Management Action Plan Response to Participant Funding Program Evaluation Recommendations

Recommendation 1: As PFP is relevant, is delivering expected results, and is cost-effective, PFP should be continued.

Response:

  • Agreed. The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA) has a legislative obligation to establish a participant funding program to facilitate the participation of the public in environmental assessments (EA).

Recommendation 2: CEAA should consider whether to publish in its public reporting additional detail regarding its future obligations to fund PFP contribution agreements for projects where contribution agreements are in place, but where the precise timing of the future year expenditure is difficult to forecast since projects have been put on hold for an unspecified period by a proponent.

Response:

  • Agreed. The Agency will establish a definition of “contingent liabilities” related to the PFP and publish the figures in future Departmental Performance Reports.

Recommendation 3: In order to provide support for unexpected additional costs during the EA process, CEAA should consider providing additional support to existing contribution agreement recipients in the event that a project proponent makes a significant change to a proposed project during the EA process.

Response:

  • Agreed. A new “Special Consideration” category has been created in the Participant Funding Program to provide support for unexpected additional costs due to proponents making significant changes to their projects during the EA process. The Agency has utilized the new Special Consideration category twice in fiscal year 2015-2016.

Recommendation 4: To improve due diligence and facilitate understanding of the stacking limit by applicants and recipients, the PFP stacking limits, as described in the program terms and conditions, should be noted in the standard text of PFP Contribution Agreements, and other relevant program documents and forms.

Response:

  • Agreed. Changes will be introduced to the standard text of PFP Contribution Agreements, and other relevant program documents and forms regarding the stacking limits by the end of fiscal year 2015-2016.

Recommendation 5: To demonstrate performance in an ongoing manner, to provide information for management decision-making and to facilitate program evaluations, the PFP should complete work on its Performance Measurement Strategy, and track performance against its published service standards.

Response:

  • Agreed. The Agency will finalize a Performance Measurement Strategy and track performance against its published service standards starting in fiscal year 2016-17.

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