Details on transfer payment programs under $5 million

NRCan pays 50% of the operating costs of the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board. The province pays the other 50%. This is done pursuant to section 28 of the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Resources Accord Implementation Act. The funds are drawn from the Consolidated Revenue Fund. Cost recovery regulations put in place in 2016 allow the Board to cost recover up to 100% of eligible costs from industry, which are remitted to the government of Canada and the province of Nova Scotia on a 50-50 basis.

This transfer payment program does not have any repayable contributions.

In respect of each fiscal year and pursuant to the Accord Acts, the Board is required to submit a budget request to Governments for approval by the Minister of NRCan and their provincial counterpart. NRCan officials engaged with the Board to understand the budgetary request and consulted with the province.

Additional costs for severance and French website development were anticipated and the subsequent submission/approval was obtained with NRCan officials who engaged with the Board and the province. Any costs incurred by the CNSOPB for the provision of French language services are excluded from cost sharing agreements.

The purpose of this grant is to fulfill the federal commitment to the operation of the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC), in order to improve wildland fire management in Canada through interagency cooperation in wildfire prevention, mitigation and operational response.

The objective of this grant is to provide wildland fire management services to CIFFC participating agencies through:

• Gathering, analysing and dissemination wildland fire management information to ensure a cost effective sharing of resources;
• Actively promoting, developing, refining, standardizing and providing services for the improvement of forest fire management in Canada;
• Sharing equipment, technical personnel and information intended to share risk and defray capital and operating costs related to wildland fire management in an effort to maximize program efficiency from national and provincial/territorial perspectives; and,
• Facilitating national wildland fire prevention and mitigation initiatives.

In 2022-23, CIFFC achieved the objectives of the grant program.

During the 2022 fire season CIFFC produced 128 Daily Situation Reports/National Preparedness Level assessments, and processed 65 resource orders, and mobilized a total of:

• 1,060 100-foot lengths of hose
• 35 aircraft
• 29 pumps
• 500 sprinkler heads

780 personnel, including 414 Sustained Action firefighters, 259 Initial Attack firefighters, and 107 overhead personnel.

No international personnel were required in 2022.

In 2022-23, CIFFC also achieved the following:

• Strategic planning for National expansion of the FireSmart program; Advanced wildfire prevention and mitigation in Canada through FireSmart Canada’s Home Assessment, Neighbourhood and Training Programs;
• Developed its draft 2022-27 Strategic Plan, which is expected to be approved in 2023-24;
• Fostered continuous improvement of fire management and national prevention and mitigation efforts through the activities of its Board of Directors, Management Committee, four main Committees and their associated Working Groups. 

No audit in 2022-23.

Joint Audit and Evaluation of Disaster Risk Reduction is planned for completion by June 2028.

No evaluation in 2022-23.

Joint Audit and Evaluation of Disaster Risk Reduction is planned for completion by June 2026.

The purpose and objectives of this transfer payment program (TPP) are to:

• Secure domestic and cross border critical energy infrastructure assets and cyber systems upon which Canadians and businesses are dependent
• Strengthen the capability of the Canadian energy sector to prevent, prepare, respond to and recover from cyber threats

This program has non-repayable contributions.

Projects received funding to address a number of gaps in Industrial Control System cyber security in the energy sector.

The projects focused on:

• supply chain risk management (i.e., integrity assessment, counterfeit detection and conformance of Industrial Internet of Things devices);
• Identifying, evaluating, managing, and mitigating cyber risks;
• Access to timely information on cyber threats and vulnerabilities; and,
• Monitoring and detecting cyber incident response.

During 2021-22, five projects were completed with project findings being distributed to government and industry stakeholders.

In 2022-23, the final project was completed. On March 20 and 22, 2023, NRCan held a webinar series of lessons learned from this program.

No audit in 2022-23.

Audit of Energy Cyber Security and Critical Infrastructure is planned for completion by December 2025.

No evaluation in 2022-23.

No evaluation is currently planned for this program given its low materiality. The program will continue to be considered in NRCan’s annual departmental evaluation planning exercise.

Engaged key federal, provincial, territorial stakeholders, industry representatives, and academia.

Successful applicants moved forward with contribution agreements and projects were initiated in 2019-20 and 2020-21.

Facilitated discussion and collaboration with government and industry partners to support planning for projects.

