Operating Context: 2023-24 Departmental Results Report

Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) develops policies and programs that support the sustainable development of natural resources, including energy, minerals and metals, and renewable forest products, that serve as a source of economic growth and inclusive job opportunities for Canadians. NRCan works in partnership with all levels of governments, Indigenous peoples and groups, academia, international stakeholders and communities across Canada.

In 2023-24, NRCan science, research and innovation continued to accelerate the development and adoption of renewable energy and advanced Canada’s comparative advantages in the global transition to a net-zero economy. Evidence-based policies and programs allowed the Department to achieve results in developing and deploying clean energy technologies; decarbonizing our electricity systems; supplying the green and digitized economy; increasing energy efficiency in homes and industries; expanding electric vehicle infrastructure; and advancing global energy security. To support the competitiveness of Canada’s natural resources, NRCan attracted domestic and international investments, strengthened critical minerals supply chain resilience; diversified forest products, markets and processes; and expanded market access to clean fuels.

NRCan remained committed to addressing the climate crisis and keeping Canadians safe through emergency preparedness and climate change adaptation and mitigation measures such as flood mapping and wildfire risk management. Nature-based solutions continued to be implemented to decrease GHG emissions and restore biodiversity, while supporting green jobs in communities across the country.

Internal operations in 2023-24 focused on employee mental health and well being during the ongoing transition to a hybrid work model and continued to measure the impacts of hybrid work on people management through a data driven approach. The Department progressed our digital transformation to improve cyber security, privacy, IT investments and digital service delivery.

Reconciliation with Indigenous peoples is an ongoing, federal priority, and NRCan continued to advance Canada’s commitments under the United Nations Declaration on the right of Indigenous Peoples Act. In 2023-24, NRCan engaged with Indigenous partners and other stakeholders to develop a National Benefits-Sharing Framework that ensures that First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities directly benefit from natural resource projects in their territories. The principles of inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility (IDEA) continued to be implemented within the Department and Gender-based Analysis Plus was used to create more inclusive and equitable outcomes in policy and program design.