ECCC Audit and Evaluation Plan 2024 to 2029
April 2024
1. Introduction
Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) is the lead federal department on a wide range of environmental and climate change issues. The Department's programs focus on minimizing threats to Canadians and their environment from pollution and climate change, equipping Canadians to make informed decisions on weather, water and climate conditions, and on conserving and restoring Canada's natural environment. They reflect the interdependence between environmental sustainability and economic well-being in response to the wide range of risks and opportunities inherent in a large and diverse organization.
The ECCC Audit and Evaluation Plan (AEP) sets out the planned internal audit, advisory, evaluation and known external audit engagements over the next 5 fiscal years. The plan aligns with the Department’s mandate, priorities and key corporate risks. It also meets Treasury Board Policy on Internal Audit and Policy on Results requirements. The aim is to conduct work and produce reports that include advice and recommendations that add value to ECCC and the broader Government of Canada.
2. Developing the Audit and Evaluation Plan
In the development of this plan, AEB reviewed various departmental documents and elements of the audit and evaluation universe. This information supported our risk analysis, which led to the identification of audit, advisory and evaluation projects. The intent was not to duplicate departmental and branch-level risk management activities. Rather, our analysis built on the corporate risk processes in place and led to the scheduling of projects that will support the Department in managing its risks as it works towards achieving its priorities and objectives. By taking a risk-based approach, the AEB can identify areas that may require more oversight. This approach allows for efficient use of internal audit and evaluation resources.
The AEB’s process for developing the plan includes 5 steps:
- Risk identification: based on an analysis of corporate risk and planning documents, refine the internal audit and evaluation universe, and develop a preliminary list of potential audits, advisory and evaluation engagements.
- Consultations with senior management: validate the list of risk areas and the potential list of engagements with senior management, the Performance Management, Evaluation, and Results Committee (PMERC) and the Departmental Audit Committee (DAC).
- Project selection: develop a list of the most appropriate and value-added internal audit and evaluation projects, based on the information gathered through the document review and the consultations, available information on planned audits by external assurance providers and AEB and departmental capacity to carry out the projects in a timely manner.
- Risk coverage mapping: map the planned audit and evaluation engagements for fiscal year 2024-2025 to the corporate risks, to confirm risk coverage.
- Develop the plan: build on these four steps to develop the ECCC AEP; present the plan to PMERC and DAC for review and recommendation to the Deputy Minister (DM); and subsequently submit the draft plan to the DM for approval.
3. Planned audits and evaluations for fiscal year 2024-2025
The list of projects scheduled for fiscal year 2024-2025 includes 4 internal audit projects, 10 evaluation projects and 7 external audit projects.
3.1. Planned internal audit projects
Audit of Cyber Security at ECCC
Office of primary interest: Digital Services Branch
Review of the implementation of ECCC’s Diversity, Inclusion and Employment Equity Plan - Progress to date
Office of primary interest: Human Resources Branch
Review of the use of scientific advice in support of policy development and decision making
Office of primary interest: Office of the Departmental Science Advisor
Audit of IM/IT governance
Office of primary interest: Digital Services Branch
3.2. Planned evaluation projects
Green Municipal Fund
Type of project: Horizontal - led by NRCan
Office of primary interest: Climate Change Branch
Habitat Conservation and Protection
Type of project: Internal
Office of primary interest: Canadian Wildlife Service
Indigenous Guardians
Type of project: Internal
Office of primary interest: Canadian Wildlife Service
Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan
Type of project: Horizontal - led by ECCC
Office of primary interest: Environmental Protection Branch
Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion - Terrestrial Cumulative Effects Initiative
Type of project: Horizontal - led by ECCC
Office of primary interest: Environmental Protection Branch
Water Quality and Ecosystems Partnerships Program
Type of project: Internal
Office of primary interest: Strategic Policy Branch
Youth Employment and Skills Strategy
Type of project: Horizontal - led by ESDC
Office of primary interest: Science and Technology Branch
Migratory Birds and other Wildlife Program
Type of project: Internal
Office of primary interest: Canadian Wildlife Service
Enforcement Modernization Initiative
Type of project: Internal
Office of primary interest: Enforcement Branch
International Climate Change Cooperation Program
Type of project: Internal
Office of primary interest: International Affairs Branch
3.3. Planned external audit projects
As external assurance providers update their plans, we will inform ECCC senior management and the DAC.
