Main Estimates, 2021-2022, Impact Assessment Agency of Canada: appearance before the Standing Committee (March 10, 2021)

Overview

IAAC’s 2021–2022 Main Estimates are $79.0 million, could you elaborate on the composition of these Main Estimates?

Yes, $51.0 million of IAAC’s authorities will be devoted to the conduct of assessments; $22.2 million is allotted to Grants and Contributions to support public and Indigenous participation in assessments. The remainder (approx. $5.8 million) is from a statutory vote for the employee benefit program.
These authorities include potential revenues up to a maximum of $8 million. Under cost recovery regulations, IAAC has the authority to recover certain costs from proponents directly related to the exercise of IAAC’s responsibilities during assessments by review panels.

Why have IAAC’s authorities increased from 2020–2021?

There is a net increase over 2020–2021 levels of $2.5 million primarily due to an increase in grants and contributions ($3.2 million), and a small reduction in operating funds ($0.7 million).

Why does the new process of impact assessment require substantially more funds than the previous system?

Put simply, it is a more comprehensive impact assessment process.
The new Impact Assessment Act came into force on August 28, 2019, repealing the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 and transforming the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency into the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada.
Under this new Act, IAAC’s mandate and responsibilities have been expanded, making IAAC the single federal organization responsible for impact assessments and the Crown coordinator for consultations with Indigenous peoples on designated projects and for regional and strategic assessments.
In leading these assessments, IAAC’s scope of assessment has expanded from negative environmental effects to positive and negative environmental, economic, social, health and gender effects of designated projects.

Specifically, what is IAAC funding through its $22.2 million grants and contributions programs?

The Agency’s grants and contributions programs provide funding support to individuals, nonprofits, and Indigenous groups to improve scientific information and Indigenous knowledge; enhance public participation; contribute to Indigenous reconciliation and build Indigenous capacity; and promote transparency, efficiency and timeliness.
The funding is divided among the following programs:
- Participant Funding Program: to help recipients prepare for and participate in key stages of impact assessments undertaken, as well as regional and strategic assessments.
- Policy Dialogue Program: supports the provision of external advice and participation in the development of policies, methodologies, tools and practices related to impact assessment, regional assessments and strategic assessments.
- Indigenous Capacity Support Program: supports the development of local and regional Indigenous knowledge and capacity to effectively participate in, or undertake project impact assessments, regional assessments, policy engagement, impact assessment monitoring and follow-up activities, and IAA-related activities.
- Research Program: supports impact assessment-related research.
- Contribution to the Province of Quebec – James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement: to maintain and provide funding for the secretariats supporting the James Bay Advisory Committee on the Environment and the Kativik Environmental Advisory Committee.

2021-2022 Main Estimates

Raison d’être

The Minister of Environment and Climate Change is responsible for this organization.

Impact assessment contributes to informed decision making.

The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada delivers high-quality impact assessments in support of government decisions about major projects.

Additional information can be found in the Agency’s Departmental Plan.

Organizational Estimates

Organizational Estimates (dollars)
Budgetary		2019–20 Expenditures ($)	2020–21 Main Estimates ($)	2020–21 Estimates to date ($)	2021–22 Main Estimates
Voted
1	Operating expenditures	49,805,531	51,710,081	51,710,081	50,983,558
5	Grants and contributions	7,388,431	18,939,140	18,939,140	22,172,274
Total Voted		57,193,962	70,649,221	70,649,221	73,155,832
Total Statutory		6,252,935	5,834,174	5,834,174	5,887,105
Total Budgetary		63,446,897	76,483,395	76,483,395	79,042,937

2021–22 Main Estimates by Purpose

2021–22 Main Estimates by Purpose (dollars)
Budgetary	Operating ($)	Transfer Payments ($)	Revenues and other reductions ($)	Total ($)
Impact Assessment	54,675,124	22,172,274	(8,001,000)	68,846,398
Internal Services	10,196,539	0	0	10,196,539
Total	64,871,663	22,172,274	(8,001,000)	79,042,937

