Departmental Plan, 2021-2022, overview: appearance before the Standing Committee (March 10, 2021)

Overview of ECCC’s Departmental Plan 2021-22

Issue

The Departmental Plan was tabled in Parliament on Thursday, February 25, 2021.

As part of the expenditures management system, each Minister must present a departmental plan, which sets out the department’s priorities, as well as the plans and resources dedicated to achieving those priorities.

Key messages

• The ECCC Departmental Plan provides information to parliamentarians and Canadians on our plans, priorities and intended results for the coming year.
• This year’s plan builds on important work already underway to address clean growth and climate change, prevent and manage pollution, conserve nature, and predict weather and environmental conditions. It also outlines bold new strategic actions, such as those outlined in Canada’s strengthened climate plan, A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy.
• The Department’s programs continue to reflect the interdependence of environmental sustainability and economic well-being.
• In a year that marks the department’s 50th anniversary, and the Meteorological Service of Canada’s 150th anniversary, ECCC will continue to deliver on its mandate by taking action to address immediate challenges, and looking ahead to secure a cleaner and more prosperous future.

Supplemental messages

What are the biggest initiatives for 2021-22?

• The Government of Canada has a plan to not just meet but exceed Canada’s Paris Agreement target of a 30% reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions below 2005 levels by 2030, and to putting Canada on a path to achieving a prosperous, net-zero emissions future.
• The Government is investing in a Healthy Environment and Healthy Economy to build on the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change. The Plan includes 64 new measures to improve current and future results, and improve economic and environmental benefits.
• ECCC will continue to lead the Federal Leadership Towards Zero Plastic Waste initiative, a comprehensive agenda to achieve the Government of Canada’s goal of zero plastic waste by 2030.
• To achieve the Government of Canada’s ambitious goal to conserve 25% of lands and oceans by 2025 and work toward 30% by 2030, ECCC will develop a plan in collaboration with Parks Canada Agency and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, and in partnership with provinces, territories, municipalities, Indigenous peoples and the private, philanthropic, and non-profit sectors.
• In 2021-22, the Department will replace six outdated radars across Canada and will install a new radar in the lower Athabasca region, making use of the most modern technology available to forecast short-term severe weather events associated with thunderstorms, tornadoes, ice storms and blizzards.

What has the department done to limit the impact of the pandemic on the delivery of its services?

• ECCC provides critical services to Canadians and is required to maintain operations during COVID-19. However, to ensure this happens in a safe manner, the Department has invested in equipment and processes to ensure the workplace is safe for those critical services employees that remain onsite.
• Weather forecasting offices were retrofitted with measures to maintain social distancing and necessary Personal Protection Equipment to ensure continued operations. These offices use specialized equipment for everything from monitoring water levels in the spring, to wildfires, severe weather such as tornadoes, as well as hurricanes through the summer and fall.
• The National Environmental Emergencies Centre is using a hybrid model with staff rotating in the office to maintain physical distancing while monitoring for emergencies 24/7 and providing assistance using specialized tools.
• In support of government efforts to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and flatten the curve of the pandemic, ECCC, in collaboration with Parks Canada, suspended visitor services and access at all national wildlife areas to align with the guidance of public health authorities.
• Beginning in June 2020, the Department gradually opened select National Wildlife Areas with modifications to mitigate health and safety risks, while providing Canadians access to the health and wellness benefits of being outdoors in nature.

What are the department’s plans/contingencies in the event of an ongoing pandemic?

• As Canada and the world continue to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of Canada is taking action to address immediate challenges, and looks ahead to solutions that can foster a strong, more resilient future. ECCC continues to identify options to streamline operations and programming, better support partners and clients, and realign priorities to ensure the continued operation of essential services to ensure the health and safety of Canadians.
• ECCC will continue to engage with international partners on planned results for 2021-22, such as Free Trade Agreements and the promotion of clean technology abroad through virtual means in response to travel restrictions and the cancellation of in-person meetings and events.
• Canada continues to work with multilateral and bilateral partners to deliver on its climate finance commitment, and is closely engaging them to understand the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on the implementation of specific projects.
• Enforcement officers have continued to respond to urgent situations at all times, and proactive enforcement activities have been evaluated on a case by case basis in the context of potential harm to the environment and the health and safety of officers and members of the public.
• In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, ECCC has established contingency plans for the delivery of critical wildlife services. For example, site-specific plans are in place to maintain safe visitor access to publicly accessible National Wildlife Areas, and to protect employee health and safety at sites. Since June 1, 2020 over 100,000 people have visited our National Wildlife Areas.

What is the department doing to address static or poor trends related to key performance measures?

