Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy: Departmental Website Component of the 2012-2013 Report on Plans and Priorities

Environment Canada (EC) continues to coordinate An Invasive Alien Species Strategy for Canada (2004; IASSC) especially at the federal level where EC chairs an Interdepartmental Directors General (DG)Committee on invasive alien species (IAS). EC manages the Invasive Alien Species Partnership Program (see 6.4.2) and also has the lead for terrestrial alien invasive wildlife. The responsibility for implementing measures related to IAS is shared among many federal departments, including Agriculture and Agri-food Canada, Canada Border Services Agency, Canada Food Inspection Agency, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Natural Resources Canada and Transport Canada.

The IASSC aims to reduce the introduction and spread of IAS in Canada, thereby protecting ecosystems and biodiversity from the threats posed by IAS. As such, the implementation of the IASSC directly contributes to the achievement of Target 6.4.

Performance expectations:

• Develop a national invasive alien species (IAS) logic model in collaboration with the other federal departments involved in the IAS DG Committee by 2013.

The Invasive Alien Species Partnership Program (IASPP) is a partnership-based funding program with an annual contribution budget of $1 million per year. For further information on the IASPP, please visit Environment Canada’s website.

The IASPP provides funding for initiatives that reduce the introduction and spread of invasive alien species (IAS), preventing serious threats to Canadian ecosystems and biodiversity. As such, the IASPP directly contributes to the achievement of Target 6.4.

Performance expectations:

• Achieve a 3:1 ratio of funding leveraged from non-federal partners to program funding by 2013.
• Achieve an annual participation of 1,000 volunteers in funded projects by 2013.

To effectively manage natural and human threats to Canada’s ecosystems, Environment Canada works with Public Safety Canada to identify potential risks, develop contingency plans that outline how to deal with emergencies; train personnel to apply the plans; and review and exercise these plans to strengthen their effectiveness and ensure continuous improvement.

Being prepared for an emergency is critical to mounting a quick and effective response that will help minimize impacts on the health of people and the environment.

Performance expectations:

• Complete Environment Canada’s Strategic Emergency Management Plan (SEMP) by summer 2012, in collaboration with Public Safety Canada.
• Revise its national and regional contingency plans in light of the completed SEMP, by the end of March 2013.
• Complete regional annexes to the Canada–U.S. inland Contingency Plan by the fall 2012.

Environment Canada (EC) manages environmental emergencies by taking measures to reduce the frequency and consequences that affect Canada. To effectively manage the threats to ecosystems resulting from incidents, the Department uses the most effective technologies, tools and approaches developed for application under Canadian conditions. EC also provides operational support during major spill incidents and scientific advice and technology solutions to mitigate the effects of spilled hazardous materials on the environment. The Department aims at making progress to develop and advance scientific knowledge, technologies, tools and approaches associated with environmental emergency prevention, preparedness, response and recovery.

An example would be the information that EC provided to the Government of Canada and to the United States Government during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill incident in 2010. EC’s research and development activities allowed Canada to provide information on the spilled oil chemical and physical properties, fate and behaviour predictions, advice on spill countermeasures such as dispersant application and In-situ burning.

Performance expectations:
Following are key expectations:

• Publish scientific journal papers and peer-reviewed conference proceedings.
• Prepare the annual Arctic and Marine Oilspills Program (AMOP) Technical Seminar on Environmental Contamination and Response.

Environment Canada (EC) fulfills its commitment to provide scientific and technical advice by funding a national environmental emergency notification system for early warnings operated on EC’s behalf by provinces and territories west of Quebec. EC responds to large environmental emergencies by providing scientific and technical response advice to Responsible Party (polluter), Primary Departments/Agencies and or emergency response personnel to first responders to help them respond to an emergency in a way that will best protect the environment.

Performance expectations:

• By spring 2013, EC will finalize negotiations of the Notification Agreements (a national environmental emergency notification system) with provinces and territories west of Quebec).
• Provide scientific advice or support to environmental emergency incidents.
• EC will continue to provide accurate and timely advisories to senior managers for pollution incidents from across Canada on a 24/7, 365 days a year basis.
• Continue providing weather, wildlife, hazardous substance and response advice to responders on a 24/7, 365 days a year basis.

Environmental Emergency (E2) plans help industry identify risks, prevent, prepare for and respond to accidental releases.

In 2012, Environment Canada (EC) will implement amendments to the E2 regulations adding more substances to the list of substances that need to be reported to EC if spilled. Contingency plans need to be developed for each of these chemicals because of their potential acute impact on human health and the environment.

Performance expectations:

• A baseline for quality of plans has been established, and improvements to the baseline will continue to be tracked as compliance promotion visits are made to selected facilities.
• EC will implement the amendments to the Environmental Emergency Regulations in 2012-2013.