Zero Plastic Waste Horizontal Initiative
Anticipated tabling date to Parliament: Spring 2024
Contaminated Sites in the North
Anticipated tabling date to Parliament: Spring 2024
Net Zero Emissions Accountability Act
Anticipated tabling date to Parliament: Fall 2024
Critical Minerals and Batteries (TBC)
Anticipated tabling date to Parliament: Fall 2024
Assessment and Reassessment of Species at Risk
Anticipated tabling date to Parliament: Fall 2024
Departmental Progress in Implementing Sustainable Development Strategies - Clean Energy goal
Anticipated tabling date to Parliament: Fall 2024
Environmental Petitions Annual Report
Anticipated tabling date to Parliament: Fall 2024
4. Audit and Evaluation Branch resources and capacity
To implement this plan in fiscal year 2024-2025, the AEB has a planned budget of about $3.47 million in salary and about $778,000 in operations and maintenance, for a total of about $4.25 million. The planned budget represents the resources required to maintain the AEB's core capacity and deliver the Audit and Evaluation Plan. The AEB currently has 38.5 active employees, excluding employees on assignment in other organizations or absent from the workplace. The AEB continues to be fully representative of the available work population for all 4 equity groups.
Appendix A: 5-year evaluation coverage, by core responsibility and programs from the Departmental Program Inventory
The following evaluation coverage is in compliance with the Financial Administration Act.
Core responsibility: Taking action on clean growth and climate change
Inventory program: Clean Growth and Climate Change Mitigation ($393,997,740)
| Activities identified for evaluation coverage | Fiscal year of planned evaluation approval | Program spending covered by the evaluation (2024-2025 amounts) | Rationale for not evaluating | Reason for evaluation | Last evaluation of the program |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low Carbon Economy Fund | 2025-2026 | $241,463,521 | not applicable (N/A) |
Required by the FAA | Never Evaluated |
| Low Carbon Economy Fund including the Canadian Climate Institute | 2027-2028 | N/A | Required by the FAA | Never Evaluated | |
| Core Climate Change Mitigation | 2025-2026 | $75,499,145 | N/A | Departmental Priority | Evaluation of the Core Climate Change Mitigation Program, 2022-2023 |
| Carbon Pollution Pricing Program (Horizontal – led by ECCC) | 2026-2027 | $41,107,244 | N/A | Required by the FAA | Never Evaluated |
| Natural Climate Solutions Fund (including 2 Billion Trees) (Horizontal – led by NRCan) | 2026-2027 | $19,453,309 | N/A | G&C - FAA / Policy on Results requirements for grants and contributions with five-year average actual expenditures of $5 million per year or more to be evaluated every five years | Never Evaluated |
| Climate Lens Initiative | 2025-2026 | $4,426,623 | N/A | TBS - Requested by the Secretary of Treasury Board. | Never Evaluated |
| Enforcement Modernization Initiative | 2024-2025 | $239,058 | N/A | Department Priority | Evaluation of the Enforcement Program, 2009-2010 |
| Census for Environment (Horizontal – led by Statistics Canada) | 2026-2027 | $170,769 | N/A | G&C - FAA / Policy on Results requirements for grants and contributions with five-year average actual expenditures of $5 million per year or more to be evaluated every five years | Never Evaluated |
| Adaptation to Climate Change – Horizontal Roll-up (Horizontal – led by ECCC) | 2026-2027 | $135,284 | N/A | Required by the FAA | Climate Change Adaptation Gap Analysis, 2020-2021 |
| Excluded - No evaluation planned for Communication and Engagement on Climate Change | N/A | N/A | Not a departmental priority. Low risk, low materiality. Low need. No G&C associated | N/A | Never Evaluated |
| Excluded - No evaluation planned for International Obligations | N/A | N/A | Not a departmental priority. Low risk, low materiality. Low need. No funding associated | N/A | Never Evaluated |
| Excluded - No evaluation planned for Clean Technologies Enabling Measures | N/A | N/A | Not a departmental priority. Low risk, low materiality. Low need. No G&C associated. | N/A | Never Evaluated |
