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I am pleased to present the Performance Report of the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy (NRTEE or Round Table) for the fiscal year that ended March 31, 2007.
Created by the Prime Minister in 1988 as an independent advisory body reporting to the federal government, the NRTEE had its status formalized in a 1993 Act of Parliament. The purpose of the Round Table, according to the Act, is “to play the role of catalyst in identifying, explaining and promoting, in all sectors of Canadian society and in all regions of Canada, principles and practices of sustainable development.” The NRTEE draws on the insight and experience of its members to examine the environmental and economic implications of priority issues and offer independent advice on how to address them. Appointed by the government, its members represent different regions of Canada and are distinguished leaders in business, labour, universities, environmental organizations, Aboriginal communities, and municipalities. (See a list of members in Section 4.) NRTEE activities align with the government’s objective of building a strong, globally competitive, sustainable, technologically innovative economy.
The NRTEE reports to the Minister of the Environment, but as an independent national body, it shares advice with other levels of government and various non-government sectors. The agency strives to influence federal policy development on environment and economy issues. To accomplish this, it must produce and disseminate relevant, credible advice in a timely manner.
In 2006–2007 the NRTEE delivered effectively on the commitments made in its Report on Plans and Priorities (RPP) in the identified priority areas. After releasing findings and advice to the government on a long-term climate change and energy strategy (the “Wedge Report”) in June 2006, the agency embarked on a successful outreach initiative and consulted online to promote awareness of and gather feedback on this advice. Also in the reporting period, the Round Table responded to a reference from the government to provide advice on specific elements of Canada’s proposed Clean Air Act. This work will be completed in the fall of 2007. In parallel with this work, and in partnership with other organizations, the NRTEE continues to examine how Canadians can adapt to climate change, particularly as it affects the vulnerable northern parts of our country.
In February 2007, the NRTEE released a State-of-the-Debate Report entitled Capital Markets and Sustainability: Investing in a Sustainable Future. The report was well received in the financial sector.
To improve its overall ability to influence policy development, the NRTEE initiated a review of how it communicates with stakeholders and sought advice on how to be more effective in this area. The Round Table will consider the recommendations from this review in 2007–2008.
On the operations side, the Round Table continued to strengthen its accountability and management systems. Senior staff were trained on delegation of authorities; the agency completed a MAF self-assessment, with satisfactory results; it laid the groundwork for implementing an electronic system to improve how it manages information; and it worked to comply with Treasury Board Secretariat’s requirements under the Management Resources and Results Structure (MRRS).
Addressing what had been previously identified as a weakness in terms of corporate evaluation, the NRTEE developed a new performance measurement framework designed to generate improved performance information for decision making and for external public reporting. Moreover, it will allow the Round Table to measure its overall corporate performance efficiently and consistently over time. Results of the first round of performance measurement activities for 2007–2008 are included in this report.
The Round Table plans to build on the positive results achieved in 2006–2007, providing the credible and independent research and advice on which it has built its reputation.
_____________________
David McLaughlin
President and CEO
I submit for tabling in Parliament, the 2006–2007 Departmental Performance Report for the NATIONAL ROUND TABLE ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE ECONOMY (NRTEE).
This document has been prepared based on the reporting principles contained in the Guide to the Preparation of Part III of the 2006–2007 Estimates: Reports on Plans and Priorities and Departmental Performance Reports:
___________________
David McLaughlin
President and Chief Executive Officer
The NRTEE is presenting this performance report using the Treasury Board-approved PAA shown in Figure 1 below. This aligns with the PAA used in the 2006–2007 Report on Plans and Priorities (RPP), which indicates that the NRTEE worked toward a single strategic outcome and was engaged in a single program activity. However, for this Departmental Performance Report (DPR), consistent with minor changes recently approved by the Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS), the NRTEE will report only on this program activity, rather than to the sub-activity level.1
Figure 1: Program Activity Architecture
National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy
In 2006–2007, the NRTEE initiated a more rigorous approach to measuring its performance. The objective was to produce evidence-based performance information for decision making and improve external public reporting in the DPR. For this DPR, the NRTEE’s performance was assessed against the expected results and indicators shown below.
