Archived: Departmental Performance Report 2015 to 2016, Environment and Climate Change Canada, chapter 3

Section I: Organizational Overview

• Organizational Profile
• Organizational Context
• Organizational Priorities

Organizational Profile

Appropriate Minister: The Honourable Catherine McKenna, P.C., M.P.

Institutional Head: Michael Martin

Ministerial Portfolio: Environment and Climate Change Canada

Enabling Instruments:

• Department of the Environment Act
• Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999
• Species at Risk Act
• International River Improvements Act
• Canada Water Act
• The Lake of the Woods Control Board Act, 1921
• Lac Seul Conservation Act
• Fisheries Act (administration and enforcement of the Pollution Prevention Provisions)
• Antarctic Environmental Protection Act
• Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994
• Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act
• Canada Wildlife Act
• Federal Sustainable Development Act
• Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012
• Environmental Violations Administrative Monetary Penalties Act
• National Wildlife Week Act
• Canadian Environmental Week Act

Year of Incorporation/Commencement: 1971

The Prime Minister set a clear mandate for the Minister of Environment and Climate Change to “take the lead in implementing the government’s plan for a clean environment and sustainable economy.” This direction provides a strong foundation for all our work. It enables us to translate our raison d’être into action, and it guides the programs and activities we pursue to achieve concrete results for Canadians.

In order to deliver on this important mandate, broad-based and inclusive collaboration is central as is our commitment to providing evidence-based science; a robust regulatory regime; and excellent services to Canadians.

We conduct science that enables us to achieve our mandate, meet our legislative and regulatory obligations, and identify for us where actions need to be taken. Through strategic partnerships, we work to reduce air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions. We promote compliance and enforce regulations to protect Canadians and their environment. Maintaining a robust scientific and technical capacity is key to all aspects of our work, from protecting wildlife and freshwater resources, preventing and controlling pollution, supporting cleaner air for Canadians, to delivering world-class weather and environmental information to assist Canadians make informed decisions on their safety and health.

We serve Canadians from coast to coast to coast. Our workforce is strategically located across the country, with almost two-thirds of employees working in communities outside the National Capital Region. We work in field offices, laboratories, National Wildlife Areas and weather stations in every province and territory. In addition, we openly make data available and accessible to all Canadians and our partners both here at home and internationally, in order to achieve our collective environmental and climate change goals.

Organizational Context

Raison d’être

Environment and Climate Change 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 and Climate Change 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

Under the Department of the Environment Act, the powers, duties and functions of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change extend to matters such as:

• the preservation and enhancement of the quality of the natural environment, including water, air and soil quality, and the coordination of the relevant policies and programs of the Government of Canada;
• renewable resources, including migratory birds and other non-domestic flora and fauna;
• meteorology; and
• the enforcement of rules and regulations.

The Minister of Environment and Climate Change has primary responsibility for and carries out the departmental mandate through a number of other acts and regulations, such as the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999), the pollution prevention provisions of the Fisheries Act, the Federal Sustainable Development Act, the Species at Risk Act, the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994, the Canada Wildlife Act, and the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act.

The Department works closely with the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency and Parks Canada, which are its ministerial portfolio partners.

In addition, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change has secondary or shared responsibility for the successful execution of other federal departments’ mandates including the Arctic Waters Pollution Prevention Act (Transport Canada, Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada, and Natural Resources Canada); the Canada Oil and Gas Operations Act (Natural Resources Canada), and the Emergency Management Act (Public Safety Canada).

Strategic Outcomes and Program Alignment Architecture

Environment and Climate Change Canada fulfills its mandate by promoting three Strategic Outcomes, each contributing to the Government of Canada Outcome of a clean and healthy environment. The Department’s Strategic Outcomes and corresponding Program Alignment Architecture for 2015-16, including its Internal Services, are shown below.

