Departmental Plan 2023–24

Natural Resources Canada 2023–24 Departmental Plan Cover thumbnail

The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Natural Resources

Cat No. M2-13E-PDF
ISSN 2561-4029

Aussi disponible en français sous le titre : Plan ministériel Ressources naturelles Canada 2023-2024

Copies are available through NRCan’s website: https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/node/24881

Tables of Contents

Around the world, businesses big and small, labour organizations and governments are in a race to reduce carbon emissions, seize extraordinary economic opportunities and avoid the destructive impacts of climate change. The economic future of Canadians depends on us making the right choices for Canada to thrive in a low-carbon world. The good news is that Canada is very well positioned to take advantage of the opportunities that this global shift to a net-zero economy presents: our abundant natural resources and our ability to develop them sustainably and inclusively are significant competitive advantages.

Canada’s global leadership will be grounded in an unwavering commitment to the sustainability of our energy, forest and mineral sectors, including the workers and communities that depend on them. This Departmental Plan outlines how Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) will support growth by creating prosperity and sustainable jobs in every region of this country while ensuring we achieve our goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. We will work with international and domestic partners to ensure our natural resource products are environmentally sourced and competitively priced on international markets.

From critical minerals to hydrogen; from electric cars and buses to a bigger, higher-capacity power grid; from low-carbon building products to small modular reactors and other clean technologies — we are talking about an economy that promises new opportunities for everyone.

Given significant regional differences, the best opportunities in a clean energy transition will also be different across the country. Through the Regional Energy and Resource Tables, we will leverage partnerships with provinces, territories and Indigenous Peoples to identify and harness opportunities to decarbonize electricity and increase the adoption of clean energy technologies.

Energy affordability and security has been brought to the forefront, where Canada is positioned to improve market access and competitiveness. Critical minerals are the building blocks for the green and digital economy. As demand grows, Canada’s Critical Minerals Strategy will be the road map to strengthen their development and supply chain resiliency.

As we build an economy that works for all Canadians, we must also contend with the realities of climate change and extreme weather. The plan presented here outlines the adaptation strategies, emergency preparedness tools and nature-based solutions that we will employ at both targeted and national levels to improve our understanding of climate-related disasters and mitigate the impacts on communities.

In all its work, NRCan remains committed to moving along the path to full reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples. We support the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, and we will strive to develop shared governance and equitable distribution of the benefits of our natural resources. NRCan will also promote inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility through engagement with women, racialized peoples, persons with disabilities and the LGBTQ2+ community. Recognizing the importance of engaging youth on climate and natural resource issues, the NRCan Youth Council will provide its perspectives to inform policy processes.

Rigorous and evidenced-based science will guide our actions and our innovative investments. Our scientists in the forest, energy, mineral and mining sectors are proven experts. They have consistently demonstrated reliability, and they are committed to helping the natural resource sectors and the communities that host them thrive. Constructive engagements with federal partners, provinces, territories, Indigenous Peoples and other local and foreign stakeholders will remain central to what we do.

We will seize on our key opportunities today so that we can pass on an environment and a prosperous economy that will help our children, and their children, flourish for the next many decades.

The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Natural Resources

Plans at a glance

Canada’s vast natural resource sectors contribute significantly to economic growth across the country and play a vital role in creating jobs, fostering growth and prosperity for Canadians. Real gross domestic product of the energy, forestry, mining and mineral subsectors all rose in the third quarter of 2022 - the fourth quarterly increase in the last five years. Accounting for approximately 17.1% of gross domestic product, 51% of total exported Canadian goods and supporting over 1.6 million direct and indirect jobs, the natural resources sector remains a source of prosperity and innovation for Canadians.

As a science-based department, Natural Resources Canada develops policies and programs that enhance the contribution of the natural resources sector to the economy, improve the quality of life for all Canadians and conduct innovative science in facilities across Canada to generate ideas and transfer technologies. The Department also represents Canada at the international level to meet the country's global commitments related to the sustainable development of natural resources.

By engaging with foreign and domestic partners, including Indigenous Peoples, the Department is focused on delivering on the commitments in the Minister of Natural Resources’ Mandate Letter and key activities under its three Core Responsibilities:

Natural Resource Science and Risk Mitigation;
Innovative and Sustainable Natural Resources Development; and,
Globally Competitive Natural Resource Sectors.

In 2023-24, NRCan will focus on the following priorities.

