Archived: Departmental Results Report 2018 to 2019, supplementary tables: Department of Environment, chapter 1

April 1, 2018

March 31, 2023

Contribution

The program is appropriated annually through Estimates.

2018-19

• Species at Risk
• Biodiversity Policy and Partnerships
• Migratory Birds and other Wildlife
• Habitat Conservation and Protection

The Canada Nature Fund is a critical tool for advancing actions by others that conserve and protect Canada’s habitat and biodiversity.

The Canada Nature Fund will secure private land, support provincial and territorial species protection efforts and help build Indigenous capacity to conserve land and species. It will support and enable others to undertake actions that conserve wildlife and protect and improve their habitat.

• Several components in both the Spaces and the Species streams of the Canada Nature Fund were launched in fall, 2018. A total of 90 new Canada Nature Fund projects were funded in 2018-19. While the majority of these projects were single year projects demonstrating quick conservation action, some were funded as multi-year projects designed to maximize conservation results.
• In 2018-19 under the Quick Start component of the Spaces Stream, $14.5M was invested in 38 projects that advanced nearly-ready Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas and other protected and conserved areas and/or supported capacity building activities to contribute to Canada’s Target 1 commitments.
• In 2018-19 under the International Threats component of the Species Stream, $200,000 was invested in 8 international projects that address threats outside of Canada to the recovery of migratory birds. Activities were undertaken throughout the Americas and results include outreach to private landowners, local communities and hunters, development of communication and outreach products, training of local individuals and community leaders, identifying key sites for protection, and habitat conservation planning.
• In 2018-19, under the Indigenous Partnerships component of the Species stream, over $780,000 was invested in 14 projects. These projects enabled Indigenous-led initiatives for the conservation of Boreal and Southern Mountain Caribou, meaningful participation of Indigenous peoples in SARA implementation activities to conserve cultural keystone species, and the collaborative conservation of multiple listed species present on reserve lands.
• $230,000 in Contributions were collectively provided to 5 indigenous partners to support Indigenous-led activities under the National Boreal Caribou Knowledge Consortium, established in accordance with the commitments made within the federal Action Plan for Boreal Caribou.
• $300,000 Contribution to Ducks Unlimited Canada for the restoration of 4,445 metres of earthen dike that control the wetland’s water level in the National Wildlife Areas of Chignecto and Shepody.
• $82,250 Contribution with the Government of Yukon to support conservation measures under a Species at Risk Act section 11 conservation agreement, including to complete aerial surveys and purchase GPS collars. 
• $20,000 Contribution with Wuskwi Sipihk First Nation to support the collection of Indigenous Traditional Knowledge and engagement of community members in land use planning activities.
• $981,500 Contribution to The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) to add 567 hectares to their Cockburn Island Nature Reserve resulting in almost 62% of the island being protected, and one of the largest protected intact hardwood forest ecosystems in southern Ontario. Additionally,  23 hectares of ecologically significant habitat was secured by NCC adjacent to the existing 3,284 hectare Long Point National Wildlife Area. This new property provides habitat for a remarkable 25 Species at Risk, and includes critical habitat for several of them.

N/A

N/A

Environment and Climate Change Canada engages applicants and recipients under this program in two ways:

• applicants through applications related to specific program elements
• recipients through single or named recipients identified on the basis of their unique ability to address targeted program results

The Department employs one or a combination of the following initiatives to provide access to the program in a clear, understandable and accessible manner:

• publicity in news media
• information provided on the departmental website
• letter-writing activities
• meetings with targeted recipient communities

Administrative requirements have been tailored to evaluated risk levels, and efficiency is being addressed through simplified agreement templates.

April 1, 2018

Ongoing

Contribution

The program is appropriated annually through Estimates.

2018-19

• Species at Risk
• Biodiversity Policy and Partnerships
• Migratory Birds and other Wildlife
• Environmental Assessment
• Habitat Conservation and Protection
• Compliance Promotion and Enforcement - Wildlife

The purpose is to advance conservation of biodiversity and sustainable development. The overall objective of the Conserving Nature Program is to conserve, protect and recover Canada’s wildlife including; species at risk and their habitat (including critical habitat); and healthy populations of migratory birds. Actions taken will also contribute to Canada’s biodiversity strategy and related domestic and international partnership interests, including the establishment and management of protected areas, other effective conservation measures, Indigenous protected and conserved areas and Indigenous people’s capacity and participation in conservation.

