Evaluation of Canada’s meteorological warning services for Arctic Ocean: chapter 8
6.0 Recommendations and Management Response
The following recommendations are based on the findings and conclusions of the evaluation. The evaluation recommendations are directed to the ADM, MSC, in view of the ADM’s responsibility for the overall management of the METAREA Initiative.
- Continue efforts to engage users (alongside the DFO NAVAREA Initiative) to better determine and prioritize their needs and options for disseminating meteorological (and navigational) MSI in the future. It was frequently noted that while the METAREA Initiative is currently meeting international standards with respect to dissemination of bulletins on meteorological MSI, needs of users and technological opportunities are expected to evolve over time.
- Revisit the program’s logic and performance measurement strategy to ensure that intended outcomes are sensible and measurable, and that the performance indicators are streamlined to meaningfully address program performance. The current performance measurement strategy is comprehensive and includes 29 performance indicators. However, there are limited data for many of the program’s intended outcomes.
- Engage with domestic partners that are active in the Arctic to explore whether opportunities exist to collaborate on new and emerging initiatives. The Arctic is a key federal priority and there are numerous initiatives that are currently taking place in the region that could provide opportunities for the METAREA Initiative moving forward (e.g., dissemination utilizing CCG MCTS, research activities by AANDC, implications of the CCG Arctic corridor strategy).
| Statement of Agreement/Disagreement with the Recommendation | ||
| The ADM MSC agrees with the recommendation. | ||
| Management Action | ||
MSC is certified to the ISO-9001-2008 standard for quality management. It is also committed to the objectives of the Treasury Board Service Policy. In both cases, client engagement and an ongoing assessment of user requirements is fundamental and MSC is committed to these as part of our service delivery strategy. Domestically, MSC consults regularly with the users of our marine weather and ice services through a variety of forums (e.g. Canadian Marine Advisory Council and CMAC-North, Polar Shipping Summit and FEDNAV). We also participate in the National Marine Advisory Board (NMAB) and are active in the NMAB sub-committee on e-navigation. Through the e-navigation initiative being led by the Canadian Coast Guard, user requirements for information, including meteorological and ice information, in electronic formats are being assessed and prioritized. Internationally, MSC contributes to the METAREA Program, under the Global Maritime Distress and Safety Services (GMDSS), which must comply with the international standards and guidelines. This international community is coordinated through the World Meteorological Organization’s Marine Meteorology and Oceanography Programme and engages users through biennial surveys as well as provides contact information for ad hoc requests. Through this feedback process the programme will continue to evolve. In addition, through MSC’s membership on the Expert Team for Maritime Safety Services (an expert team of the Joint WMO/IOC Technical Commission on Oceanography and Marine Meteorology (JCOMM)), we are engaged in this continuous improvement process which would lead to service enhancements in the future, particularly in the area of dissemination technologies. MSC published a set of service standards for METAREAs in February 2014 (available on the Environment Canada website at: http://www.ec.gc.ca/meteo-weather/default.asp?lang=En&n=0AB09BC5-1). Our commitment is to review these standards annually and users are invited to provide feedback on them. |
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| Timeline | Deliverable | Responsible Party |
| March 2015 | Review of Service Standards | Marine and Ice Program Management Board |
| Statement of Agreement/Disagreement with the Recommendation | ||
| The ADM MSC agrees with the recommendation. | ||
| Management Action | ||
| In accordance with the requirements of the ISO 9001/2008 quality management system, the logic model and performance measurement strategy of each program is reviewed annually. Through this review process we will look to streamline the number of relevant deliverables and outcomes where it makes sense to do so, in accordance with the expectations for alignment with our domestic Marine Program as well as our international obligations under the GMDSS, METAREA Program. | ||
| Timeline | Deliverable | Responsible Party |
| May 2014 | Review of program logic model by the MSC Marine and Ice Program Management Board | Marine and Ice Program Management Board |
| Statement of Agreement/Disagreement with the Recommendation | ||
| The ADM MSC agrees with the recommendation. | ||
| Management Action | ||
MSC is active in a number of federal activities in the Arctic and will continue to engage with participants to leverage opportunities and seek synergies as new opportunities arise. Examples of MSC’s collaboration with federal partners in the arctic include coordinating with CCG in proposals to Government to continue the services implemented by the MET/NAVAREA initiative, participating in a departmental DG-level Northern Working Group to coordinate Arctic activities within EC to stay abreast of broader federal initiatives, and working with Transport Canada and other departments on coordinating the federal efforts regarding e-Navigation, which is intended to bring maritime safety information directly to the bridge of a ship. Environment Canada’s Science and Technology Branch (STB) is also working with DFO and DND on common atmospheric, ocean, ice modelling solutions over Arctic Waters, and with other Departments on various research opportunities (BREA, CHARS, ArcticNet) in order to coordinate the science activities in the region as well as work effectively with the resources available. MSC will document in its METAREAs Annual Performance Measurement Report the relevant engagements with federal and other partners which enhance or leverage the delivery and effectiveness of METAREAs services in the arctic. |
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| Timeline | Deliverable | Responsible Party |
| March 2015 | A summary of relevant engagements with federal and other partners which enhance or leverage the delivery and effectiveness of METAREAs services in the arctic will be included in the METAREAs Annual Performance Measurement Report. | Executive Director, National Programs and Business Development |