NRCan Priorities

Text version

Climate Mitigation and Economic Transformation
Energy and Mineral Security
Adaptation, Emergency Preparedness, and Nature-Based Solutions
Future of #OurNRCan
Employee Wellness and Wellbeing
Digital Transformation
Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility
Reconciliation

Three of the priorities are centered on seizing opportunities towards a low carbon future driven by Canada’s natural resources. The remaining priorities are focused on modernization and transforming how NRCan delivers its business.

Underpinning these priorities, NRCan will advance the principles of inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility (IDEA) as a horizontal priority. Using Gender-based Analysis Plus (GBA Plus), the Department will consider the impacts on vulnerable, marginalized, and underrepresented groups and ensure that concrete IDEA measures are embedded in policy and program design. The Department has also created space for youth voices with the establishment of NRCan’s Youth Council, who will share their perspectives on climate and natural resource issues.

Similarly, NRCan will also continue to advance reconciliation with Indigenous peoples to support the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (UNDRIP). The Department’s Pathways to Reconciliation Action Plan consists of concrete, measurable commitments to develop capacity and enable meaningful engagement with Indigenous partners. NRCan will support Indigenous economic reconciliation in the natural resources sectors by advancing shared governance of Canada’s resources, building meaningful relationships and partnerships with Indigenous organizations and communities, and developing a new national benefits-sharing framework to ensure that Indigenous communities benefit from major resource projects.

Climate mitigation and economic transformation

The Government of Canada is committed to taking action to address the climate crisis by supporting climate change mitigation and advancing the net-zero transition. We are forging alliances with provincial and territorial partners and Indigenous peoples, innovating in all natural resources sectors and supporting sustainable jobs for Canadians as a key federal department with responsibilities for Canada’s 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan.

Through the Regional Energy and Resource Tables, NRCan is seeking to work with each individual province and territory, in collaboration with Indigenous partners, to identify and accelerate place-specific opportunities where Canada can hold a comparative advantage in a global, low-carbon economy. With nine Tables established to date, the Department will continue its dialogue with the goal of establishing Regional Tables with every province and territory in 2023.

The government will continue to work with provinces, territories and Indigenous peoples to identify and advance opportunities to decarbonize and expand Canada’s electricity systems. The work on electrification to build up a robust, affordable and competitive clean grid will be a key priority going forward. Through the Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways Program, NRCan will invest $1.56 billion over 8 years to advance smart renewable energy projects to modernize the clean grid of the future. NRCan will also implement the $250 million Electricity Predevelopment Program to support predevelopment activities associated with clean electricity, as well as launching the Enabling Responsible Small Modular Reactor (SMR) Deployment Program, which will provide $69.9 million to support research to address waste from SMRs, develop supply chains, strengthen international nuclear cooperation agreements, and enhance domestic safety and security. Through the Canada Green Buildings Strategy, the Department will prepare governments and Canadians to reach net-zero emissions in the building sector by 2050. Regulatory standards and an incentives framework will support the transition by requiring EnerGuide labelling at time of sale to improve home energy performance and lower emissions and create a Climate Adaptation Home Rating Program.

Continued innovation in clean energy technologies will help Canada meet its climate objectives while supporting Canada’s competitiveness throughout the global energy transformation. Battery technology is essential to the global energy transition. To fight climate change, we need to power our modern technology with renewables and provide energy storage solutions. To this end, NRCan will develop a sustainable battery innovation and industrial ecosystem in Canada. In collaboration with other federal departments, NRCan will produce a blueprint to support the establishment of a domestic battery value chain. This will include the promotion of sustainable battery innovation, advancing technologies for extraction and processing of battery minerals, and working with stakeholders to build on strategic priorities related to battery development.

To ensure that Canada seizes the economic opportunities of the net-zero transition in a way that is fair and inclusive for all Canadians, NRCan, in collaboration with ESDC, is working to take comprehensive action – including legislation – to create good, well-paying jobs. In particular, the Government’s proposed legislation on sustainable jobs will lay the foundation for effective federal action, promote economic growth, and empower workers across Canadas to lead the global energy transition for decades to come.

To improve access to federal resources to support the transition of diesel-reliant communities to clean energy, the Government of Canada established the Indigenous and Remote Clean Energy Hub to serve as a single window to federal programs. The Hub is co-administered by NRCan, ISC, and CIRNAC with the support of ECCC and INFC. Through the Clean Energy for Rural and Remote Communities program, NRCan will provide an additional $233 million until 2027 for clean energy projects to reduce fossil fuel reliance for heat and power in Indigenous, rural and remote communities across Canada. The program will support clean energy solutions, creating sustainable jobs and economic development opportunities with communities.