| Excluded - No evaluation planned for the Biosphere of Montreal | N/A | N/A | Not a departmental priority. Low risk, low materiality. | N/A | Never Evaluated |
Inventory program: Climate Change Adaptation ($569,188,778)
| Activities identified for evaluation coverage | Fiscal year of planned evaluation approval | Program spending covered by the evaluation (2024-2025 amounts) | Rationale for not evaluating | Reason for evaluation | Last evaluation of the program |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adaptation to Climate Change - Horizontal Roll-up (Horizontal – led by ECCC) | 2026-2027 | $557,069,544 | N/A | Required by the FAA | Climate Change Adaptation Gap Analysis, 2020-2021 |
| Canadian Centre for Climate Services | 2025-2026 | $7,273,961 | N/A | Departmental Priority | Never Evaluated |
| Core Climate Change Mitigation | 2026-2027 | $505,551 | N/A | Departmental Priority | Evaluation of the Core Climate Change Mitigation Program, 2022-2023 |
| Excluded - No evaluation planned for the Retrofit of the Global Atmosphere Watch Observatory in Alert, Nunavut | N/A | N/A | Not a departmental priority. Low risk, low materiality. Low need. No G&C associated. | N/A | Never Evaluated |
Inventory program: International Climate Change Action ($73,691,062)
| Activities identified for evaluation coverage | Fiscal year of planned evaluation approval | Program spending covered by the evaluation (2024-2025 amounts) | Rationale for not evaluating | Reason for evaluation | Last evaluation of the program |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| International Climate Change Cooperation Program | 2025-2026 | $73,691,062 | N/A | G&C - FAA / Policy on Results requirements for grants and contributions with five-year average actual expenditures of $5 million per year or more to be evaluated every five years | Evaluation of the International Climate Change Cooperation Program, 2020-2021 |
Core responsibility: Preventing and managing pollution
Inventory program: Air Quality ($70,951,476)
| Activities identified for evaluation coverage | Fiscal year of planned evaluation approval | Program spending covered by the evaluation (2024-2025 amounts) | Rationale for not evaluating | Reason for evaluation | Last evaluation of the program |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Quality | 2028-2029 | $68,868,995 | N/A | PI - Periodical evaluation of the Programs listed in the ECCC Program Inventory | Evaluation of the Addressing Air Pollution Horizontal Initiative, 2020-2021 |
| Core Climate Change Mitigation | 2026-2027 | $1,246,272 | N/A | Departmental Priority | Evaluation of the Core Climate Change Mitigation Program, 2022-2023 |
| Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion - Terrestrial Cumulative Effects Initiative (Horizontal – led by ECCC) | 2024-2025 | $440,992 | N/A | G&C - FAA / Policy on Results requirements for grants and contributions with five-year average actual expenditures of $5 million per year or more to be evaluated every five years | Never Evaluated |
Inventory program: Community and Sustainability ($27,729,603)
| Activities identified for evaluation coverage | Fiscal year of planned evaluation approval | Program spending covered by the evaluation (2024-2025 amounts) | Rationale for not evaluating | Reason for evaluation | Last evaluation of the program |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Youth Employment and Skills Strategy (Horizontal – led by ESDC) | 2024-2025 | $19,791,190 | N/A | Required by the FAA | Evaluation of the Horizontal Youth Employment Strategy, 2020-2021 |
| Community and Sustainability | 2027-2028 | $7,938,413 | N/A | Departmental Priority | Evaluation of the Sustainability Reporting and Indicators Programs, 2016-2017 |
Inventory program: Compliance Promotion and Enforcement – Pollution ($53,191,797)
