Horizontal initiative: Federal Leadership towards Zero Plastic Waste
2022-2023 Departmental Results Report
Horizontal initiative: Federal Leadership towards Zero Plastic Waste
General information
Name of horizontal initiative
Advancing a Circular Plastics Economy for Canada
Lead department
Environment and Climate Change Canada
Federal partner organization(s)
Health Canada, National Research Council, Transport Canada, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Statistics Canada, Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs
Start date
April 1, 2022
End date
March 31, 2027
Description
The Advancing a Circular Plastics Economy for Canada horizontal initiative (2022-2027) seeks to make progress on Canada’s 2030 goal of zero plastic waste, and longer-term goal of a circular plastics economy that keeps plastics in the economy and out of the environment. It is widely acknowledged that plastic pollution has a negative impact on the environment, and could potentially harm human health. Furthermore, landfilling of recoverable plastics is a significant economic loss to the Canadian economy. To address these challenges, seven federal departments will undertake a range of activities in five priority areas: (1) expanding knowledge on plastics in the environment and the economy; (2) developing and implementing management measures; (3) supporting innovation and market transformation; (4) preventing and reducing plastic pollution; and, (5) reducing waste from federal operations.
Summary roles of each partner:
- ECCC is responsible, as the lead department for the initiative, for oversight of the performance management, data analytics and results achieved. ECCC is contributing to scientific research and monitoring of plastics in the environment and its impacts; developing, implementing, and updating measures to prevent and reduce plastic pollution and waste; and supporting innovative solutions aimed at reducing plastic waste in key sectors and encouraging market transformation.
- HC is responsible for scientific research on microplastics and nanoplastics and their potential impacts on human health, as well as strengthening food chemical safety oversight of food packaging materials and identifying the risks for humans of microplastics and chemical additives found in plastics.
- NRC is responsible for developing a Decision Support System that will leverage data on the fate and movement of plastics in different Canadian water-based environments.
- StatCan is responsible for the development and annual publishing of statistical data on plastic flows through the economy, via the Physical Flow Account for Plastic Material.
- CIRNAC is responsible for conducting research and monitoring of plastic pollution in Canada’s North via its Northern Contaminants Program.
- DFO is responsible for managing the Ghost Gear Program, modernizing Canada’s domestic fisheries operations and regulatory regime, and improving solid waste and plastics management at DFO Small Craft Harbours, Real Property and Canadian Coast Guard sites.
- TC is responsible for filling knowledge gaps on the contribution of specific marine transportation pathways to plastic marine litter, associated socioeconomic impacts, and best practices and opportunities for pollution reduction.
Governance structure
Oversight for the implementation of this initiative is led by Environment and Climate Change Canada through three interdepartmental committees: the Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM), Director General (DG) and Director-level Zero Plastic Waste and Circular Economy committees.
The ADM Committee meets quarterly, and
- Provides overall strategic direction and linkages with other GOC priorities;
- Identifies cross-departmental and whole-of-government issues that impact progress; and
- Improves policy coherence for the federal zero plastic waste agenda.
The DG committee meets quarterly and
- Receives updates on the five priorities (science, regulations, industry sectors, ghost gear and federal operations); and
- Addresses cross-departmental policy coherence and issues.
The Director committee meets quarterly and
- Provides updates, tracks progress and exchanges on activity-level work within the horizontal initiative.
A secretariat, run by ECCC, provides support to the three committees. It updates progress trackers and dashboards with reporting by participating departments on the horizontal initiative’s activities, performance indicators, and targets.
Total federal funding allocated from start to end date (dollars)
Plastics 1 (2019-22): $68,180,154 ($59,101,686 in new funding; $9,078,468 of existing funding)
Plastics 2 (2022-27): $210,871,915 ($202,302,040 in new funding; $8,569,875 of existing funding)
Total federal planned spending to date (dollars)
Plastics 1 (2019-22): $68,180,154 ($59,101,686 in new funding; $9,078,468 of existing funding)
Plastics 2 (2022-23): $39,218,750 (new funding)
Total federal actual spending to date (dollars)
$31,942,472
Date of last renewal of initiative
April 1, 2022
Total federal funding allocated at last renewal and source of funding (dollars)
$202,302,040 (new funding)
Additional federal funding received after last renewal (dollars)
Not applicable
Total planned spending since last renewal
$39,218,750 (new funding)
Total actual spending since last renewal
$31,942,472 (new funding)
Fiscal year of planned completion of next evaluation
2026-27
Performance highlights
- Research led to peer-reviewed published scientific findings on the impacts, sources and/or fates of plastic pollution. Federal websites on plastic science, pollution and waste were accessed by the public. (ECCC)
- Development of a predictive model for micro and nanoplastic pollution in Canadian waterways was advanced. (ECCC, NRC, CIRNAC)
- CIRNAC funding in 2022-23 supported seven plastics monitoring and research projects under the Northern Contaminants Program. These projects add data to eight unique environmental compartments (air, snow, ice, sediment, sea water, fresh water, Arctic char, and mammals) in Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Nunatsiavut (CIRNAC).
