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2010-2011 Parks Canada Agency Corporate Plan
Section II - Analysis of Program Activities
To achieve its strategic outcome and fulfill its mandate, Parks Canada will serve Canadians in ways that meet their evolving needs and expectations. To ensure ongoing success in these activities, the Agency has embarked on a program of renewal wherein its many strengths are identified, recognized and shared, and new, future-oriented initiatives are developed and implemented.
To complement its Charter, and to guide and inspire staff and stakeholders, Parks Canada has developed the following Vision Statement:
Canada’s treasured natural and historic places will be a living legacy, connecting hearts and minds to a stronger, deeper understanding of the very essence of Canada.
Parks Canada will pursue this vision and accomplish its strategic outcome by ensuring Agency activities are relevant to Canadians and thus strengthen and deepen Canadians’ understanding and appreciation of their national heritage places. This will, in turn, build a strong sense of connection to these places in the hearts and minds of Canadians.
The section that follows describes Parks Canada’s program activities and identifies the expected result, performance indicators and targets for each of them. This section also explains how Parks Canada plans on meeting the expected results and presents the financial and non-financial resources that will be dedicated to each program activity.
Canada’s Economic Action Plan
Information related to Parks Canada initiatives funded through Canada’s Economic Action Plan can be found in this section under the following program activities:
- Heritage Resources Conservation
- Visitor Experience
- Townsite and Throughway Infrastructure
- Internal Services
Program Activity 1 – Heritage Places Establishment
| Expected Result of Program Activity: Represented regions in the systems of national parks and national marine conservation areas; the system of national historic sites represents the breadth and diversity of Canada’s history. | |
|---|---|
| Performance Indicators: | Targets: |
Number of represented terrestrial natural regions in the system of national parks Number of unrepresented regions with demonstrable progress in advancing through steps towards establishing national parks1 |
Increase the number of represented terrestrial natural regions from 28 in March 2007 to 29 of 39 by March 2013 Make demonstrable progress towards establishing national parks in three unrepresented regions by March 20111 |
| Percentage of yearly commemorations for under-represented themes in Canada’s history | 33% of yearly commemorations are for under-represented themes in Canada’s history |
Number of represented marine regions in the system of national marine conservation areas Number of unrepresented regions with demonstrable progress in advancing through steps towards establishing national marine conservation areas2 |
Increase the number of represented marine regions from 3 in October 2007 to 5 of 29 by March 2013 Make demonstrable progress towards establishing national marine conservation areas in two unrepresented regions by March 20112 |
1 Performance Indicator and Target for National Park Establishment and Expansion sub activity of Parks Canada’s Program Activity Architecture (Figure 4)
2 Performance Indicator and Target for National Marine Conservation Area Establishment sub activity of Parks Canada’s Program Activity Architecture (Figure 4)
| Heritage Places Establishment Program Activity Planned Spending ($ Thousands) and Full Time Equivalents (FTE) |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010–11 | 2011–12 | 2012–13 | 2013–14 | 2014–15 | |
| Planned Spending | 24,311 | 22,750 | 21,621 | 21,621 | 21,621 |
| FTE | 92 | 92 | 89 | 89 | 89 |
Program Activity Description:
This program includes systems planning, completing feasibility studies, research, consulting with stakeholders and the public, negotiating with other governments and Aboriginal organizations and obtaining Ministerial approval, resulting in established national parks and national marine conservation areas and designated national historic sites of Canada and other heritage places. Canada’s national parks and national marine conservation areas, as well as the persons, places and events of national historic significance to Canada, are symbols to the world and are part of the fabric of the nation. Preservation of Canada’s natural and cultural heritage and making it available to Canadians for discovery and enjoyment is of key importance. Establishing heritage places is essential to enhancing pride, encouraging stewardship and giving expression to our identity as Canadians, and involving Canada in the internationally shared objective of protecting and commemorating the best of the world’s natural and cultural heritage.
Planning Highlights:
To achieve the expected result, Parks Canada plans to undertake the following activities:
- Establish one new national park; complete feasibility assessments for five other potential national parks and one proposed expansion (identified in Figure 1).
- Establish one new national marine conservation area; complete feasibility assessments for two other potential national marine conservation areas (identified in Figure 3).