Energy and mineral security: Oil and gas pathways and critical minerals

Canada’s energy and mineral security is heavily reliant on the ability to get Canadian natural resources to global markets and building strategic partnerships with other countries to support critical supply and value chains. NRCan is committed to supporting the expansion of existing markets and the development of new markets for Canada’s natural resources, including clean fuels.

The conflict in Ukraine has brought issues of energy security and affordability to the forefront where Canada can improve market access and competitiveness for its resource sectors. Efforts to foster increased opportunities for Canadian companies in the natural resource sectors will continue to be part of NRCan’s international engagements. In keeping with the Canada's Indo-Pacific Strategy, the Department’s engagements in the region will contribute to strengthening supply chains and facilitating stronger business-to-business relationships.

Critical minerals are the foundation on which modern technologies like solar panels and electric vehicle batteries are built and the building blocks for the green and digital economy. With the release of Canada’s Critical Minerals Strategy, the Department has a roadmap to improve critical minerals supply chain resiliency. It focuses on opportunities at every stage of the value chain for Canada’s 31 critical minerals. It outlines concrete measures to accelerate regulatory processes while ensuring meaningful and ongoing Indigenous partnerships. NRCan will also continue working on implementing the Canada–U.S. Joint Action Plan on Critical Minerals Collaboration and the Canada-EU Strategic Partnership on Raw Materials.

Adaptation, emergency preparedness, and nature-based solutions

Recent climate events have shown that Canada is not immune to climate change. Severe climate occurrences such as heatwaves, flooding and wildfires have impacted Canadians and the economy across the country. These events have highlighted the importance of being able to adapt and build our resilience to climate change.

To address these impacts of climate change, the Department will implement Canada’s National Adaptation Strategy to mitigate the risks accentuated by climate change. In coordination with provincial, and territorial governments, Indigenous peoples, local governments and academia, the Strategy will provide an integrated approach to reducing climate change risks. The National Risk Profile will improve understanding of climate-related disasters such as floods, wildfires as well as earthquakes and identify gaps in our capabilities to address them.

To support adaptation measures, NRCan will invest in training 1,000 new community-based firefighters and supporting fire management by Indigenous communities to increase forest resilience to wildfires. In addition, NRCan will support emergency preparedness across Canada by developing flood maps for higher-risk areas, advancing work to complete flood mapping nation-wide, and providing centralized access to information on flood risks. NRCan will also support nature-based solutions to fight climate change, such as implementing the Natural Climate Solutions Fund and continuing to advance the planting of two billion trees across Canada over ten years.

Future of #OurNRCan

In the post-pandemic environment, NRCan is transforming to a truly hybrid organization. The Department will embrace a new hybrid work model that is inclusive, flexible, adaptable, and enables teams to work together effectively regardless of location. Its approach is premised on innovation, growing our people and culture, modernizing our workplace, and leveraging digital technology to support how we work, collaborate, and serve Canadians better.

Employee wellness and well-being

Mental health and workplace wellness is important to ensuring psychological health, safety, and well-being of all employees. The Department will foster a healthy and inclusive workplace for our employees by renewing the Mental Health and Workplace Wellness Strategy beginning in 2023-24. The Department will strive to be an employer of choice by building an equipped and competent management team with the capacity to empower and support employees with their mental health and well-being while fostering psychologically healthy and safe teams.

The Department will also implement its 2022-25 Accessibility Action Plan. The goals are to diversify the workforce by closing representation gaps and to create a culture of safety and inclusion in the workplace while ensuring that NRCan’s workplace programs and practices are accessible and inclusive by design.

Digital transformation

To adapt to the ever-evolving digital world, including hybrid work and cybersecurity, the Department will implement an integrated plan to respond to Canada’s Digital Ambition. By investing in the use of technology, data, cyber security and upskilling staff, NRCan seeks to strengthen the foundations required to deliver improved digital services. Cyber security is an increasingly high priority in light of rising cyber threats across the natural resource sectors. A robust Cyber Security Strategy will increase NRCan’s ability to maintain delivery of key functions while ensuring protection of data.

For more information on Natural Resource Canada’s plans, see the “Core responsibilities: planned results and resources” section of this report.^{Footnote 1}

Core responsibilities: planned results and resources, and key risks

Natural Resource Science and Risk Mitigation

Image of text. See text version below.