- Statistics Canada publicly released the 2019 reference year for its Pilot Flow Account on Plastic Materials on March 9, 2023. (StatCan)
- In 2022-23, Health Canada progressed in identifying chemical additives in plastics and developing an action plan, by compiling a list of additives with potential for exposure and hazard concern as well as exploring exposure data. Additionally, to better understand the human health impacts of microplastics, Health Canada initiated a research project and approved three research proposals to receive funding in 2023-24. (HC)
- Regulatory measures (on recycled content, recyclability and compostability labelling, and a public plastics registry) to increase plastics circularity in the Canadian market were developed and consulted on. (ECCC, HC)
- Research and consultations to inform potential federal action to reduce textile waste and increase bottle collection for recycling were completed. ECCC co-hosted a multistakeholder symposium on reuse in November 2022. (ECCC)
- DFO/CCG completed final site selections for recycling infrastructure by March 31, 2023, for a total of 78 targeted sites across all regions: 33 Small Craft Harbours, 12 Real Property-, and 33 Canadian Coast Guard-operated sites. (DFO/CCG)
- The Ghost Gear Fund supported 41 Small Craft Harbour locations across Canada to ensure offloading and secured storage of retrieved gear was available. Forty-two projects received $10 million for the retrieval of more than 400 tonnes of abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear in Canadian waters. (DFO)
- In 2022-2023 Transport Canada completed two foundational studies and launched a third on marine-source plastic litter to expand its evidence-base, in order to develop a policy framework to mitigate plastic pollution from marine shipping. Transport Canada also supported work at the International Maritime Organization to enhance reporting requirements for abandoned, lost or discarded fishing gear and ways to reduce the risk of plastic pellet loss during maritime shipping. (TC)
All work advanced and no significant risks were identified by the oversight committees. Of note in 2022-23, Canada began participating in the negotiations of a new and legally-binding international agreement on plastic pollution.
Contact information
Susan Young, susan.young@ec.gc.ca, 819-639-2728
Shared outcomes
The horizontal initiative has two ultimate outcomes: (1) plastic waste is kept out of the environment; and (2) plastic waste is kept out of landfills and incinerators.
| Name of theme | Priority 1: Expand knowledge on plastics in the economy and the environment |
Priority 2: Develop, implement, and update management measures |
Priority 3: Support innovation and market transformation |
Priority 4: Prevent and reduce plastic pollution |
Priority 5: Reduce plastic waste in federal operations |
Internal Services |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Theme outcome(s) |
Government policymakers make evidence-based decisions on plastics Knowledge on plastics and the zero plastic waste agenda is accessed by users |
Problematic, hard-to-recycle single-use plastics are no longer in circulation in Canada Resins commonly used in packaging are safely recycled Plastic waste (in tonnes) going to landfill from recycling facilities is reduced |
Targeted industry sectors reduce their plastic waste |
Marine pollution from ghost gear is reduced |
Plastic waste is reduced in DFO/ CCG operations |
Not applicable |
| Environment and Climate Change Canada ($116,469,367) |
$43,205,353 | $60,370,739 | $12,893,275 | n/a | n/a | $12,069,550 |
| Fisheries and Oceans Canada ($41,100,600) |
n/a | n/a | n/a | $34,997,600 | $6,103,000 | $3,756,104 |
| National Research Council Canada ($12,669,669) |
$12,669,699 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | $253,715 |
| Health Canada ($14,230,364) |
$8,902,366 | $5,327,998 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $1,024,542 |
| Statistics Canada ($7,099,965) |
$7,099,965 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | $273,284 |
| Crown Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada ($5,237,378) |
$5,237,378 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | $108,220 |
| Transport Canada ($5,494,667) |
n/a | n/a | n/a | $5,494,667 | n/a | $998,050 |
Performance information
| Name of horizontal initiative | Total federal funding, including legacy funding, allocated since the last renewal* | 2022-23 Planned spending |
2022-23 Actual spending |
Horizontal initiative shared outcome(s) | 2022-23 Performance indicator(s) |
2022-23 Target(s) |
Date to achieve target | 2022-23 Actual results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advancing a circular plastics economy for Canada | $202,302,040 (new funding) | $39,218,750 | $31,942,472 | Plastic waste is kept out of the environment | Amount (in tonnes) of plastics entering into Canada’s natural environment, from both terrestrial and aquatic based sources | Reduction from baseline to be identified in 2024 | 2030 | Results will be available in 2024 and 2027. |
| Plastic waste is kept out of landfills and incinerators | Amount (annual, in tonnes) of plastic waste disposed of at landfill and incineration (both with and without energy recovery) sites across Canada | Declining trend from 2018 baseline | 2030 | Statistics Canada’s Pilot Flow Account for Plastic Materials data report that quantities of plastic waste sent to landfill and incineration declined from 4.0Mt (2018 baseline) to 3.9Mt (2019). | ||||