• The departmental plan demonstrates that programs are realizing positive environmental benefits for Canadians. Where targets were not met, the following steps are being taken:
  • To improve greenhouse gas emissions from heavy-duty and light-duty vehicles, the Government will expand the supply of clean electricity through investments in clean energy and technology, and encourage cleaner modes of transportation, such as low and zero-emission vehicles, transit and active transportation. This includes investments to ensure rural, remote and Indigenous communities have the opportunity to be powered by clean, reliable energy by 2030.
  • Black Carbon emissions are trending poorly due to the recovery in diesel production, which crashed in 2016 because of the Fort McMurray forest fires. ECCC’s current projections anticipate further declines in Black Carbon emissions over the next decade.
  • ECCC continues to engage Inuit, Métis and First Nations through table meetings to co-develop indicators on the Pan-Canadian Framework.
  • To ensure ecosystems along species’ migration routes can sustain healthy populations, ECCC is working with its partners in other levels of government, industry and the public, both within Canada and internationally.
  • To improve Canadian areas conserved as protected areas and through other effective area-based conservation measures, ECCC will partner with provinces, territories, non-government organizations, Indigenous communities, municipalities, private landowners, and others to plant two billion trees and to restore and enhance wetlands, peatlands, grasslands and agricultural lands to boost carbon sequestration.
  • To make sure species at risk can maintain healthy populations, ECCC will continue to implement the Species at Risk Act guided by the Pan-Canadian approach through listing, recovery planning, and protection action. ECCC will continue to engage with provinces, territories, Indigenous communities, scientists, industry and other stakeholders in the delivery of these activities. The Department will continue to enhance compliance promotion and enforcement capacities and methods by building computer forensics capacity to assist with investigations, modernizing officer training and equipment, and recertifying officers to ECCC standards through an internal National Use of Force Team.
  • To increase the percentage of Canadians that use ECCC information to address water-related impacts on health, safety, economy and environment, ECCC is working to improve forecasting accuracy to better reflect the target audience benefitting from ECCC’s hydrological services, which comprises about 7% of the Canadian population. Changes to the target group and subsequent methodological changes will lead to improved results.

How does the department plan to address important GoC-wide priorities, such as Diversity and Inclusion and GBA+?

• Diversity, Inclusion and Employment Equity remains a critical departmental and government-wide priority. ECCC will continue to support these practices by engaging and giving financial support to employee-led networks, increase recruitment and retention of diverse employee groups to close employment equity gaps, and strengthen commitments to learning, including second language development for employment equity designated groups.
• Canada will continue to engage Indigenous peoples in developing international climate policy, and by promoting gender equality and the role of women in climate action around the world. Canada will also remain steadfast in its efforts to ensure that international market mechanisms are guided by a robust set of rules and operate with environmental integrity.
• ECCC will continue to support developing countries transition to resilient, low-carbon economies. Canada is on track to meet its climate finance commitment of $2.65 billion by March 2021. In 2021­-22, ECCC will assist in bilateral projects with up to ten developing countries to implement controls on HFCs in accordance with agreed individual country work plans.

Why is there a decrease in FTE between fiscal years 2020-21 (7,341) to 2021-22 (7,171)?

• The amount of FTEs between actual FTEs in 2019-20 and forecasted FTEs in 2020-21 is fairly stable. No major changes affecting the FTEs were made to the 2020-21 forecast.
• The overall decrease of 170 FTEs between the 2020−21 forecast and the 2021−22 planned FTEs is the result of a decreasing funding profile and sunsetting initiatives with temporary funding related to the:
  • Low Carbon Economy Fund, under the Taking Action on Clean Growth and Climate Change Core Responsibility; and
  • Chemicals Management Plan, under the Preventing and Managing Pollution Core Responsibility.

Why is there a decrease in FTE between fiscal years 2021-22 (7,171) to 2023-24 (6,365)?

