Strategic outcome, program or core responsibility descriptions

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Department of Natural Resources

Strategic outcome 1

Canada's natural resource sectors are globally competitive.

Program 1.1: Statutory Programs—Atlantic Offshore

Through this Program, Natural Resources Canada monitors and facilitates payment disbursal agreements and transfer payments under the Atlantic Offshore Accord Acts. The Program includes the following programs: Canada Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board; Payments to the Newfoundland Offshore Petroleum Resource Revenue Fund; Payments to the Nova Scotia Offshore Revenue Account; Nova Scotia Crown Share Adjustment Payment; and Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board.

Program 1.2: Innovation for New Products and Processes

Optimizing the use of Canada's natural resources and the processes by which they are developed would improve the productivity and competitiveness of natural resource sectors. The objective of this Program is to maximize productivity and competitiveness by encouraging the adoption of new technologies and processes and the development of new products. These objectives are achieved by conducting and supporting research and development and by delivering frameworks and policies for, and demonstrations of, new applications, technologies, processes, and products.

Program 1.3: Investment in Natural Resource Sectors

Investing in the development of natural resources is costly and risky due to inherent uncertainties in the potential economic viability of natural resource projects. Many factors must be considered when deciding whether to develop a natural resource project. In some cases, limited information may make it difficult for investors and/or companies to assess potential opportunities. The objective of this Program is to encourage investment in the natural resource sectors by increasing industry's knowledge of opportunities, regulations and obligations. This ensures that a more accurate assessment of the expected benefits of an investment can be made and subsequently compared to its costs and risks, thereby allowing for a more comprehensive investment decision. This objective is achieved by providing funding and information on the factors that determine the potential economic viability of natural resource projects.

Program 1.4: Market Access and Diversification

Canada's natural resource sectors face two key barriers to market access and diversification: 1) trade and policy barriers and 2) lack of awareness of Canada's natural resource products and public confidence. The objectives of this Program are to break down those barriers and support the development and expansion of markets for Canadian natural resource products by making information available to Canadians, supporting negotiations to reduce trade barriers, and ensuring that regulations are up to date. This helps maintain natural resource sectors' access to existing markets and increases their access to new market segments.

Strategic outcome 2

Natural Resource Sectors and Consumers are Environmentally Responsible.

Program 2.1: Technology Innovation

Technology Innovation is key to overcoming challenges confronted by natural resource sectors in pursuing responsible development. Through this Program, Natural Resources Canada encourages academia, industry and the public sector to research, develop and demonstrate innovative solutions. This objective is achieved through the generation and dissemination of scientific knowledge, and the development and demonstration of new technologies.

Program 2.2: Energy-efficient Practices and Lower-carbon Energy Sources

Canada's energy markets are defined by the decisions of consumers and producers who do not necessarily make choices that minimize their impact on the environment. Multiple barriers exist, including a lack of awareness of available options and their benefits, insufficient capacity for adoption (e.g., regulatory frameworks, codes and standards), and financial risk. The objectives of this Program is to address these barriers by encouraging and enabling energy consumers and producers to adopt cleaner and more efficient energy, technologies, products, services and practices. These objectives are achieved through education and outreach activities, targeted incentives, and regulatory interventions that keep pace with technological changes.

Program 2.3: Responsible Natural Resource Management

Greater knowledge of risks and environmentally responsible practices could help to prevent and reduce the environmental impacts of past, present and future natural resource development. The objectives of this program are to enable government departments, regulatory bodies and industry to assess these impacts to the environment and develop, monitor and maintain resources or clean up wastes responsibly. These objectives are achieved through the provision of assessments and knowledge rooted in sound science, and waste management efforts in collaboration with provinces, federal agencies and municipalities.

Strategic outcome 3

Canadians have information to manage their lands and natural resources, and are protected from related risks.

Program 3.1: Protection for Canadians and Natural Resources

Natural resource development and changes in the environment pose risks to human, natural resource and infrastructure health. The objective of this Program is to enable other government departments, communities, and the private sector to manage these risks and to ensure the appropriate capacity is in place. Natural Resources Canada achieves this objective by providing regulation, knowledge, tools and services and by fulfilling legislated responsibilities.

