Financial overview – Estimates of the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada: appearance before the Standing Committee (November 4, 2020)

Overview

2020-2021 Main Estimates

Q. The Agency’s 2020–2021 Main Estimates are $76.5 million, could you elaborate on the composition of these Main Estimates?

• Yes, $51.7 million of the Agency’s authorities will be devoted to the conduct of assessments, with an additional $19 million 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 the Agency has the authority to recover certain costs from proponents related to the exercise of the Agency’s responsibilities during review panels.

Q. Why has the Agency’s authorities increased from 2019-2020?

• There has been a net increase over 2019-2020 levels of $2.3 million primarily due to an increase in grants and contributions ($4.4 million), and small reductions in both operating budget ($1.8 million) and the employee benefit program ($0.3 million).
• The employee benefit program includes obligations paid by the employer, in this case Treasury Board, for such items as insurance (dental, health care) and pension provisions.

Q. Why does the new process of Impact Assessment require substantially more funds than the previous system?

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

Q. Specifically, what is the Agency funding through its $18.9 million grants and contributions program?

• The objective of the Grants and Contributions program is to provide funding support 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 Agency has the following Grants and Contributions funding programs:
  • Grants to support the participation of the public and Indigenous groups in impact assessment and to support impact assessment-related research.
  • Contributions to support the participation of the public and Indigenous groups via these four individual programs:
    • 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 impact assessments undertaken by the Agency or by review panels, 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.
    • 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.

Copy of 2020-2021 Main Estimates

Impact Assessment Agency of Canada

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 (dollars)

2020–21 Main Estimates by Purpose (dollars)

Listing of the 2020–21 Transfer Payments (dollars)

Listing of Statutory Authorities (dollars)