Archived: Departmental Performance Report supplemental tables 2014-15, Environment Canada, chapter 6

Response to Parliamentary Committees and External Audits

Response to the Auditor General (including to the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development

Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development (CESD)

October 2014

Chapter 1 - Mitigating Climate Change: The audit focused on the actions of three federal entities: Environment Canada, Natural Resources Canada, and Transport Canada. It examined whether Environment Canada, working with others, has made satisfactory progress in addressing four key issues from the CESD 2012 audit^Footnote 1: putting measures in place to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; assessing the success of the measures; working with the provinces and territories; and developing plans to achieve the 2020 Copenhagen Accord target. The audit also examined whether Environment Canada, working with others, has used sound methods for estimating and reporting Canada’s future greenhouse gas emissions; and whether Environment Canada, working with others, is tracking, assessing, and reporting on funding under Canada’s Fast-Start Financing initiative and the results achieved, including reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

Seven recommendations were made to Environment Canada in this audit; two of those include Natural Resources Canada and/or Transport Canada.

The audit and the Department's response may be found here.

Chapter 2 - Environmental Monitoring of Oil Sands: Examined whether Environment Canada implemented its responsibilities under the Joint Canada-Alberta Implementation Plan for Oil Sands Monitoring according to established timelines and budgets, and the objectives and approaches set out in the Joint Plan. The audit focused on the Department’s implementation of work plans for the 2013-14 fiscal year and on the development of work plans for the 2014-15 fiscal year.

Two recommendations were made to Environment Canada in this audit.

The audit and the Department's response may be found here.

Chapter 3 - Marine Navigation in  the Canadian Arctic: Examined whether Transport Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (including the Canadian Coast Guard and the Canadian Hydrographic Service), and Environment Canada adequately support safe marine navigation in Canadian Arctic waters. The audit work included examining whether these federal departments have a shared vision and coordinated strategies to support safe marine transportation in the Arctic. The audit also examined the services that departments provide to support safe navigation and prevent spills.

One recommendation was made to Environment Canada and Fisheries and Oceans in this audit, and another recommendation was made to Transport Canada in consultation with Environment Canada and other federal departments and agencies.

The audit and the Department's response may be found here.