• In 2018-19, the Aboriginal Species at Risk fund, under the Species at Risk Stream awarded over $2.4 million to 36 new projects and 15 previously approved multi-year projects to support Aboriginal capacity development and engagement in the implementation of the Species at Risk Act to protect species at Risk and their habitat.
• In 2018–19, The Aboriginal Fund for Species at Risk Prevention Stream awarded over $422,000 to 8 new projects and 4 previously approved multi-year projects to support Aboriginal participation in projects that prevent other species, beyond those listed on the Species at risk Act, from becoming a conservation concern.
• In 2018-2019, the Habitat Stewardship Program, Species at Risk Stream, awarded over 9.2 million in funding to 47 new terrestrial projects and 107 previously approved multi-year projects to support aquatic and terrestrial stewardship projects for the recovery of species at risk and the protection of their habitat.
• In 2018-2019, the Habitat Stewardship Program Prevention Stream awarded over $990,000 to 26 previously approved multi-year projects to maintain populations of wildlife species in order to prevent them from becoming a conservation concern.
• Through the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD): supported implementation of the CBD’s Gender Plan of Action, scientific assessments and communications to support implementation of the CBD’s strategic Plan and Aichi Biodiversity Targets, collaboration with sub-national governments, communication, education and public awareness, and supported the participation of the least developed countries in CBD meetings ($100,000). Support was also provided to the Secretariat of the Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF) to support core Secretariat functions and ensure collaboration with international organizations and Arctic states’ research and policy communities for the implementation of the CAFF work plan ($38,000).
• $422,500 in Contributions were collectively provided to 6 national Indigenous organizations and governments to support them in engaging in and providing input on the development and implementation of policies and programs related to conservation, wildlife and biodiversity), including Canada’s positions at the Convention on Biological Diversity’s 14th Conference of the Parties in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt (November 2018).
• Concluded a 3-year $2.18M contibution with Bird Studies Canada, which supported a wide array of volunteer-based monitoring and science programs for migratory birds across Canada.
• Concluded a 3-year $2.1M contribution with NatureServe Canada, which enhanced species data availability in the NatureServe network to achieve delivery of the Species at Risk program.
• $2.3M in Contributions were collectively provided to 10 different partners to support delivery of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. Partners leveraged this funding into much more substantive investment by other federal and non-federal partners (in both Canada and the United States) in habitat conservation efforts.
• In 2018-2019, under the Powley Initiative, $360,000 was awarded to four Métis organisations/governments in order to develop cooperative wildlife management through community engagement, capacity building and the collection and sharing of migratory game bird harvest data.
• In 2018-19, the Species at Risk Partnership on Agricultural Lands Initiative invested $2.8 million in 6 new projects and 11 previously approved multi-year projects to conserve and protect species at risk on agricultural lands.
• In 2018-19, the Indigenous Gaurdains Pilot Program invested $5.8M in 31 projects that provided Indigenous Peoples with greater opportunity to exercise responsibility in stewardship of their traditional lands, waters, and ice.
• $40,000 Contribution with the Wildlife Conservation Society Canada to support delivery of the 17th  North American Caribou Workshop on October 29-November 2, 2018.
• $130,000 Contribution with the Huron-Wendat Nation to implement recovery actions in the Charlevoix boreal caribou range (QC2); funding was allocated for Indigenous participation in aerial surveys, an awareness campaign for snowmobilers on the effect of off-road travel, and contracts for additional studies on improving forestry practices and wolf capture methods.
• $80,000 Contribution with the province of Manitoba through the Northwest Woodland Caribou Research and Monitoring Committee, to conduct population surveys of boreal caribou in the Interlake Management unit to guide population management and range planning.
• $38,000 Contribution with Buffalo River Dene Nation to develop an Indigenous knowledge-based boreal caribou recovery plan for the Nation’s traditional territory.
• $30,000 Contribution to Fort Nelson First Nation to conduct a Traditional Knowledge Study on boreal caribou that will refine the areas for protection and restoration in the Fort Nelson First Nation's "Medzih Action Plan", the Nation's recovery plan for boreal caribou.