Liaised with project proponents to support their work, highlight leadership and disseminate results.

Liaised with other federal departments supporting R&D programs (e.g., Public Safety Canada, Defense Research and Development Canada, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada) to help proponents maximize funding opportunities and continue supporting energy sector cyber security and resilience.

The objective of this program is to generate new knowledge through research and development to enable Canadian forest operators and wood product manufacturers to maintain and improve market access and reduce energy consumption and improve on environmental performance.

The program will also bring new and existing knowledge on issues of domestic and international codes and standards relating to wood products, their manufacture and use. This program will be delivered through non-repayable contribution agreements.

In 2022-23, the program invested $2.3M in projects directly contributing to a more productive, cost effective and efficient Canadian forest sector.

In 2022-23, the Forest Research Institute Initiative achieved the following results:

• Market acceptance work for wood product codes and standards for buildings, such as updating fire design for mechanically laminated timber products and charring rates for cross laminated timber with the Canadian Standards Association.
• Over 40 new or revised ISO standards developed for the Pulp, Paper, and Bioproducts industry.
• Phytosanitary research to ensure Canada’s wood exports do not carry the risk of pest or pathogens.
• The tool for the Assessment and Screening of Carbon Impact (TASCI) was developed to enable the assessment and screening of carbon impacts for different forest product categories that will use displacement factors, such as lifecycle analysis. This tool will help the Canadian forest sector and Canadian Forest Service programs measure proposed carbon impacts of potential projects to help inform decision-making pre-project, as well as reporting post-project.
• Indigenous Digital Forest Stewardship Tool was developed as a digital forest management platform in a web based and cloud computed environment that will be piloted to allow Indigenous stakeholders to quantify, monitor and manage resources in the forest. This is expected to support the creation of new and optimize existing revenue streams for Indigenous Nations with forested traditional territories to manage.

No evaluation in 2022-23.

Evaluation of Forest Sector Competitiveness Program is planned for completion by December 2024.

GeoConnections is an ongoing program with the mandate and responsibility to lead the evolution of the Canadian Geospatial Data Infrastructure (CGDI) with standards-based technologies and operational policies for data sharing and integration to address key economic, social and environmental priorities.

Through regular Calls for Proposals, GeoConnections is co-funding the development of innovative adoption and further development of the CGDI with eligible recipients by using Non-Repayable Contributions.

The mandate of the GeoConnections program is that Canada has an effective geographic foundation. CGDI enables the sharing and use of geospatial information about Canada's lands, peoples and natural resources to support economic, social and environmental priorities.

GeoConnections funded seven projects during 2022-2023 following a competitive Announcement of Opportunities. These projects are multi-year and will conclude on March 31, 2024.

For 2022-2023, the Proponents successfully:

• Created a radio tower and cellular signal strength geospatial layer for Alberta.
• 48,000 new Indigenous place names were ingested into the Indigenous Knowledge Social Network.
• Developed a forestry planning environment for a Collaborative AI Forestry Planner
• Created orthomosaics using aerial imagery of northern Quebec villages.
• Early development of an open geospatial tool for water environment monitoring in Quebec
• Deployed geospatial technologies for geospatial data management and visualization to help Indigenous communities in Newfoundland and Labrador with community resilience and emergency management.
• Test flights of drones with high-end methane sensors to provide a new way to detect gas emissions close to the source.

No evaluation in 2022-23.

Evaluation of Geospatial Programs (DRF Inventory Program) is planned for completion by September 2028.

Natural Resources Canada Transfer Payment officials engaged with seven recipients through interim and final reports reviews, online presentations, or webinars via the internet. One project was the focus of an NRCan press release and live demonstration.

New applicants were engaged by a GeoConnections announcement via NRCan’s website with a focus on applicant’s projects aligning with the Program’s purpose to provide the Canadian population with integrated geospatial information over the Internet.

Ongoing (TGI)

March 31, 2027 (GEM-GeoNorth)

• Geoscience for Sustainable Development of Natural Resources (TGI)
• Geological Knowledge for Canada’s Onshore and Offshore Land

This transfer payment program covers two Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) geoscience programs: the Targeted Geoscience Initiative (TGI) and Geo-Mapping for Energy and Minerals (GEM-GeoNorth).

