Financial overview – Estimates of the Parks Canada Agency: appearance before the Standing Committee
Overview
2020-2021 Main Estimates
Q. The 2020–2021 Main Estimates for the Parks Canada Agency include a payment of approximately $10 million to the New Parks and Historic Sites Account. In 2019–2020, approximately $26.3 million was paid into this account, and in 2018–2019, $44 million. Can you explain why payments to the New Parks and Historic Sites Account vary from year to year?
A. The New Parks and Historic Sites Account is a capital account for national parks, national historic sites, national marine conservation areas or other protected heritage areas that are being established, enlarged or designated.
Amounts are deposited in the account each year based on funding approved by Parliament.
The amounts will vary from one year to another depending on the financial profile associated with the established plan.
Q. How does the Parks Canada Agency report on spending from this account?
A. Results on the establishment of new parks, national historic sites and national marine conservation areas are reported annually in the Departmental Results Report tabled in Parliament and financial information on the account is reported in the annual Parks Canada Agency’s Financial Statements.
Q. What are the objectives of this account, and how does the Agency ensure that they are met?
A. The objective of this account is to provide more certainty around the availability of funding over time for the establishment of new national parks, national historic sites and national marine conservation areas.
The establishment process can take several years and there are many factors that can impact the timing of the establishment process. In order for the Agency to be able to commit funds over a long period of time, it needs certainty that funds will be available.
Funds deposited in this account are set aside and available when required.
Q. What projects does the Agency intend to fund out of this account in the coming years?
A. Amounts which have been deposited in the Account are for the establishment of the following protected heritage areas:
- Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and National Marine Conservation Area Reserve
- Gulf Islands National Park Reserve
- Naats’ihch’oh National Park Reserve
- Nahanni National Park Reserve
- Thaidene Nene National Park Reserve
- Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area
- Rouge National Urban Park
- Qausuittuq National Park
- Ukkusiksalik National Park
- Tallurutiup Imanga National Marine Conservation Area
- Torngat Mountains National Park
- Mealy Mountains National Park Reserve
Q. Parks Canada’s 2020-21 Main Estimates total approximately $1.1 billion. This represents a decrease of $543 million when compared to the 2019-20 Main Estimates.
Can you explain to the committee the reason for the decrease?
A. This decrease is primarily due to the sunsetting of a series of time-limited allocations that totalled approximately $3.6 billion that Parks Canada received over the last six years to rehabilitate a significant portion of its built asset inventory. Going forward with the 2020-21 Main Estimates funding, Parks Canada will continue to invest in conservation and its infrastructure to protect, present and manage Canada’s national urban park, national parks, national historic sites, heritage canals and national marine conservation areas for the benefit and enjoyment of Canadians. Parks Canada is also developing a long term plan focused on the sustainability of its capital assets.
2019-2020 Supplementary Estimates B
Q. The Parks Canada Agency increased its voted authority by $3.5 million through the 2019-2020 Supplementary Estimates (B), mainly related to the funding to commemorate Indian Residential School Sites. These Supplementary Estimates also include an internal vote transfer of $12.9 million to the New Parks and Historic Sites Account. How will the funding received to commemorate Indian Residential School Sites be used?
A. This funding is for the implementation of activities in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action 79. Activities include working with Indigenous organizations, cultural heritage experts, and residential school Survivors to develop a reconciliation framework for Canadian heritage and commemoration while also integrating Indigenous views, history and heritage into the heritage places managed by Parks Canada.
Q. Are there particular new national parks, national historic sites or national marine conservation areas that will be created through the $12.9 million transfer to the New Parks and Historic Sites Account?
A. The transfer of $12.9 million to the New Parks and Historic Sites Account is related to previously announced parks and sites, such as Tallurutip Imanga National Marine Conservation areas.
Copy of 2020-2021 Main Estimates
Parks Canada Agency
Raison d’être
The Minister of Environment and Climate Change is responsible for the Parks Canada Agency. Parks Canada protects and presents nationally significant examples of Canada’s natural and cultural heritage, and fosters public understanding, appreciation and enjoyment in ways that ensure the ecological and commemorative integrity of these places for present and future generations. Canada’s national urban park, national parks, national historic sites, heritage canals and national marine conservation areas, of which Parks Canada is the proud steward, offer Canadians opportunities to visit, experience and personally connect with these heritage places in ways that are meaningful to them. In carrying out its responsibilities, Parks Canada works in collaboration with the public, other federal departments, provinces, territories, Indigenous peoples and stakeholders.
Additional information can be found in the Organization’s Departmental Plan.