- Bring three operating national parks (Ukkusiksalik, Gulf Islands, Wapusk) under the protection of the Canada National Parks Act.
- Continue to support the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada and the Minister in the designation and commemoration of places, persons and events of national historic significance that represent the breadth and diversity of Canadian history. Over the next five years, an average of 36 commemorations of places, persons and events of national historic significance will be carried out annually.
- The Agency will implement the Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act, which comes into force in May 2010.
- In collaboration with other federal departments and agencies, Parks Canada will continue to evaluate federally owned buildings and make recommendations to the Minister for the designation of buildings that are determined to be of heritage value as Federal Heritage Buildings.
Benefits for Canadians:
Creating new national parks and national marine conservation areas, and expanding existing national parks, protects portions of Canada’s distinct landscapes and seascapes and their associated ecosystems. The designation of new places, persons and events of national historic significance builds on our system of national commemorations that reflects the breadth and diversity of Canadian history. These newly established heritage places contribute to regional economic development and the well-being of communities, and lead to new opportunities for visitor experience, education and long-term meaningful involvement in the place’s planning and management. They are the means to pass onto future generations the living legacy that we have inherited from generations past. The establishment of these special places is essential to ensuring their ongoing protection.
Program Activity 2 – Heritage Resources Conservation
| Expected Result of Program Activity: Management actions result in improvements to ecological integrity indicators in national parks, and the state of cultural resources in national historic sites is improved. | |
|---|---|
| Performance Indicators: | Targets: |
| Number of national parks with at least one improved ecological integrity indicator | 20 national parks improve 1 ecological integrity indicator from March 2008 to March 2014 |
| Percentage of the condition of cultural resources and management practices elements of commemorative integrity rated as poor are improved | 70% of the condition of cultural resources and management practices elements of commemorative integrity rated as poor are improved within five years |
| Heritage Resources Conservation Program Activity Planned Spending ($ Thousands) and Full Time Equivalents (FTE) |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010–11 | 2011–12 | 2012–13 | 2013–14 | 2014–15 | |
| Planned Spending | 240,482 | 199,274 | 195,367 | 195,332 | 195,332 |
| FTE | 1,283 | 1,272 | 1,272 | 1,272 | 1,272 |
Program Activity Description:
This program includes maintenance or restoration of ecological integrity in national parks through protection of natural resources and natural processes; ensuring the commemorative integrity of national historic sites managed by Parks Canada and influencing the commemorative integrity of those managed or owned by third parties; the protection and management of cultural resources under the administration of Parks Canada; and the sustainable use of national marine conservation areas including protection of unique marine ecosystems. This program also includes fulfilling legal responsibilities assigned to Parks Canada by the Species at Risk Act and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. The protection of Canada’s most special natural and cultural resources ensures that current and future generations will enjoy a system of protected heritage places.
Planning Highlights:
To achieve the expected result, Parks Canada plans to undertake the following activities:
- Through active management and restoration initiatives, the Agency will continue to address conservation challenges and demonstrate improvements in key indicators of ecological integrity in 20 of Canada’s national parks. The focus of our actions is on priority management issues identified in park management plans. Changes in ecological integrity conditions and trends will be reported in state of park reports.
- Complete the development and implementation of a nationally consistent ecological integrity monitoring and reporting system in all national parks.
- With funding in the amount of $28.2 million provided under the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan, Parks Canada will complete 77 site assessments and 65 remediation/risk management projects by 2010–11.
- Continue to lead the development of national recovery strategies for species at risk that are found primarily on Parks Canada administered lands and waters in accordance with legislative requirements.
- Develop a national zoning framework for the national marine conservation areas program.
- Work towards maintaining or improving the commemorative integrity of the national historic sites the Agency administers, with particular attention to improving the condition of built cultural resources. Strategies to demonstrate improvements in elements of commemorative integrity rated as poor will be devised and implemented, supported by funding provided in Budget 2009 through Canada’s Economic Action Plan. Examples of projects to be carried out in 2010–11 include:
- recapitalization and re-roofing of buildings at Grosse Île and the Irish Memorial National Historic Site of Canada in Quebec;
- work at Fort George National Historic Site of Canada in Ontario to repair the Officer’s Quarters and other buildings, stabilize the palisades as well as enhance the visitor experience, particularly in the context of the upcoming War of 1812 Bicentennial celebrations; and
- ongoing work to repair rotting components as well as the bow and foundation of Dredge #4 National Historic Site of Canada in the Yukon.
