2022-2023 Departmental Results Report: Details on transfer payment programs - Impact Assessment Agency of Canada

Transfer payment programs with total planned spending of $5 million or more

Participant Funding Program, Policy Dialogue Program and Indigenous Capacity Support Program – Contributions to support the participation of the public and Indigenous groups in impact assessment and policy dialogue and the development of Indigenous Knowledge and capacity associated with impact assessments and related activities.

Start date: 2018

End date: Ongoing

Type of transfer payment: Contribution

Type of appropriation: Appropriated annually through the Estimates

Fiscal year for terms and conditions: 2019-20

Link to departmental result: Indigenous groups, the public and stakeholders have opportunities to meaningfully participate in assessments

Link to the department's Program Inventory: Assessment Administration, Conduct and Monitoring; Indigenous Relations and Engagement

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program:

Public

Participant Funding Program: provides limited financial contributions to individuals, incorporated not-for-profit organizations and Indigenous groups to help prepare for, and participate in, key stages of impact assessments undertaken by the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (the Agency) or by review panels.

Policy Dialogue Program: supports the provision of external advice and participation in the development of policies, methodologies, tools, and practices related to impact assessments, regional assessments, and strategic assessments.

Indigenous

Indigenous Capacity Support Program: supports the development of local and regional Indigenous Knowledge and the capacity to participate in, or undertake, project impact assessments, regional assessments, policy engagement, impact assessment monitoring and follow-up activities, and Impact Assessment Act (IAA)-related activities effectively.

Results achieved:

The Participant Funding Program signed 31 new contribution agreements to support the participation of Indigenous groups, the public, and stakeholders in impact assessments. A total of $609,922 was disbursed^Footnote 1 in contributions to six unique^Footnote 2 recipients to support their participation in six impact assessment processes. An additional 65 new contribution agreements were signed for regional assessments. A total of $499,185 was disbursed in contributions to 24 unique recipients to support their participation in four regional assessment processes.

The Policy Dialogue Program signed 99 new contribution agreements to support the participation of Indigenous groups, the public, and stakeholders in assessments. A total of $1,527,256 was disbursed in contributions to 120 unique recipients to support Indigenous and public participation in policy and guidance development.

Through the program, participants provided feedback on Agency policies and guidance, engaged in collaborative work on policy issues, and provided financial support to the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) on Science and Knowledge, the Indigenous Advisory Committee (IAC), and the Minister’s Advisory Council (MINAC) on Impact Assessment.^Footnote 3 Through the program, the Agency held an expression of interest process that focused on knowledge and tools to support the implementation of the IAA, under which several projects were selected for multi-year funding.

In 2022–23, TAC held six meetings during which the committee examined several critical topics, including decision-making and post-approval phases, biodiversity, Indigenous Knowledge and science, health impact assessment, and Health, Social, and Economic guidance. In 2022–23, IAC held four meetings, during which it examined several critical topics, including Indigenous Knowledge and science, Assessment of Impacts to Rights, and feedback on the co-administration agreements discussion paper. A Circle of Experts, created under IAC, held ten meetings to co-develop a discussion paper on the co-administration agreements. Information on TAC and IAC, including summaries of their meetings, can be found on the Agency’s Advisory Groups webpage. MINAC drafted and submitted to the Agency its second report for the Minister, which was tabled in Parliament in June 2023.

The Indigenous Capacity Support Program signed 16 new contribution agreements to support the participation of Indigenous communities and Indigenous not-for-profit organizations to engage in, and lead consultations on, assessments, policy engagement, and monitoring and follow-up activities. A total of $6,012,086 was disbursed in contributions to 30 unique recipients to increase their ability to participate and collaborate meaningfully in consultation activities related to impact assessments. Activities included the development of governance structures, generic tools and studies, in-house training, and general awareness of the impact assessment process for community members. Funding also supported an in-person national conference in January 2023, called the "National Indigenous Capacity Conference," wherein recipients shared tools, knowledge, and best practices in impact assessments.