Expected Result | Performance Indicator |
Effective consultations | Perceived quality of research |
Extent of consultations | |
Effectiveness of consultations | |
Useful recommendations and results | Perceived usefulness |
Perceived independence of NRTEE | |
Demand for NRTEE advice | |
Effective communication of recommendations | Reach of recommendations |
Quality of communications | |
Increased awareness and understanding of issues and solutions | Awareness of issues and solutions |
Understanding of issues and solutions |
A key preliminary data source for this reporting period was a recent survey of some federal decision makers (via in-person interviews) conducted on behalf of the NRTEE in May-June 2007 (“the NRTEE survey”).2 Although not referring specifically to the 2006-2007 period, preliminary findings are included in this DPR to assist in reporting on the agency’s performance. Over the course of 2007-2008, the Round Table will give due consideration to these findings, their context, and their potential implications for future NRTEE plans and activities.
Other data sources were as follows:
Reason for Existence: The purpose of the Round Table is to play the role of catalyst in identifying, explaining and promoting, in all sectors of Canadian society and in all regions of Canada, principles and practices of sustainable development. The agency interprets this broad mandate through a strategic focus on issues of national interest at the intersection of the environment and the economy. Through its work, the NRTEE identifies and promotes ways to encourage economic prosperity for all Canadians while striving to preserve the environment for current and future generations.3 |
Financial Resources ($000s)
2006–2007
|
||
Planned Spending
|
Total Authorities
|
Actual Spending
|
$5,183
|
$5,292.4
|
$4,535.2
|
Human Resources
2006–2007
|
||
Planned
|
Actual
|
Difference
|
25
|
23
|
2
|
Status on Performance | 2006–2007 (in $000s) | |||
Status on Performance | Planned Spending | Actual Spending | ||
Strategic Outcome (from RPP 2006–2007): Federal policy development on environment and economy issues, and decisions in other key sectors, are influenced by NRTEE advice on selected issues. | ||||
Priority No. 1: Provide advice to decision makers on environment and economy issues of national importance |
Produce advice through research and stakeholder consultation, and promote advice to federal clients and other sectors. Expected Result: Federal clients and national stakeholders are aware of and understand the problems, opportunities, and practical solutions identified and examined by the NRTEE. |
Successfully met | $4,933.0 | $4,387.2 |
Priority No. 2: Strengthen management accountability and systems and implement new federal initiatives |
The NRTEE will enhance its systems for information and records management, continue its efforts relating to Content Management Solutions, initiate a MAF self-assessment, strengthen its procurement and HR policies and update its approach to evaluating its performance. Expected Result: The NRTEE moves closer to fully implementing these initiatives |
Successfully met | $250.0 | $148.0 |
In the RPP for 2006–2007, the NRTEE identified two priorities. The performance results for each are summarized below.
Priority 1: Provide advice on environment and economy issues of national relevance
As planned, the NRTEE developed policy advice in 2006–2007 related to energy and climate change, and advanced its work on policies for adaptation to climate change. In addition, the Minister of the Environment requested the NRTEE to provide advice to the Government of Canada on air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions in support of the Canada’s proposed Clean Air Regulatory Agenda. The Round Table commissioned five studies to further its work in this area.
Following the release of its Advice on a Long-term Strategy on Energy and Climate Change for Canada in June 2006, the NRTEE embarked on a major in-person and an online outreach initiative to promote awareness of and gather feedback on the advice. In February 2007, the Round Table also released its State of the Debate Report on Capital Markets and Sustainability at the Toronto Stock Exchange.
As specified in its RPP, the agency will have succeeded when decision makers report that the NRTEE has given them a new way of viewing issues and has raised their awareness and understanding of the issues.
Feedback from federal decision makers surveyed includes the following:
Priority 2: Strengthen management accountability and systems, and implement new federal initiatives
Even with limited staff and a small budget, the agency takes seriously its responsibility to ensure that the stewardship of its financial and human resources is effective and aligned with government-wide initiatives.