A department-wide Audit of the Management of Grants and Contributions Program was completed in March, 2019

N/A

Environment and Climate Change Canada engages applicants and recipients under this program in two ways:

• applicants through applications related to specific program elements
• and recipients through single or named recipients identified on the basis of their unique ability to address targeted program results

The Department employs one or a combination of the following initiatives to provide access to the program in a clear, understandable and accessible manner:

• publicity in news media
• information provided on the departmental website
• letter-writing activities
• meetings with targeted recipient communities

Administrative requirements have been tailored to evaluated risk levels, and efficiency is being addressed through simplified agreement templates.

April 1, 2017

March 31, 2022

Grants and Contribution

The program is appropriated annually through Estimates.

2018-19

Clean Growth and Climate Change Mitigation

The LCEF is an important part of the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change (the Framework).

The Fund supports the Framework by leveraging investments in projects that will generate clean growth, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help meet or exceed Canada's Paris Agreement commitments.

The Fund is comprised of two components: the Leadership Fund that supports provincial and territorial actions; and the Challenge, which is further divided into two streams (Champions and Partnerships) and supports climate action projects across a broader range of recipients (e.g., provinces, territories, municipalities, Indigenous organizations, and not-for-profit/for-profit businesses).

In 2018-19, ECCC entered into funding agreements with most provinces and territories under the Leadership Fund, and launched requests for proposals for both the Champions and Partnerships streams.

Results achieved by the program will be reported at a later date, based on progress reports by the proponents of projects selected for funding.

An internal audit scheduled for the 2019-20 fiscal year is currently underway. The audit will assess the effectiveness of the management of the Low Carbon Economy Fund.

An external audit is anticipated, but no dates have been confirmed.

An evaluation of the Low Carbon Economy Fund is planned for fiscal years 2019-20 and 2020-21.

For the Leadership Fund, ECCC conducted face-to-face meetings with all provinces and territories to provide clarification on the program and discuss initial proposals.

For the Challenge, ECCC organized a roadshow with information sessions in 20 cities, in collaboration with the Clean Growth Hub, Natural Resources Canada, Infrastructure Canada and the Regional Economic Development agencies. Approximately 1,000 people attended the sessions. The presentations helped build momentum and interest in the program and were an opportunity to provide further guidance to applicants on the program requirements and answer specific/situational questions.

For the Partnerships stream, ECCC hosted several webinar presentations to provide information on the application process and respond to applicant questions. ECCC also worked with Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada and Indigenous Services Canada to provide outreach and support to Indigenous communities and organizations.

ECCC also responded to applicant questions via email throughout the Champions and Partnerships stream application processes.

April 1, 2018

Ongoing

Contribution

The program is appropriated annually through Estimates.

2018-19

Weather and Environmental Observations, Forecasts and Warnings; Hydrological Services

The purpose is to encourage and support international capacity building activities to enable access, understanding and use information on changing weather, water, air quality and climate conditions.

The expected results are linked to the Departmental Results that Canadians use authoritative weather and related information to make decisions about their health and safety.

The associated Departmental result indicator is the index of the timeliness and accuracy of severe weather warnings on a scale of 0 to 10.

The target of 7.9 was exceeded in 2018-19, with a result achieved of 8.6 (three year rolling average 2016-18). The result achieved for 2017-18 was 8.4.

Not applicable

Evaluation of the Weather Observations, Forecast and Warnings Program - planned

MSC’s funding approach is a mix of directed and application based. MSC is committed to explore opportunities for innovative approaches to delivering the G&C and move away from legacy recipients. This approach will give special consideration to priority recipients/projects that impact climate change, youth, Indigenous peoples, and small and medium sized businesses (SMEs).

April 1, 2018

Ongoing

Contribution

The program is appropriated annually through Estimates.