• Overall, there is a decreasing trend in planned FTEs over the 2021−22 to 2023−24 planning horizon. This is the result of sunsetting initiatives with temporary funding. Funding requests for such initiatives are subject to government decisions and will be reflected in future Budget exercises and Estimates documents. The overall decrease of 164 FTEs between the 2021−22 and 2022−23 planned FTEs is the result of a decreasing funding profile and sunsetting initiatives with temporary funding related to the:
  • National Zero Waste Plastic Strategy, under the Preventing and Managing Pollution Core Responsibility;
  • Carbon Pricing, under the Taking Action on Clean Growth and Climate Change Core Responsibility;
  • Oceans Protection Plan, under the Predicting Weather and Environmental Conditions Core Responsibility;
  • Great Lake Ecosystem Initiatives, under the Preventing and Managing Pollution Core Responsibility;
  • Canada's Marine Safety Response, under the Preventing and Managing Pollution Core Responsibility; and
  • Low Carbon Economy Fund under the Taking Action on Clean Growth and Climate Change Core Responsibility.
• The overall decrease of 642 planned FTEs between 2022−23 and 2023−24 is the result of a decreasing funding profile and sunsetting initiatives with temporary funding related to the:
  • Protecting Canada’s Nature, Parks and Wild Spaces, under the Conserving Nature Core Responsibility;
  • Initiatives associated with the revitalization of meteorological services, under the Predicting Weather and Environmental Conditions Core Responsibility;
  • Adapting Canada’s Weather and Water Services initiative, under the Predicting Weather and Environmental Conditions Core Responsibility;
  • Impact Assessment and Regulatory Regime Implementation, under the Conserving Nature Core Responsibility;
  • Protecting Marine Life, under the Preventing and Managing Pollution Core Responsibility; and
  • Implement British Columbia Agreements, under the Conserving Nature Core Responsibility.

Why is there an increase between 2019-20 actual expenditures ($1,545.7M) and 2020-21 forecast spending ($1,967.9M)?

• The increase of $422.2M (27.3%) from 2019-20 actual expenditures to 2020-21 forecast spending is mainly due to a reprofile of funds for the Low Carbon Economy Fund and an increase in funding for the Climate Action Incentive Fund, and the Protecting Canada's Nature, Parks and Wild Spaces Initiative. This increase is partially offset by a decreasing funding profile for the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan, and Strong Arctic and Northern Communities.

Why is there a decrease between planned spending for 2020-21 ($1,967.9M) and 2021-22 ($1,699.1M)?

• The decrease of $268.8M in forecast spending from 2020−21 to 2021−22 is mainly due to a decreasing funding profile for the Low Carbon Economy Fund, initiatives supporting Clean Growth and Climate Change, and the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy. This is also due to the sunsetting of the Climate Action Incentive Fund and the Chemical Management Plan. This decrease is partially offset by an increasing funding profile for the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan, Strong Arctic and Northern Communities, and to modernize the enforcement of environmental laws and regulations.

Why is there a decrease in planned spending from 2021-22 ($1,699.1M) to 2023-24 ($1,131.0M)?

• Overall, there is a decrease of $568.1M in planned spending from 2021−22 to 2023−24. This is the result of sunsetting initiatives with temporary funding. Funding requests for such initiatives are subject to government decisions and will be reflected in future Budget exercises and Estimates documents.
• Major initiatives whose funding profile will decrease in 2022−23 include the:
  • the Low Carbon Economy Fund;
  • the Great Lake Ecosystem Initiatives;
  • the National Zero Waste Plastic Strategy; and
  • the Protecting Canada's Nature, Parks and Wild Spaces Initiative.
• Major initiatives whose funding profile will decrease in 2023–24 include:
  • the Protecting Canada's Nature, Parks and Wild Spaces Initiative;
  • initiatives associated with the revitalization of meteorological services;
  • the Adapting Canada’s Weather and Water Services Initiative;
  • the Low Carbon Economy Fund; and
  • Impact Assessment and Regulatory Regime Implementation.

Background

• Departmental Plans are primary instruments of accountability to Parliament and are a key component of the government’s planning and resource management processes. They are annual expenditure plans that provide information on departmental strategic outcomes and program activities, plans and priorities, expected results, performance indicators and resource requirements on a three-year basis.
• As part III of the Government of Canada Expenditure Management System, departmental plans are tabled in Parliament by the President of the Treasury Board on behalf of the ministers who preside over the appropriation-dependent departments and agencies identified in Schedules I, I.1 and II of the Financial Administration Act.
• ECCC’s departmental plan for 2021-2022 has been developed in consideration of ECCC’s mandate letter, and it largely reflects a continuation of work underway in 2020-2021. This includes the implementation of the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change and the new actions outlined in A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy: Canada’s Strengthened Climate Plan, as well as commitments to achieve departmental priorities to prevent pollution, conserve nature, and predict meteorological conditions.
• ECCC is the lead federal department for strategic action on a wide range of environmental matters, including action on clean growth and climate change, preventing and managing pollution, conserving nature, and predicting weather and environmental conditions.
• ECCC’s program focus reflects the interdependence of environmental sustainability and economic well-being. ECCC works in partnership with provincial, territorial and municipal governments, Indigenous partners, and communities to deliver important programs and services that are essential to ensuring the health and well-being of Canadians and the environment, in a manner that respects the Government of Canada’s commitment to openness, effectiveness and transparency in government.
• As Canada and the world continue to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of Canada is taking action to address immediate challenges, and looking ahead to solutions that can foster a strong, more resilient future.