- Parks Canada will effectively and efficiently administer the National Historic Sites of Canada Cost-Sharing Program in order to support the protection of national historic sites not owned by the Agency. Over the next five years, the program will provide $20 million in funding for not-for-profit organizations to carry out conservation and presentation projects at their national historic sites. This amount includes $8 million received from Budget 2009 through Canada’s Economic Action Plan.
- Support the conservation of historic places not administered by Parks Canada through continued collaboration with provincial and territorial governments to provide Canadians with conservation tools such as the Canadian Register of Historic Places and the second edition of the Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada which will be published in the fall of 2010.
Benefits for Canadians:
The conservation of national parks, national historic sites and national marine conservation areas helps to ensure that important natural and cultural resources are protected for the environmental, social and economic benefit of Canadians. Conservation of national historic sites and other historic places connect Canadians to their past and are tangible manifestations of the breadth and diversity of Canadian history. They also play important contemporary roles in their communities as places of gathering, business, entertainment, tourism and social unity. Together, Parks Canada’s national parks, national historic sites and national marine conservation areas provide meaningful opportunities for Canadians to appreciate and personally connect with nationally significant places and stories and to engage directly in the management of Canada’s national treasures.
Program Activity 3 – Public Appreciation and Understanding
| Expected Result of Program Activity: Canadians appreciate the significance of heritage places administered by Parks Canada and support their protection and presentation. | |
|---|---|
| Performance Indicators: | Targets: |
| Percentage of Canadians that appreciate the significance of heritage places administered by Parks Canada | 60% of Canadians appreciate the significance of heritage places administered by Parks Canada by March 2014 |
| Percentage of Canadians that support the protection and presentation of places administered by Parks Canada | 80% of Canadians support the protection and presentation of places administered by Parks Canada by March 2014 |
| Public Appreciation and Understanding Program Activity Planned Spending ($ Thousands) and Full Time Equivalents (FTE) |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010–11 | 2011–12 | 2012–13 | 2013–14 | 2014–15 | |
| Planned Spending | 29,371 | 28,499 | 26,456 | 26,299 | 25,788 |
| FTE | 293 | 293 | 292 | 292 | 290 |
Program Activity Description:
This program activity aims to increase Canadians’ understanding, appreciation, support and engagement with respect to the natural and historical heritage of Parks Canada administered places. This is accomplished by reaching Canadians at home, at leisure, at school and in their communities through relevant and effective communication and public outreach education initiatives as well as by engaging many stakeholders and partners in the development and implementation of the Agency’s future direction.
Planning Highlights:
To achieve the expected result, Parks Canada plans to undertake the following activities:
- Through focused investment and strategies designed to build connections with targeted audiences and networks in the metropolitan areas of Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver, urban Canadians will be more aware, understand and appreciate Parks Canada’s heritage places.
- Through the celebration of the 125th anniversary of the establishment of Banff National Park of Canada, and through the centennial of becoming the world’s first National Parks Service, Parks Canada will launch a series of activities to increase the relevance of Parks Canada to Canadians. In doing so, it will also provide opportunities for stakeholders and partners to build deeper relationships with Parks Canada.
- To engage Canadians through mass media, Parks Canada will build on its strategic communications approach, focused on proactive media relations targeting travel, science, history and cultural publishers and audiences. Canadians will have increased access to information relevant to them through renewal of the Parks Canada website and strategic investments in new media.
- Canadians will have increased opportunities to be involved with Parks Canada in activities they consider meaningful and relevant through volunteer experiences, stakeholder consultations and partnering opportunities.
- Parks Canada will develop a framework to engage Aboriginal peoples in the planning and management of heritage places it administers. As part of this framework, Parks Canada will establish Aboriginal advisory relationships in various locations across the organization, guided by the unique legal and cultural contexts of the different Aboriginal groups, by 2013.
