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Performance Report on Environment Canada's 2011–2012 Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy

Part 3: EC's Clean Air Agenda Programs: Performance Achievements for 2011-2012

Clean Transportation

Marine Sector Regulatory Initiative

Link to 2011–2012 Departmental Program Activity Architecture (PAA)

Climate Change and Clean Air Regulatory Program

CAA Program Description and Expected Achievements

The marine transportation sector is a highly competitive global industry governed by international conventions. These conventions, made by member states of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), are critical for predictable regulations to facilitate world trade and provide a level playing field. Once agreed to at the IMO, new rules or standards are adopted by the member states through domestic regulation or other action. The Marine Sector Regulatory Initiative will support the development of new international standards and recommended practices addressing air pollution and GHG emissions from marine shipping. It will support domestic emission reductions through the development and implementation of new Canadian regulations and through targeted research and development.

Environment Canada will develop new marine fuel standards under the current Sulphur in Diesel Fuel Regulations of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999). In addition, Environment Canada will continue to support Transport Canada’s participation in the development of global standards at the IMO to limit air pollutant and GHG emissions from marine shipping, carry out research to assess the emission reduction potential of new technologies for ships, and determine whether additional regulations should be made under CEPA 1999 to limit emissions from ships in the Arctic.

CAA Program Achievements / Performance Summary

In 2011–2012, Environment Canada:

  • Published proposed marine fuel standards under the current Sulphur in Diesel Fuel Regulations of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999) in the Canada Gazette, Part I on December 3, 2011

  • Finalized the 2010 marine emissions inventory and forecast, as well as a forecast of Arctic shipping emissions;

  • Developed a scientific work plan, to be implemented over the next three years, to assess the impact of shipping emissions on the Arctic;

  • Contributed to analysis and negotiation of new air pollutant standards for international shipping at the IMO, including emissions of black carbon from shipping in Arctic waters and emissions of NOx;

  • Contributed to analysis and development of the Energy Efficiency Design Index, a carbon standard at the IMO, for new ships;

  • Supported Transport Canada in the implementation of aspects of the implementation North American Emission Control Area, such as analysis of compliant fuel availability and equivalent compliance options

  • Conducted analysis associated with the use, manufacturing and importation of small marine diesel engines by the marine sector in Canada

See also FSDS Implementation Strategy 2.1.13 for related performance information.

CAA Program Lessons Learned

The key challenges facing EC in developing regulations to reduce air pollutant and GHG emissions from the marine sector is the need to remain flexible enough to respond to changing priorities, and maintaining alignment with United States policy and regulations.

To keep on schedule for the development of marine-related regulations efforts are required to address:

  • timing considerations for new administrative requirements

  • actively engaging the U.S. EPA on future regulatory changes in order to maintain Canada’s alignment with Unites States regulations and standards

  • coordination with other federal partners.

Clean Air Agenda Program Spending Information31
($) millions
Total CAA Program Approved Spending 2011–2016Program Planned Spending in 2011–2012Program Actual Spending in 2011–2012
10.171.830.46

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Vehicle Scrappage (CAA 2007–2011)

Link to 2011–2012 Departmental Program Activity Architecture (PAA)

Climate Change and Clean Air Partnerships

CAA Program Description and Expected Achievements

The National Vehicle Scrappage Program, also known as Retire Your Ride, stopped accepting new participants on March 31, 2011 after retiring about 140,000 old high-polluting vehicles of model 1995 and earlier, over the life of the program.

Program wind-down was planned for 2011–2012 to complete the processing of all applications received up to March 31, 2011 and to prepare final activity and financial reports.

CAA Program Achievements / Performance Summary

To help support the widespread implementation of good vehicle recycling practices, as presented in the code of practice developed for the program, a national forum with participation from industry, stakeholders and governments on the future of vehicle recycling in Canada was held in November 2011. Since then, a task group was started by the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment to consider control measures to support the implementation of the code of practice industry-wide.

The program also supported the design and organization of a website to promote good environmental practices and the dissemination of information to industry and stakeholders. The website, which is now supported by industry, offers an updated version of the code of practice.

The program wind-down was completed without major incident and final reports were submitted including the final report on the program exit strategy to the Treasury Board Secretariat. The third-party program evaluation was posted on the EC website.

See also FSDS Implementation Strategy 1.1.35.2 and 2.1.22.2 for related performance information.

CAA Program Lessons Learned

According to the program exit strategy, all program activities and reporting should have been completed by July 30, 2011. There was a risk that third parties delivering the program would fail to meet this deadline; however, this risk was mitigated by consulting extensively during the elaboration of the exit strategy and by closely monitoring its implementation.

Clean Air Agenda Program Spending Information32
($) millions
Total CAA Program Approved Spending 2011–2016Program Planned Spending in 2011–2012Program Actual Spending in 2011–2012
91.711.201.05

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31 Spending includes the following: Salary; Employee Benefit Plan; Operations and Maintenance; Capital; Grants and Contributions, and Corporate Support; but excludes PWGSC accommodation costs, consistent with TBS guidance on departmental reporting on expenditures.

32 Spending includes the following: Salary; Employee Benefit Plan; Operations and Maintenance; Capital; Grants and Contributions, and Corporate Support; but excludes PWGSC accommodation costs, consistent with TBS guidance on departmental reporting on expenditures.

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