| * This amount includes any additional funding received after the last renewal. Where the initiative is new (with no renewal), insert the initial total allocation approved. | ||||||||
Theme horizontal initiative activities
| Name of theme | Total federal theme funding, including legacy funding, allocated since the last renewal* | 2022-23 Federal theme planned spending |
2022-23 Federal theme actual spending |
Theme outcome(s) | Theme performance indicator(s) | Theme target(s) | Date to achieve theme target | 2022-23 Actual results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Priority 1: Expand knowledge on plastics in the economy and the environment | $77,114,761 | $10,540,526 | $6,978,071 | Government policy-makers make evidence-based decisions on plastics | Degree to which socio-economic and environmental research on plastics enable policy-makers to continue to make evidence-based decisions | A “good” rating, based on a scale of very poor, poor, acceptable, good, very good | March 2027 | Results will be available from one-time assessment in 2026-27 as part of program evaluation. |
| Knowledge on plastics and the zero plastic waste agenda is accessed by users | Number of visits and citations of representative federal scientific and policy reports combined | At least 1,000 website visits | March 2027 | 10,132 visits.Footnote 1 | ||||
| At least 100 citations | March 2027 | 64 citations.Footnote 2 |
| Departments | Link to the department’s Program Inventory | Horizontal initiative activity (activities) | Total federal funding, including legacy funding, allocated to each horizontal initiative activity since the last renewal* | 2022-23 Planned spending for each horizontal initiative activity |
2022-23 Actual spending for each horizontal initiative activity |
2022-23 Horizontal initiative activity expected result(s) |
2022-23 Horizontal initiative activity performance indicator(s) |
2022-23 Horizontal initiative activity target(s) |
Date to achieve horizontal initiative activity target | 2022-23 Actual resultsFootnote 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ECCC |
Substances & Waste Management |
Assess and report on the impact of policy measures in reducing plastic waste and pollution (new) |
$11,734,725 |
$1,949,006 |
$1,415,746 |
The impacts of policy interventions, measures and trends on the plastics economy and plastic pollution are available to policy makers and Canadians |
Number of visitsFootnote 4 to the federal plastic waste and pollution reduction website pages combined |
10,000 website visits |
March 2027 |
188,768 visits. |
ECCC |
Substances & Waste Management |
Develop tools and methods to detect and characterize plastics in the environment (renewed) |
$7,241,959 |
$973,219 |
$751,120 |
Federally developed or enhanced tools or methods are considered by the science community to support consistent data and informed decision-making |
NumberFootnote 5 of peer reviewed papers citing federally-led contributions to detect and characterize plastics in environmental compartments (e.g., air, water, biota) combined |
At least 5 papers |
March 2027 |
11 peer reviewed papers citing federally-led contributions to detect and characterize plastics in environmental compartments (e.g., air, water, biota) combined The following were developed and/or assessed: Two passive air sampling techniques for microplastics Four deposition sampling techniques for microplastics An atmospheric related sampling network that includes urban, rural/agricultural, and remote sites Chemical analysis methods and methods for microplastics in air |
ECCC |
Substances & Waste Management |
Conduct research and monitoring to detect and characterize plastics in the environment and assess exposure and potential effects of plastic pollution (renewed) |
$22,410,878 |
$1,334,451 |
$1,261,534 |
Federal regulatory and voluntary measures to reduce plastic pollution are informed by ECCC-supported research and monitoring |
Percentage of federal regulatory, policy and non-regulatory measures informed by ECCC-supported research and monitoring results |
95% |
March 2027 |
Reporting on the target to take place in 2027 through a survey of federal policy makers responsible for federal measures developed from 2022. The following activities were undertaken to eventually inform federal regulatory and voluntary measures: Collected glacial and snow samples to assess for microplastics Investigated effects of exposure to nanoplastics on mussel species Assessed the role of plastics as a vector for contaminant transport a landscape analysis and bibliometric scan to support discussions with external experts on the Canadian Plastics Science Agenda. |
ECCC |
Substances & Waste Management |
Science Assessment of Plastic Pollution: Review recent information on the effects of microplastics (with ECCC, new for HC) |
$1,817,791 |
$275,996 |
$265,944 |
The latest available science on microplastics is summarized in a report to support government policy makers in making evidence-based decisions to protect human health or the environment. |
Degree to which the report was considered by federal decision-makers to make evidence-based decisions to protect human health or the environment from the impacts of plastic pollution including microplastics. |
