Impact Assessment Agency of Canada's 2024–2025 Departmental results report: Details on transfer payment programs

Transfer payment program or funding agreement: Contributions to support the participation of the public and Indigenous groups in assessment and policy dialogue and the development of Indigenous Knowledge and capacity associated with assessments and related activities – Participant Funding Program, Policy Dialogue Program and Indigenous Capacity Support Program

Start date: 2018

End date: Ongoing

Type of transfer payment: Contributions

Type of appropriation: Appropriated annually through the Estimates

Fiscal year for terms and conditions: 2022-23

Link to departmental result(s): Stakeholders and Indigenous groups meaningfully participate in the assessment process

Link to the department’s program inventory:

• Assessment Administration, Conduct and Monitoring; and
• 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 assessments undertaken by the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) or review panels, or a regional/ strategic assessment.
  • Policy Dialogue Program: supports the provision of external advice and participation in developing policies, methodologies, tools, and practices related to impact assessments, and regional/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.
  • Policy Dialogue Program: supports the provision of external advice and participation in developing policies, methodologies, tools, and practices related to impact assessments, and regional/strategic assessments.
  • Participant Funding Program: provides limited financial contributions to Indigenous groups to help prepare for and participate in key stages of assessments undertaken by IAAC or review panels, or a regional/strategic assessment.

Results achieved:

The Participant Funding Program expended a total of $4.5 million to support the participation of 27 unique Indigenous recipients and five unique^Footnote 1 public recipients in 13 impact assessment processes. An additional $1.3 million was expended to support the participation of 18 unique Indigenous recipients and 17 unique public recipients in five regional assessment processes.^Footnote 2 Note that expenditures may be made under agreements established in previous years and are not necessarily limited to those executed in 2024-25.

Moreover, in 2024-25, the Participant Funding Program signed a total of $2.8 million in contribution agreements; $2.2 million with 26 unique Indigenous recipients, and $0.6 million with 14 unique public recipients to support their participation in eight impact assessment processes. Note that while an agreement may have been established in 2024-25, the associated funds may be disbursed in subsequent years.

The Policy Dialogue Program expended a total of $1.7 million in contribution funds to 51 unique recipients to support the participation of 23 unique Indigenous recipients and 28 unique public recipients in policy and guidance development. Moreover, in 2024-25, the Program signed 45 new agreements for an approximate total of $1.0 million.

Through the Policy Dialogue Program, recipients provided feedback on IAAC 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.

In 2024-25, the TAC held six meetings during which the committee provided feedback to inform the review of the Physical Activities Regulations, cumulative effects assessment in the context of regional assessments, and scoping health, social, and economic effects into assessment. The IAC held four meetings, where it examined critical topics, such as the Assessment of Impacts to Rights, United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, IAA amendments, and regulatory initiatives. Information on TAC and IAC, including summaries of their meetings, can be found on IAAC’s Advisory Groups webpage.

MINAC drafted and submitted to IAAC its third report for the Minister. In 2024-25, MINAC held seven meetings covering several key topics, including: federal/provincial/Indigenous cooperation; the Supreme Court of Canada Decision, and proposed amendments to the IAA; Indigenous Impact Assessment Co-Administration Agreement Regulations; Physical Activities Regulations; adaptive management; regional and strategic assessments; and current IAAC practices in performance measurement and project evaluation.

The Indigenous Capacity Support Program expended $9.9 million in funding to 59 unique Indigenous recipients to increase the recipients’ ability to participate and collaborate meaningfully in current and future federal assessments. Moreover, in 2024-25, the Program signed 35 new agreements for a total of $7.3 million. Supported 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 a regional conference, wherein participants shared tools, knowledge, and best practices in impact assessments.

Findings of audits completed in 2024-25: No audit was completed in 2024-25

Findings of evaluations completed in 2024-25:

The Evaluation of IAAC’s Impact Assessment Grants and Contributions Program (the IA G&C Program) was approved in 2024-25. The scope of the evaluation included the IA G&C Program’s four components: Participant Funding Program, Indigenous Capacity Support Program, Policy Dialogue Program, and Research Program. The evaluation confirmed:

• an ongoing need for all components of the Program. That is, the Program is meeting the needs of funding recipients to build their capacity to empower community members to participate in current and future Indigenous consultations and public engagement on projects, with some gaps remaining (i.e., including sufficiency of funding generally and, in particular, to build capacity, and restrictions on the use funds on other priorities).
• there has been good progress towards achieving the immediate and most intermediate outcomes across all IA G&C Program components; however, the evaluation could not clearly confirm whether the individual components were contributing to their respective ultimate outcomes.
• the IA G&C Program was determined to be designed and delivered in an appropriate and efficient way to achieve the intended outcomes and broader objectives of IAAC and is consistent with other federal organizations and best practices.

