Federal roles and responsibilities

Clarify federal roles and responsibilities for achieving Canada's climate change commitments (paragraph 3.92).

Federal leadership on climate change has generally increased, along with involvement of various federal players. However, the roles and responsibilities of these federal players in achieving Canada's climate change commitments are still being developed through a series of memoranda of understanding (paragraphs 6.44 to 6.48).

Management structure

Develop an effective management structure to respond to climate change (3.93).

A new management structure has been put in place through the establishment of the federal and national climate change secretariats to develop a national implementation strategy and associated action plans. However, the effectiveness of the management structure in achieving the desired results cannot yet be determined (6.42 to 6.43, 6.46 to 6.48).

Partnering arrangement

Set up a partnering arrangement between the federal and provincial/territorial governments on roles, responsibilities, and contributions in meeting Canada's climate change commitments (3.94).

A federal-provincial/territorial framework agreement has been drafted but not yet finalized (6.49 to 6.51).

Public awareness and education

Develop and implement a national public awareness and education program on climate change (3.105 and 3.106).

Some progress has been made to promote increased public awareness and to further educate the public on climate change. A national network and regional hubs or centres to raise public awareness on climate change are also being established; however, it is too early to determine whether this will meet the commitment to a national public awareness and education program on climate change (6.66 to 6.69).

Costs and benefits

Obtain clearer understanding of the costs and benefits of inaction in dealing with climate change, and possible measures to address climate change (3.118 and 3.119).

Additional efforts have been made, such as the issue tables/working groups. However, further analysis is required in a number of areas as identified by the Analysis and Modelling Group (6.70 to 6.77).

Federal portfolio of measures

Develop a federal portfolio of measures to help meet Canada's climate change commitments (3.120).

The Government of Canada Action Plan 2000 on Climate Change is expected to take Canada a third of the way toward its Kyoto target, and performance expectations for individual measures are being finalized. Actions in future plans are expected to address the remainder of Canada's Kyoto target (6.79 to 6.82).

National portfolio of measures

Obtain agreement on a national portfolio of measures designed to meet Canada's climate change commitments (3.121).

The federal government and all provinces, except Ontario, have agreed to Canada's First National Climate Change Business Plan. With respect to the full Kyoto target, sectoral or regional sharing remains to be considered, and an agreement on a broad national portfolio of measures remains outstanding (6.81 and 6.83).

Implementation plan

Develop a formal, results-based implementation plan with performance expectations designed to achieve Canada's climate change commitments (3.152).

The federal government and all provinces except Ontario have agreed to a three-phased National Implementation Strategy on Climate Change. Phase One of this strategy is being implemented through the National Business Plan. However, this plan does not provide a clear indication of performance expectations to facilitate monitoring and assessment of progress (6.36 to 6.38 and 6.81).

Reporting to Parliament

Enhance reporting to Parliament on the climate change activity through a consolidated, summary-level report on a periodic basis (3.162).

It remains very difficult to get a clear picture of the federal government's response to climate change from documents tabled in Parliament. Reporting to Parliament remains fragmented and piecemeal, and summary-level information is still incomplete. The Government of Canada Action Plan 2000 on Climate Change is silent on whether or how progress to Parliament will be reported (6.84 to 6.98).

Fully addressed. The original audit finding has been fully addressed and there is no need to take additional action. Our Office will not follow up further.

Satisfactory progress. Substantial progress has been made in addressing the original audit finding, but some additional action is still required. Our Office will do further follow-up work.

Some progress. Some progress has been made in addressing the original audit finding, but considerable additional action is still required to achieve the desired results. Our Office will do further follow-up work.

Unsatisfactory progress. Progress has not been made in addressing the original audit finding, and action remains outstanding. Our Office will do further follow-up work.