A rating of ‘agree’ or ‘strongly agree’ by federal decision-makersFootnote 6 |
March 2027 |
Reporting on this target will follow a survey of federal decision makers in 2026-27. |
NRC |
Collaborative Science, Technology and Innovation Program – Ocean Program |
Generate knowledge and deploy a Decision Support System (DSS) on micro- and nanoplastics in Canada’s water ways (new) |
$12,669,699 |
$2,590,279 |
$693,193 |
Knowledge is generated and disseminated on micro and nanoplastics pollution in Canadian aquatic systems and remediation solutions |
Number of peer-reviewed articles published |
20 peer-reviewed articles published |
March 2027 |
One publication in 2022. Given that the initiative started in 2022-23, three-year average Field-weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) is not available for the one publication from 2022. (FWCI score as of August 2023 is 1.24 .) Negotiations with G&C recipients started in 2022-23, but no agreements were signed. Further negotiations may be needed to establish data sharing agreements. |
Citation score (field-weighted citation impact measured relative to world average – three-year average) |
1.2 |
|||||||||
Number of project partners participating in data sharing (including academia, SBDAs, Canadian SMEs, and Indigenous organizations) |
Data sharing agreements with 10 project partners |
|||||||||
A Decision Support System is deployed and used to support policy and regulatory development |
Percentage of users reporting that the DSS is an effective tool in supporting policy and management decisions to reduce the potential risks of plastics to the environment, wildlife and human health |
90% of users |
March 2027 |
Result will be available at end of the initiative via program survey of end-users. Development of the DSS tool has started and is at 50% completion as of end of 2022-23 |
||||||
HC |
Health Impacts of Chemicals |
Conduct and fund research on potential impacts of microplastics on human health (new) |
$5,753,510 |
$715,437 |
$721,473 |
Research results are available to inform decision-making on the potential human health impacts of microplastics |
Percentage of implicated federal decision-makers who indicate that they have more information available for consideration in evidence-based decision making related to impacts to human health or the environment from plastic pollution including microplastics |
70% |
March 2027 |
Data will be collected twice, in 2025-26 and 2028-29. |
Percentage of implicated federal decision-makers who indicate that they have more information available for consideration in evidence-based decision making related to impacts to human health or the environment from plastic pollution including microplastics (contribution program research) |
70% |
March 2027 |
Data will be collected once, in 2027-28. |
|||||||
HC |
Health Impacts of Chemicals |
Science Assessment of Plastic Pollution: Review recent information on the effects of microplastics (with ECCC, new for HC) |
$3,148,856 |
$311,725 |
$62,449 |
The latest available science on microplastics is summarized in a report to support government policy makers in making evidence-based decisions to protect human health or the environment. |
Degree to which the report was considered by federal decision-makers to make evidence-based decisions to protect human health or the environment from the impacts of plastic pollution including microplastics. |
A rating of ‘agree’ or ‘strongly agree’ by federal decision-makers |
March 2027 |
Data will be collected one time in 2026-27. |
StatCan |
Economic and Environmental Statistics |
Produce annual Physical Flow Account for Plastic Material (PFAPM) and update PFAPM methodology and metadata documents (renewed) |
$7,099,965 |
$1,353,793 |
$1,412,902 |
Canada’s plastics economy statistical information is available and relevant to Canadians |
Total number of website visits to StatCan PFAPM related pages and data tables |
10,000 visits |
By March 31, 2027 |
6,422 website visits |
Percentage of key plastics stakeholders citing PFAPM as a data source |
100% of key plastics stakeholders citing the PFAPM as a data source |
By March 31, 2027 |
One (10%) of the 10 key stakeholders has both published a report and cited PFAPM data in fiscal year 2022/23. In addition, 303 downloads of the PFAPM data tables and 96 downloads of the Daily articles were completed in FY 2022/23, indicating broad interest in the data. |
|||||||
CIRNAC |
Northern and Arctic Environmental Sustainability |
Conduct research and monitoring of impacts of plastic pollution in Canada’s North (renewed) |
$5,237,378 |
$1,036,620 |
$393,710 |
Information on the geographic and ecological distribution of plastic pollution in the North (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut, Nunavik and Nunatsiavut) is available |
Percentage of datasets established as baselines for the long-term monitoring of the geographic and ecological distribution of plastic pollution in the terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems in the North that are maintained |
80% |
March 2027 |
80% Ongoing projects funded in 2022-23 |
Percentage of data/information collected that contributes to broader, relevant observation systems and assessments |
80% |
March 2027 |
85% Six of seven (85%) plastics monitoring and research projects supported in 2022-23 |