In 2006–2007, the NRTEE established several areas of focus to improve its management practices. The single performance indicator noted in the RPP 2006–2007 was “compliance with government requirements.” In each instance, the NRTEE has met or exceeded requirements.
The NRTEE’s success depends on its ability to influence federal policy on environment and economy issues. To accomplish this, the NRTEE must produce and promote relevant, neutral, credible advice in a timely manner. Its ability to do so is affected by a range of internal and external factors.
Those relevant in 2006–2007 are discussed below.
Internal operating factors
Requests from the government to provide specific kinds of advice can create challenges in terms of the organization’s ability to plan from year to year. The timing of such references cannot be controlled and the agency is often expected to identify the necessary resources from within its own budget. In 2006, resources were set aside early in the year to address an anticipated request, but confirmation and details of the advice required did not arrive until November. The result was the eventual lapse of operating funds. (See Section 3, Table 1.)
External factors
In Canada, particularly for the issues typically examined by the NRTEE, policies are not developed in isolation—the government’s associations with the provinces, municipalities, and even other countries can affect them. This creates a complex decision-making environment that can potentially compromise the federal government’s ability to act on the NRTEE’s recommendations. The NRTEE also competes for attention within the array of priorities being addressed by key stakeholders. This is a significant and ongoing challenge that the NRTEE works to address through strategic communications efforts.
The NRTEE’s work is relevant to several of the Government of Canada’s outcome areas, but aligns most directly with the strong economic growth outcome as shown below.
Strategic Outcome | Program Activity | Link to Government of Canada Outcome area |
Federal policy development on environment and economy issues, and decisions in other key sectors, are influenced by NRTEE advice on selected issues | Provide advice on environment and economy issues | Strong economic growth |
In 2006–2007, the NRTEE contributed to this outcome primarily through its work and resulting advice on energy and climate change and how Canada can address this issue in the medium and long term. This advice, if implemented, is consistent with Canada’s national interest and the government’s objective of building a globally competitive, sustainable, technologically innovative economy that benefits all Canadians.
Strategic Outcome: Federal policy development on environment and economy issues and decisions in other key sectors are influenced by NRTEE advice on selected issues.
The NRTEE’s approach to achieving its strategic outcome is to produce policy advice and disseminate it so as to increase the understanding of decision makers about challenges and opportunities at the interface between the environment and the economy, and to inform the debate on those questions.
An indicator of NRTEE performance in achieving this strategic outcome is the extent to which NRTEE advice is considered in federal policy decisions. Findings from the NRTEE survey show a range of opinions, from “advice is partly responsible for a number of policy decisions” to “advice is nearly always considered in assessing policy choices, even if specific recommendations are not necessarily pursued.”
Figure 2—Summary of performance results—Fiscal Year 2006–2007
Expected Results and Outputs | Performance Indicator | Performance assessment | Performance level |
High quality research | Perceived quality | Well perceived High quality analysis Comprehensive |
At target |
Effective consultations | Extent of consultations | Broad consultations on Long-term Energy and Climate Change Extensive expert consultation |
At target |
Effectiveness of consultations | High added value Good process Involve small groups Online consultation well perceived |
||
Useful recommen-dations and advice | Perceived usefulness, relevance and timeliness | Useful and timely Relevant Risk of focusing too much on short term Sometimes overtaken by events Need to clarify research versus process role |
At target |
Perceived independence of NRTEE | Some concern about long-term loss of independence given increased focus on federal government | ||
Demand for NRTEE advice | Continuing requests from federal government Strong demand for briefings from federal department and national stakeholders Citations from stakeholders |
||
Effective communication of recommen-dations | Reach of communications | Extensive data base Increasing media coverage Steady increase in use of website Reach could be increased |
Approaching target |
Quality of communications | Good mix of instruments Products are well perceived |
||
Increased awareness and understanding of issues and solutions | Awareness of issues and solutions | Limited impact on increasing awareness at federal level Unknown in case of national stakeholders |
Approaching target |
Understanding of issues and solutions | Strong benefit in terms of greater understanding of issues |