Organizational Estimates (dollars)
| - | 2018–19 Expenditures |
2019–20 Main Estimates |
2019–20 Estimates to date |
2020–21 Main Estimates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budgetary | ||||
Voted
|
||||
1 Operating expenditures
|
1,182,151,723 | 1,433,900,120 | 1,447,886,442 | 898,652,518 |
5 Payments to the New Parks and Historic Sites Account
|
44,007,000 | 13,423,000 | 26,323,000 | 9,992,000 |
Total Voted
|
1,226,158,723 | 1,447,323,120 | 1,474,209,442 | 908,644,518 |
Total Statutory
|
234,165,441 | 203,220,527 | 204,078,376 | 198,887,333 |
| Total Budgetary | 1,460,324,164 | 1,650,543,647 | 1,678,287,818 | 1,107,531,851 |
2020–21 Main Estimates by Purpose (dollars)
| - | Operating | Capital | Transfer Payments | Revenues and other reductions | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budgetary | |||||
| Protecting and Presenting Canada’s Natural and Cultural Heritage | 502,985,075 | 487,369,924 | 31,852,843 | 0 | 1,022,207,842 |
| Internal Services | 85,080,275 | 243,734 | 0 | 0 | 85,324,009 |
| Total | 588,065,350 | 487,613,658 | 31,852,843 | 0 | 1,107,531,851 |
Listing of the 2020–21 Transfer Payments (dollars)
| - | 2018–19 Expenditures |
2019–20 Main Estimates |
2020–21 Main Estimates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grants | |||
| Grants for the Implementation of Rights and Reconciliation Agreements in Atlantic Canada | 0 | 0 | 4,094,700 |
| Tallurutiup Imanga Inuit Stewardship Program Seed Fund | 0 | 0 | 2,400,000 |
| Inuit Research Fund | 0 | 0 | 1,000,000 |
| Grant to the International Peace Garden | 22,700 | 22,700 | 22,700 |
| Contributions | |||
| Contributions in support of activities or projects related to national parks, national marine conservation areas, national historic sites and historic canals | 13,109,395 | 7,664,324 | 15,835,443 |
| Support to the Great Trail | 7,500,000 | 7,500,000 | 7,500,000 |
| Contributions in support of the National Historic Sites Cost-Sharing Program | 2,456,112 | 1,000,000 | 1,000,000 |
Listing of Statutory Authorities (dollars)
| Budgetary | 2018–19 Expenditures |
2019–20 Estimates to date |
2020–21 Main Estimates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expenditures equivalent to revenues resulting from the conduct of operations pursuant to section 20 of the Parks Canada Agency Act | 170,827,686 | 150,000,000 | 150,000,000 |
| Contributions to employee benefit plans | 63,337,755 | 54,078,376 | 48,887,333 |
Copy of 2019-2020 Supplementary Estimates B
Parks Canada Agency
Organization Summary (dollars)
| Authorities to date | These Supplementary Estimates - Transfers | These Supplementary Estimates - Adjustments | Proposed Authorities to date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budgetary | ||||
| Voted | ||||
| 1b Program expenditures | 1,935,066,990 | (12,140,412) | 2,582,463 | 1,925,509,041 |
| 5b Payments to the New Parks and Historic Sites Account | 13,423,000 | 12,900,000 | 0 | 26,323,000 |
| Total Voted | 1,948,489,990 | 759,588 | 2,582,463 | 1,951,832,041 |
| Total Statutory | 229,136,768 | 0 | 152,040 | 229,288,808 |
| Total Budgetary Expenditures | 2,177,626,758 | 759,588 | 2,734,503 | 2,181,120,849 |
Note: Additional details by organization are available on the Treasury Board Secretariat website.