Text version

Core Responsibility Description

Lead foundational science and share expertise for managing Canada’s natural resources, reducing the impacts of climate change and mitigating risks from natural disasters and explosives.

Planned Departmental Results

Canadians have access to cutting-edge research to inform decisions on the management of natural resource.
Communities and officials have the tools to safeguard Canadians from natural hazards and explosives.
Communities and industries are adapting to climate change.

Planning highlights

As a science-based department, NRCan contributes to growing the body of knowledge, including through Indigenous knowledge, that helps inform the development of government policy. In 2023-24, NRCan will use its research and expertise to develop policies and programs that will contribute to Canada’s natural resources being developed sustainably, reduced impacts of climate change and the protection of communities against natural and man-made hazards.

Canadians have access to cutting-edge research to inform decisions on the management of natural resources

Canadian Geodetic Survey: Spatially Enabling Canada

The Canadian Geodetic Survey (CGS) will provide foundational positioning infrastructure, a framework that facilitates the accurate measurement of latitude, longitude, elevation and gravity in Canada. Such measurements are important not only for boundaries, but also for anything for which the location matters, including construction, precision agriculture, navigation and a wide array of scientific studies and applications.

In October 2021, the CGS received 5.6 million over 5 years to expand Canada’s Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) infrastructure by adding at least 22 additional GNSS stations to increase the accuracy and availability of real-time position, navigation and timing information across Canada. This project aims to add nine GNSS stations in 2023-24.

Geological Knowledge for Canada’s Onshore and Offshore Land

The Geo-Mapping for Energy and Minerals (GEM-GeoNorth) will continue discussions with Indigenous governments and organizations regarding aligning its research with their geoscience priorities. Following thorough engagement with communities, the program will be conducting fieldwork across Canada’s North with up to 12 crews in the field in 2023-24.

This year, a new cycle of grants provided to Northern and Indigenous organizations, aim to increase capacity-building and development of tools for increased uptake of geoscience knowledge by communities. Strong linkages with provincial and territorial surveys will continue, as well as with the program’s Advisory Group of Northerners.

NRCan will uphold its obligations to international treaties such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) that requires Canada to define the extent of its continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles (i.e., the Exclusive Economic Zone). In 2023-24, NRCan will actively engage with the international scientific community in publishing scientific results, as well as reviewing and updating scientific arguments and data to support Canada’s Atlantic Ocean (2013) and Arctic Ocean (2019) submissions, as well as Canada’s new outer limits in the Arctic Ocean (2022), filed with the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf. Once Canada’s outer limits are accepted by the UN after they are reviewed, Canada will have sovereign rights over the living and non-living natural resources on the seafloor and in the subsoil, and jurisdiction over their environmental protection, conservation, and sustainable development.

Core Geospatial Data

As a leader in the fields of earth sciences, energy, forestry and minerals, NRCan supports federal legislated assessments by providing scientific and technical expertise for strategic assessment processes for projects development across the country. NRCan coordinates input of science, technical expertise, and knowledge to support evidence-based decision-making for sustainable development in Canada.

NRCan is working in collaboration with Environment and Climate Change Canada, the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada and other departments and agencies to enhance the Open Science and Data Platform. The platform integrates data from NRCan (and from other government departments, provinces, and territories) on forestry, geology, groundwater, and earth observations products such as land cover and provide Canadians with access to thousands of records of cumulative effects related data, publications, maps, and information about development activities. Providing access to information relevant to cumulative effects and development activities assist enhancing Canadians’ trust in our regulatory systems and support better decisions.

NRCan will also support the delivery of regional and strategic assessments under the Impact Assessment Act through earth observation, forest, and geoscience research. This fundamental cumulative effects science will focus on the collection, characterization, and analysis of data to describe baseline conditions, trends, and future states of Canada’s terrestrial environment, contributing new geoscience knowledge products to inform onshore and offshore planning in prioritized areas. The science and knowledge generated will be made accessible to the public via the Open Science and Data Platform.

Geospatial data acquired, created, and managed by NRCan will continue to be made available through Geo.ca. for informed social, economic, and environmental decision-making. This includes having near real-time mapping information to enable more efficient responses to flooding and other natural disasters (e.g., Emergency Geomatics Services). NRCan will also maintain its ongoing management of satellite station facilities that track and receive data for scientific, mapping, weather, surveillance, and other purposes.

