Introduced in 2024, the Cabinet Directive on Strategic Environmental and Economic Assessment (SEEA) requires a comprehensive process for evaluating the impacts of a proposed federal policy, plan, program or funding proposal.
These assessments support federal decision-making by highlighting economic and environmental impacts of federal proposals in a clear, consistent and comparable way that aligns with federal governments efforts to:
- reduce greenhouse gas emissions
- adapt to climate change
- protect biodiversity
- promote economic growth.
The Climate, Nature and Economy Lens (CNEL) reference template enables us to meet the SEEA requirement as set in the Cabinet Directive.
Public statements
NRCan is required by the Cabinet Directive to prepare a public statement when a proposal has been announced or implemented. The purpose is to demonstrate that environmental and economic considerations have been integrated into the decision-making process.
This Directive replaced the Cabinet Directive on the Environmental Assessment of Policy, Plan and Program Proposals, which called for the preparation of a public statement of environmental effects for proposals that were subject to a detailed strategic environmental assessment.
Public statements under both directives are available below:
Strategic Environmental and Economic Assessments
- 2025 Public statements
- Funding to implement Natural Resources Canada’s functions under the Indigenous Loan Guarantee Program
- Initiatives in Support of the Canada Green Buildings Strategy
- Authority to enter into a contribution agreement over $100M under the 2 Billion Trees program to support the planting of 2 billion trees
- Polar Continental Shelf Program Renewal
- Funding to renew support for the Indigenous Advisory and Monitoring Committees for the Trans-Mountain Expansion Project and the Enbridge Line 3 Replacement Project
- Federal Loan Guarantee to Reduce the Costs of Refinancing the Maritime Link Project
Strategic Environmental Assessments
- Emissions Reduction Fund (announced in February 2021)