The objective of the collaborative federal TGI geoscience program is to provide the Canadian mineral industry with the next generation of geoscience knowledge, innovative techniques and predictive models, which will result in more effective targeting of buried mineral deposits.

The objective of the GEM-GeoNorth Program is to help unlock the full mineral potential of Canada’s North and promote responsible land development in the region. GEM-GeoNorth works with partners and users across Canada to develop new geoscience knowledge, tools and educational opportunities focusing on mineral potential, climate-resiliency, and sustainable land-use.

Both TGI and GEM-GeoNorth will provide grants to eligible recipients to conduct science that aligns with program outcomes, or to develop capacity-building opportunities for geoscience professionals; in the case of GEM-GeoNorth, part of this funding will be earmarked for Northern educational institutions. GEM-GeoNorth will also disburse grants to Northern and Indigenous organizations to develop opportunities and tools that enable access and use of geoscience knowledge by Indigenous peoples.

Most transfer payments made under this transfer payment program will be grants, but contributions may be allocated if NRCan deems it necessary to monitor progress and results, receive an accounting of the use of funds from the Recipient, and have the right to carry out a recipient audit or to request some other type of certification or audit assurance from the Recipient.

Grants and contributions will be non-repayable.

Most of the previously approved grants ended in March 2023. These grants were divided in two categories: a first one to Canadian academia to complement the geoscience conducted at the Geological Survey of Canada; a second series to Northern organizations aimed for capacity building.

A new call for GEM-GeoNorth grant proposals was launched in fall 2022 with final review and approval in early 2023. Approved proposals will be funded until March 2025, except the annual grants earmarked to the Northern academia. All approved proposals are aimed to develop tools for Northern capacity building in geoscience as to increase uptake in geoscience by Northerners. No gap occurred.

For TGI, 11 grants awarded in 2021-22 extended to March 2023. These geoscience studies are providing scientific results complementary to on-going, internal program research and support enhanced understanding of the formation of critical and economically important mineral deposits, as well as innovative methods to target them.

A new call for TGI grants was launched in August 2022 and 13 grants were approved for funding April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2025.  No gaps occurred.  The proposals are mainly from Canadian academic institutions and will develop next-generation geological knowledge, leading-edge tools, innovative techniques and predictive models of Canada’s mineral potential for key commodities, including critical minerals.

No evaluation in 2022-23.

Evaluation of Geo-mapping for Energy and Minerals (GeoNorth) is planned for completion by March 2027.

Communications with applicants and recipients are through emails and the program’s website. In 2022-23, a call for proposals was launched, along with receiving unsolicited proposals. All were thoroughly reviewed by a committee composed of internal and external members. Successful proposals were submitted to Senior Management for approval. Documentation is sent to recipients via emails. Some communication by phone is used, mainly to answer questions from proponents. No difference occurred last fiscal year.

In 2022-23, TGI launched a call for proposals on the program’s website. The program received 27 grant applications for 2023 to 2025, which were reviewed by program management and its science advisory group. All communications were done via email. Correspondence with 2021-2023 grant recipients was done by email. No differences occurred between actual and planned communication activities with grant applicants and recipients.

The Government of Canada will ensure that Indigenous peoples are meaningfully consulted and, where appropriate, impacts on their rights and interests are mitigated and/or accommodated.

This funding will allow NRCan to conduct Crown-Indigenous consultations with Indigenous groups on natural resource projects that require a decision by the Governor in Council.

Non-repayable contributions (neither TMX Accommodations, nor Interim Principles).

In 2022-23, NRCan continued to close out established Participant Funding Program Contribution Agreements to Indigenous groups in support of Phase III Crown-Indigenous consultations for all three Nova Gas Transmission Line (NGTL) System Expansion: NGTL 2021, NGTL North Corridor and NGTL Edson, which was to support meaningful consultations with Indigenous groups potentially impacted by the Projects.