| Activities identified for evaluation coverage | Fiscal year of planned evaluation approval | Program spending covered by the evaluation (2024-2025 amounts) | Rationale for not evaluating | Reason for evaluation | Last evaluation of the program |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enforcement Modernization Initiative | 2024-2025 | $35,507,761 | N/A | Departmental Priority | Evaluation of the Enforcement Program, 2009-2010 |
| Air Quality | 2028-2029 | $7,953,277 | N/A | PI - Periodical evaluation of the Programs listed in the ECCC Program Inventory | Evaluation of the Addressing Air Pollution Horizontal Initiative, 2020-2021 |
| Ocean Protection Plan (Horizontal – led by TC) | 2026-2027 | $5,543,861 | N/A | HI - Specific Horizontal initiatives where program outcomes are shared or related | Evaluation of Environment and Climate Change Canada's components of the Oceans Protection Plan, 2020-2021 |
| Core Climate Change Mitigation | 2026-2027 | $2,271,367 | N/A | Departmental Priority | Evaluation of the Core Climate Change Mitigation Program, 2022-2023 |
| Excluded – No planned Evaluation of the Protect and Promote the Health of Canada's Priority At-Risk Whale Populations Program | N/A | N/A | The evaluation of the Protect and Promote the Health of Canada's Priority At-Risk Whale Populations Program has been cancelled by DFO who is the lead department. | N/A | Horizontal Evaluation of Funding Dedicated to Whales, 2022-2023 |
| Excluded - No evaluation planned of the Public Safety and Anti-Terrorism | N/A | N/A | Not a departmental priority. Low risk, low materiality. Low need. No G&C associated. | N/A | Never Evaluated |
Inventory program: Aquatic Ecosystems Health Substances and Waste Management ($230,060,209)
| Activities identified for evaluation coverage | Fiscal year of planned evaluation approval | Program spending covered by the evaluation (2024-2025 amounts) | Rationale for not evaluating | Reason for evaluation | Last evaluation of the program |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ocean Protection Plan (Horizontal – led by TC) | 2026-2027 | $70,300,870 | N/A | HI - Specific Horizontal initiatives where program outcomes are shared or related | Evaluation of Environment and Climate Change Canada's components of the Oceans Protection Plan, 2020-2021 |
| Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan (Horizontal – led by ECCC) | 2024-2025 | $30,562,756 | N/A | HI - Specific Horizontal initiatives where program outcomes are shared or related | Horizontal Evaluation of the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan (Phase II and Phase III), 2018-2019 |
| Water Quality and Ecosystem Partnership Program | 2024-2025 | $25,446,323 | N/A | PI - Periodical evaluation of the Programs listed in the ECCC Program Inventor | Evaluation of Water Quality and Ecosystems Health, 2017-2018 |
| Freshwater Action Plan (including Canada Water Agency) | 2025-2026 | $23,221,910 | N/A | Centrally-led / Requested | Evaluation of Freshwater Action Plan: Great Lakes Protection Initiative; Evaluation of Freshwater Action Plan: Lake Winnipeg Basin Program, 2021-2022 |
| Air Quality | 2028-2029 | $21,388,149 | N/A | PI - Periodical evaluation of the Programs listed in the ECCC Program Inventor | Evaluation of the Addressing Air Pollution Horizontal Initiative, 2020-2021 |
| Advancing a Circular Plastics Economy | 2026-2027 | 17,029,412 | N/A | HI - Specific Horizontal initiatives where program outcomes are shared or related. | Horizontal Evaluation of the Federal Leadership Towards Zero Plastic Waste in Canada Initiative, 2022-2023 |
| Enforcement Modernization Initiative | 2024-2025 | $11,796,064 | N/A | Departmental Priority | Evaluation of the Enforcement Program, 2009-2010 |
| Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion - Terrestrial Cumulative Effects Initiative (Horizontal – led by ECCC) | 2024-2025 | $6,831,210 | N/A | G&C - FAA/Policy on Results requirements for grants and contributions with five-year average actual expenditures of $5 million per year or more to be evaluated every five years. | Never Evaluated |
| Excluded – No evaluation planned for the Genomic Research and Development Initiative | N/A | N/A | The NRC will not be conducting the Horizontal evaluation of the Genomics R&D initiative. It does not have plans to do so in the future. In the latest TB Submission, there was no commitment made to undertake an evaluation. | N/A | Evaluation of the Genomic Research and Development Initiative, 2020-2021 |