Findings of audits completed in 2022–23: No audit was completed in 2022–23

Findings of evaluations completed in 2022–23: No evaluation was conducted in 2022–23

Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2022–23: The three funding programs engaged with Indigenous applicants and recipients as well as those from the public.

Public

Participant Funding Program: public notices were posted in various news outlets and on the Agency’s website. News releases were also provided to media outlets in regions relevant to proposed designated projects.

These public notices and news releases provided the following information:

• a brief description of the proposed project;
• the purpose of the participant funding;
• the phase or phases of the environmental or impact assessment for which funding is available;
• the deadline to submit applications;
• the process to obtain application forms; and
• steps to learn more about the Participant Funding Program.

Policy Dialogue Program: Stakeholders have been identified based on expertise and the policy issues at hand. The Agency contacted stakeholders using targeted means, such as contacting not-for-profit organizations with an interest in IA about available funding opportunities.

Indigenous

Participant Funding Program: Throughout the life of a project, the Agency maintained regular contact with Indigenous communities through a variety of means, including consultation meetings, community visits, correspondence, and telephone calls. Indigenous communities potentially affected by a project were contacted and notified of opportunities to participate in consultation activities. Communities that determined they might be potentially affected by a project could have also contacted the Agency.

Consultation work plans were prepared jointly with potentially affected communities, and feedback was solicited at key points. For example, during the Planning phase of an assessment, the Agency solicited feedback on the draft Tailored Impact Statement Guidelines and draft Indigenous Engagement and Partnership Plan. Later in the assessment process, it solicited input on the draft Environmental or Impact Assessment Report and potential conditions.

When applicable, feedback was also solicited for assessments by review panels on joint review panel agreements, terms of reference, the information provided by proponents, assessments during public hearings, conclusions of panel reports, and potential conditions.

Indigenous communities not identified as being potentially affected by a project could find information on the availability of participant funding on the Agency’s website and may choose to apply for public participation funds.

Policy Dialogue Program and Indigenous Capacity Support Program: The Agency maintained regular contact with Indigenous communities and organizations formally (e.g., letters and meetings) and informally (e.g., telephone calls, emails, and newsletters), for policy collaboration and partnership. Indigenous communities and organizations were notified of opportunities to participate in policy collaboration and partnerships through targeted and general call-outs.

Feedback was solicited on key policy issues, such as co-administration agreements. The Indigenous Capacity Support Program supported the increased capacity of Indigenous communities to engage in, and lead consultations on, regional and strategic assessments, policy engagement, and monitoring and follow-up activities.

Transfer payment programs with total planned spending of less than $5 million

Participant Funding Component, Policy Dialogue Component, and Indigenous Capacity Component – Contributions to support the participation of the public and Indigenous groups in environmental and impact assessment and policy dialogue, and to support the development of Indigenous Knowledge and capacity related to environmental assessments and related activities.

Start date: 1990

End date: 2022–23

Type of transfer payment: Contribution

Type of appropriation: Appropriated annually through the Estimates

Fiscal year for terms and conditions: 2018

Link to departmental result: Indigenous groups, the public and stakeholders have opportunities to meaningfully participate in assessments

Link to the department's Program Inventory: Assessment Administration, Conduct and Monitoring; Indigenous Relations and Engagement

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program: The program provides financial contributions for recipients to participate in an environmental assessment by a review panel or by the Agency.

Results achieved^Footnote 4: The Participant Funding Program signed 16 new contribution agreements to support the participation of Indigenous Peoples, the public, and stakeholders in environmental assessments. A total of $3,459,700 was disbursed^Footnote 5 in contributions to 51 unique^Footnote 6 recipients to support their participation in 14 environmental assessment processes.