Explanation of Requirements (dollars)
| - | Vote No. | Amount ($) |
|---|---|---|
| Budgetary | ||
Voted Appropriations
|
||
Funding to commemorate Indian Residential School sites
|
Vote 1b | 2,582,463 |
Total Voted Appropriations
|
2,582,463 | |
Total Statutory Appropriations
|
152,040 | |
Transfers
|
||
Transfers from Other Organizations
|
||
From the Department of Public Works and Government Services to various organizations, to implement and support cluster management offices as part of the Federal Sciences and Technology Infrastructure Initiative
|
Vote 1b | 404,800 |
From the Treasury Board Secretariat to various organizations for innovative approaches to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in government operations
|
Vote 1b | 175,000 |
From the Department of Transport to the Department of National Defence, the Department of Public Works and Government Services and Parks Canada Agency for climate risk assessments
|
Vote 1b | 125,000 |
From the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to various organizations to respond to Indigenous concerns on the overall health of the Salish Sea
|
Vote 1b | 94,788 |
Internal Transfers
|
||
Internal reallocation of resources to support the creation and expansion of new National Parks, National Historic Sites and National Marine Conservation Areas
|
Vote 1b | (12,900,000) |
| Vote 5b | 12,900,000 | |
Total
|
0 | |
Transfers to Other Organizations
|
||
From Parks Canada Agency to the Department of the Environment for the Assembly of First Nations Elders Council
|
Vote 1b | (40,000) |
Total Transfers
|
759,588 | |
| Total Budgetary | 3,494,091 | |
Listing of Transfer Payments (dollars)
| Contributions | Estimates to date | These Supplementary Estimates | Revised Estimates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contributions in support of activities or projects related to national parks, national marine conservation areas, national historic sites and historic canals | 13,227,083 | 883,500 | 14,110,583 |
Listing of Statutory Authorities (dollars)
| Budgetary | Authorities to date | These Supplementary Estimates | Proposed Authorities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contributions to employee benefit plans | 53,926,336 | 152,040 | 54,078,376 |
PCA Supplementary Estimates B - Description of Items
New Funding
The Parks Canada Agency is seeking funding to commemorate Indian Residential School sites ($2,734,503)
This funding is for the implementation of activities in response to theTruth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action 79. Activities include working with Indigenous organizations, cultural heritage experts, and residential school Survivors to develop a reconciliation framework for Canadian heritage and commemoration while also integrating Indigenous views, history and heritage into theheritage places managed by Parks Canada.
Transfers
Transfer from the Department of Public Works and Government Services to Parks Canada Agency related to Federal Sciences and Technology Infrastructure Initiative ($404,800)
This transfer to Parks Canada is related to the implementation and support of a cluster management office as part of the Laboratories Canada Initiative.
This is part of a 25-year plan to rebuild federal laboratories and bring federal scientists and science facilities across the Government together to advance interdisciplinary research.
The Culture Heritage Science Cluster (CHSC) is one of the five Phase 1 clusters of this initiative. As part of this cluster, Parks Canada’s conservation services, the Canadian Conservation Institute and the Canadian Heritage Information Network will co-locate in a single, collaborative science facility.
Activities include support for the planning and implementation of the project, as well as shared support for governance, culture change and internal communications.
Transfer from the Treasury Board Secretariat for the Greening Government Fund ($175,000)
This funding was provided for a project in Kluane National Park to add a roof-mounted solar array and heat conversion system to establish an energy-efficient trades building. The completion of this project will significantly help facilitate the transition of the facility away from diesel heating fuel towards 100% electric.
Transfer from the Department of Transport to Parks Canada Agency to undertake a climate risk assessment ($125,000)
This transfer is related to the Identifying Climate Change-Related Risks to Highway 93S Infrastructure in Kootenay National Park. Activities include data gathering and gapanalysis, modelling, broad model assessment and identify/advance site specific interests, and report completion to Transport Canada.
Transfer from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) in support of activities to respond to Indigenous concerns regarding cumulative impacts on the Salish Sea ($94,788)
This transfer is related to one of the initiatives under the Trans Mountain Expansion project. The Salish Sea initiative has the purpose of responding to Indigenous concerns regarding cumulative impacts on the Salish Sea. Specifically, Parks Canada will participate in a DFO-led Secretariat with the objective to guide and support identification of general environmental element of an ecosystem, and support guidance for identification of immediate projects and capacity needs for Indigenous groups.
Transfer to the Department of the Environment to support a project for the Elders Council under the Assembly of First Nations (-$40,000)
This transfer is to inform the development of improved local and national approaches to Indigenous knowledge systems to enhance protection and conservation while also supporting reconciliation. This is an opportunity to engage with the Assembly of First Nations and the Elders Council.
Adjustment
Internal Vote transfer to the New Parks and Historic Sites Account: $12,900,000 (No change to reference levels).
The New Parks and Historic Sites Account is a special purpose account that provides the Agency with the ability to set aside funds for new parks and historic sites. This account provides protection to the funding until it is required for the establishment, enlargement or designation of national parks, national historic sites, national marine conservation areas or other protected heritage areas.
This adjustment represents the amount transferred from the Agency’s appropriations to this special purpose account for the following sites:
- Naats’ihch’oh
- Thaidene Nëné
- Lake Superior
- Qausuittuq
- Tallurutiup Imanga
- HSM Erebus & Terror
- Mealy Mountain
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