Archived: Departmental Results Report 2018 to 2019, supplementary tables: Department of Environment, chapter 2

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC)

Health Canada, National Research Council of Canada

The implementation of the Air Quality Management System (AQMS) is a federally-led collaborative process with provinces and territories, with involvement of and in consultation with Indigenous peoples, health and environmental non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and industry.

April 1, 2016

This initiative is a continuation of previous work conducted under the Clean Air Regulatory Agenda (CARA) which was in place from 2006-07 to 2015-16.

Current investments include funding provided in Budget 2016. Budget 2017 approved additional funding for this initiative starting in April 2018.

This initiative is ongoing, and funded through two budget submissions. Budget 2016 provided funding for the science and reporting activities for five years and ongoing, and provided funding for policy and analysis, mitigation actions, and indoor air quality activities for two years (2016–17 to 2017–18).

For 2018-19, Budget 2017 provided funding for policy and analysis activities for four years and ongoing. It also provided funding for mitigation activities for outdoor and indoor air quality for four years and ongoing.

Air pollution threatens the health of Canadians, degrades the environment, and can reduce economic productivity. It is linked with increased incidences of stroke, heart disease and acute respiratory diseases, and it exacerbates conditions such as asthma and diabetes, with subsequent increases in hospital admissions, emergency room visits and premature mortality. Outdoor air pollution also affects wildlife, ecosystems and vegetation, structures, and leads to reduced visibility. Indoor air pollution exposure is of particular concern given Canadians spend approximately 90% of their time indoors.

This initiative aims to improve air quality and health in Canada, and provide Canadians with the tools to make informed decisions to reduce their exposure to indoor and outdoor air pollutants. Activities to be undertaken include:

1. Scientific and reporting activities to provide the foundation for credible, relevant and timely policy and regulation development, administration, and enforcement; and to provide air quality information to Canadians.
2. Policy and analysis activities to provide the strategic advice and economic and health benefit analysis necessary to develop effective policy and regulatory measures; to continue to work with provinces, territories and other stakeholders to address domestic air pollution, and to continue working with the U.S. under the bilateral Air Quality Agreement and with other countries in international fora such as the Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution to reduce transboundary sources of air pollution.
3. Mitigation actions for outdoor air quality include developing and implementing new regulatory and non-regulatory instruments to reduce emissions from industrial, transportation and consumer products sectors and equipment types, and continuing to administer and update existing instruments.
4. Mitigation actions for indoor air quality include communication and outreach activities through HC’s and NRC’s indoor air quality programs to inform Canadians of the health risks of indoor air pollution and to encourage personal actions to reduce these risks in homes and buildings, including at schools and workplaces.

ECCC provides overall program coordination. Officials responsible for key program components from participating departments meet as required to discuss overarching issues and key decisions.

Budget 2016 provided $344,936,341 from April 1, 2016 to March 31, 2021, and $49,557,191 ongoing for Addressing Air Pollution.

Budget 2017 provided 201.04 million over 4 years, beginning in 2018–19, and $48.96 million in 2022–23 and ongoing, to improve the health of Canadians and their environment by reducing outdoor and indoor air pollution.

See above

$88,756,426 from April 1, 2016 to March 31, 2017

$93,446,819 from April 1, 2017 to March 31, 2018

$95,254,923 from April 1, 2018 to March 31, 2019

December 14, 2017

Budget 2017 provided $201.04 million over four years, beginning in 2018 19, and $48.96 million in 2022-23 and ongoing, to improve the health of Canadians and their environment by reducing outdoor and indoor air pollution.

Not applicable

Not applicable

A horizontal evaluation of the AAP HI is part of ECCC’s 2017 risk-based audit and evaluation plan. This horizontal evaluation will be led by ECCC and conducted in collaboration with HC and NRC. The evaluation is currently underway and will be completed in 2020.

