2023-2024 Departmental Plan: Details on transfer payment programs

2018

Ongoing

Contribution

Appropriated annually through the Estimates

2022–23

Stakeholders and Indigenous groups meaningfully participate in the assessment process

Assessment Administration, Conduct and Monitoring

Indigenous Relations and Engagement

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 assessments undertaken by the Agency or review panels.

Policy Dialogue Program: supports the provision of external advice and participation in developing 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 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.

Participant Funding Program: Indigenous groups and the public benefit from:

• improved relationships;
• better access to information;
• increased capacity to participate in assessments; and
• increased meaningful participation in assessments.

These expected results should contribute to better information being available for assessments.

Policy Dialogue Program: the expected results include:

• improved quality and quantity of assessment knowledge and information among Indigenous groups and stakeholders;
• increased engagement in the development of assessment related policies, guidelines, tools, and practices;
• the advancement of reciprocal relationships;
• increased capacity to provide advice and feedback on assessment-related policy, guidelines, tools, and practices that reflect Indigenous groups and stakeholders’ perspectives; and
• meaningful participation in policy development.

These expected results should contribute to more effective assessments, policies, guidelines, tools, and practices.

Indigenous Capacity Program: the expected results include:

• improved quality and quantity of assessment knowledge and information among indigenous groups;
• establishing and deepening of long-term partnerships with Indigenous groups; and
• increased long-term capacity among Indigenous groups.

These expected results should increasingly contribute to meaningful Indigenous participation in assessments.

Not applicable

Not applicable

2023–24

• Not-for-profit organizations
• Indigenous communities and organizations
• Individuals
• Research and academic institutions

PUBLIC

Participant Funding Program: public notices and social media posts related to financial support for participation are posted in various news outlets and on the Agency’s website. Public notices are also provided to media outlets 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(s) of the environmental or impact assessment for which funding is available;
• the deadline to submit applications;
• the process to obtain application forms; and
• how to learn more about the Participant Funding Program.

Policy Dialogue Program: For some initiatives under this Program, stakeholders are identified based on expertise and the policy issues at hand. Using targeted means, the Agency contacts stakeholders to inform them about funding opportunities. For other initiatives, the Agency advertises funding availability and application forms that are available to eligible applicants on its website.

INDIGENOUS

Participant Funding Program: Throughout the life of a project, the Agency maintains regular contact with Indigenous communities through various means, including consultation meetings, community visits, correspondence, and telephone calls. Indigenous communities potentially affected by a project are contacted and notified of opportunities to participate in consultation activities. Communities that believe they may potentially be affected by a project are also invited to contact the Agency.

Consultation work plans are prepared jointly with potentially affected communities, and feedback is solicited at key points in the process. For example, during the Planning phase of an assessment, the Agency solicits feedback on the Tailored Impact Statement Guidelines and draft Indigenous Engagement and Partnership Plans. Later in the assessment process, it solicits input on the draft environmental or impact assessment report and potential conditions to be met.

Feedback is also solicited for assessments by review panels on joint review panel agreements (when applicable), terms of reference, information provided by the proponent, during public hearings, at the conclusion of panel reports, and on potential conditions.

Indigenous communities that are not identified by the Agency as being potentially affected by a project can find information on the availability of participant funding on the Agency’s website.

Indigenous Capacity Support Program: Under certain streams of this program, funding announcements are made outlining the strategic priority activities. Applicants must first provide the Agency with an Expression of interest demonstrating how their proposed initiative meets the objectives and criteria of the program. This includes providing information to determine eligibility requirements are met as well as any information required to assess the applicant and/or the initiative against the program assessment criteria. Expressions of interest that meet the criteria and priorities outlined in the announcement are assessed, and the Agency works with eligible applicants to develop a detailed proposal.

For other streams in the program, a range of approaches may be employed, such as targeted and/or open processes for identifying funding opportunities.

In the case of a targeted process, the Agency engages its regional staff and other organizational units, as necessary, to identify candidates. Agency representatives contact candidates directly and explain the application process and its requirements. In the case of an open process, the Agency organizes and leads the call for proposals, which may include specific, targeted criteria. All material is posted on the Agency’s website.