|||||||
| * This amount includes any additional funding received after the last renewal. Where the initiative is new (with no renewal), insert the initial total allocation approved. | ||||||||||
| Name of theme | Total federal theme funding, including legacy funding, allocated since the last renewal* | 2022-23 Federal theme planned spending |
2022-23 Federal theme actual spending |
Theme outcome(s) | Theme performance indicator(s) | Theme target(s) | Date to achieve theme target | 2022-23 Actual results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Priority 2: Develop, implement, and update management measures |
$65,698,737 |
$9,721,444 |
$7,630,288 |
Problematic, hard-to-recycle single-use plastics are no longer in circulation in Canada |
Percentage of obligated parties in compliance with regulatory requirements |
100% industry compliance with SUPPR once prohibitions come into force |
2030 |
Results will be reported annually, starting in 2026. Compliance promotion activities were implemented and testing methods developed to support enforcement. |
Resins commonly used in packaging are safely recycled |
Percentage of resins commonly used in packaging that are recycled (PET, LDPE, HDPE and PP) |
Increase from 2018 baseline recycling rates, disaggregated by resin (PET 8.4%, LDPE 9.9%, HDPE 10.4%, and PP 3.4%) |
2030 |
2018 (baseline): PET 8.4%, LDPE 9.9%, HDPE 10.4%, and PP 3.4% 2019: PET 9.9%, LDPE 11%, HDPE 11.8%, PP 4%. All resins saw an increase in recycling rates. |
||||
Plastic waste by weight (tonnes) going to landfill from recycling facilities is reduced |
Tonnes of plastic waste collected for recycling that are rejected |
Reduction in the proportion of plastic waste collected for recycling that goes to landfill compared to 2018 baseline level |
2030 |
2018 (baseline): 964,502 tonnes 2019: 951,328 tonnes (reduction of 13,174 tonnes)Footnote 7 |
| Departments | Link to the department’s Program Inventory | Horizontal initiative activity (activities) | Total federal funding, including legacy funding, allocated to each horizontal initiative activity since the last renewal* | 2022-23 Planned spending for each horizontal initiative activity |
2022-23 Actual spending for each horizontal initiative activity |
2022-23 Horizontal initiative activity expected result(s) |
2022-23 Horizontal initiative activity performance indicator(s) |
2022-23 Horizontal initiative activity target(s) |
Date to achieve horizontal initiative activity target | 2022-23 Actual results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ECCC |
Substances & Waste Management |
Implement regulations to ban select single-use plastics (SUP) (renewed) |
$12,956,717 |
$1,434,314 |
$1,502,836 |
Obligated parties comply with the Single-Use Plastics Prohibition Regulations (SUPPR) |
Percentage of obligated parties in compliance with requirements |
100% industry compliance with SUPPR once prohibitions come into force |
March 2026 (one year after coming into force) |
Compliance promotion activities were implemented and testing methods were developed to support enforcement. |
ECCC |
Substances & Waste Management |
Apply measures for additional priority single-use plastics (new) |
$7,628,666 |
$1,164,047 |
$1,009,935 |
New measures (regulatory and/or non-regulatory) come into force for additional single-use plastics |
Number of single-use plastics addressed in new regulatory and/or non-regulatory measures |
The 31 priority single-use and disposable plastic (SUDP) items identified in the CCME SUDP Roadmap |
March 2027 |
Registry data is expected to be available starting in 2025-26. Analysis of additional plastic products is ongoing, through the development of a Management Framework for Plastic Products. |
ECCC |
Substances & Waste Management |
Develop and implement recycled content requirements for plastic products and packaging (renewed) |
$10,327,714 |
$1,708,182 |
$1,306,164 |
Obligated parties comply with recycled content regulations |
Percentage of obligated parties in compliance with recycled content regulations |
100% compliance with recycled content requirements |
Dec. 2030Footnote 8 |
Published a regulatory framework paper to inform the development of proposed Recycled Content and Labelling for Plastic Products Regulations. |
ECCC |
Substances & Waste Management |
Develop rules to prohibit misleading recyclability labelling (new) |
$6,702,300 |
$1,128,852 |
$795,472 |
Obligated parties comply with requirements concerning the labelling of plastic products as recyclable |
Percentage of obligated parties in compliance with requirements on recyclability labeling |
100% compliance with labelling rules |
March 2027Footnote 9 |
Published a regulatory framework paper to inform the development of proposed Recycled Content and Labelling for Plastic Products Regulations. |
ECCC |
Substances & Waste Management |
Develop performance requirements for compostable plastic products (new) |
$5,273,244 |
$885,446 |
$641,373 |
Producers comply with performance requirements for compostable plastic products (including labelling) |
Percentage of producers in compliance with performance requirements for compostable plastic products |
100% compliance with performance requirements |
March 2027Footnote 10 |
Published a regulatory framework paper to inform the development of proposed Recycled Content and Labelling for Plastic Products Regulations. |