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

• 1.1 Program: Biodiversity - Wildlife and Habitat
  • 1.1.1 Sub-Program: Biodiversity Policy and Priorities
  • 1.1.2 Sub-Program: Species at Risk
  • 1.1.3 Sub-Program: Migratory Birds
  • 1.1.4 Sub-Program: Habitat Conservation Partnerships
  • 1.1.5 Sub-Program: Protected Areas
• 1.2 Program: Water Resources
  • 1.2.1 Sub-Program: Water Quality and Aquatic Ecosystems Health
  • 1.2.2 Sub-Program: Water Resource Management and Use
  • 1.2.3 Sub-Program: Hydrometric Services
• 1.3 Program: Sustainable Ecosystems
  • 1.3.1 Sub-Program: Sustainability Reporting and Indicators
  • 1.3.2 Sub-Program: Ecosystem and Environmental Assessments
  • 1.3.3 Sub-Program: Community Engagement
    • 1.3.3.1 Sub-Sub-Program: EcoAction Community Funding
    • 1.3.3.2 Sub-Sub-Program: Environmental Damages Fund
    • 1.3.3.3 Sub-Sub-Program: Environmental Youth Employment
  • 1.3.4 Sub-Program: Great Lakes
  • 1.3.5 Sub-Program: St. Lawrence
  • 1.3.6 Sub-Program: Lake Simcoe/South-eastern Georgian Bay
  • 1.3.7 Sub-Program: Lake Winnipeg
  • 1.3.8 Sub-Program: Ecosystems Partnerships
• 1.4 Program: Compliance Promotion and Enforcement - Wildlife

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

• 2.1 Program: Weather and Environmental Services for Canadians
  • 2.1.1 Sub-Program: Weather Observations, Forecasts and Warnings
  • 2.1.2 Sub-Program: Health-related Meteorological Information
  • 2.1.3 Sub-Program: Climate Information, Predictions and Tools
• 2.2 Program: Weather and Environmental Services for Targeted Users
  • 2.2.1 Sub-Program: Meteorological Services in Support of Air Navigation
  • 2.2.2 Sub-Program: Meteorological and Ice Services in Support of Marine Navigation
  • 2.2.3 Sub-Program: Meteorological Services in Support of Military Operations

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

• 3.1 Program: Substances and Waste Management
  • 3.1.1 Sub-Program: Substances Management
  • 3.1.2 Sub-Program: Effluent Management
  • 3.1.3 Sub-Program: Marine Pollution
  • 3.1.4 Sub-Program: Environmental Emergencies
  • 3.1.5 Sub-Program: Contaminated Sites
• 3.2 Program: Climate Change and Clean Air
  • 3.2.1 Sub-Program: Climate Change and Clean Air Regulatory Program
    • 3.2.1.1 Sub-Sub-Program: Industrial Sector Emissions
    • 3.2.1.2 Sub-Sub-Program: Transportation Sector Emissions
  • 3.2.2 Sub-Program: International Climate Change and Clean Air Partnerships
  • 3.2.3 Sub-Program: Environmental Technology
• 3.3 Program: Compliance Promotion and Enforcement - Pollution

Internal Services

Operating Environment and Risk Analysis

Risk Narrative

Environmental issues have wide ranging implications for social, economic and health decisions for Canadians. The protection and conservation of the environment require the commitments of not only Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) but also all of its partners, notably provinces and territories, Indigenous peoples, other stakeholders and Canadians. It is for these reasons that ECCC places a great degree of importance in building, maintaining and strengthening these strategic partnerships. Ensuring an inclusive outreach and dialogue and continuous engagement helps to advance policies, regulations, and services, and provides for a coordinated approach to achieve results that are representative of all interests.

There are few major environmental issues for which Canada can find causes or solutions solely within its borders. For this reason, Canada must engage not only at home but also work with international partners to develop effective solutions to global environmental challenges. Evidence of this collaboration was seen in December 2015 at the 21^st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Paris, where the work of Canada’s inclusive delegation contributed to the adoption of the historic Paris Agreement on climate change, which Canada signed in April 2016.

ECCC is also relied upon to provide science-based environmental information and services so that Canadians may make informed decisions relating to their health and safety. ECCC provides Canadians with data and information on climate and weather conditions, warnings and hazards, and air quality. Ensuring that data are readily available and accessible is foundational to the Department meeting its mandate and commitment to serving Canadians. Ongoing investments in infrastructure to provide timely and reliable data, and maintenance of systems to preserve the data, are among the ways in which ECCC mitigates the risk of not being able to provide these services.