| Excluded – No evaluation of the Protect and Promote the Health of Canada’s Priority At-Risk Whale Populations Program | N/A | N/A | The evaluation of the Protect and Promote the Health of Canada's Priority At-Risk Whale Populations Program has been cancelled by DFO who is the lead department. | N/A | Horizontal Evaluation of Funding Dedicated to Whales, 2022-2023 |
| Excluded – Innovative Solutions Canada Program | N/A | N/A | Low need. No requirement to evaluate as per the FAA. | N/A | Never Evaluated |
| Excluded - No evaluation planned of the Public Safety and Anti-Terrorism | N/A | N/A | Not a departmental priority. Low risk, low materiality. | N/A | Never Evaluated |
Inventory program: Water Quality and Ecosystems Partnerships ($0)
| Activities identified for evaluation coverage | Fiscal year of planned evaluation approval | Program spending covered by the evaluation (2024-2025 amounts) | Rationale for not evaluating | Reason for evaluation | Last evaluation of the program |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excluded – No evaluation planned for Genomic Research and Development Initiative | N/A | N/A | The NRC will not be conducting the Horizontal evaluation of the Genomics R&D initiative. It does not have plans to do so in the future. In the latest TB Submission, there was no commitment made to undertake an evaluation. | N/A | Evaluation of the Genomic Research and Development Initiative, 2020-2021 |
| Excluded – No Evaluation of the Protect and Promote the Health of Canada’s Priority At-Risk Whale Populations Program | N/A | N/A | The evaluation of the Protect and Promote the Health of Canada's Priority At-Risk Whale Populations Program has been cancelled by DFO who is the lead department. | N/A | Horizontal Evaluation of Funding Dedicated to Whales, 2022-2023 |
Inventory program: Canada Water Agency ($70,007,981)
| Activities identified for evaluation coverage | Fiscal year of planned evaluation approval | Program spending covered by the evaluation (2024-2025 amounts) | Rationale for not evaluating | Reason for evaluation | Last evaluation of the program |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freshwater Action Plan and (including) Canada Water Agency | 2025-2026 | $70,007,981 | N/A | Centrally-led / Requested. | Evaluation of Freshwater Action Plan: Great Lakes Protection Initiative; Evaluation of Freshwater Action Plan: Lake Winnipeg Basin Program, 2021-2022 |
Core responsibility: Conserving nature
Inventory program: Biodiversity Policy and Partnerships ($10,114,954)
| Activities identified for evaluation coverage | Fiscal year of planned evaluation approval | Program spending covered by the evaluation (2024-2025 amounts) | Rationale for not evaluating | Reason for evaluation | Last evaluation of the program |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Species at Risk Program (Horizontal – led by ECCC) | 2024-2025 | $6,668,688 | N/A | Departmental Priority | Evaluation of the Species at Risk Program, 2018-2019 |
| Evaluation of the Biodiversity Policy and Partnership Program (Horizontal – led by ECCC) | 2024-2025 | $378,218 | N/A | PI - Periodical evaluation of the Programs listed in the ECCC Program Inventory and G&C FAA / Policy on Results requirements for grants and contributions with five-year average actual expenditures of $5 million per year or more to be evaluated every five | Evaluation of Biodiversity Policy and Priorities, 2012-2013 |
| Enforcement Modernization Initiative | 2024-2025 | $277,287 | N/A | Departmental Priority | Evaluation of the Enforcement Program, 2009-2010 |
| Excluded – No evaluation planned for Negotiate and Implement Rights-Based Agreements | N/A | $2,790,761 | Low enterprise risk, low program materiality. | N/A | Never Evaluated |
Inventory program: Compliance Promotion and Enforcement – Wildlife ($23,826,998)
