Impact Assessment Agency of Canada’s 2026–27 Departmental plan: Details on transfer payments

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

Name of the transfer payment program or funding agreement: Contributions to support the participation of the public and Indigenous groups in assessment and policy dialogue, and to support the development of Indigenous knowledge and capacity for assessments and related activities – Participant Funding Component, Policy Dialogue Component, and Indigenous Capacity Component

Timeframe of the transfer payment program

• Start date: 2018
• End date: Ongoing
• Fiscal year for terms and conditions: 2022-23

Funding Details

• Name of program terms and conditions: Terms and Conditions for the Impact Assessment Agency’s Grants and Contributions Program
• Type of transfer payment: Contribution
• Type of appropriation: Appropriated annually through the Estimates

Purpose and objectives

• 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: 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.
  • 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.
• 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, regional assessments, and strategic assessments.

Recipients

General targeted recipient groups:

• Not-for-profit organizations and charities
• Academia and public institutions
• Indigenous recipients
• International (non-government)
• Individuals

Departmental Results Framework

Link to departmental result(s): 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

Expected results:

• Indigenous Capacity Support 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.

• 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.

Evaluation

Fiscal year of next planned evaluation: 2028-29

Transfer Payment Programs with total planned spending of less than $5 million

Name of the transfer payment program or funding agreement: Contribution to the Province of Quebec – James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement

Timeframe of the transfer payment program

• Start date:1978
• End date: Ongoing
• 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.

Funding Details

• Name of program terms and conditions: Terms and Conditions for the Impact Assessment Agency’s Grants and Contributions Program
• Type of transfer payment: Contribution
• Type of appropriation: Appropriated annually through the Estimates

Purpose and objectives

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.

Recipients

General targeted recipient groups:

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

Departmental Results Framework

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

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

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

Evaluation

Fiscal year of next planned evaluation: 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.

Name of the transfer payment program or funding agreement: 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

Timeframe of the transfer payment program

• Start date: 2019-20
• End date: Ongoing
• Fiscal year for terms and conditions: 2022-23

Funding Details

• Name of program terms and conditions: Terms and Conditions for the Impact Assessment Agency’s Grants and Contributions Program
• Type of transfer payment: Grant
• Type of appropriation: Appropriated annually through the Main Estimates

Purpose and objectives

• 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.

Recipients

General targeted recipient groups:

• Not-for-profit organizations
• Academia and public institutions
• Indigenous recipients
• International (non-government)
• Individuals

Departmental Results Framework

Link to departmental result(s):

• Adverse effects within federal jurisdiction are prevented or mitigated for projects that proceed
• 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

Expected results:

• Stronger, evidence-based policy and guidance for impact assessment through an enhanced and more diverse knowledge base; and
• Establishment of an impact assessment research network to foster continuous improvement and enable impact assessment to serve as a tool for sustainable development.

Evaluation

Fiscal year of next planned evaluation: 2028-29

The decrease in planned spending in 2028-29 is due to program funding ending on March ‍31, ‍2028. Renewal of funding is subject to Government budget decisions. Funding decisions will be reflected in IAAC’s future budgets and estimates documents.