1. Canadians have clean air
2. Adverse impacts on human health and ecosystems are reduced

1. a) Percentage of Canadians living in areas where air quality standards are achieved
2. a) Change in number of deaths per year attributable to air pollution
   b) A performance indicator to track “adverse impacts on ecosystems are reduced” is currently being developed.

1. a) 85% of Canadians live in areas that meet all Canadian Ambient Air Quality Standards (CAAQS) in 2030 (from a baseline of approximately 60% in 2005-2007, based on 2020 CAAQS values)
2. a) Decrease in number of deaths per year attributable to air pollution (from a baseline of 42 per 100,000 population in data from 2007-2015)
   b) Target is currently being developed.

1. a) National air pollution data map (including data from National Air Pollution Surveillance [NAPS] cross-referenced with population data provided by Statistics Canada - maps produced annually
2. a) Health Canada’s Air Quality Benefits Assessment Tool (AQBAT) - using national air pollution data from NAPS and CAPMoN
   b) TBD

1. a) 77%
2. a) Indicator reported on every 5 years. Next reporting date - 2022-03-31.
   b) Results not yet available

Not applicable

Not applicable

The AAP HI is ongoing and on track, including continued implementation of the Air Quality Management System (AQMS) and achievement of targets towards the desired outcome of Canadians having clean air. Recent analysis indicates there has been an increase in the percentage of Canadians living in areas that meet all CAAQS and a decrease in the number of deaths attributable to air pollution.

In 2018-19, initiatives implemented under the program:

• Finalized a more stringent CAAQS for ozone, and launched a review of PM2.5 CAAQS for 2020
• Published proposed regulations for off-road compression-ignition and large-spark ignition engine regulations
• Published a code of practice for the management of air emissions from pulp and paper facilities
• Published air pollutant projections along with greenhouse gas (GHG) projections
• Published Canada's Air Pollutant Emission Inventory (APEI) and reported to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)
• Extended the availability of the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) to all 10 provinces and 3 territories
• Created ECCC’s Weather App (WeatherCAN) to facilitate Canadians’ access to information about current air quality and alerts
• Demonstrated progress in target stakeholder adaptation and market uptake of indoor air quality solutions and technologies allowing for significant improvement in radon control

Jennifer Kerr
Director, Air Emissions Priorities
Legislative and Regulatory Affairs Directorate
Environmental Protection Branch
Environment and Climate Change Canada
351 St-Joseph Blvd, Place Vincent Massey
Gatineau (Quebec) K1A 0H3
Tel: 819-420-7758
Jennifer.kerr2@canada.ca

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) with support from the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat (TBS).

• Indigenous Services Canada
• Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada
• Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
• Canada Border Services Agency
• Canadian Food Inspection Agency
• Correctional Service Canada
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada
• Health Canada
• Innovation Science and Economic Development Canada
• Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Incorporated
• Marine Atlantic Inc.
• National Capital Commission
• National Defence
• National Research Council of Canada
• Natural Resources Canada
• Parks Canada Agency
• Public Services and Procurement Canada
• Royal Canadian Mounted Police
• Transport Canada
• VIA Rail Canada

Not applicable

The FCSAP was approved in 2005, as a 15 year program. It followed after the two-year Federal Contaminated Sites Accelerated Action Plan program, which began in 2003.

FCSAP will continue to March 31, 2035.

The FCSAP provides a long-term mechanism to address the highest priority federal contaminated sites. Although responsibility for the management and remediation of federal contaminated sites rests with responsible custodial departments, the FCSAP program is administered by ECCC with support from the TBS.

The Federal Contaminated Sites Assistant Deputy Ministers Oversight Committee is supported by the Director Generals Committee, the Contaminated Sites Management Working Group and the ECCC’s FCSAP Secretariat, which provides overall program coordination.