| Activities identified for evaluation coverage | Fiscal year of planned evaluation approval | Program spending covered by the evaluation (2024-2025 amounts) | Rationale for not evaluating | Reason for evaluation | Last evaluation of the program |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enforcement Modernization Initiative | 2024-2025 | $18,080,757 | N/A | Departmental Priority | Evaluation of the Enforcement Program, 2009-2010 |
| Species at Risk Program (Horizontal – led by ECCC) | 2024-2025 | $3,209,906 | N/A | Departmental Priority | Horizontal Evaluation of the Species at Risk Program, 2018-2019 |
| Migratory Birds and other Wildlife Program | 2024-2025 | $1,736,049 | N/A | Departmental Priority | Evaluation of the Migratory Birds Program, 2017-2018 |
| Ocean Protection Plan (Horizontal - led by TC) | 2026-2027 | $628,967 | N/A | HI - Specific Horizontal initiatives where program outcomes are shared or related | Evaluation of Environment and Climate Change Canada's components of the Oceans Protection Plan, 2020-2021 |
| Biodiversity Policy and Partnership Program (Horizontal – led by ECCC) | 2025-2026 | $171,319 | N/A | PI - Periodical evaluation of the Programs listed in the ECCC Program Inventory and G&C FAA / Policy on Results requirements for grants and contributions with five-year average actual expenditures of $5 million per year or more to be evaluated every five | Evaluation of the Canada Nature Fund, 2021-2022 |
Inventory program: Environmental Assessment ($26,082,163)
| Activities identified for evaluation coverage | Fiscal year of planned evaluation approval | Program spending covered by the evaluation (2024-2025 amounts) | Rationale for not evaluating | Reason for evaluation | Last evaluation of the program |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Impact Assessment and Regulatory Regime Implementation (Horizontal – led by IAAC) | 2027-2028 | $14,300,702 | N/A | G&C - FAA/Policy on Results requirements for grants and contributions with five-year average actual expenditures of $5 million per year or more to be evaluated every five years | Evaluation of Impact Assessment and Regulatory Regime Implementation, 2022-2023 |
| Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion - Terrestrial Cumulative Effects Initiative (Horizontal – led by ECCC) | 2024-2025 | $9,520,965 | N/A | G&C - FAA/Policy on Results requirements for grants and contributions with five-year average actual expenditures of $5 million per year or more to be evaluated every five years | Never Evaluated |
| Excluded – No evaluation planned for Major Projects Management Office | N/A | N/A | Not a departmental priority. Low risk, low materiality. Low need. No G&C associated | N/A | Horizontal Evaluation of Major Projects Management Office Initiative, 2020-2021 |
Inventory program: Habitat Conservation and Protection ($433,681,173)
| Activities identified for evaluation coverage | Fiscal year of planned evaluation approval | Program spending covered by the evaluation (2024-2025 amounts) | Rationale for not evaluating | Reason for evaluation | Last evaluation of the program |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biodiversity Policy and Partnership Program (Horizontal – led by ECCC) | 2025-2026 | $268,351,159 | N/A | PI - Periodical evaluation of the Programs listed in the ECCC Program Inventory and G&C FAA / Policy on Results requirements for grants and contributions with five-year average actual expenditures of $5 million per year or more to be evaluated every five years | Evaluation of the Canada Nature Fund, 2021-2022 |
| Natural Climate Solutions Fund (including 2 Billion Trees) (Horizontal – led by NRCan) | 2026-2027 | $131,847,236 | N/A | G&C - FAA/Policy on Results requirements for grants and contributions with five-year average actual expenditures of $5 million per year or more to be evaluated every five years. | Never Evaluated |
| Habitat Conservation and Protection | 2024-2025 | $21,797,747 | N/A | Required by the FAA | Evaluation of the Protected Areas Program, 2014-2015; Evaluation of the Canada Nature Fund, 2021-2022 |