Canada- U.S. International Boundary Treaty

An effective Canada-United States boundary is essential for the security of Canadians and the preservation of sovereignty. The Canadian Section of the International Boundary Commission (IBC), in cooperation with its United States counterpart, will continue to preserve and maintain a clear and visible boundary between Canada and the United States. The Canadian Section will deliver in 2023-24 the yearly projects identified by the Commissioner in accordance with the 15-year maintenance plan. These projects include field surveys, maintenance and vista clearing, and inspections along various sections of the international boundary, from British Columbia to New Brunswick.

Canada Lands Survey System

The Canada Lands Survey System (CLSS) remains committed to providing the legal framework that helps to define, demarcate, and describe real property boundaries and the extent of real property rights on Canada Lands – the North, Indigenous lands, national parks and offshore. Clear boundary demarcation contributes to secure land tenure that is required to enhance the value of land and underpin Canada’s land based economic activities.

Under the First Nations Lands Management Program led by Crown-Indigenous Relations, NRCan will continue to support Canada’s efforts to reinforce Indigenous Peoples’ self-determination and authority over their lands. Through the First Nations Land Management Framework Agreement (FNLMFA), which recognizes First Nations’ right to self-govern their lands, NRCan will support conducting comprehensive historical research and analysis to provide a clear and unambiguous description of lands that will fall under a community’s Land Code. In addition, the program will deliver land surveying capacity development tailored to each First Nation’s land management needs.

For 2023-24, in the Northwest Territories, the Gwich’in Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement, a five-year land survey program that will enter year three and will continue to complete surveys and work with the Gwich’in Department of Lands and the Gwich’in Tribal Council to implement Canada’s obligations under the treaty to survey and demarcate Gwich’in lands.

Pest Risk Management

NRCan will lead and invest in science to support the management of damaging insects and diseases in natural, rural and urban forests, and preventing the spread of pests, including through international trade. This includes a focus on spruce budworm, mountain pine beetle, invasive species such as emerald ash borer and hemlock woolly adelgid, as well as work pertaining to phytosanitary issues.

In collaboration with provincial governments, the forest industry and academia in Atlantic Canada, NRCan will advance implementation of the Spruce Budworm Early Intervention Strategy- Phase III to preserve ecological services provided by forests, quality jobs, and economic vitality for forest-reliant communities in the region.

Polar Continental Shelf Program

The Polar Continental Shelf Program (PCSP) will continue to provide logistics support to enable scientific understanding of the effect of changing climate on permafrost and infrastructure, and to produce maps in support of sustainable mineral development in Canada’s Arctic.

The PCSP coordinates logistics for research groups in Canada’s North. The support includes air transportation in the Arctic, communication and field equipment, fuel for aircraft, meals and accommodations. In 2023-24 the Department will focus on providing Arctic logistics support and field equipment services for Canadian Arctic science and operations.

Communities and officials have the tools to safeguard Canadians from natural hazards and explosives

Geoscience for Sustainable Development of Natural Resources

In 2023-24, research conducted by the Geoscience for New Energy Supply program (GNES) will help explore new energy sources. This new knowledge will help reduce risk of geothermal exploration, encouraging new industry investment to develop clean and renewable energy sources in support of goals of reaching net-zero by 2050. The research will support the understanding and tools that industry and government can draw upon to minimize environmental impact. The Department will advance activities related to clean energy and continue to work on assessments of geothermal potential and studies of unconventional gas resources associated with renewable geothermal energy sources. NRCan will continue to conduct research to support storage of gases underground—particularly carbon dioxide and hydrogen.

The Critical Minerals Geoscience and Data program will contribute to Canada’s Critical Mineral Strategy by working to develop better data, platforms for data analysis and visualization, and predictive tools that are specific to critical minerals. These will help Canada address the challenges associated with the increased demand of critical minerals. The Department will cooperate with provinces and territories on critical minerals through the Pan-Canadian Geoscience Strategy.

Through the Targeted Geoscience Initiative, NRCan will continue to deliver results from 34 on-going research activities that are improving mineral exploration effectiveness throughout Canada by developing next-generation geological models and knowledge, leading-edge mineral exploration tools and methods while training the next generation of geoscientists.

Explosives Safety and Security

NRCan is responsible for administrating the Explosives Act and the Explosives Regulations 2013 regulating the safe and secure handling of explosives, ensuring their production, storage and transportation is done in a way that keeps Canadians safe and without impact to national security.