1978

Ongoing

Contribution

Appropriated annually through the Estimates

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.

Scientific and evidence-based information, and Indigenous Knowledge on key health, social, economic, and environmental effects is available to inform project assessment processes, including impact assessment reports, decisions and conditions

Indigenous Relations and Engagement

Maintain and provide funding for the secretariats supporting the James Bay Advisory Committee on the Environment and the Kativik Environmental Advisory Committee.

Each committee prepares a 5-year strategic plan with yearly actions and a year-end activity report on results.

2007–08

Continuation

Not applicable. Less than $5 million in average actual annual expenditures, and there have been no changes in programming or context since the last evaluation.

Other: James Bay Advisory Committee on the Environment and the Kativik Environmental Advisory Committee

Not applicable

2019–20

Ongoing

Grant

Appropriated annually through the Main Estimates

2022–23

Scientific and evidence-based information, and Indigenous Knowledge on key health, social, economic, and environmental effects is available to inform project assessment processes, including impact assessment reports, decisions and conditions

Stakeholders and Indigenous groups meaningfully participate in the assessment process

Assessment Administration, Conduct and Monitoring

Indigenous Relations and Engagement

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 support their participation in regional assessments, or an assessment conducted by a review panel or by the Agency.

Supports the provision of external advice and participation in the development of policies, methodologies, tools, and practices related to assessments.

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

Stronger, evidence-based policy and guidance for impact assessment through an enhanced and more diverse knowledge base.

Establishment of an impact assessment research network to foster continuous improvement and enable impact assessment to serve as a tool for sustainable development.

Not applicable

Not applicable

2023–24

• Not-for-profit organizations
• Research and academic institutions
• Indigenous communities or organizations
• Individuals

Grants under the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada Research Program:

The Agency’s current Research Program, comprised of grant and operations and maintenance (O&M) funding, was established to support implementation of the Impact Assessment Act.

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

• supporting improved impact assessment performance as it relates to health, social, and economic mitigation and enhancement measures and the treatment of biodiversity under the Impact Assessment Act;
• improving communication in environmental assessment;
• supporting an international environmental assessment conference and training;
• understanding impacts of major infrastructure and natural resource development projects on 2SLGBTQQIA+ persons and communities;
• establishing recommended best practices for diversity, equity, and inclusion in the development and operations of large offshore oilfield development projects; and
• supporting the Network on Expertise and Dialogue for Impact Assessment (NEDIA), led by academics with the aims to better integrate the social sciences and humanities in the field of impact assessment.

Grant funding is also provided to the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) to support program objectives. The funding transferred to NSERC supports 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.

Grants under the Participant Funding Program:

Participant Funding Program grants are provided to recipients for initiatives such as supporting early engagement and post-decision phase activities with the Agency for assessments, and providing feedback on key scoping documents for projects and regional assessments.

Grants for Indigenous groups: Indigenous communities potentially affected by a project are contacted and notified of opportunities to participate in consultation and engagement activities for the Pre-planning and Planning phases of impact assessments and for the Planning phase of regional assessments. Communities that believe they may be potentially affected by a project are invited to contact the Agency.

Consultation work plans are prepared jointly with potentially affected communities, and feedback is solicited at key points in the process.

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

Grants under the Policy Dialogue Program:

Grants of low materiality can be provided to individuals, Indigenous communities or organizations, or not-for-profit organizations for such activities as:

• developing documents, policies, and technical recommendations;
• contributing to information, advice, or views on existing or draft guidance, directives, policies, regulations and legislation;
• participating in engagement sessions related to the review or development of impact assessment-related policy and program issues;
• participating in activities related to advisory bodies established by the Minister of Environment and Climate Change or the Agency; and
• developing and supporting networks for discussing key policy issues and exchanging views on policy options and/or proposals.

Total grants

4,000,000

4,000,000

4,000,000

4,000,000

Total contributions

17,453,903

17,453,903

17,453,903

12,953,903

Total other types of transfer payments

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Total program

21,453,903

21,453,903

21,453,903

16,953,903