Evaluation of Canada's Participation in the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC)

April 18, 2007

Table of contents

• EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
• 1.0 INTRODUCTION
• 2.0 BACKGROUND
  • 2.1 Profile of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC)
  • 2.2 Key Bodies and Committees
• 3.0 EVALUATION'S PURPOSE AND DESIGN
  • 3.1 Purpose of the Evaluation
  • 3.2 Evaluation Approach and Methodology
• 4.0 FINDINGS
  • 4.1 CEC-Specific Findings
  • 4.2 Canada-Specific Findings
  5.0 CONCLUSION
• 6.0 RECOMMENDATIONS
• 7.0 MANAGEMENT RESPONSE
• Annex 1 - NAAEC Objectives
• Annex 2 - Evaluation Issues and Questions
• Annex 3 - Evaluation Committee's Terms of Reference
• Annex 4 - Background Information and Supporting Documentation
• Annex 5 - Interview Guides

Report Clearance Steps

Planning phase initiated July 2006

Planning phase completed August 2006

Report sent for management response March 27, 2007

Management response received April 5, 2007

Report completed April 10, 2007

Report approved by Departmental Audit and Evaluation Committee (DAEC) April 18, 2007

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Acronyms used in the report

A&E

Audit and Evaluation

CEC

Commission for Environmental Cooperation

CESD

Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development

CIA

Canadian Intergovernmental Agreement Regarding the NAAEC

CLC

Commission for Labour Cooperation

DAEC

Departmental Audit and Evaluation Committee

DFAIT

Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade

EC

Environment Canada

ENGO

Environmental Non-Governmental Organization

EPA

Environmental Protection Agency

FTC

Free Trade Commission

GDP

Gross Domestic Product

GoC

Government of Canada

GSC

General Standing Committee

IISD

International Institute of Sustainable Development

IJC

International Joint Commission

IRC

Independent Review Committee

JPAC

Joint Public Advisory Committee

KII

Key Informant Interviews

NAAEC

North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation

NAALC

North American Agreement on Labour Cooperation

NAC

National Advisory Committee

NAFTA

North American Free Trade Agreement

NGO

Non-Governmental Organization

OECD

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

POR

Public Opinion Research

RMAF

Results-based Management and Accountability Framework

RPP

Report on Plan and Priorities

SFT

Speech from the Throne

SPP

Security and Prosperity Partnership

TRAC

Ten-year Review and Assessment Committee

U.S.

United-States

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Acknowledgments

The Evaluation Project Team including Shelley Tice, Sophie Boisvert, Lindsay Fitzpatrick and led by Marie-Christine Tremblay would like to thank individuals who contributed to this project and particularly all interviewees, evaluation committee members, Environment Canada's International Affairs Branch management, CEC Secretariat staff, representatives from the other NAAEC Parties, and Audit and Evaluation (A&E) Branch management who provided comments crucial to this project.

This report was prepared by Environment Canada's Evaluation Division, A&E Branch

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