Recommendations were made in the evaluation to: increase consideration for the needs of diverse populations by implementing standardized procedures to ensure consistency in efforts to achieve greater diversity of participants across all funding components; increase public participation; enhance transparency by providing more detailed feedback to unsuccessful applicants; and streamline performance measurement by standardizing procedures and developing a centralized grants and contributions information management system for more efficient data collection and decision-making.

Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2024-25:

• Public
  • Participant Funding Program: Public notices and social media posts related to financial support for participation are posted in various news outlets and on IAAC’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, Indigenous groups and stakeholders are identified based on expertise and the policy issues at hand. Using targeted approaches, IAAC contacts Indigenous groups and stakeholders to inform them of funding opportunities. For other initiatives, IAAC 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, IAAC maintains regular contact with Indigenous groups through various means, including consultation meetings, community visits, correspondence, and telephone calls. Indigenous groups potentially affected by a project are contacted and notified of opportunities to participate in consultation activities. Funding for Indigenous groups is linked to IAAC’s consultation activities associated with the engagement activities for a project assessment. Indigenous funding availability is communicated by IAAC, directly to those Indigenous groups who may be potentially impacted by the project. This is done at the same time as the announcement for the public.
    Consultation work plans are prepared jointly with potentially impacted Indigenous groups, and feedback is solicited at key points in the assessment process. For example, during the Planning Phase of an assessment, IAAC 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 groups that are not identified by IAAC as being potentially affected by a project can find information on the availability of participant funding on IAAC’s website.
  • Indigenous Capacity Support Program: On occasion, under the Strategic Opportunities stream (Stream 3) of this Program, funding announcements are made outlining the strategic priority activities. Applicants must first provide IAAC with a proposal demonstrating how their initiative meets the objectives and criteria of the Program. This includes providing information to determine if eligibility requirements are met as well as any information required to assess the applicant and/or the initiative against the Program assessment criteria. Proposals that meet the criteria and priorities outlined may be funded based on funding availability.
    The Program also employs other funding approaches, such as targeted and/or open processes for identifying funding opportunities.
    In the case of a targeted process, IAAC engages its regional staff and other organizational units, as necessary, to identify candidates. IAAC representatives contact candidates directly and explain the application process and its requirements. In the case of an open process, IAAC organizes and leads the call for proposals, which may include specific, targeted criteria. All material is posted on IAAC’s website.

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

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

Start date: 1978

End date: Ongoing

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 result(s): 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

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:

IAAC disbursed $0.45 million to the Province of Quebec through agreements under the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement.

Findings of audits completed in 2024-25: No audit was completed in 2024-25

Findings of evaluations completed in 2024-25: No evaluation was conducted in 2024-25

Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2024-25: 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 – Participant Funding Program, Policy Dialogue Program and Research Program

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: 2022-23

Link to departmental result(s):

• 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; and
• Stakeholders and Indigenous groups meaningfully participate in the assessment process

Link to the department’s Program inventory:

• Assessment Administration, Conduct and Monitoring; and
• 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 support their participation in regional assessments, or an assessment conducted by a review panel or by IAAC;
• Supports the provision of external advice and participation in the development of policies, methodologies, tools, and practices related to assessments; and
• Promotes and disseminates new and innovative research that furthers the practice of impact assessment, including regional or strategic assessments.

Results achieved:

The Participant Funding Program expended $2.0 million in funding through 155 grant agreements to support the participation of Indigenous groups and the public in assessment processes:

• $1.0 million was disbursed to 98 unique recipients for their participation in 27 project assessment-related activities; and
• $0.9 million was disbursed to 20 unique recipients to facilitate their participation in four regional assessments.

Ninety percent (90%) of funding was provided to Indigenous recipients.