ECCC |
Substances & Waste Management |
Establish a public federal plastics registry (new) |
$15,397,020 |
$2,145,472 |
$1,268,942 |
Producers register and comply with reporting requirement, with the first roll-up report released to the public in 2025 |
Percentage of Producers in compliance with requirement to report |
100% annual reporting by producers of plastic manufactured items across a range of sectors |
March 2027Footnote 11 |
Published a technical paper for consultation to inform the development of the information gathering instrument and the IM/IT solution to create a federal plastics registry. A draft CEPA section 46 will be published in the Canada Gazette, Part I by the end of 2023. |
ECCC |
Substances & Waste Management |
Implement contributions in support of management measures (new) |
$2,085,078 |
$175,535 |
$119,045 |
Federal government, stakeholders and the public have access to knowledge that supports management actions |
Percentage of contribution project results that are publicly accessible |
100% of project results are available |
March 2027 |
100%Footnote 12 |
Usefulness of generated knowledge in measure development and implementation |
Rating of “very useful” in survey of federal policy makersFootnote 13 |
March 2027 |
Results will be available in 2027-28 once survey is completed. |
|||||||
Health Impacts of Chemicals |
Strengthen food chemical safety oversight of food packaging materials (new) |
$3,583,109 |
$909,463 |
$916,182 |
Information is analysed, and targeted consultations held and are used to inform a final recommendation for the introduction of a mandatory food chemical safety program for food packaging materials |
Number of program design elements produced by Health Canada to inform the final program recommendation |
6 (policy intent, required regulatory amendment, international equivalency, pre-market data requirements, administrative mechanisms) |
March 2027 |
N/A |
|
Guidelines on acceptability and use of recycled plastics in food packaging applications are updated and made publicly available: manufacturers of recycled plastic materials have the best available guidance to determine the acceptability of such material for food contact use and in preparing submissions to HC for evaluation of these products. |
Percentage of applicants requesting a letter of no objection on recycled plastic use in food packaging applications who have used the guidance in preparing their submission |
90% of applicants |
2024 |
N/A |
||||||
Percentage of applicants who indicate they found the guidance to be useful |
90% of applicants |
2024 |
N/A |
|||||||
Percentage increase in visits to website following publication(s) of updated guidance |
TBD |
March/April 2023 |
60.4% increase. |
|||||||
HC |
Health Impacts of Chemicals |
Identify chemical additives in plastics and establish a plan of action for prioritized additives (with ECCC) (new) |
$1,744,889 |
$170,133 |
$70,339 |
Appropriate action is taken for identified priority chemical additives |
Percentage of identified priorities for which a plan of action has been Director General approved |
100% |
March 2025 |
0% - see Performance Highlights above for 2022-23 |
| * This amount includes any additional funding received after the last renewal. Where the initiative is new (with no renewal), insert the initial total allocation approved. | ||||||||||
Name of theme |
Total federal theme funding, including legacy funding, allocated since the last renewal* |
2022-23 |
2022-23 |
Theme outcome(s) |
Theme performance indicator(s) |
Theme target(s) |
Date to achieve theme target |
2022-23 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Priority 3: Support innovation and market transformation |
$12,893,275 |
$1,651,651 |
$1,827,112 |
Targeted industry sectors reduce their plastic waste |
Amount of plastic waste (in tonnes) sent to landfill or incinerated or recovered for energy by each supported industry sector |
Declining trend for each supported industry sector from 2018 baseline |
March 2030 |
Textiles: 2018 (baseline): 340,741 tonnes 2019: 344,043 tonnes The quantities of textile waste that were recorded as landfilled increased. |
Departments |
Link to the department’s Program Inventory |
Horizontal initiative activity (activities) |
Total federal funding, including legacy funding, allocated to each horizontal initiative activity since the last renewal* |
2022-23 |
2022-23 |
2022-23 |
2022-23 |
2022-23 |
Date to achieve horizontal initiative activity target |
2022-23 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ECCC |
Substances & Waste Management |
Implement measures or provide support to reduce plastic waste in targeted sectors, beginning with textiles (renewed) |
$9,295,574 |
$944,928 |
$1,077,505 |
Textile waste is diverted from landfill, incineration, energy recovery, and the environment |
Volume of textile waste (tonnes) going to landfill or incinerated or recovered for energy has decreased from the 2018 baseline |
Declining trend for textile waste |
2030 |
2018 (baseline): 340,741 tonnes 2019: 344,043 tonnes In 2022-23, literature reviews conducted to understand current knowledge of the issue, data gaps, key barriers to greater diversion, and to inform targets and potential federal actions. |
ECCC |
Substances & Waste Management |
Implement a risk management instrument for plastic beverage containers (renewed) |
$2,317,423 |