Funding was also provided for the following Participant Funding Programs:

• Terrestrial Cumulative Effects Initiative (TCEI) Capacity Funding extended to NGTL Communities: 10 new contribution agreements were established in 2022-23 as a result of late applications received at the end of the fiscal year 2021-22 raising the grand total to 15. By the end of 2022-23, 7 NGTL TCEI communities have submitted final reports, received final payments, and successfully closed their contribution agreements.
• NGTL Expansion Projects (2021, North Corridor, Edson) Participant Funding Programs (PFP): There were 79 contribution agreements signed 2019-20 – 2021-22. Of these, 71 communities submitted final reports, received final payments, and successfully closed their contribution agreements.
• Manitoba- Minnesota Transmission Project (MMTP) Terrestrial and Cultural Studies Initiative (TCSI) (a policy-based accommodation measure): There were 5 contribution agreements signed 2019-20 – 2021-22. Of these, 4 groups submitted final reports, received final payments, and successfully closed their contribution agreements.

Note that MMTP TCSI was initially slated to end in March 2021.  However, an extension to March 31, 2022 was approved in light of pressures on Indigenous groups caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Manitoba- Minnesota Transmission Project (MMTP) Participant Funding Program (PFP): 1 contribution agreement in 2022-23. Final reports are pending. NOTE: On September 24, 2021, the Federal Court of Appeal (Court) issued a decision with respect to Manitoba Minnesota Transmission Project (MMTP) judicial review applications. The Court granted a declaration that Canada did not adequately discharge its duty to consult with Peguis First Nation during the environmental assessment leading to the MMTP project decision, which lead to this consultation process.
• Alternate Response Measures (ARMs) Participant Funding Program (PFP):  1 contribution agreement in 2022-23, final report submitted, final payment issued and successfully closed the agreement.
• NGTL Foothills Zone 8 Westpath 2023 Participant Funding Program (PFP):  1 contribution agreement signed in 2022/23, final report submitted, final payment issued and successfully closed the contribution agreement. This Crown consultation process was only approved by NRCan’s Deputy Minister on February 8, 2023, it was not a planned activity.

Further, as identified in the NGTL 2021 Governor In Council project decision in 2021-22, NRCan extended the Terrestrial Cumulative Effects Initiative (TCEI) to Indigenous groups on the NGTL 2021 Crown list. 10 of the 32 new CAs established in 2022-23 under this program were for this accommodation measure aimed at monitoring the cumulative impacts on the environment.

Indigenous groups accessed 96% of allocated funds in 2022-23.

No evaluation in 2022-23.

No evaluation is currently planned for this program, as it is low materiality and low need for evaluation due to extensive recent evaluation work on closely related programs. The program will continue to be considered in NRCan’s annual departmental evaluation planning exercise.

NRCan engaged recipients regularly via email and phone to ensure compliance with the requirements of the contribution agreements and to support access to funding in a timely manner.

Engagements for delivery of this funding is also supported by NRCan staff responsible for leading consultations related to the Projects.

The purpose is to facilitate the participation of Indigenous Peoples to determine opportunities to engage in data collection activities in their territories and to begin conversations to ensure that data and information collected are useful to northern and Indigenous communities and enterprises.

This transfer payment program does not have any repayable contributions.

No audit in 2022-23.

Joint Audit and Evaluation of Disaster Risk Reduction is planned for completion in June 2025.

No evaluation in 2022-23.

Joint Audit and Evaluation of Disaster Risk Reduction is planned for completion in June 2025.

Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) engages with Indigenous Peoples in dialogues on issues related to its mandate. The contributions are intended to facilitate Indigenous participation in dialogues.

The primary focus for 2023-24 will be on consultations relating to the development of regulations under the Canadian Energy Regulator Act, for example, the Indigenous Ministerial Arrangements Regulations.

This transfer payment program does not have any repayable contributions

In 2022-23, NRCan supported the following groups under the Indigenous Engagement and Capacity Program:

• Métis National Council (MNC) Contribution Agreements was amended to increase value by 300,000 ($250,000 in 2023 and $50,000 in 2024) to a total Contribution Agreement value of $400,000. Community received payment of $225,000 in February 2023.
• Dene Nation received final payment of $25,000.
• No change in the Assembly of First Nations funding.

Evaluation of Trans Mountain Expansion (TMX) Phase IV Coordination was completed in October 2022.