2018-19

• Air Quality
• Water Quality and Ecosystems Partnerships
• Community Eco-Action
• Substances and Waste Management
• Compliance Promotion and Enforcement - Pollution

The purpose is to protect, conserve and have a positive impact on the environment.

Lake Winnipeg Basin Program

The Lake Winnipeg Basin Program (LWBP) is part of a broader investment through Budget 2017 to protect Canada’s freshwater resources. Budget 2017 committed $25.7M over five-years (2017–2022) to build on previous Lake Winnipeg Basin investments of $35.6M since 2007.

In 2018-19, the Lake Winnipeg Basin Program funded 23 projects ($3.8M over four years) to reduce excessive nutrients, and increase Indigenous engagement and stakeholder collaboration to protect Lake Winnipeg and its basin. The projects will see Indigenous peoples, watershed organizations, academics, and citizen scientists undertake projects to apply and share their knowledge and expertise to achieve tangible nutrient-reduction results by 2021-22. In March 2019, ECCC hosted the Lake Winnipeg Basin Symposium to bring together a broad range of stakeholders to share information and build awareness on research and collaborative efforts to reduce nutrients in the Lake Winnipeg Basin.

The LWBP continued to support the Lake Winnipeg Research Consortium’s operation of the only in-lake science platform. The Program also supported the operation and efforts to expand awareness and use of the University of Manitoba’s Canadian Watershed Information Network (CanWIN), a web-based open-access data and information network that enables data sharing and analysis with residents, watershed managers and researchers in the Lake Winnipeg Basin.

Work continued with existing water governance bodies to explore options and opportunities to work collaboratively towards the development and implementation of a basin-wide nutrient strategy, including the development of transboundary nutrient objectives. This includes working with the Province of Manitoba to continue implementation of the Canada-Manitoba Memorandum of Understanding Respecting Lake Winnipeg, which provides for a long-term collaborative and coordinated approach between the two governments to support the sustainability and health of the Lake Winnipeg Basin.

In 2018-19, ECCC continued to implement the Lake Winnipeg Science Plan, which includes 16 research and monitoring projects in Lake Winnipeg and its basin. The plan’s research findings will improve the understanding of Lake Winnipeg’s response to nutrient reduction actions in the basin, the impact of climate variability on nutrient loading, and the impact of zebra mussels on nutrient cycling and the food web in Lake Winnipeg. It will also provide sound science to inform policy and nutrient management action.

Two Lake Winnipeg indicator fact sheets (Lake Winnipeg Basin Indicator Series - Introductory Factsheet and Lake Winnipeg Basin Indicator Series - Fish Populations) were published in March 2019 as part of a broader suite of fact sheets being developed to support ongoing state of the lake reporting. 

Great Lakes Protection Initiative

The Great Lakes Protection Initiative (GLPI) received an additional $44.84 million over five years through Budget 2017 to address the most significant challenges affecting Great Lakes water quality and ecosystem health. Through GLPI, Canada supports action by others to assist in achieving its goals of restoring Areas of Concern, preventing toxic and nuisance algae, reducing releases of harmful chemicals, engaging Indigenous Peoples in addressing Great Lakes issues and increasing public engagement through citizen science.

In 2018-19, Canada provided $8.95 million over 4 years to support 36 partner-led projects, including:

• 41 projects that support action at the local level to restore water quality and aquatic ecosystem health in Canadian Areas of Concern by implementing projects identified in remedial action plans. Funds were used to support projects led by Conservation Authorities and local nongovernmental organizations to: improve point and non-point source water quality; rehabilitate and protect fish habitat and wildlife habitat; and, remediate contaminated sediment.
• 9 projects that increase the participation in the application of phosphorus load reduction measures by demonstrating innovative approaches and best practices and promoting broad uptake and application. Funding has supported partners such as ALUS Canada, Ontario Federation of Agriculture and Conservation Authorities in implementing and monitoring the effectiveness of best practices and technologies to reduce phosphorus loadings from agricultural lands to Lake Erie. Partners are engaging their networks to promote wider application of best practices and new technologies. Funding also supported Conservation Authorities to develop phosphorus reduction strategies in priority sub-watersheds of Lake Erie.
• 3 projects that increase participation in the application of beyond compliance measures to reduce releases of chemicals of mutual concern by developing, implementing, assessing and promoting the use of innovative approaches. This includes support for the University of Toronto to measure the effectiveness of filters installed on household washing machines and clothes dryers in collecting chemicals of mutual concern.
• 6 projects that enhance Indigenous capacity to address Great Lakes issues through projects that engage Indigenous Peoples at the local level. Funding was provided to Chiefs of Ontario and the Métis Nation of Ontario to increase capacity to engage their respective communities on Great Lakes issues. Funding also supported projects engaging local communities in taking action, such as the monitoring of 40 coastal wetlands in Henvey Inlet First Nation. Community participants are collecting wetland data and will be reporting to the community on results.
• A project by Swim Drink Fish Canada to engage members of the public in monitoring Great Lakes water quality through collecting and analyzing samples taken from previously unmonitored beaches. This project is engaging the public in determining whether these local beaches are safe for swimming and other uses.
• The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Collaborative Strategy, a process to engage multiple sectors on key threats to water quality and ecosystem health (climate change, toxics and other harmful pollutants, nutrient pollution and bacteriological contamination of beaches), and develop recommendations to accelerate progress in addressing these threats in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence.

Atlantic Ecosystems Initiatives

The Atlantic Ecosystems Initiatives provided $1.19 million in 2018-2019 for projects that improve the health, productivity, and long-term sustainability of ecosystems in Atlantic Canada. In 2018–19, the program supported 7 ecosystem-based projects that brought together a diverse group of partners, including academic institutions, various levels of government, and Indigenous organizations to address water quality, habitat and biodiversity, and the impacts of climate change. 

Gulf of Maine Initiative

The Gulf of Maine Initiative provided $105,488 in 2018-2019 for one project aimed at reducing water pollution and conserving habitat in the Gulf of Maine by coordinating and implementing stewardship and education activities.

The Canada-Quebec Agreement on the St. Lawrence 2011–2026  

This agreement between the Governments of Canada and Québec established principles for collaboration between the two levels of government and sets out the priority issues on which actions will be undertaken, namely biodiversity conservation, sustainable use, and improved water quality, with climate change as a cross-cutting issue.

Under the agreement, ECCC provides an annual contribution of $450,000 to Québec via the Province’s Ministère de l’Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques in order to support partly activities of certain agreed-upon projects.

In 2018-2019, a total of a thirty-seven (37) projects were carried out and made a difference in biodiversity, water quality and riparian zones, as well as in sustainable use of the St. Lawrence. Among these projects, sixteen were supported partly by the $432,850 provided by the available contribution funding ($450,000).

In order to foster community involvement, ECCC allocated in 2018-2019, $422,062 to 13 projects dealing with the protection and restoration of degraded wetlands, implementation of measures against the impacts of the agricultural pollution as well as the invasive species.

To enhance collaboration, raise awareness and engage local communities along the St. Lawrence, ECCC invested $1.1 million in the Areas of Prime Concern Program (Zones d’intervention prioritaire, ZIP).

EcoAction Community Funding Program

The EcoAction Community Funding Program provided $2.6 million in 2018-2019 for community-based projects that aim to deliver positive results relate to the protection and conservation of Canada’s freshwater resources. In 2018–19, the program supported 34 new projects across Canada that help protect and conserve Canada’s freshwater by taking action to divert and reduce harmful substances and plastic waste, restore aquatic habitat and encourage actions to conserve freshwater resources.

N/A

N/A

Environment and Climate Change Canada engages applicants and recipients under this program in two ways: recipients through application-based process, and recipients on the basis of their unique ability to address targeted program results. The Department employs one or a combination of the following initiatives to provide access to the program in a clear, understandable and accessible manner: publicity in news media; information provided on the departmental website; letter-writing activities; and meetings with targeted recipient communities. Administrative requirements have been tailored to evaluated risk levels, and efficiency is being addressed through simplified agreement templates.