$444,149 |
$368,150 |
Plastic beverage containers are diverted from landfill, incineration, energy recovery, and the environment |
Percentage of plastic beverage containers sold in Canada that are collected for recycling |
90% of plastic beverage containers sold in Canada are collected for recycling |
2030 |
2021: 62% Provincial targets, particularly those being implemented in Québec and Ontario, are expected to help increase the collection of plastic bottles for recycling. |
ECCC |
Substances & Waste Management |
Develop a roadmap to encourage reuse and repair of products containing plastic (renewed) |
$1,280,278 |
$262,574 |
$381,457 |
Industry and the general public are aware of the significant environmental and socioeconomic benefits derived from increasing the reuse and repair of products containing plastic |
Percentage increase in awareness of the roadmap by industry and the public |
70% of the relevant industry stakeholders are aware of the roadmap 2% of the public are aware of the roadmap |
March 2027 |
This target will be reported on following a survey of relevant industry stakeholders and the general public in 2025.Footnote 15 |
| * This amount includes any additional funding received after the last renewal. Where the initiative is new (with no renewal), insert the initial total allocation approved. | ||||||||||
| Name of theme | Total federal theme funding, including legacy funding, allocated since the last renewal* | 2022-23 Federal theme planned spending |
2022-23 Federal theme actual spending |
Theme outcome(s) | Theme performance indicator(s) | Theme target(s) | Date to achieve theme target | 2022-23 Actual results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Priority 4: Prevent and reduce plastic pollution | $40,492,267 | $16,084,529 | $14,964,158 | Marine pollution from ghost gear is prevented and reduced | Percentage change in reported net gear loss (in units of gear) | 10% reduction from 2025 baseline year (to be calculated by March 2025) | March 2030 | N/A |
| Departments | Link to the department’s Program Inventory | Horizontal initiative activity (activities) | Total federal funding, including legacy funding, allocated to each horizontal initiative activity since the last renewal* | 2022-23 Planned spending for each horizontal initiative activity |
2022-23 Actual spending for each horizontal initiative activity |
2022-23 Horizontal initiative activity expected result(s) |
2022-23 Horizontal initiative activity performance indicator(s) |
2022-23 Horizontal initiative activity target(s) |
Date to achieve horizontal initiative activity target | 2022-23 Actual results |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DFO |
Fisheries Management |
Manage the Ghost Gear Contribution Program (renewed for 2022-23 only) |
$10,000,000 |
$10,000,000 |
$11,199,273 |
Abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear is removed from Canadian waters |
Amount (in tonnes) of ghost gear removed from Canadian waters |
300 tonnes removed (1,300 tonnes were removed 2020-2022) |
March 2023 |
In 2022-23, 238 tonnes of ghost gear and 251 km of rope (20 tonnes) for a total of 258 tonnes was removed from Canadian waters. |
|
Locations are provided to securely store retrieved marked gear while owners are identified for gear return |
Number of locations available to collect and store retrieved gear from funded projects |
38 locations cumulative (2 new + 36 locations established 2020-2022) |
March 2023 |
An additional 5 locations were added to the 36 previously available to collect and store retrieved gear for a total of 41 locations across Canada. |
|||||||
Technologies to identify, retrieve or reduce the frequency and/or impact of abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear are acquired or piloted |
Number of proponents acquiring or piloting retrieval and fishing gear technologies in Canada |
23 proponents (4 new +19 proponents supported 2020-2022) |
March 2023 |
15 new projects were funded in 2022-23 that had components focused on acquiring or piloting retrieval gear. In total, 34 projects have received funding in support of Pillar 3 (piloting and/or acquisition of innovative technology) since the creation of the Ghost Gear Fund in 2020. |
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DFO |
Fisheries Management |
Modernize Canada’s domestic fisheries operations and regulatory regime (renewed) |
$24,997,600 |
$5,000,000 |
$3,004,741 |
Collection and quality of lost and retrieved fishing gear data are improved |
Percentage of loss events reported by commercial harvesters through the Fishing Gear Retrieval System (FGRS) (rather than PDF reports) |
Target to be established by March 2023 |
March 2027 |
The 2022 baseline has been calculated as 15%. The target will increase by 5% per fiscal year. Targets: 2023 = 20% 2024 = 25% 2025 = 30% 2026 = 35% 2027 = 40% |
|
Canada’s commercial fisheries are managed such that the risk of abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) is reduced |
Percentage of wild capture commercial fisheries whose licences are revised for ALDFG (“ghost gear”) best practices based on gear type. |
20% of wild capture commercial fisheries with revised licences |
March 2026 |
This activity is in preliminary stages, beginning with research of the Canadian gillnet fisheries. |
|||||||
Canada pilots new approaches in commercial fisheries to reduce or mitigate impacts of ghost gear |