The evaluation found that:

• The GoC has established suitable governance mechanisms to coordinate the implementation and delivery of the TMX Phase IV activities.
• NRCan-Strategic Policy and Coordination team (SPC) has created effective tools and processes to support federal coordination. Key governance bodies are well supported. While partner departments do not always agree on decisions, NRCan-SPC is perceived to be open and transparent in working to resolve cross-cutting issues.
• NRCan’s Phase IV Partnership Office (NRCan-P4PO) has been mostly effective in this coordination role. It has played an innovative role helping partner departments navigate complexity, address more sensitive issues impacting a small number of Indigenous groups, and providing a coordinated federal voice on whole-of-government issues.
• While the evaluation found issues in the efficiency of processes and achievement of results, federal coordination on TMX has been reasonably effective in consideration of the broader context of the challenges faced in implementation.
• The role of NRCan-P4PO could be reduced now that accommodations are in progress and partner departments have built their own direct relationships with Indigenous groups.

A total of five recommendations were made.

• Natural resource sectors are innovative
• Clean technologies and energy efficiencies enhance economic performance
• Canada’s natural resources are sustainable
• Enhanced competitiveness of Canada’s natural resource sectors

• Support the scale up of Canadian small businesses through early-stage, pre-commercial Research and Development.
• Develop a domestic market for early-stage, pre-commercial innovations.
• Facilitate the subsequent testing and validation of prototypes, as well as prepare a pathway to commercialization and purchase of novel new products by government and non-government customers.
• Fund the development and commercialization of new technology to address specific problems identified by the funding department.
• Foster greater industry-research collaboration through the release of challenges for solutions that address key Government of Canada priorities.

This Program does not include repayable contributions.

In 2022-2023, NRCan developed and launched two Challenge stream calls, the first to Advance Cost and Waste Reduction of Tree Planting and the second supporting High-resolution Forest Mapping.

NRCan also continued to monitor phase two projects from previously launched Development of Next Generation Bio-Based Foam Insulation challenge. These projects are expected to be completed in 2024-25.

In addition, NRCan supported 3 testing stream projects. Two of these projects were to test marine energy generation technologies to validate their ability to produce power. The third project tested a software innovation that allows geohazard specialists to accurately predict landslide runout and impacts. These projects all involved the support of relevant NRCan technical experts and facilities.

No evaluation in 2022-23.

No evaluation is currently planned for this program given its low materiality. The program will continue to be considered in NRCan’s annual departmental evaluation planning exercise.

The two challenge stream intakes to advance Cost and Waste Reduction of Tree Planting and High-resolution Forest Mapping. Each challenge received 32 and 61 applicants respectively and ultimately funded two phase one projects from each challenge.

The testing stream application process is managed by PSPC, ISED and NRC’s Industrial Research Assistance Program. ISED runs multiple Testing Stream Calls for Proposals per year. NRCan supports this stream through an Operations and Maintenance transfer to ISED. NRCan is also engaged as a Testing Department through matching and prioritization activities. These activities typically occur over a period of eight weeks.

The $10 million Oil Spill Response Challenge invests in the rapid development of new oil spill detection and recovery technologies to minimize risks to Canadian aquatic environments in the event of an oil spill. The ultimate outcome of this initiative will be to accelerate the development and facilitate deployment of new innovative oil spill response solutions tailored to Canadian conditions and needs.

The Oil Spill Response Challenge is using an innovative prize-based challenge approach that:

• Includes significant stakeholder engagement for joint problem framing and informing of the Challenge design elements to ensure a successful launch and implementation.
• Improves pace and paths to commercialization of new oil spill response technologies.

Grants and contribution payments made under this program are non-repayable.

The Challenge received 87 applications, which were reviewed by an expert review committee composed of public and private sector subject matter experts. After a process of careful evaluation, the review committee provided their recommendation to NRCan of which 10 Semi-finalists would proceed to Stage 2 of the Challenge. The 10 Semi-finalists selected to receive up to $300,000 and continue developing their oil spill response solution prototypes were announced on October 7, 2022. Subsequently, the Challenge successfully executed 10 Grant Agreements with each Semi-finalist and disbursed the first installment of the funding, amounting to $100,000 per Semi-finalist.