ECCC is committed to improving the environment for Canadians. This includes remaining focused on investing in one of its greatest assets - its workforce. For example, in support of the Blueprint 2020, ECCC implemented the “micro-missions at ECCC” initiative that assists employees expand their skill sets and managers address their short-term project needs. ECCC also strengthened the linkages with colleges and universities in order to attract the needed expertise to deliver on its important mandate.

Note: In 2015-16, ECCC completed a risk review and aligned the risks to the commitments shown in the November 2015 Minister’s Mandate Letter. As a result, the above risks have been updated. Please see the “Risk Analysis” section of the 2016-17 Report on Plans and Priorities for more information.

Organizational Priorities

Priority 1: A Clean Environment

Description

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

Priority Type^Footnote 1

Ongoing

Progress Toward the Priority

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) plays a central role in advancing this priority. It is the key federal department responsible for addressing climate change, developing regulations and standards to address air pollution and improve air quality, and for monitoring and assessing substances, such as chemicals that are harmful to the environment and the health of Canadians. Through shared knowledge, common commitments and actions, the application of science, the use of technology and leveraging collaborative partnerships, both internationally and at home, ECCC advanced Canada’s climate change and air pollution objectives.

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is an important part of Canada’s contribution to global efforts to address climate change. The Department worked to further develop its regulatory approach, building on previous work to regulate the transportation and coal-fired electrical generation sectors. ECCC advanced important work to develop regulatory measures to reduce emissions from other sectors, including methane from the oil and gas sector. The Department also carried out projects under the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (a Canada-U.S.-Mexico collaboration) to reduce GHG emissions.

In Fall 2015, Canada pledged $2.65 billion over the next five years to help developing countries mitigate and adapt to climate change. As part of this contribution, the Government announced in 2015-16 that it would commit $35 million to reduce short-lived climate pollutants (including $10 million to the Climate and Clean Air Coalition Trust Fund) and another $10 million to improve multi-hazard early warning systems in vulnerable communities. Preparations are underway within the Department to disburse these funds in 2016-17 and onward.

ECCC also contributed expertise to international partnerships, including: the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change; the Climate and Clean Air Coalition; G7 and G20 initiatives; the Carbon Pricing Leadership Coalition; the Arctic Council; the Gothenburg Protocol to the Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution; and the Global Methane Initiative.

The Department advanced work to develop an ambitious North American clean energy and environment agreement through the Canada-U.S. Joint Statement on Climate, Energy, and Arctic Leadership and worked to update and strengthen the long-standing Canada-U.S. Air Quality Agreement. ECCC committed to reducing hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) with international partners through an agreement with Parties to the Montreal Protocol, and continued to partner with provinces and territories to advance the implementation of the Air Quality Management System, including efforts to reduce emissions from both mobile and stationary industrial sources. As an important step in a long-term program to set stronger air quality standards, monitor emissions and provide incentives for investment, ECCC, along with Health Canada and other stakeholders, developed new ambient air quality standards for sulphur dioxide and began work to develop new ambient standards for nitrogen dioxide.

In ongoing work to reduce the impacts of harmful substances and waste, ECCC continued to deliver on the Chemicals Management Plan (CMP) by completing final or draft risk assessments for 145 existing substances and micro-organisms; the Department also reviewed for assessment 581 new substances to determine environmental risk. The government remains On track to meet future objectives under the CMP.^Footnote 2

The Department contributed to meeting international obligations for preventing marine pollution and protecting ocean environments by implementing the Disposal at Sea Regulations, assessing and issuing disposal at sea permits, and monitoring disposal sites for compliance.

ECCC conducted over 6,800 inspections and 100 investigations and took over 4,000 enforcement measures with respect to 40 regulations and prohibitions, under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 and the Fisheries Act. Successful prosecutions concluded in 2015-16 totalled 41 and resulted in over $5.7 million in penalties.

The above activities illustrate the Department’s commitment to continuous and sustainable stewardship initiatives that lay the foundation for ECCC to continue to contribute to the Government’s priority as a leader in the Canadian and global efforts to achieve a clean environment and a healthy economy.