Program 3.2: Landmass Information

Public, academic and private sectors as well as Canadians rely on up-to-date, comprehensive and accessible landmass information to make sound socio-economic and environmental decisions. This Program provides open access to Canada's fundamental geomatics framework and information system, including accurate three-dimensional positioning, high-resolution satellite imagery and other remote sensing products, legal (boundary) surveys, mapping and other analysis applications. In addition, it delivers logistics support in the North and regulatory oversight for a robust property system framework on Canada Lands.

Strategic outcome 4

The following program supports all strategic outcomes within this organization.

Program 4.1: Internal Services

Internal Services are those groups of related activities and resources that the Federal Government considers to be services in support of programs and/or required to meet corporate obligations of an organization. Internal Services refer to the activities and resources of ten distinct services that support program delivery in the organization, regardless of the Internal Services delivery model in a department. These services are: Acquisition Management Services, Communications Services, Financial Management Services, Human Resources Management Services, Information Management Services, Information Technology Services, Legal Services, Materiel Management Services, Management and Oversight Services, Real Property Management Services.

Atomic Energy of Canada Limited

Strategic outcome 1

Be the top worldwide nuclear products and services company. Protect the health and safety of the public, our employees and the environment. Minimize nuclear legacy obligations for future generations.

Program 1.1: Facilities and Nuclear Operations

This program supports the operations of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited and requires major facilities such as reactors, experimental loops, hot cells and waste management plants.

Program 1.2: Commercial Business

The sale on a fully commercial basis of nuclear products and services. Commercial business activities leverage the investment in research and development on a full cost recovery basis and generates profits, which are returned to the corporation. Commercial profits assist in funding primarily the Nuclear Platform including the national research laboratories at Chalk River and also development of new reactor technologies including the next-generation Advanced Canada Deuterium Uranium Reactor. The various commercial business lines and related services/products provide innovative cost effective business solutions to customers. These sales primarily to nuclear generating facilities are required to optimize the production of a secure and safe energy supply worldwide. Nuclear energy is an essential component of the solution for clean air and climate change improvements worldwide.

Program 1.3: Research and Development

Research and Development undertaken to maintain and enhance Canada's scientific and technological expertise in support of the production of environmentally friendly and cost effective Canada Deuterium Uranium nuclear generated electricity as well as other important peaceful applications of nuclear technologies in areas such as medicine. In particular it involves the maintenance of the intellectual property that has been developed over a period of sixty years covering basic knowledge of: materials, reactor physics, chemistry, critical components, radiation, and the environment; that could have an impact on the safety, licensing and design basis of Canada Deuterium Uranium technology.

Program 1.4: Waste Management and Decommissioning

Decommissioning and waste management programs will need to be delivered at Atomic Energy of Canada Limited sites over at least the next 70 to 100 years. Liabilities at Atomic Energy of Canada Limited sites have arisen from a wide variety of sources, including wartime activities, wastes received from universities, medical facilities, government and industry from across Canada, and a variety of research and development programs carried out in support of Canada's nuclear power program. Activities provide for maintaining and surveillance of nuclear waste, decontamination and dismantling of surplus facilities as well as environmental restoration projects. Operational management of the facilities that have been turned over to decommissioning are also within this scope.

Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission

Strategic outcome 1

Safe and secure nuclear installations and processes used solely for peaceful purposes and an informed public on the effectiveness of Canada's nuclear regulatory regime.

Program 1.1: Nuclear Reactors

This program aims to regulate facilities associated with nuclear energy (nuclear power plants and research reactors), to protect the health, safety and security of Canadians and the environment in a manner consistent with Canada's international commitments on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. The program regulates all the lifecycle stages for nuclear power and research reactors, from site preparation, construction, and operation, to the decommissioning of the facility and abandoning the site (once commercial operations are ended). The licensing and compliance activities associated with this program are all managed through a risk-informed and performance-based approach. Compliance verification is conducted against established criteria consistent with the licensing basis of the facility. The results of all the regulatory activities associated with this program are communicated to the public on a regular basis. The program is guided by a management system and is based on fundamental safety principles for continuous improvement.

Program 1.2: Scientific, Technical, Regulatory and Public Information

This program aims to inform the Canadian public ̶ including Canadian nuclear licensees, vendors, academic community, special interest groups, Aboriginal groups, other government departments, other jurisdictions and international organizations ̶ that nuclear facilities and activities are being used safely, in adherence with regulatory requirements and best available scientific and technical information. This program is realized through the processes of generating scientific and technical information, institutionalizing the information within the regulatory framework, and disseminating the information through a variety of channels and engagement practices.