NRCan is doing a full review of the Explosives Regulations 2013 with the goal of modernizing its regulatory regime to keep pace with an evolving explosives sector and to allow for a more efficient service delivery. NRCan will be bringing forward proposed amendments for formal consultation in 2023-2024 and in the following year.

Geoscience to Keep Canada Safe

NRCan keeps Canadians safe from threats posed by natural hazards by providing information and data to decision makers to understand and reduce risk. To accomplish these objectives in 2023-24, the Department will continue its research and planning work related to natural geo-hazards (earthquakes, landslides, tsunamis, and volcanoes) to support public safety and resilience to natural hazard events.

As part of the Emergency Management Strategy, the Department is developing and bringing into operation in 2023-24 a national Earthquake Early Warning System designed to enhance early detection and warning in areas of high concentration of population and infrastructure, and playing a key role in the development of the National Risk Profile.

Building on an evaluation of the program completed in 2022, NRCan will advance research linkages between climate change and research on those hazards that are expected to be altered by a changing climate. From an equity, diversity and inclusion perspective, the program will engage with Indigenous communities to share research findings and knowledge affecting Indigenous communities. The Climate Change Geoscience Program will pursue its research to enable other levels of government in Canada and Canadian community decision-makers to make science-based decisions related to climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction. Where Canada’s environment is most susceptible to change, such as in the North, our coasts and glaciers, NRCan continues its northern research on permafrost thaw to support infrastructure and environmental change decisions. NRCan will continue to supervise costal erosion and sea-level rise according to Canada’s commitment on glacier monitoring.

Flood hazard data, for 100 and 20 years return period, for a watershed in Eastern Newfoundland

The Flood Hazard Identification and Mapping Program (FHIMP) will expand over five years and will enable the government to identify and mitigate the impacts of flooding in high-risk areas in Canada. NRCan and its partners will continue to support decision-making to address urgent flooding risks and impacts, often exacerbated by climate change, by providing flood hazard maps and scientific modelling to ensure that all Canadians have access to flood hazard information and enhance their safety and security. NRCan will use artificial intelligence, machine learning and high-performance computing to enable flood hazard modelling for at-risk areas where mapping gaps exist, or where climate-related events or conditions may result in a higher susceptibility to flooding. Advancing the FHIMP will mitigate the extent of flood damage, increase Canadian’s resilience to flood-related impacts, and reduce federal and private flood event recovery costs.

Wildfire Risk Management

NRCan will support the sustainability of Canada’s forests as a source of livelihood for Canadians and as an important means to fight the effects of climate change. To achieve this, the Department will work in collaboration with federal, provincial/territorial governments, Indigenous peoples, local governments and academia to mitigate and reduce risks to communities and businesses from wildfires accentuated by climate change, consistent with the National Adaptation Strategy.

NRCan will continue to advance wildfire resilience through implementation of the Canadian Wildland Fire Strategy (CWFS) and supporting the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre. The CWFS is a pan-Canadian approach to wildland fire preparedness, mitigation, and response.

NRCan will continue to work in collaboration with Public Safety Canada on the National Risk Profile (NRP) to inform risk-based decision making related to natural and climate related events.

To increase resiliency to wildfires, the Department will also support increased mapping of areas in Northern Canada that are at risk of wildfires and continue to train indigenous firefighters.

Under the Emergency Management Strategy, NRCan enhances whole-of-society collaboration and governance to strengthen resilience to wildfires and improve the understanding of disaster risks. This approach will increase disaster prevention and mitigation activities, enhance disaster response capacity and coordination while fostering the development of new capabilities.

Communities and industries are adapting to climate change

Forest Climate Change

To support Canada’s National Adaptation Strategy, NRCan’s Forest Climate Change Program will provide science-based adaptation and mitigation solutions by sharing expertise, information and data, developing adaptation tools and collaborating with the diverse groups that comprise the Canadian forest sector and forest-based communities. In 2023-24, the Department will assess which sustainable forest management activities and harvested wood products achieve maximum reductions in GHG emissions to achieve a low carbon economy. Analyses include opportunities for site rehabilitation, restoration, afforestation as well as measures to improve forest type and species composition.

NRCan will continue to implement the Natural Climate Solutions Fund and deliver on the plan to plant 2 billion trees (2BT) across the country over 10 years to contribute to Canada’s GHG emissions reduction target in 2030 and net zero emissions target in 2050. Benefits to communities and the ecosystem also include the restoration of habitat for wildlife and biodiversity, cleaner air and water, storm surge management and increased resilience to the devastating effects of climate change such as wildfires and flooding. The program will fund tree planting projects with provinces and territories, tree planting organizations – both profit and non-profit, municipalities and Indigenous organizations.