Priority 2: A Safe Environment

Description

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

Priority Type

Ongoing

Progress Toward the Priority

Through continuous improvement and investments in technology and infrastructure, ECCC continued to provide 24/7 services to Canadians by providing timely, accurate and accessible weather and environmental information and services. Since the inception of ECCC’s Meteorological Service of Canada, information has been provided to enable Canadians to make informed decisions to protect themselves from the challenges of climate change and pollution. As an authoritative source, ECCC also met the specialized needs of federal partners who rely on ECCC weather and environmental information to maintain safe and effective operations.

In 2015-16, the Department continued to deliver high-quality weather and environmental services to Canadians (including some 480,000 forecasts, watches and warnings), through a national infrastructure of science-based forecasting and prediction systems.

ECCC provided state-of-the-art, 24/7 dedicated, venue-specific weather alert services and environmental emergency support for the 2015 Pan American and Parapan American Games. The Department developed and showcased its innovative science and technology data and products, including developing new technologies, such as high-resolution numerical urban scale prediction models and new weather stations that reported data on a minute-by-minute basis. It also developed a new data collection mechanism for automating solar-powered compact weather stations integrating technologies such as wireless cell modems, a first for the Government of Canada.

To continuously improve our services, major upgrades and renewal of equipment and systems were advanced, such as radar systems, and technology was leveraged to support existing and new initiatives, including:

• EC Alert Me, a prototype automated weather alert messaging service using email (14,000 subscribers as of March 2016). ECCC launched Twitter weather alert accounts in July 2015 for over 830 communities that appear on Canada.ca/weather. The number of followers has grown to 83,000.
• Alert Ready, to deliver critical and potentially life-saving alerts to Canadians through various broadcast media.
• Firework, an air quality prediction system that ECCC adapted to inform the work of forest fire operations in six provinces and territories.
• Air Quality Health Index (AQHI), which provides daily information on ambient air quality to communities across Canada, through collaboration with provincial and territorial partners.

Partners rely on ECCC as an authoritative source for weather and environmental information. ECCC provided science-based environmental services on a 24/7 basis to federal partners, such as the Canadian Coast Guard, Department of National Defence as well as with provincial and national emergency management organizations, to augment their operations. ECCC issued 490,000 aviation forecasts (to support NAV CANADA operations) and 200,000 marine weather, ice and sea-state forecasts to various partners.

The Department maintained an active role in an international network of weather science experts, to not only gain, but also contribute knowledge and scientific expertise on weather, water and climate monitoring. Through this network, ECCC collaborated with partner countries including the U.S., the U.K., Australia, France and China. as well as international organizations such as the Arctic Council, the Climate and Clean Air Coalition, the World Climate Research Programme, and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

The provision of weather and environmental information, maintaining and upgrading critical infrastructure and systems are core to providing a service to meet the daily needs of Canadians and various ECCC partners. Providing science-based data is one way to help Canadians make informed decisions to protect their health and safety today and into the future.

Priority 3: A Sustainable Environment

Description

Work to conserve and protect land, water and biodiversity.

Priority Type

Ongoing

Progress Toward the Priority

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) works to protect and conserve species, wildlife and their habitat, and Canada’s unique biodiversity (nature) and precious freshwater resources. ECCC addresses this broad mandate through multiple approaches by: engaging Canadians in conservation and protection efforts; promoting compliance and enforcing legislation such as the Species at Risk Act, the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994, the and Canadian Environmental Assessment Act; and, working collaboratively with international and Indigenous partners and outreach with communities across Canada.

The Department posted (on the Species at Risk Public Registry) proposed recovery strategies and management plans for 57 species and final recovery strategies and management plans for 46 species.  In total, 120 of the 192 species identified on ECCC’s Three-Year Posting Plan have recovery documents posted on the Species at Risk Public Registry.

In support of migratory bird conservation, ECCC collaborated with governments and other partners at the national and international levels to better understand causes for observed trends (such as declines in populations) and, in particular, led international initiatives such as: preparation of the Circumpolar Seabird Monitoring Plan; key components of the Arctic Migratory Bird Initiative; and, projects in Canada, the U.S. and Mexico to conserve migratory birds, including the report State of North America’s Birds 2016.