The 10 semi-finalist projects advanced cutting-edge solutions for early detection of oil spills, containment, and quick deployment and recovery, such as a prototype in-situ foam filtration system for speedy, safe, and sustainable oil recovery in marine environments, and a highly efficient, modular oil skimming system that can be easily packed into totes and transported by First Nations community responders for fast response to spills in coastal waters. Though solutions can be developed for either marine or freshwater aquatic environments, a number of the prototypes are being developed to enable response to spills in both marine and river or lake environments. Innovators were also encouraged to collaborate across the oil spill response space with groups such as first responders, Indigenous organizations, regulators, testing facilities, oil spill scientists and engineers, and other innovators. As such, many semi-finalists have established multiple partnerships to help develop their solutions, including with Transport Canada-certified spill response organizations. Currently, five of the semi-finalist projects are being led by Canadian universities and five by private sector organizations.

No audit in 2022-23.

Audit of Management of Science and Research Facilities is planned for completion by September 2026.

No evaluation in 2022-23.

Evaluation of Energy Innovation and Clean Technology Program is planned for completion by September 2024.

The objectives of the Outreach and Engagement terms and conditions are to:

• Encourage and accelerate innovation via the dissemination of information;
• Maintain a sustainable and responsible development of Canada’s natural resources via participation into engagement activities;
• Share best practices at home and abroad on clean, sustainable, efficient technologies and practises related to natural resources; and,

Assist in the protection of our natural resources from pests, fire, and other hazards.

The Outreach and Engagement terms and conditions provides a mechanism to further program objectives. The funding disbursed through the outreach and engagement activities will be considered in the context of evaluations of the programs to which the funded projects align. Performance and results information collected from the recipient will serve the purpose of evaluating the program
and will therefore relate to the program’s outcomes and results.

Actual results (outcomes) achieved are:

• 76% of users have reported that the Research Terms and Conditions were accessible.
• 94% of users have reported that this mechanism met their needs.

No evaluation in 2022-23.

No evaluation is currently planned for this program given its low materiality. The program will continue to be considered in NRCan’s annual departmental evaluation planning.

The purpose of the program is to:

• Provide federal science leadership for the collaborative implementation of the Canadian Wildland Fire Strategy, enabling research related to national wildfire risk assessment and analysis to provide information that is grounded in science, which makes strengthened decision-making possible.
• Enhance whole-of-society collaboration and governance to strengthen resilience.
• Increase focus on whole-of-society disaster prevention and mitigation activities to:
  • increase the resiliency of Canadian communities to the risks and impacts of natural disasters.
  • undertake and implement risk reduction analyses and actions.
  • ensure that wildfire response agencies are integrated with each other to implement an effective wildland fire response program.
  • increase the wildfire knowledge of agencies, communities and individuals in order to create a culture of wildfire safety and to empower the public to understand risk.

There are no repayable contributions under this program.

Program objectives were met, with a total of 14 agreements active in 2022-23, including multi-year and single-year agreements. A total of 49 reports and products of various kinds were produced, including 25 science reports, project reports and tools, and 24 information, outreach and coordination products.

Four agreements were with Indigenous organizations or Indigenous-focused.

Agreements with the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre and the First Nations Wildfire Evacuation Partnership (University of Alberta) were maintained.

Through the products generated by this transfer payment program:

• Indigenous capacity in understanding of risk and of cultural burning knowledge systems has been increased;
• Systemic barriers to Indigenous participation in fire management are better understood;
• Formation of a National Indigenous Fire Management Working Group has been advanced;
• Scientific knowledge and awareness of wildfire risk and emergency response have been enhanced, including forest management and social and operational considerations for evacuations;
• Training standards for wildfire management personnel have been reviewed and expanded;
• The ability of provincial and territorial wildfire agencies to collaborate and support one another in wildfire management has been improved.

No audit in 2022-23.

Joint Audit and Evaluation of Disaster Risk Reduction is planned for completion in June 2025

No evaluation in 2022-23.

Joint Audit and Evaluation of Disaster Risk Reduction is planned for completion in June 2025.

In 2022-23, recipients and prospective applicants were engaged on an ongoing basis through various existing multi-stakeholder forums such as the:

• Canadian Council of Forest Ministers Wildland Fire Management Working Group
• Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre Board of Directors and technical working groups.
• Canadian Partnership for Wildland Fire Science (Canada Wildfire)

Indigenous engagement was conducted through Canadian Forest Service program staff including Indigenous engagement officers and supported by NRCan Nòkwewashk.

Recipients of multi-year agreements initiated prior to 2022-23 were engaged through regular reporting activities, and new prospective applicants were engaged via targeted outreach through regional science networks.