditions.
Program 2013-14
Main Estimates		 2013-14
Planned Spending		 2014-15
Planned Spending		 2015-16
Planned Spending		 2013-14
Total Authorities Available for Use		 2013-14
Actual Spending (authorities used)		 2012-13
Actual Spending (authorities used)		 2011-12
Actual Spending (authorities used)
Program 2.1 Weather and Environmental Services for Canadians 158,545,334 153,545,334 165,962,548 170,289,173 189,462,286 182,818,981 167,695,081 172,435,665
Program 2.2 Weather and Environmental Services for Targeted Users 25,547,830 25,547,829 25,266,280 20,608,912 28,557,210 26,618,144 23,048,760 24,057,561
Strategic Outcome 2 Subtotal 184,093,164 179,093,163 191,228,828 190,898,085 218,019,496 209,437,125 190,743,841 196,493,226
Strategic Outcome 3: Threats to Canadians and their environment from pollution are minimized.
Program 2013-14
Main Estimates		 2013-14
Planned Spending		 2014-15
Planned Spending		 2015-16
Planned Spending		 2013-14
Total Authorities Available for Use		 2013-14
Actual Spending (authorities used)		 2012-13
Actual Spending (authorities used)		 2011-12
Actual Spending (authorities used)
Program 3.1 Substances and Waste Management 73,874,896 74,553,108 75,747,789 73,834,432 86,290,566 84,616,666 79,295,781 83,291,322
Program 3.2 Climate Change and Clean Air 179,283,757 179,509,827 234,152,193 117,621,925 186,131,979 125,118,027 157,525,949 118,255,660
Program 3.3 Compliance Promotion and Enforcement - Pollution 43,773,701 43,999,770 38,324,642 37,797,194 46,216,846 44,661,876 41,707,206 43,266,981
Strategic Outcome 3 Subtotal 296,932,354 298,062,705 348,224,624 229,253,551 318,639,391 254,396,569 278,528,936 244,813,963
Internal Services
Program 2013-14
Main Estimates		 2013-14
Planned Spending		 2014-15
Planned Spending		 2015-16
Planned Spending		 2013-14
Total Authorities Available for Use		 2013-14
Actual Spending (authorities used)		 2012-13
Actual Spending (authorities used)		 2011-12
Actual Spending (authorities used)
Internal Services Subtotal 198,801,226 189,412,211 181,427,802 177,365,530 205,422,506 205,338,366 203,355,229 237,096,982
Totals
Strategic Outcome 2013-14
Main Estimates		 2013-14
Planned Spending		 2014-15
Planned Spending		 2015-16
Planned Spending		 2013-14
Total Authorities Available for Use		 2013-14
Actual Spending (authorities used)		 2012-13
Actual Spending (authorities used)		 2011-12
Actual Spending (authorities used)
Strategic Outcome 1 279,532,574 285,030,680 290,624,819 263,945,491 317,302,784 309,777,488 317,027,456 330,072,085
Strategic Outcome 2 184,093,164 179,093,163 191,228,828 190,898,085 218,019,496 209,437,125 190,743,841 196,493,226
Strategic Outcome 3 296,932,354 298,062,705 348,224,624 229,253,551 318,639,391 254,396,569 278,528,936 244,813,963
Internal Services 198,801,226 189,412,211 181,427,802 177,365,530 205,422,506 205,338,366 203,355,229 237,096,982
Total 959,359,318 951,598,759 1,011,506,073 861,462,657 1,059,384,177 978,949,548 989,655,462 1,008,476,256

Strategic Outcome 1: Canada’s natural environment is conserved and restored for present and future generations.

The actual spending for 2013-14 is higher than planned spending, mainly attributed to funding received for a payment made to the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) as well as increased payments in lieu of severance pay, and retroactive payments of salaries and wages for the renewal of collective agreements. Actual spending reduction in 2013-14 compared to 2012-13 is due to a lower payment made to the NCC. The reduction in planned spending from 2014-15 to 2015-16 is primarily due to the sunsetting of funds provided in Budget 2012 for the Species at Risk program as well as decreased funding for the Action Plan on Clean Water initiative.

Strategic Outcome 2: Canadians are equipped to make informed decisions on changing weather, water and climate conditions.

The actual spending for 2013-14 is higher than planned spending, mainly due to increased payments in lieu of severance pay, and retroactive payments of salaries and wages for the renewal of collective agreements. These two factors also explain the actual spending increase in 2013-14 compared to 2012-13. The increase between planned spending from 2013-14 to 2014-15 is mainly due to a realignment of funds associated with the transfer to Shared Services Canada (SSC).

Strategic Outcome 3: Threats to Canadians and their environment from pollution are minimized.