Findings of audits completed in 2022-23: No audit was completed in 2022–23

Findings of evaluations completed in 2022-23: No evaluation was conducted in 2022–23

Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2022-23: The Participant Funding Program engaged with Indigenous applicants and recipients as well as those from the public.

Public

The public is notified about the availability of funding through public notices posted in various news outlets and on the Agency’s website. News releases are also provided to media in regions relevant to proposed designated projects.

These public notices and news releases provide the following information:

• a brief description of the proposed project;
• the purpose of the participant funding;
• the phase or phases of the environmental assessment for which funding is available;
• the deadline to submit applications;
• the process to obtain application forms; and
• steps to learn more about the Participant Funding Program.

Indigenous

Throughout the life of a project, the Agency maintained regular contact with Indigenous communities through a variety of means, including consultation meetings, community visits, correspondence, and telephone calls. Indigenous communities potentially affected by a project were contacted and notified of opportunities to participate in consultation activities. Communities that determined they might be affected by a project could have also contacted the Agency.

Consultation work plans were prepared jointly with potentially affected communities, and feedback was solicited at key points, such as during the environmental assessment phase.

Feedback is also solicited for assessments by review panels on panel agreements and terms of reference, assessments during public hearings, panel reports, and potential conditions.

Indigenous communities not identified as being potentially affected by a project could find information about participant funding on the Agency’s website and may choose to apply for public participation funds.

Contribution to the Province of Quebec – James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement

Start date: 1978

End date: 2022-23

Type of transfer payment: Contribution

Type of appropriation: Appropriated annually through the Estimates

Fiscal year for terms and conditions: Most recent agreements (renewal) were signed between Canada and Quebec in March 2002, outlining terms and conditions. The James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement (1975) establishes obligations for funding.

Link to departmental results: Science, evidence and Indigenous Knowledge is available to inform decisions in the public interest

Link to the department's Program Inventory: Indigenous Relations and Engagement

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program: Maintain and provide funding for the secretariats supporting the James Bay Advisory Committee on the Environment and the Kativik Environmental Advisory Committee.

Results achieved: Disbursed $345,500 to the Province of Quebec ─ James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement

Findings of audits completed in 2022-23: No audit was completed in 2022–23

Findings of evaluations completed in 2022-23: No evaluation was conducted in 2022–23

Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2022-23: Not Applicable

Grants to support the participation of the public and Indigenous groups in impact, regional or strategic assessments, and to support impact assessment-related research

Start date: 2019–20

End date: Ongoing

Type of transfer payment: Grant

Type of appropriation: Appropriated annually through the Estimates

Fiscal year for terms and conditions: 2019–20

Link to departmental results: Science, evidence and Indigenous knowledge is available to inform decisions in the public interest; Indigenous groups, the public and stakeholders have opportunities to meaningfully participate in assessments

Link to the department's Program Inventory: Assessment Administration, Conduct and Monitoring; Indigenous Relations and Engagement

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program: Better informed decision-making through the active participation of the public and Indigenous groups with knowledge or expertise relevant to project impact assessments.

Provides grants for recipients to participate in regional assessments or an assessment conducted by a review panel or by the Agency.

Promotes and disseminates new and innovative research that furthers the practice of impact assessment, including regional and strategic assessments.

Results achieved:

The Participant Funding Program disbursed^Footnote 7 funding through 259 grant agreements worth $1,707,287 to support the participation of Indigenous groups, the public, and stakeholders in assessments in assessment processes:

• $929,647 was disbursed to 111 unique^Footnote 8 recipients for their participation in 39 project assessment-related activities; and
• $422,640 was disbursed to 24 unique recipients to facilitate their participation in three regional assessment-related activities; and
• $355,000 was disbursed to 71 unique recipients on behalf of the Canada Energy Regulator (CER) to facilitate their participation in the Indigenous Oversight Forum Leadership Meetings with the CER for the Nova Gas Transmission Ltd.