1997

Ongoing

Contribution

The program is appropriated annually through Estimates.

2016-17

Canada’s natural environment is conserved and restored for present and future generations

1.3.3.3 - Environmental Youth Employment

Science Horizons is funded through the Career Focus stream of the Government of Canada’s Youth Employment Strategy (YES), overseen by Employment and Social Development Canada. Programs under the Career Focus stream aim to demonstrate federal leadership by investing in the skills required to meet the needs of the knowledge economy, facilitate the transition of highly skilled young people to a rapidly changing labour market, and promote the benefits of advanced studies.

Science Horizons is designed to increase youth employment in the environmental field across Canada. Science Horizons provides a wage subsidy of up to $15,000 to eligible employers to hire a recent Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) graduate. Science Horizons is delivered through contributions to Delivery Agents (five (5) in 2018-19), who administer the program, including all activities related to matching eligible employers and interns.

At this time, the total number of jobs created in 2018-19 was 847. The program is awaiting receipt of updated final reports from delivery agents, which are expected by July 2019 at which time a final number will be confirmed.

N/A

Evaluation completed in 2014-15 (Summative Evaluation of the Horizontal Youth Employment Strategy for 2012-15).

Next evaluation is scheduled for 2019-20.

On November 27, 2018, ECCC and Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) initiated a joint call for proposals from delivery agents for their respective youth employment programs for the 2019-20 and 2020-21 fiscal years. The deadline to receive submissions was January 11, 2019. The program is currently awaiting Ministerial signature in order to proceed with finalizing contribution agreements with five delivery agents. Contribution agreements are expected to be in place by July 2019.

Each Delivery Agent targets a specific market segment and uses its own network of organizations and educational institutions to promote Science Horizons. This includes sending informational emails to their networks, attending career or job fairs at colleges and universities, and participating in conferences and networking events with organizations in the environmental and clean technology industry.

In addition, ECCC uses social media and the Departmental internet site to promote success stories on employers and interns who have benefitted from the program and other information about Science Horizons.

April 1, 2018

Ongoing

Grants and Contributions

The program is appropriated annually through Estimates.

2018-19

Clean Growth and Climate Change Mitigation, International Climate Change Action and Climate Change Adaptation

The purpose is to promote change towards sustainable environmental development and policies.

In 2018-2019, Environment and Climate Change Canada continued to work with provinces, territories, other government departments and with external partners to implement actions outlined in the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change (PCF) both within Canada, and internationally.

Key results achieved include:

• Through the Climate Action Fund, supported projects delivered by students, youth, Indigenous peoples and organizations, not-for-profit organizations and medium-small enterprises that increases awareness of climate change and builds capacity for climate action;
• Supported the development of climate science, as well as capacity building in the area of climate change adaptation through the newly established Canadian Centre for Climate Services, giving Canadians, communities, and businesses better access to climate science and information;
• Continued effective partnership and contructive dialogue with the Assembly of First Nations, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami and the Métis National Council on the topic of clean growth and climate change. These partnerships are vital to the successful implementation of the PCF and each of the three Indigenous tables informs the design of polices and programs to reflect and advance Indigenous peoples’ clean growth and climate change priorities;
• Supported capacity building and engagement with Indigenous peoples on clean growth and climate change;
• Collaborated with Global Affairs Canada in delivering $2.65 billion in funding over five years to support developing countries, the poorest and most vulnerable in particular, in their transition to clean and climate-resilient economies;
• Developed and maintained Canada’s international partnerships with organizations to help assist all countries in moving towards low-carbon economies.

Not applicable

Not applicable

Environment and Climate Change Canada engages applicants and recipients under this program in two ways:

• applicants through applications related to specific program elements
• recipients through single or named recipients identified on the basis of their unique ability to address targeted program results

The Department employs one or a combination of the following initiatives to provide access to the program in a clear, understandable and accessible manner:

• publicity in news media
• information provided on the departmental website
• letter-writing activities
• working with departments delivering related clean growth and climate change programming
• meetings with targeted recipient communities

Administrative requirements have been tailored to evaluated risk levels, and efficiency is being addressed through simplified agreement templates.