ECCC coordinated Canada’s participation in the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Trilateral Committee for Wildlife and Ecosystem Conservation and Management and helped establish a Canada-U.S.-Mexico working group to conserve the Monarch butterfly.

ECCC continued to work with government and non-government partners to conserve and protect habitat under a range of incentive-based programs including the Habitat Stewardship Program for Species at Risk, the Aboriginal Fund for Species at Risk, the National Wetland Conservation Fund and the Ecological Gifts Program.

Wildlife enforcement activities led to more than 158 convictions and over $1.1 million in penalties under Canadian wildlife legislation which protects species in Canada, including a penalty of $750,000 against a natural gas facility under both the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994, and the Species at Risk Act, for causing the mortality of approximately 7,500 migratory birds.

The critical habitat for 12 species in five National Wildlife Areas and two national parks was protected and ECCC carried out a range of scientific research and assessments to understand impacts of habitat and climate change on species at risk; including: the Polar Bear, Boreal and Peary Caribou, the Whooping Crane and Western Chorus Frog. To enable progress towards Canada’s target of conserving 17% of the country’s terrestrial areas and inland waters and 10% of its coastal and marine areas by 2020, ECCC continued to build a solid base of information on protected areas from a diverse range of public and private sector organizations.

ECCC’s work to create geospatial datasets and maps helped identify zones of interest for species at risk and migratory birds to enable ECCC, provincial, territorial and Indigenous partners to bolster conservation efforts.

The protection of Canada’s freshwater resources remained a priority for the government. The Department worked with the Province of Québec to implement the St. Lawrence Action Plan 2011-2026 in the freshwater section of the river (upstream from Île d’Orléans). Monitoring work resulted in a set of monitoring sheets that summarize knowledge on water, biological resources, shoreline, sediment and river uses. This work covered: Marine Water Quality in Shellfish Areas; Water Quality of the Fluvial Sector and Section, Water Quality of the Richelieu and Yamaska Rivers; St. Lawrence Estuary Beluga Whale and Great Blue Heron. Under the Area of Prime Concern Program, the Department funded Stratégies Saint-Laurent and 13 committees to support stakeholder participation in collaborative processes to improve the water quality of the St. Lawrence River. Financial support was provided to conserve and improve the St. Lawrence ecosystem through 20 projects funded under the Community Interaction Program.

The Department continued its work to restore the ecological health and water quality in the Lake Winnipeg Basin, the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River, in partnership with citizens, scientists, and domestic and international partners.

ECCC’s broad-based, multi-faceted legislative, regulatory and enforcement activities, together with engagement of domestic, international and Indigenous partners at all levels, has led to and will continue to build on sustainable protection and conservation of Canada’s biodiversity and waters.

Priority 4: Management Priority

Description

Transform the Department’s internal services operations to enhance service delivery.

Priority Type

Ongoing

Progress Toward the Priority

Work continued to drive “back office” efficiencies by adopting enterprise-wide systems and strategies, such as a standard financial management system (SAP) and a web strategy (Canada.ca). The Department’s migration to a single window approach aligns to and reflects the Open Government Initiative to create greater transparency and accountability and to increase citizen engagement through greater accessibility.

The Department’s communications experts began the important work of developing an electronic and accessible engagement tool: Have Your Say on Climate Change, which encourages dialogue and sharing of ideas on addressing the collective challenge of climate change.

ECCC led by example by reducing its environmental footprint through a buildings/accommodations consolidation strategy. This contributed to, amongst other actions, greening government operations, which is an objective under the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy.

As the workforce is the most valuable resource for ECCC, the Department refined and updated human resources strategies that set out clear objectives for attracting and retaining employees. The strategies also recognized the need for diversity, respect for official languages, and promoted ongoing dialogue on mental health, well-being and values and ethics. The Minister launched the Department’s first “Respect Day” and hosted a series of Town Hall sessions with staff, which opened the door to greater inclusive engagement at every level.

For more information on organizational priorities, see the Minister’s mandate letter.