Response to Parliamentary Committees and External Audits

• As of March 2017, there was one committee report tabled in Parliament with recommendations directed at Natural Resources Canada.
• On September 21, 2016, the House Committee on Natural Resources (RNNR) tabled a report entitled “The Future of Canada's Oil and Gas Sector: Innovation, Sustainable Solutions and Economic Opportunities.”   
• The report notes that economic, social, environmental and technology drivers are the main factors contributing to the uncertainty of the oil and gas sector’s future. 
• It highlights the following five themes that address important considerations for the viability and competitiveness of Canada’s oil and gas industry: 1) Fostering investment and trade opportunities; 2) Promoting a new era of Indigenous engagement and public trust; 3) Putting a price on carbon; 4) Investing in technological innovation; and 5) Establishing the right policy framework. 
• The CPC and NDP both submitted dissenting opinions.
• The report included eight recommendations for the Government of Canada and it requested a government response. 
• The government response was signed by the Minister of Natural Resources and tabled on January 30, 2017. 
• It outlines the government’s commitment to collaborate with governments at home and abroad to establish policies that will help Canada meet its energy needs and address the challenges of climate change.
• It also reiterated: the steps being taken to rebuild public trust through transparency, engagement, and improved environmental and regulatory review processes; efforts being taken to engage with Indigenous communities in a meaningful way; and investments in innovation and clean technologies that will position Canada for a more innovative and sustainable economy. It did not commit to any new policies or programs.
• The department will be tabling government responses to the following reports by RNNR when the House returns in the fall: “The Future of Canada’s Mining Sector: Sustainable Growth Beyond the Global Downturn”, “The Nuclear Sector at a Crossroads: Fostering Innovation and Energy Security for Canada and the World” and “De-Risking the Adoption of Clean Technology in Canada’s Natural Resources Sector.”

2016 Spring Reports of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development : Report 1 – Federal Support for Sustainable Municipal Infrastructure

Summary
This audit focused on federal infrastructure programs intended to improve community environmental sustainability. The audit assessed whether the objectives of the Gas Tax Fund and the Green Municipal Fund were being achieved. It also examined whether Infrastructure Canada, working in collaboration with others, adequately coordinated the key federal programs under its responsibility. The audit selected those programs that funded municipal infrastructure and that were intended, among other objectives, to improve the environmental performance and sustainability of Canadian communities.

The audit concluded that the Federation of Canadian Municipalities was managing the Green Municipal Fund to achieve part of the Fund’s purpose, but how it was seeking to lever its investments in municipal environmental projects remained to be better defined.

Recommendations involving NRCan:

The Department received one recommendation. The recommendation stated that Natural Resources Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada, and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities should review the terms and conditions in the funding agreement for the Green Municipal Fund and revise them as needed to address the financial sustainability concerns about the Fund. These parties should consider including a requirement for a regular review of the agreement so that it continues to support Fund objectives. The response was:

“Agreed. In reviewing Budget 2016 commitments and the process for deploying newly announced funding measures, Natural Resources Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada will work with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities on options to support the long-term sustainability of the Green Municipal Fund—for example, the modification of the Fund investment guidelines and regular review of its terms and conditions.”

2016 Spring Reports of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development : Report 2 – Mitigating the Impacts of Severe Weather

Summary

This audit focused on the federal government’s actions to support Canada’s long-term mitigation efforts. It examined key federal organizations’ data, information, tools, and funding that could help decision makers mitigate the effects of severe weather. The audit also examined whether the federal government was meeting its responsibilities to make Canada’s infrastructure more resilient against severe weather events. Federal organizations audited were Environment and Climate Change Canada (formerly Environment Canada), Public Safety Canada, National Research Council Canada, Natural Resources Canada, and Infrastructure Canada.

The audit concluded that the federal government has not provided adequate information and tools needed to support decision makers in their long-term efforts to mitigate the effects of severe weather. It also concluded that the federal government has not put in place funding provisions to significantly improve the resilience of Canada’s infrastructure. Overall, the audit concluded that the federal government has not made it a priority to help decision makers mitigate the anticipated impacts of severe weather.

There were no recommendations for NRCan

There were no audits in 2016–17 requiring a response.