In 2023-24, the Department will sign agreements for successful projects under the ongoing Call for Proposal process. Further to this, NRCan will draft and sign contribution agreements with provinces and territories for tree planting activities related to the 2BT commitment. Finally, there are plans to implement the co-developed governance model to deliver the Indigenous Funding Stream to support the full participation of Indigenous peoples in natural climate solutions.

Climate Change Adaptation

To support Canada’s National Adaptation Strategy, NRCan leads the Climate Change Adaptation Program to increase climate change resiliency in natural resources sectors and the communities that depend on them. The Program also includes the continued delivery of national knowledge assessments of climate change impacts and adaptation and national-scale collaboration under Canada’s Climate Change Adaptation Platform.

NRCan’s adaptation programs and expertise is reflected in the Government of Canada Adaptation Action Plan to support the implementation of the national adaptation strategy to help communities and businesses become more resilient to the impacts of climate change. NRCan will continue to lead the Economy and Workers Theme of the Strategy and will also pilot a new approach to regional climate resilience through the Climate Resilient Coastal and Northern Communities Program. This program will enable communities to work together to overcome barriers and develop solutions to climate change risks.

Innovation

With respect to reducing impacts and mitigating risks, the Department is employing these methods on several fronts. For example, NRCan is identifying Canadians’ awareness of forest fire risk and increasing the use of the FireSmart app by communities vulnerable to forest fires. The Office of Energy Efficiency is using behavioural science and experimentation to inform the design of a climate adaptation home rating program which will include actions that homeowners can take.

Gender-Based Analysis Plus

The use of GBA Plus allows the Department to identify and address potential and existing barriers to accessing and benefitting from NRCan programs to facilitate more inclusive and equitable opportunities and outcomes for all Canadians. Below are some examples under this Core Responsibility:

The Geo-Mapping for Energy and Minerals (GEM-GeoNorth) Program continues to facilitate increased labour market opportunities especially for women in underrepresented groups, Northerners and Indigenous Peoples, via direct hiring, and by disbursing grants for geoscience research or multidisciplinary activities that can increase labour market readiness. In particular, the GEM-GeoNorth Advisory Group of Northerners is providing guidance on improving program impacts in the North for traditionally underrepresented individuals.
The Geoscience to Keep Canada Safe Program provides information and data on the impacts of hazards. As natural disasters have been shown to impact women, seniors, children and other vulnerable parts of society disproportionately, the program allows policy makers, planners, and emergency managers to identify vulnerable populations and make informed decisions to tailor preparedness and emergency responses accordingly.
The 2 Billion Trees Program will continue to track the percentage of underrepresented groups in tree planting and other related activities including the number of Indigenous organizations supported by the program. As a result of GBA Plus analysis, the 2BT program has also incorporated diversity and inclusion considerations into the Program design and implementation. In 2023-24, the program will implement a co-developed inclusive governance model with Indigenous partners for the distribution of funds through the Indigenous funding stream. The program’s external Advisory Committee ensures Indigenous representation within program governance.

United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by Canada and all 193 United Nations member states in 2015, is a global framework centred around 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to achieve economic prosperity, environmental sustainability, and social inclusion.

The planned activities that will help the Department attain the Sustainable Development Goals under the Core Responsibility for Natural Resource Science and Risk Mitigation include:

Continuing to work with partners and stakeholders to implement the whole-of-society approach to reducing climate change risks and the shared vision for increasing climate resilience in Canada as put forth in Canada’s National Adaptation Strategy (SDG 13 -Climate Action);
Developing methodology to produce resource assessments to other government departments (DFO, ECCC, PC) on proposed protected areas along Canada’s offshore. Using marine geoscience data to develop new resource potential maps and analyses of seafloor geology to inform evidence-based marine spatial planning. This work supports Canada’s commitment to protect 25% of its offshore lands by 2025 and 30% by 2030. (SDG 14 – Life Below Water and SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals); and
Building resilience in the forest sector through the Forest Climate Change Program, by increasing awareness, understanding, uptake and use of climate change mitigation and adaptation information, methods, tools and data by professional foresters, forest managers and other decision-makers (SDG 13 -Climate Action and SDG 15 – Life on Land).

Additional information on how NRCan’s activities support the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals is reflected in the 2020-23 Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy (DSDS) and the United Nations 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals Supplementary Information Table. The 2023-27 DSDS will be published in November 2023.