| Marine Conservation Targets Initiative | 2025-2026 | $4,682,737 | N/A | HI - Specific Horizontal initiatives where program outcomes are shared or related | Evaluation of the Canada Nature Fund, 2021-2022 |
| Migratory Birds and other Wildlife Program | 2024-2025 | $3,093,673 | N/A | PI - Periodical evaluation of the programs listed in the ECCC Program Inventory. | Evaluation of the Migratory Birds Program, 2017-2018 |
| Species at Risk Program (Horizontal – led by ECCC) | 2024-2025 | $2,514,618 | N/A | Departmental Priority | Horizontal Evaluation of the Species at Risk Program, 2018-2019 |
| Enforcement Modernization Initiative | 2024-2025 | $1,332,062 | N/A | Departmental Priority | Evaluation of the Enforcement Program, 2009-2010 |
Inventory program: Migratory Birds and other Wildlife ($61,223,888)
| Activities identified for evaluation coverage | Fiscal year of planned evaluation approval | Program spending covered by the evaluation (2024-2025 amounts) | Rationale for not evaluating | Reason for evaluation | Last evaluation of the program |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Species at Risk Program (Horizontal – led by ECCC) | 2024-2025 | $22,102,380 | N/A | Departmental Priority | Horizontal Evaluation of the Species at Risk Program, 2018-2019 |
| Ocean Protection Plan (Horizontal – led by TC) | 2026-2027 | $14,121,593 | N/A | HI - Specific Horizontal initiatives where program outcomes are shared or related | Evaluation of Environment and Climate Change Canada's components of the Oceans Protection Plan, 2020-2021 |
| Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion - Terrestrial Cumulative Effects Initiative (Horizontal – led by ECCC) | 2024-2025 | $13,105,946 | N/A | G&C - FAA/Policy on Results requirements for grants and contributions with five-year average actual expenditures of $5 million per year or more to be evaluated every five years | Never Evaluated |
| Migratory Birds and other Wildlife Program | 2024-2025 | $11,839,761 | N/A | PI - Periodical evaluation of the programs listed in the ECCC Program Inventory. | Evaluation of the Migratory Birds Program, 2017-2018 |
Inventory program: Species at Risk ($181,791,369)
| Activities identified for evaluation coverage | Fiscal ye.ar of planned evaluation approval | Program spending covered by the evaluation (2024-2025 amounts) | Rationale for not evaluating | Reason for evaluation | Last evaluation of the program |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biodiversity Policy and Partnership Program (Horizontal – led by ECCC) | 2025-2026 | $127,347,088 | N/A | PI - Periodical evaluation of the Programs listed in the ECCC Program Inventory and G&C FAA / Policy on Results requirements for grants and contributions with five-year average actual expenditures of $5 million per year or more to be evaluated every five years | Evaluation of the Canada Nature Fund, 2021-2022 |
| Species at Risk (Horizontal – led by ECCC) | 2023-2024 | $51,439,103 | N/A | Departmental Priority | Horizontal Evaluation of the Species at Risk Program, 2018-2019 |
| Impact Assessment and Regulatory Regime Implementation (Horizontal – led by IAAC) | 2027-2028 | $3,005,178 | N/A | G&C - FAA/Policy on Results requirements for grants and contributions with five-year average actual expenditures of $5 million per year or more to be evaluated every five years | Evaluation of Impact Assessment and Regulatory Regime Implementation, 2022-2023 |
Core responsibility: Predicting weather and environmental conditions
Inventory program: Hydrological Services ($50,396,022)
| Activities identified for evaluation coverage | Fiscal year of planned evaluation approval | Program spending covered by the evaluation (2024-2025 amounts) | Rationale for not evaluating | Reason for evaluation | Last evaluation of the program |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada’s Hydro-Meteorological Services | 2027-2028 | $48,287,148 | N/A | Departmental Priority | Evaluation of the Hydrological Service, 2022-2023 |