Listing of the 2021–22 Transfer Payments

Listing of the 2021–22 Transfer Payments (dollars)
Transfer Payment	2019–20 Expenditures ($)	2020–21 Main Estimates ($)	2021–22 Main Estimates ($)
Grants
Grants to support the participation of the public and Indigenous groups in impact, regional or strategic assessments, and to support assessment-related research	390,367	2,500,000	4,000,000
Contributions
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	0	0	17,807,274
Contribution to the Province of Quebec – James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement	245,500	245,500	365,000

Listing of Statutory Authorities

Listing of Statutory Authorities (dollars)
Budgetary	2019–20 Expenditures ($)	2020–21 Estimates to date ($)	2021–22 Main Estimates ($)
Contributions to employee benefit plans	6,252,935	5,834,174	5,887,105

Items for Inclusion in the Proposed Schedule 1 to the Appropriation Bill

(for the financial year ending March 31, 2022)

Unless specifically identified under the Changes in 2021–22 Main Estimates section, all vote wordings have been provided in earlier appropriation acts.

Items for Inclusion in the Proposed Schedule 1 to the Appropriation Bill (for the financial year ending March 31, 2022)
Vote No.	Items	Amount ($)
IMPACT ASSESSMENT AGENCY OF CANADA
1	Operating expenditures Authority, as referred to in paragraph 29.1(2)(a) of the Financial Administration Act, to expend in the fiscal year — in order to offset expenditures that it incurs in that fiscal year — revenues that it receives in that fiscal year from the conduct of assessments by a review panel; the provision of training; and the provision of internal support services under section 29.2 of that Act	50,983,558
5	The grants listed in any of the Estimates for the fiscal year Contributions	22,172,274
Total		73,155,832

Budgetary Expenditures by Standard Object

Budgetary Expenditures by Standard Object
Organization	Personnel 1	Transportation and communications 2	Information 3	Professional and special services 4	Rentals 5	Purchased repair and maintenance 6	Utilities, materials and supplies 7	Acquisition of land, buildings and works 8	Acquisition of machinery and equipment 9	Transfer payments 10	Public debt charges 11	Other subsidies and payments 12	Less: Revenues and other reductions	Total
Impact Assessment Agency of Canada	45,664,841	1,767,027	351,485	10,385,128	4,455,983	7,683	192,068	0	1,173,537	22,172,274	0	873,911	8,001,000	79,042,937
Total	45,664,841	1,767,027	351,485	10,385,128	4,455,983	7,683	192,068	0	1,173,537	22,172,274	0	873,911	8,001,000	79,042,937

Statutory Forecasts

Table 1. Budgetary (dollars)
Budgetary	2019–20 Expenditures ($)	2020–21 Estimates to date ($)	2021–22 Main Estimates ($)
Impact Assessment Agency of Canada
Contributions to employee benefit plans	6,252,935	5,834,174	5,887,105
Total Budgetary	6,252,935	5,834,174	5,887,105

Expenditures by Purpose

Expenditures by Purpose-Budgetary
Budgetary	2020–21 Main Estimates ($)	2021–22 Main Estimates Operating ($)	2021–22 Main Estimates Capital ($)	2021–22 Main Estimates Transfer Payments ($)	2021–22 Main Estimates Revenues and other reductions ($)	2021–22 Main Estimates Total ($)
Impact Assessment Agency of Canada
Impact Assessment	66,651,607	54,675,124	0	22,172,274	(8,001,000)	68,846,398
Internal Services	9,831,788	10,196,539	0	0	0	10,196,539
Total	76,483,395	64,871,663	0	22,172,274	(8,001,000)	79,042,937

Interim Supply Requirements

Impact Assessment Agency of Canada
Approved and pending items (dollars) (triage items included)

Interim Supply Requirements
Vote No.	Vote wording and explanation(s) of Additional Twelfths	Total Main Estimates	Amount Granted
1	Operating expenditures Authority, as referred to in paragraph 29.1(2)(a) of the Financial Administration Act, to expend in the fiscal year — in order to offset expenditures that it incurs in that fiscal year — revenues that it receives in that fiscal year from the conduct of assessments by a review panel; the provision of training; and the provision of internal support services under section 29.2 of that Act No additional twelfths beyond the normal three-twelfths	50,983,558	12,745,890
5	The grants listed in any of the Estimates for the fiscal year Contributions No additional twelfths beyond the normal three-twelfths	22,172,274	5,543,069

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2021-07-08

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