The Research Program expended $0.5 million through eight unique recipients to support research on topics including:

• GBA Plus and Intersectionality in impact assessment;
• Cumulative effects mapping and wellbeing concerns in regional assessment future scenarios;
• Cumulative effects of induced development in regional assessment;
• Assessing and mitigating cumulative effects to Indigenous rights;
• Nutrient trends and drivers in support of regional cumulative effects assessment for the St. Lawrence River area;
• Consulting practitioners to improve the quality of impact assessment in Canada; and
• Applying GBA Plus in the development of impact assessment mitigation measures.

Funding from the Research Program also supported the creation of the Gender-based Intersectional Indigenous Impact Assessment Network (GiiiA Network), which is led by the Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women and the University of Guelph’s Live Work Well Research Centre. The purpose of this Network is to share knowledge and develop tools about good practices and strategies to include GBA Plus and Indigenous Lens GBA Plus in impact assessment.

The Policy Dialogue Program expended $0.9 million through 109 grant agreements to 42 unique Indigenous recipients to support the participation of recipients in policy and guidance development. Grant funding under this program was also provided to recipients for their comments on the Amended Order for Excluded Projects on Federal Lands and Outside of Canada, Physical Activities Regulations, and Indigenous Impact Assessment Co-Administration Agreement Regulations proposal and supporting policy.

Findings of audits completed in 2024-25: No audit was completed in 2024-25

Findings of evaluations completed in 2024-25:

The Evaluation of IAAC’s IA G&C Program was approved in 2024-25. The scope of the evaluation included the IA G&C Program’s four components: Participant Funding Program, Indigenous Capacity Support Program, Policy Dialogue Program, and Research Program. The evaluation confirmed:

• an ongoing need for all components of the IA G&C Program. That is, the IA G&C Program is meeting the needs of funding recipients to build their capacity to empower community members to participate in current and future Indigenous consultations and public engagement on projects, with some gaps remaining (i.e., including sufficiency of funding generally and, in particular, to build capacity, and restrictions on the use funds on other priorities).
• there has been good progress towards achieving the immediate and most intermediate outcomes across all IA G&C Program components; however, the evaluation could not clearly confirm whether the individual components were contributing to their respective ultimate outcomes.
• the IA G&C Program was determined to be designed and delivered in an appropriate and efficient way to achieve the intended outcomes and broader objectives of IAAC and is consistent with other federal organizations and best practices.

Recommendations were made in the evaluation to: increase consideration for the needs of diverse populations by implementing standardized procedures to ensure consistency in efforts to achieve greater diversity of participants across all funding components; increase public participation; enhance transparency by providing more detailed feedback to unsuccessful applicants; and streamline performance measurement by standardizing procedures and developing a centralized grants and contributions information management system for more efficient data collection and decision-making.

Engagement of applicants and recipients in 2024-25:

• Grants under the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada Research Program:
  IAAC’s Research Program, comprised of grant and operations and maintenance (O&M) funding, was established to support implementation of the IAA.
  Grants are provided to recipients from Canadian not-for-profit and academic institutions and Indigenous groups to enable research and associated deliverables on topics including:
  • supporting research or studies based on: science, Indigenous or community knowledge; studies of cultural practices or values related to a specific geographic area, local community, or Indigenous Peoples; or information collection or data repositories;
  • supporting research on aspects of impact assessment, regional/strategic assessments, including tools, frameworks, methodologies, case studies and best practices related to issues such as gender-based analysis plus, environmental impacts, economic impacts, social, and health impacts; impacts on Indigenous communities and their rights; cumulative and regional effects; and sustainability;
  • supporting impact assessment-related research partnerships with not-for-profit organizations and academic institutions in Canada and abroad;
  • supporting relevant networks to create and disseminate impact assessment research; and
  • other relevant activities, approved by IAAC, to allow for the research of additional areas of interest to IAAC.

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 IAAC for assessments and providing feedback on key scoping documents for projects and regional assessments.
  • Grants for Indigenous groups: Indigenous groups potentially impacted 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 IAAC. Consultation workplans are prepared jointly with potentially affected communities, and feedback is solicited at key points in the assessment 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 IAAC and about funding availability through public notices posted in various news outlets and on IAAC’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 activities such 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 IAAC; and
  • developing and supporting networks for discussing key policy issues and exchanging views on policy options and/or proposals.

Financial information (dollars)

Explanation of variances

There was a reduction in grant spending following the Supreme Court of Canada Decision on the constitutionality of the IAA and varying project funding timelines. The remaining funding was reallocated to fulfill funding obligations related to active contribution agreements that required additional funding.