Response to parliamentary committees and external audits: 2021-2022 Departmental Results Report

Response to parliamentary committees

Appearance before the Standing Committee on Public Accounts - 2021 Fall CESD Reports: Lessons Learned from Canada’s Record on Climate Change (This meeting was postponed.)

Appearance before the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development - 2021 Fall CESD Reports

On February 1, 2022, the following departmental officials appearing before ENVI along with the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development.

Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food

• Matt Parry, Director General, Policy Development and Analysis Directorate, Strategic Policy Branch
• Dr. Ian D. Campbell, Director of Research, Development and Technology Transfer for the Charlottetown and Fredericton Centres, Science and Technology Branch

Department of Natural Resources

• Mollie Johnson, Assistant Deputy Minister, Low Carbon Energy Sector
• Debbie Scharf, Director General, Clean Fuels Branch

Department of the Environment

• Hilary Geller, Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic Policy Branch
• Douglas Nevison, Assistant Deputy Minister, Climate Change Branch
• Vincent Ngan, Director General, Horizontal Policy, Engagement and Coordination, Climate Change Branch

Office of the Auditor General

• Jerry V. DeMarco, Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development
• Kimberley Leach, Principal
• James McKenzie, Principal
• David Normand, Principal
• Michelle Salvail, Principal

Response to the Auditor General (including to the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development)

2021 Fall Reports of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development

Report 3: Scientific Activities in Selected Water Basins

The objective of the audit was to determine whether Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) took a coordinated and risk-based approach to reduce the impact of excess nutrients on ecosystem health in selected Canadian bodies of water (Lake Erie, Lake Winnipeg, and Wolastoq/Saint John River).

The audit concluded that ECCC and AAFC took a coordinated risk-based approach to reduce the impact of excess nutrients on ecosystems in selected Canadian water basins. However, identified several areas where coordination could be strengthened to achieve the best outcomes possible, given the current state of water quality in the 3 selected water basins and the threat posed by climate change on algal blooms. There is room for improvement, especially as it relates to systematically sharing of information on risks between departments.

The report contained six recommendations. The Department agreed with all recommendations and prepared a management action plan to address them.

The report was tabled in Parliament on November 25, 2021.

The report and ECCC’s response can be viewed on the Office of the Auditor General of Canada’s website Report 3—Scientific Activities in Selected Water Basins

Report 5: Lessons Learned from Canada’s Record on Climate Change

Note: Entities involved in the review of the report: ECCC and NRCan

This is not an audit report. Instead, this report provides a historical perspective on Canada’s action to address climate change mitigation and adaptation in order to inform parliamentarians. Parliamentarians are instrumental in ensuring that Canada transitions to a low-emission economy and ultimately must hold the government to account in meeting its climate change objectives. This report also aims to build Canadians’ awareness of the climate crisis, to share the Commissioner’s views, and to position future work on Canada’s climate change efforts.

The report identifies trends in Canada’s efforts to fight climate change, along with 8 lessons learned from Canadian accomplishments and mistakes.

Thestudy concluded that Canada has failed to meet its emissions reductions targets. Key lessons include: invite all players to the decision-making table; ensure adaptation is prioritized; enhance climate awareness among Canadians; prioritize finance and investment to support climate objectives; and transition the economy and vulnerable communities away from emissions-intensive sectors, while ensuring action now protects future generations.

This report is not an audit/review and thus contains no recommendations. The information in the report was gathered through public sources, past audit recommendations, and interviews with senior climate experts, former government officials and former commissioners.

The report was tabled in Parliament on November 25, 2021.

The report can be viewed on the Office of the Auditor General of Canada’s website Report 5—Lessons Learned from Canada’s Record on Climate Change

Report 6: Departmental Progress in Implementing Sustainable Development Strategies – Healthy Coasts and Oceans, Pristine Lakes and Rivers, and Sustainable Food

The objective of the review was to determine whether the 12 federal organizations included in the scope contributed to meeting the 2016-2019 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS) goals of healthy coasts and oceans (goal 6), pristine lakes and rivers (goal 7) and sustainable food (goal 11).

The review concluded that departments and agencies contributed to meeting goals 6, 7 and 11 of the 2016-2019 FSDS. In their departmental sustainable development strategies, most departments and agencies had identified some actions toward the goals. However, in almost half of the cases, their actions failed to explicitly link to the goal’s targets, which the departments and agencies should be helping to achieve. In addition, most of the departmental actions that departments and agencies reported on did not follow the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat’s guidance on how to report. They did not report results to show to what extent they met the objectives for almost half of the actions in their sustainable development strategies.

The report contained one recommendation. ECCC agreed with the recommendation and prepared a management action plan to address it.

The report was tabled in Parliament on November 25, 2021.

The report and ECCC’s response can be viewed on the Office of the Auditor General of Canada’s website Report 6— Departmental Progress in Implementing Sustainable Development Strategies – Healthy Coasts and Oceans, Pristine Lakes and Rivers, and Sustainable Food

Report 7: Environmental Petitions Annual Report

The objective of the statutory report is to inform Parliament and Canadians about the number, nature, and status of environmental petitions and the government’s responses received between 1 July 2020 and 30 June 2021.

The review concluded that all ministers concerned responded to petition questions within the 120-day statutory deadline, except for one (not identified in the report). The CESD received 14 petitions this reporting period and 21 departments and agencies received petitions for a response. Environment and Climate Change Canada received the most petitions.

Petitions addressed a wide variety of issues, including concerns about biodiversity, climate change, environmental assessment and toxic substances.

The report is not an audit or review and thus contains no recommendations.

The report was tabled in Parliament on November 25, 2021.

The report can be viewed on the Office of the Auditor General of Canada’s website Report 7— Environmental Petitions Annual Report

Response to external audits conducted by the Public Service Commission of Canada or the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages

Public Service Commission: Horizontal Audit of Student Hiring under the Federal Student Work Experience Program (FSWEP)

The objective of the audit was to determine if FSWEP hires are compliant with key legislative, policy and regulatory requirements; and better understand practices and challenges related to the use of FSWEP.

PSC found that FSWEP hires examined in their audit sample met most program eligibility criteria. This shows that the departments and agencies that participated in the audit have a good understanding of the program’s core requirements and apply them well. However, departments and agencies did not always keep enough documentation to support their hiring decisions.

In 8 appointments from 5 organizations, the audit found indicators that the student referral system may have been manipulated to maximize the chances of specific students being referred to the organization.

Interviews conducted with the departments and agencies that participated in this audit provided useful information on challenges faced when recruiting FSWEP students. Challenges identified include difficulties in hiring students in the regions, a lack of flexibility to hire students found through other recruitment initiatives, and the inability to hire part-time students.

There are many benefits to using FSWEP. However, certain limitations of the program may restrict its use and cause hiring managers to choose other hiring options, such as casual employment.

The report contains three recommendations, one of which is directed at Deputy Heads. The Department is working to address the recommendation.

The report was published on July 8, 2021.

The report can be viewed on the PSC’s website: Horizontal Audit of Student Hiring under the Federal Student Work Experience Program