Program 1.3: Nuclear Substances and Prescribed Equipment

This program aims to provide assurance to the Canadian public that nuclear substances and prescribed equipment are regulated to protect the health, safety and security of Canadians and the environment, in a manner consistent with Canada's international commitments on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission issues to delete certificates for the design of radiation devices and prescribed equipment to ensure their safe use and issues licences for the safe handling and use of nuclear substances, radiation devices and prescribed equipment. In addition, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission certifies radiography device operators, who must be certified to use exposure devices, as well as certain radiation safety officers. The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission monitors the regulated activities to ensure the safety of workers and the general public, and to protect the environment. The licences issued are categorized depending on the type of licensed activity, nuclear substances and prescribed equipment being used, as well as the risk involved. The regulated activities for which these licences are issued are related to four distinct stakeholder groups: medical, industrial, commercial, as well as academic and research. Each of these groups uses nuclear substances and prescribed equipment in their work. Compliance activities are conducted by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission to monitor the safety and compliance with regulatory requirements. The licensing and compliance activities associated with this program are all managed through a risk-informed and performance-based approach. Compliance verification is conducted against established criteria consistent with the licensing basis of the activity being regulated. The results of regulatory activities associated with this program are communicated to the public and other stakeholders on a regular basis. The program is guided by a management system, and is based on fundamental safety principles for continuous improvement.

Program 1.4: Nuclear Fuel Cycle

This program aims to regulate facilities associated with the nuclear fuel cycle (uranium mines and mills, nuclear processing facilities, and nuclear waste management facilities) to protect the health, safety and security of Canadians and the environment in a manner consistent with Canada's international obligations on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. The program regulates all the life-cycle stages for these facilities—from site preparation through construction and operation, to decommissioning (or long-term management, in the case of some nuclear waste facilities). The licensing and compliance activities associated with this program are all managed through a risk-informed and performance-based approach. Compliance verification is conducted against established criteria consistent with the licensing basis of the facility. The results of regulatory activities associated with this program are communicated to the public on a regular basis. The program is guided by a management system, and is based on fundamental safety principles for continuous improvement.

Program 1.5: Nuclear Non-Proliferation

This program aims to provide assurance to both the Canadian public and the international community that the development, production and use of nuclear energy and nuclear substances, prescribed equipment and prescribed information is safe and secure, and conforms with control measure and international obligations and commitments to which Canada has agreed, including those under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. Under its mandate, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission implements measures of control respecting nuclear non-proliferation, including domestic and international arrangements, International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards, and assessments and authorizations of exports and imports of nuclear substances, prescribed equipment and prescribed information (technology).

Strategic outcome 2

The following program supports all strategic outcomes within this organization.

Program 2.1: Internal Services

National Energy Board

This organization has implemented the Policy on results, therefore it is reporting by core responsibility.

Core responsibility 1.1: Energy Adjudication

Making decisions or recommendations to the Governor in Council on applications, which include environmental assessments, using processes that are fair, transparent, timely and accessible. These applications pertain to pipelines and related facilities, international power lines, tolls and tariffs, energy exports and imports, and oil and gas exploration and drilling in certain northern and offshore areas of Canada.

Core responsibility 1.2: Safety and Environment Oversight

Setting and enforcing regulatory expectations for National Energy Board-regulated companies over the full lifecycle—construction, operation and abandonment—of energy-related activities. These activities pertain to pipelines and related facilities, international power lines, tolls and tariffs, energy exports and imports, and oil and gas exploration and drilling in certain northern and offshore areas of Canada.

Core responsibility 1.3: Energy Information

Collecting, monitoring, analyzing and publishing information on energy markets and supply, sources of energy, and the safety and security of pipelines and international power lines.

Core responsibility 1.4: Engagement

Engaging with stakeholders and Indigenous Peoples on topics within the National Energy Board's mandate and role, beyond engagement on specific projects.

Core responsibility 1.5: Internal Services

Northern Pipeline Agency

Strategic outcome 1

The planning and construction of the Canadian portion of the Alaska Highway Gas Pipeline project is efficient and expeditious while ensuring environmental protection and social and economic benefits for Canadians.

Program 1.1: Oversee and regulate the planning and construction of the Canadian portion of the Alaska Highway Natural Gas Pipeline Project

Oversee and regulate the planning and construction of the Canadian portion of the Alaska Highway Natural Gas Pipeline Project.

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Date modified:: 2018-11-06