Number of commercial fisheries in which in-season ghost gear retrieval and alternatives to plastic gear tags are piloted |
3 commercial fisheries for each |
March 2025 |
Two commercial fisheries are partaking in a pilot project that uses mobile gear for incidental abandoned, lost or discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) retrieval authorized in Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) Divisions 0A/0B for offshore Greenland Halibut and in Shrimp Management Areas 0, 1, Davis Strait East, Davis Strait West, Nunavut East, Nunavik East, 4, 5, and 6 for northern shrimp harvesters (with the exclusion of Nunavut/Nunavik West). |
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TC |
Protecting Oceans and Waterways |
Fill knowledge gaps on the contribution of specific marine transportation pathways to plastic marine litter, its associated socioeconomic impacts, and best practices and opportunities for pollution reduction (new) |
$5,494,667 |
$1,084,529 |
$760,144 |
Evidence-based policy framework aimed at reducing the marine transportation sector’s contribution to marine plastic litter and mitigating its impacts on the environment and communities is socialized with key marine transportation industry stakeholders |
Percentage of marine transportation industry stakeholders that are informed of the policy framework |
90% of marine transportation stakeholders are informed of the policy framework |
Fall 2027 |
Completed two foundational knowledge studies on plastics and shipping and launched a new study on marine sector assessment on best practices for plastic waste management. Supported International Maritime Organization working group on assessing proposed amendments to international regulations for reporting lost fishing gear, and the use of pellets in cargo shipping. |
|
| * This amount includes any additional funding received after the last renewal. Where the initiative is new (with no renewal), insert the initial total allocation approved. | |||||||||||
| Name of theme | Total federal theme funding, including legacy funding, allocated since the last renewal* | 2022-23 Federal theme planned spending |
2022-23 Federal theme actual spending |
Theme outcome(s) | Theme performance indicator(s) | Theme target(s) | Date to achieve theme target | 2022-23 Actual results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Priority 5: Reduce plastic waste in federal operations |
$6,103,000 |
$1,220,600 |
$542,843 |
Plastic waste is reduced in DFO and CCG operations |
Rate of plastic waste diverted from targeted DFO/CCG operations |
At least 75% (by weight) of targeted sites’ plastic waste is diverted from landfill starting in 2027 |
2030 |
The Office of Environmental Coordination completed development of high-level coordination materials to support milestone achievements. Regional Offices completed final site selection by March 31, 2023. There are 78 targeted sites across all Regions: 33 Small Craft Harbours, 12 Real Property, and 33 Canadian Coast Guard-operated sites. |
| Departments | Link to the department’s Program Inventory | Horizontal initiative activity (activities) | Total federal funding, including legacy funding, allocated to each horizontal initiative activity since the last renewal* | 2022-23 Planned spending for each horizontal initiative activity |
2022-23 Actual spending for each horizontal initiative activity |
2022-23 Horizontal initiative activity expected result(s) |
2022-23 Horizontal initiative activity performance indicator(s) |
2022-23 Horizontal initiative activity target(s) |
Date to achieve horizontal initiative activity target | 2022-23 Actual results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DFO |
Real Property (Internal Services) |
Improve solid waste and plastics management at DFO Small Craft Harbours, Real Property and Canadian Coast Guard sites (new) |
$6,103,000 |
$1,220,600 |
$542,843 |
Plastic waste is reduced in DFO and CCG operations |
Rate of plastic waste diverted from targeted DFO/CCG operations |
At least 75% (by weight) of targeted sites’ plastic waste is diverted from landfill starting in 2027 |
2030 |
The Office of Environmental Coordination developed high-level coordination materials to support milestone achievements. Regional Offices completed final site selection by March 31, 2023. There are 78 targeted sites across all Regions: 33 Small Craft Harbours, 12 Real Property, and 33 Canadian Coast Guard-operated sites. |
| * This amount includes any additional funding received after the last renewal. Where the initiative is new (with no renewal), insert the initial total allocation approved. | ||||||||||
| Theme | Total federal funding, including legacy funding, allocated since the last renewal* | 2022-23 Total federal planned spending |
2022-23 Total federal actual spending |
|---|---|---|---|
| Theme 1 | $77,114,761 | $10,540,526 | $6,978,071 |
| Theme 2 | $65,698,737 | $9,721,444 | $7,630,288 |
| Theme 3 | $12,893,275 | $1,651,651 | $1,827,112 |
| Theme 4 | $40,492,267 | $16,084,529 | $14,964,158 |
| Theme 5 | $6,103,000 | $1,220,600 | $542,843 |
| Total, all themes | $202,302,040 | $39,218,750 | $31,942,472 |
| * This amount includes any additional funding received after the last renewal. Where the initiative is new (with no renewal), insert the initial total allocation approved. | |||