The Research Program disbursed $529,423 in grants to eight unique recipients to support research on topics including:

• environmental assessment training and communication;
• consideration of 2SLGBTQQIA+ persons in impact assessment;
• diversity, equity, and inclusion for major projects;
• health, social, and economic mitigation measures;
• advancing impact assessment for Canada’s socio-ecological systems; and
• treatment of biodiversity in impact assessment.

Findings of audits completed in 2022-23: No audit was completed in 2022–23

Findings of evaluations completed in 2022-23: No evaluation was conducted in 2022–23

Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2022-23: Grants under the Participant Funding Program and the Research Program engaged applicants and recipients in different ways:

Grants under the Participant Funding Program

Participant Funding Program grants were provided to recipients for participation in impact assessments to support early engagement and post-decision phase activities and provide feedback on key scoping documents for projects and regional assessments.

Grants for Indigenous Peoples: Indigenous communities potentially affected by a project were contacted and notified of opportunities to participate in consultation and engagement activities for the Pre-planning and Planning phases of impact assessments and Planning phase activities for regional assessments. Communities that determined they might be affected by a project could have also contacted the Agency.

Consultation work plans were prepared jointly with potentially affected communities, and feedback was solicited at key points. When applicable, the Agency offered grants for activities such as pre-dialogue with Indigenous groups to discuss the scope and funding of monitoring committees.

Grants for the public: Grants were provided to public groups or individuals participating in Planning phase activities of impact assessments and in early engagement activities for regional assessments. The public was notified of opportunities to participate in such activities by the Agency. The public was also notified about funding availability through public notices posted in various news outlets and on the Agency’s website.

Grants under the Research Program

The Agency’s Research Program is comprised of grant funding and operations and maintenance (O&M). It is intended to support IAA implementation and expand the research community focused on impact assessments.

Grants were provided to recipients from Canadian academic institutions and not-for-profit organizations to enable research and associated deliverables on various topics including:

• Environmental Assessment training and communication;
• Consideration of 2SLGBTQQIA+ persons in impact assessment;
• Diversity, equity, and inclusion for major projects;
• Health, social, and economic mitigation measures; and
• Advancing Impact Assessment for Canada’s Socio-Ecological Systems.

Grant funding was also provided to support the TAC Biodiversity Subcommittee to improve the treatment of biodiversity in impact assessment. This research aimed to define biodiversity for the TISG template and provide guidance on assessing cumulative effects on biodiversity and estimating the efficacy of mitigation measures. The results of this work were used to support the TAC Subcommittee in providing their advice to the Agency.

Grants were also provided for continued support to the Network on Expertise and Dialogue for Impact Assessment. These grants were developed with the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) for the "Advancing Impact Assessment for Canada’s Socio-Ecological Systems" project. Led by academics, the network aimed to improve the integration of the social sciences in impact assessment.

Grant funding was also provided to the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) to support Research Program objectives. The funding transferred to NSERC supported university-based researchers at the post-graduate and/or post-doctoral levels undertaking research in the physical sciences related to the field of impact assessment.

Financial information (dollars)

Explanation of variances

The level of demand to fund participation in impact and environmental assessments depends on the number of major projects under assessment and the timing of requests for reimbursement of expenditures by participants. Participants may be approved for funding in a given fiscal year, but may not be reimbursed until the subsequent fiscal year, depending on the pace at which an impact or environmental assessment proceeds.

To address this, the Agency will:

• evaluate its risk management strategies;
• implement a structured and integrated strategic and business annual planning exercise;
• streamline internal reallocation and approval processes;
• leverage in-year funding flexibility; and
• explore the use of technology and innovative practices to deliver funding programs.

Moreover, the Agency transferred $5.15 million to other government departments through Supplementary Estimates C during the year. For instance, $5 million was transferred to Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada to support the Tsawwassen First Nations' Environmental Stewardship Framework. Additionally, $0.15 million was provided to the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada for research in the field of impact assessment.