Key risks

The Department’s ability to lead foundational science and share expertise for managing Canada’s natural resources, reducing the impacts of climate change and mitigating risks from natural disasters and explosives could be impacted by several risks related to alignment with federal partners, engagement with external partners and securing the necessary funding and policy authorities to deliver on our commitments. These risks can be mitigated with measures such as improving governance of horizontal initiatives shared between multiple departments and leveraging and strengthening existing strategic relationships with domestic partners. For more information, see the Key Corporate Risks section of this report.

Planned results for Natural Resources Science and Risk Mitigation

The following table shows, for Natural Resources Science and Risk Mitigation, the planned results, the result indicators, the targets and the target dates for 2023–24, and the actual results for the three most recent fiscal years for which actual results are available.

Planned results for Natural Resources Science and Risk Mitigation
Departmental results	Performance indicators	Target	Date to achieve target	2019–20 actual results	2020–21 actual results	2021–22 actual results
Canadians have access to cutting-edge research to inform decisions on the management of natural resources	Number of times scientific products related to natural resources are accessed by Canadians	At least 320,000 quarterly average	March 2023	504,242	365,935	350,130
	Percentage of environmental impact assessments demonstrating use of scientific and technical advice provided by NRCan	Exactly 100%	March 2024	100%	100%	100%
	Number of times stakeholders acknowledge using NRCan’s scientific and technical products in making their decisions	At least 30,250	March 2024	30,957	30,974	36,211
	Percentage of science publications authored by NRCan available on Open Access^{Footnote 2}	50% (SCOPUS data source^{Footnote 3}) 100% (NRCan Open Institutional Repository data source)	Date to Achieve Target 1: March 2024 Date to Achieve Target 2: March 2025 onwards	Not available	Not available	Not available
	Number of NRCan agreements that recognize data and/or information derived from an Indigenous Knowledge source and is used to inform NRCan science and/or research^{Footnote 4}	4	March 2024	Not available	Not available	5
	Percentage of foundational geospatial data that is current	At least 80%	March 2023	Not available	21%	31%
Communities and officials have the tools to safeguard Canadians from natural hazards and explosives	Percentage of hazardous natural events within Canada for which a notification was issued in a timely manner	At least 90%	March 2023	97 %	100%	100%
	Percentage of emergency geomatics services provided to Canadians in a timely manner to assist during floods	100%	March 2023	100%	100%	100%
	Percentage uptime of the Canadian Wildland Fire Information System during the wildfire season	At least 97%	March 2024	97%	97%	97%
	Percentage of inspections of explosives sites rated safe^{Footnote 5}	At least 70% (90% by March 2025)	March 2024	82%	73%	74%
Communities and industries are adapting to climate change	Number of times NRCan products and expertise on adaptation are accessed by Canadians	At least 34,000 quarterly average	March 2023	46,085	25,858	26,814
Communities and industries are adapting to climate change	Percentage of Canadian communities and industries that have taken steps to adapt to climate change	At least 60% for communities At least 40% for businesses	March 2027	57% for communities 32% for businesses (from 2018 survey)	57% for communities 32% for businesses (from 2018 survey)	57% for communities 32% for businesses (from 2018 survey)^{Footnote 6}

The financial, human resources and performance information for the Natural Resources Canada’s program inventory is available on GC InfoBase.

Planned budgetary spending for Natural Resources Science and Risk Mitigation

The following table shows, for Natural Resources Science and Risk Mitigation, budgetary spending for 2023–24, as well as planned spending for that year and for each of the next two fiscal years.

Planned budgetary spending for Natural Resources Science and Risk Mitigation
2023–24 budgetary spending (as indicated in Main Estimates)	2023–24 planned spending	2024–25 planned spending	2025–26 planned spending
$602,987,396	$602,987,396	$634,633,235	$656,259,628

Financial, human resources and performance information for Natural Resources Canada’s program inventory is available on GC InfoBase.

Planned human resources for Natural Resources Science and Risk Mitigation

The following table shows, in full-time equivalents, the human resources the Department will need to fulfill this core responsibility for 2023–24 and for each of the next two fiscal years.

Planned human resources for Natural Resources Science and Risk Mitigation
2023–24 planned full-time equivalents	2024–25 planned full-time equivalents	2025–26 planned full-time equivalents
1,394	1,357	1,336

Financial, human resources and performance information for Natural Resources Canada’s program inventory is available on GC InfoBase.