$4,874,870,914 from April 1, 2003 to March 31, 2020

Not applicable

$4,165,348,229 from April 1, 2003 to March 31, 2019

The FCSAP Horizontal Initiative was renewed in 2015 until March, 31, 2020

$1,347,932,556, Budget 2015

Not applicable

Not applicable

Evaluation began in 2016–17 and was concluded in 2018–19

The primary objectives of FCSAP are to reduce environmental and human health risks from known federal contaminated sites and to reduce the associated federal financial liabilities in the Public Accounts of Canada, while giving priority to higher-risk sites.

The number of federal contaminated sites that will undergo and complete remediation activities through FCSAP and the associated reduction of environmental liability

Custodians plan to conduct remediation activities at 603 sites in 2018–19; remediation will be completed at 164 of these sites and additional remediation will be required at 439 sites. Environmental liability will be reduced by $384,290,657.

Data source is the Federal Contaminated Sites Inventory. Frequency of monitoring and reporting is the end of each fiscal year.

The Federal Contaminated Sites Inventory is a publicly accessible database administered by TBS. Custodians manage their federal contaminated sites according to a 10-step process, as set out in A Federal Approach to Contaminated Sites (Contaminated Sites Management Working Group, 1999). Sites suspected of contamination are identified and historical reviews of the site are conducted in steps 1 and 2; assessment and prioritization of the need for action at sites occurs through steps 3 to 6; the remediation or risk-management strategy is developed at step 7 and implemented at step 8, which is followed by confirmatory sampling at step 9 and long-term monitoring, as required, in step 10. Sites are closed once no further action is required and financial liability has been reduced to zero. Assessment funding is used to support steps 1 through 6 while remediation funding supports steps 7 through 10.  The assessment and remediation of contaminated sites often require multiple years to complete.

1. Assessment activities were conducted at 230 sites and completed at 96 sites as of March 31, 2019
2. Remediation activities were conducted at 422 sites and completed at 24 sites as of March 31, 2019
3. 96% ($376,741,567 of $394,149,051) of FCSAP remediation expenditures reduced liability

Not applicable

FCSAP program partners spent 99% of the Planned Spending.

Custodians reached 70% of the target for conducting remediation activities and 15% for the completion of remediation activites. The remediation of contaminated sites often require multiple years to complete and, while action is taken within a current fiscal year, completion may take additional time.

FCSAP Secretariat
Contaminated Sites Division
17th floor, Place Vincent Massey
351 St. Joseph Blvd
Gatineau, QC, K1A 0H3
ec.pascf-fcsap.ec@canada.ca

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC)

• Parks Canada (PCA)
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)
• Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)

Not applicable

2018-19

2022-23

Natural spaces will be protected by establishing and expanding protected areas, managing them to high standards, and linking them onto a well-connected network of protected lands, inland water and coastal and marine areas. Species will be conserved by developing and implementing, in collaboration with partners, protection and recovery measures for priority species, in priority areas, and to address risks; and the rights and responsibilities of Indigenous peoples in conserving species and spaces will be respected and supported.

A senior management committee (Senior Oversight Committee) will be established at the ADM level with representation from ECCC, PCA, DFO and NRCan to guide the initiative, address any issues, and overcome any roadblocks that become apparent.

The Committee will be chaired by ECCC, and will be established for the duration of the Nature Legacy. The Committee will meet at least once a year to consider a status report on the implementation of the Nature Legacy for Canada.

$1,121,627,505

$143,088,169

$118,166,083

Not applicable

Not applicable

Not applicable

Not applicable

2022-23

In 2018-19, the first year of this funding, the Government of Canada has been working closely with provinces and territories, Indigenous Peoples, Canadians, international partners and other stakeholders, to make significant progress towards our objectives. Some key highlights include:

Species at risk:

• Developed, with the provinces and territories, a Pan-Canadian Approach to Transforming Species at Risk Conservation in Canada for terrestrial species and agreed to work collaboratively on 11 priority places, 6 priority species, 3 sectors and 3 threats to improve outcomes for species at risk.
• Protections were added for 13 species at risk, further reducing the backlog of decisions on listing species under the Species at Risk Act (SARA).
• Published an assessment of imminent threats to Southern Mountain Caribou and negotiated draft agreements with British Columbia and two First Nations for on-the-ground recovery actions.
• To support the recovery of Boreal Caribou: negotiated conservation agreements to support on the ground action with the Northwest Territories; established agreements-in-principle with Saskatchewan and Yukon; released two reports on steps taken to protect critical habitat for the species; released an Order for the protection of critical habitat on federal lands; and consulted with Indigenous and others on amendments to the 2012 Recovery Strategy.
• Funded 14 projects under the Canada Nature Fund (Species stream) to enable Indigenous people to implement recovery and protection measures, negotiate and implement conservation agreements, and support participation in the SARA consultation and cooperation processes.
• Completed recovery strategies and management plans for 93% of aquatic species/populations at risk under SARA, surpassing the 2023 established target of 75%.
• Implemented 50 species at risk recovery projects prescribed in site-based Action Plans across Parks Canada’s protected heritage areas, including for black-tailed prairie dog, Atlantic salmon, plains bison, monarch butterfly and little brown bat. 
• Began implementing the Nature Legacy for aquatic species, with seven priority freshwater area initiatives, and two marine priority threats.
• Published the results of an assessment of imminent threats to Southern resident killer whale and highlighted an extensive suite of measures for Southern resident killer whale survival and recovery, including fisheries closures, hatchery production, changes to regulations on approach distances by vessels, and slowdowns.

Protected areas:

• Increased the percentage of Canada’s land and freshwater that were protected, from 10.6% to 11.8%, on the way towards the target of 17% by 2020.
• Increased the percentage of Canada’s marine and coastal areas that were protected, from 0.9 to 7.9%, surpassing the mid-term target of 5% and well on its way to the target of 10% by 2020.
• Established the Canada Nature Fund (Spaces stream), to help achieve Canada’s 17% land and freshwater target (Canada Target 1), enhance integrity and connectivity of protected and conserved areas, and establish new Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs) to support Indigenous engagement in conservation.
  • Invested $14.4 million in 38 projects that led to the establishment of new provincial, territorial, Indigenous, and private protected areas, resulting in the protection and conservation of 160,000 hectares of land, including the creation of Canada’s first Indigenous Protected Area – Edéhzhíe Protected Area (Northwest Territories) – to protect important habitat for woodland caribou and woodland bison, both threatened species.
• Published One with Nature: A Renewed Approach to Land and Freshwater Conservation in Canada, with advice from a National Advisory Panel on the Pathway to Canada Target 1, the Indigenous Circle of Experts, and federal, provincial and territorial governments. The report contains pan-Canadian guidance and policy tools to help support increasing the percentage of protected and conserved terrestrial and inland water by 2020.
• Designated the Scott Islands marine National Wildlife Area (British Columbia) as the first protected marine area established under the Canada Wildlife Act.
• Collaborated with the Government of British Columbia to secure land in the Darkwoods Conservation Area, one of Canada’s natural treasures and the world's only inland temperate rainforest.
• Under the Indigenous Guardians Pilot Program, funded 28 Indigenous projects, totalling $5.7 million, to support First Nations, Inuit and Metis communities in their stewardship work to protect sensitive areas and species, monitor ecological health, and maintain Indigenous cultural sites.
  • For example, the Guardians from the Dane nan yḗ dāh Land Guardian Program completed 252 wildlife observation surveys and 139 environmental concern surveys on their traditional territory to ensure the land and animals are protected.

Greg Stoodley
Senior Results and Delivery Analyst
Canadian Wildlife Service
Environment and Climate Change Canada
315 Saint-Joseph Boulevard, Gatineau QC J8Y 3Z5
819-420-7297
greg.stoodley@canada.ca