Archived: Risk-based audit and evaluation plan: 2013-14 to 2017-18: chapter 2

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

Plans for meeting the priority:

• Deliver on the Chemicals Management Plan (CMP)
• Deliver a sector-by-sector regulatory approach to reducing Canada’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
• Deliver on federal components of a national Air Quality Management System
• Participate in international fora to advance Canada’s environmental goals related to climate change and air quality
• Promote compliance with and enforce regulations - pollution

A Safe Environment: Provide Canadians with high quality information on immediate and long-term environmental conditions.

Plans for meeting the priority:

• Deliver high-quality weather and environmental services to Canadians 
• Deliver high-quality weather and environmental services to targeted users 

A Sustainable Environment: Ensure that land, water and biodiversity are sustained.

Plans for meeting the priority:

• Improve implementation of the Species at Risk Program
• Pursue a collaborative approach to protect and conserve biodiversity at home and abroad, including through the development of a National Conservation Plan 
• Advance work through the Joint Canada-Alberta Implementation Plan for Oil Sands Monitoring 
• Implement a comprehensive approach to protecting water and to ecosystem management
• Promote compliance with and enforce regulations-wildlife 

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

Plans for meeting the priority:

• Develop and implement strategic approaches to human resources management that respond to conditions of the current period of fiscal restraint
• Improve communication - internally and externally - of departmental priorities, programs and policies
• Focus financial management functions on mandatory/core services and provide them through the most effective and efficient means possible, including modernizing departmental financial management systems
• Continue to implement the Departmental Security Plan (including the Business Continuity Plan) 
• Re-engineer information management and technology operations to support the Shared Services Canada model and ongoing Departmental requirements 
• Support management oversight

Engagement

With the environment remaining important to many Canadians, there are high expectations for Environment Canada’s ongoing engagement with its domestic and international partners and stakeholders to help conserve and protect the environment, at the same time as the Department continues to contribute to the government’s plan to return to fiscal balance. Environment Canada will continue to foster key partner and stakeholder relationships with other jurisdictions, Aboriginal peoples and groups, and industry, among others, to build on and share expertise. The Department will continue to access and implement innovative and cost-effective ways, including through technology, to engage international partners and expand stakeholder opportunities to participate in consultations. This work will be undertaken in parallel with improvements to how the Department manages grants and contributions as tools for engagement.

Business Continuity

Environment Canada provides critical weather and other environmental information to Canadians and to a host of stakeholders and partners-both domestically and internationally 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To counter the risk that this key service could be interrupted, the Department will maintain its evergreen Business Continuity Plan, negotiate service-level agreements with stakeholders and partners, and continue to develop professional staff to maintain these essential services. The Department will also maintain the capacity to respond to hazards and other environmental emergencies, such as extreme weather and climate events. Safeguarding key systems and data is essential to maintaining Environment Canada’s ability to provide the critical services that support the health and safety of Canadians in a timely, coordinated and effective manner. The Department will develop enhanced business arrangements with Shared Services Canada to support the provision of critical weather services.

Skills

The Department’s core services are based on a sound foundation of science, technology and regulatory work. The recruitment, development and retention of employees with the essential and specific skills and knowledge required to support programs and internal services could continue to pose challenges, particularly in the current fiscal environment. Environment Canada will proactively provide a healthy and flexible work environment and otherwise support its workforce so that essential skills, knowledge and experience are maintained and developed through cost-effective means, including by leveraging workforce development opportunities through partnerships. The Department will also engage in ongoing strategic operational planning to address and maintain key competencies and expertise in the fields of meteorology, science and technology, and to maintain operational effectiveness of the services offered both now and into the future in all areas of the Department.