The planned spending for 2013-14 is higher than actual spending, mainly due to the unspent funding for the Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) Foundation, offset by the increase in payments in lieu of severance pay for the renewal of collective agreements. Actual spending reduction in 2013-14 compared to 2012-13 is due to the completion of the Fast Start Financing under the Copenhagen Accord. The increase in planned spending from 2013-14 to 2014-15 is mainly due to funding for the SDTC Foundation.

Internal Services

The actual spending for 2013-14 is higher than planned spending, mainly due to a realignment of funds associated with the transfer to SSC as well as increase in payments in lieu of severance pay for the renewal of collective agreements. The decrease between planned spending from 2013-14 to 2014-15 is mainly due to savings measures.

Alignment of Spending with the Whole-of-Government Framework

Alignment of 2013-14 Actual Spending with the Whole-of-Government Spending Areas (dollars)

Strategic Outcome 1: Canada’s natural environment is conserved and restored for present and future generations.
Program Spending Area Government of
Canada Outcome		 2013-14
Actual Spending
Program 1.1 Biodiversity - Wildlife and Habitat Economic Affairs A clean and healthy environment 120,519,001
Program 1.2 Water Resources Economic Affairs A clean and healthy environment 100,322,337
Program 1.3 Sustainable Ecosystems Economic Affairs A clean and healthy environment 70,727,194
Program 1.4 Compliance Promotion and Enforcement - Wildlife Economic Affairs A clean and healthy environment 18,208,956
Strategic Outcome 2: Canadians are equipped to make informed decisions on changing weather, water and climate conditions.
Program Spending Area Government of
Canada Outcome		 2013-14
Actual Spending
Program 2.1 Weather and Environmental Services for Canadians Economic Affairs A clean and healthy environment 182,818,981
Program 2.2 Weather and Environmental Services for Targeted Users Economic Affairs A clean and healthy environment 26,618,144
Strategic Outcome 3: Threats to Canadians and their environment from pollution are minimized.
Program Spending Area Government of
Canada Outcome		 2013-14
Actual Spending
Program 3.1 Substances and Waste Management Economic Affairs A clean and healthy environment 84,616,666
Program 3.2 Climate Change and Clean Air Economic Affairs A clean and healthy environment 125,118,027
Program 3.3 Compliance Promotion and Enforcement - Pollution Economic Affairs A clean and healthy environment 44,661,876

 

Total Spending by Spending Area (dollars) Table note a.2
Spending Area Total Planned Spending Total Actual Spending
Economic Affairs 762,186,548 773,611,182
Social Affairs 0 0
International Affairs 0 0
Government Affairs 0 0

Departmental Spending Trend

The following chart depicts the Departmental Spending Trend over a six-year period. For the period from 2011-12 to 2013-14, actual spending represents the actual expenditures as reported in the Public Accounts. For the period from 2014-15 to 2016-17, the planned spending represents the planned expenditures as reported in the 2014-15 Report on Plans and Priorities, and reflects approved funding by Treasury Board to support the departmental Strategic Outcomes and Programs.

Departmental Spending Trend Graph
Text description of figure
  2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17
Sunset Programs - - - 14.4 62.1 209.6
Total Spending 1,008.5 989.7 978.9 1,011.5 861.5 698.8

As indicated in the chart above, Environment Canada’s actual spending for 2013-14 was $978.9 million, a year-over-year decrease of $10.8 million (1.1%) from the 2012-13 actual spending. This decrease is mainly due to the completion of the Fast Start Financing under the Copenhagen Accord, and a lower payment made to the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC), offset by increased payments in lieu of severance and retroactive payments of salaries and wages for the renewal of collective agreements.

The decrease of $18.8 million (1.9%) in actual spending from 2011-12 to 2012-13 is mainly due to reductions attributable to implementing new streamlining and efficiency measures, a lower payment made to the NCC, and the transfer for a full year of funding and responsibilities to Shared Services Canada. These reductions were offset by increased spending to support Fast Start Financing under the Copenhagen Accord.

The increase of $32.6 million (3.3%) between actual spending for 2013-14 and planned spending for 2014-15 is mainly due to increased planned spending for the Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) Foundation and the Action Plan on Clean Water initiative, offset by decreases in planned spending for the NCC and the Clean Air Agenda.

The decrease of $312.7 million (30.9%) in planned spending from 2014-15 to 2016-17 is mainly due to the reduction in funding for the SDTC Foundation and the sunsetting of programs. Sunsetting programs are subject to government decisions to extend, reduce or enhance funding. Outcomes of such decisions will be reflected in the Department’s future budget exercises and Estimates documents.

Estimates by Vote

For information on Environment Canada’s organizational Votes and/or statutory expenditures, please consult the Public Accounts of Canada 2014 on the Public Works and Government Services Canada website.

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2018-01-11