| Funding for Impact Assessment and Regulatory Regime Implementation (Horizontal – led by IAAC) | 2027-2028 | $275,776 | N/A | G&C - FAA/Policy on Results requirements for grants and contributions with five-year average actual expenditures of $5 million per year or more to be evaluated every five years. | Evaluation of Impact Assessment and Regulatory Regime Implementation, 2022-2023 |
| Excluded - No evaluation planned for the Major Projects Management Office | N/A | N/A | Not a departmental priority. Low risk, low materiality. Low need. No G&C associated | N/A | Evaluation of the Major Projects Management Office Initiative, 2020-2021 |
Inventory program: Weather and Environmental Observations, Forecasts and Warnings ($221,262,847)
| Activities identified for evaluation coverage | Fiscal year of planned evaluation approval | Program spending covered by the evaluation (2024-2025 amounts) | Rationale for not evaluating | Reason for evaluation | Last evaluation of the program |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weather and Environmental Observations. Forecasts and Warnings | 2026-2027 | $76,793,214 | N/A | PI - Periodically evaluation of the Programs listed in the ECCC Program Inventory. | Evaluation of the Weather Observations, Forecasts and Warnings Program, 2021-2022 |
| Air Quality | 2028-2029 | $69,292,702 | N/A | PI - Periodical evaluation of the Programs listed in the ECCC Program Inventory | Evaluation of the Addressing Air Pollution Horizontal Initiative, 2020-2021 |
| Canada’s Hydro-Meteorological Services | 2027-2028 | $41,740,880 | N/A | Departmental Priority | Evaluation of the Hydrological Service, 2022-2023 |
| Ocean Protection Plan (Horizontal – led by TC) | 2026-2027 | $20,509,384 | N/A | HI - Specific Horizontal initiatives where program outcomes are shared or related | Evaluation of Environment and Climate Change Canada's components of the Oceans Protection Plan, 2020-2021 |
| Adaptation to Climate Change – Horizontal Roll-up (Horizontal – led by ECCC) | 2026-2027 | $4,026,734 | N/A | Required by the FAA | Climate Change Adaptation Gap Analysis, 2020-2021 |
| Funding for Impact Assessment and Regulatory Regime Implementation (Horizontal – led by IAAC) | 2027-2028 | $135,070 | N/A | G&C - FAA/Policy on Results requirements for grants and contributions with five-year average actual expenditures of $5 million per year or more to be evaluated every five years. | Evaluation of Impact Assessment and Regulatory Regime Implementation, 2022-2023 |
| Excluded – No evaluation planned for Genomic Research and Development Initiative | N/A | N/A | The NRC will not be conducting the Horizontal evaluation of the Genomics R&D initiative. It does not have plans to do so in the future. In the latest TB Submission, there was no commitment made to undertake an evaluation. | N/A | Evaluation of the Genomic Research and Development Initiative, 2020-2021 |
| Excluded - No evaluation planned for the Infrastructure Investment at the Eureka Site | N/A | N/A | Not a departmental priority. Low risk, low materiality. This is an infrastructure project, not a program per se. | N/A | Never Evaluated |
Inventory program: Internal Services
| Activities identified for evaluation coverage | Fiscal year of planned evaluation approval | Program spending covered by the evaluation (2024-2025 amounts) | Rationale for not evaluating | Reason for evaluation | Last evaluation of the program |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exempt | Exempt | $263,771,166 | Exempt | Exempt | Exempt |
Summary
- Total Departmental Funding without Internal services: $2,497,198,060
- Total Evaluation Coverage without Internal services: 98%
- Total Departmental Funding with Internal services: $2,760,969,226
- Total Evaluation Coverage with Internal services: 88%
List of acronyms
- DFO – Department of Fisheries and Oceans
- ECCC – Environment and Climate Change Canada
- ESDC – Employment and Social Development Canada
- FAA – Financial Administration Act
- G&C – Grants and Contributions
- HI – Horizontal Initiative
- IAAC – Impact Assessment Agency of Canada
- NRC – National Research Council
- NRCan – Natural Resources Canada
- PI – Program Inventory
- R&D – Research and Development
- TC – Transport Canada