Benefits for Canadians:
To foster a sense of connection to Canada’s places of natural and cultural heritage, it is important that Canadians have opportunities to understand, appreciate and support Parks Canada heritage places. In turn, Canadians will increasingly take pride in these places, knowing that they have an opportunity to influence decisions and actions undertaken on their behalf.
Program Activity 4 – Visitor Experience
| Expected Result of Program Activity: Visitors at surveyed locations feel a sense of personal connection to the places visited. | |
|---|---|
| Performance Indicators: | Targets: |
| Percentage of visitors that consider the place is meaningful to them | On average, 85% of visitors at surveyed locations consider the place meaningful |
| Percentage of visitors that are satisfied, and percentage that are very satisfied, with their visit | On average, 90% of visitors at surveyed locations are satisfied, and, on average, 50% at surveyed locations are very satisfied, with their visit |
| Visitor Experience Program Activity Planned Spending ($ Thousands) and Full Time Equivalents (FTE) |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010–11 | 2011–12 | 2012–13 | 2013–14 | 2014–15 | |
| Planned Spending | 267,901 | 236,207 | 236,055 | 235,983 | 235,983 |
| FTE | 1,962 | 1,951 | 1,951 | 1,951 | 1,951 |
Program Activity Description:
This program supports the opportunities provided for the approximately 22 million person visits that are made annually to Canada’s national parks, national historic sites and national marine conservation areas by Canadians and international visitors. The visitor experience is the sum total of visitors’ personal interaction with the protected heritage place that helps them create meaning and establish connection with the place. The experience begins with awareness of the site followed by planning the visit, travelling to and welcoming and orientation upon arrival. During the visitor’s time on site, it includes participation in recreational and interpretive activities and the use of accommodation, trails, facilities, services and supporting infrastructure. This is followed by departure and the post-visit relationship. Investments in the different stages of the visitor experience cycle facilitate opportunities for enjoyment and learning, leading to a sense of personal connection and the continued relevancee of Canada’s protected heritage places for Canadians.
Planning Highlights:
To achieve the expected result, Parks Canada plans to undertake the following activities:
- Parks Canada will focus its efforts towards attracting urban Canadians and increasing their participation in the visitor experience opportunities that are available at their national parks, national historic sites and national marine conservation areas.
- Parks Canada will continue to ensure the satisfaction of visitors through the provision of Quality Visitor Experience training to its employees. The implementation of Parks Canada’s quality service standards will be monitored to ensure consistency and continued service improvement.
- A 10 percent visitation increase will be realized by March 2015, as Canadians and international travelers are made increasingly aware of the available visitor experience opportunities at Parks Canada’s heritage places through a clear brand identity, collaborative promotional programs with industry partners and focused communications to target markets.
- Visitor expectations, desires and needs will be met through continued improvement to existing and creation of new visitor experience opportunities. These opportunities will be reviewed, developed and created by applying Parks Canada’s mandated requirement to deliver meaningful experiences in connection with market based approaches.
- In collaboration with a broad range of partners, an increased number of new and repeat visits will be generated through improved and diversified accommodation offers, recreational activities, and an expanded number of interpretive products.
- Budget 2009, through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, provided $75 million over two years for improvements and enhancements to Parks Canada’s visitor facilities, such as visitor centres and campgrounds.
- Parks Canada will promote authentic Aboriginal cultural experiences for visitors and foster economic and tourism opportunities in its heritage places.
Benefits for Canadians:
National parks, national historic sites and national marine conservation areas provide Canadians with visitor experience opportunities for enjoyment and learning. Parks Canada also encourages Aboriginal peoples to reconnect with their historically used lands through activities that enhance their cultural presence. This, in turn, leads to a sense of personal connection and the continued relevance of Canada’s protected heritage places to Canadians.
Program Activity 5 – Townsite and Throughway Infrastructure
| Expected Result of Program Activity: Condition of contemporary infrastructure for townsites and waterways is maintained or improved, and through highways are open to traffic. | |
|---|---|
| Performance Indicators: | Targets: |
| Percentage of townsite and waterway contemporary assets that are maintained | The condition of 75% of townsite and waterway contemporary assets is maintained by March 2013 |
| Percentage of townsite and waterway contemporary assets rated as poor or fair that are improved | The condition of 25% of townsite and waterway contemporary assets rated as poor or fair is improved by March 2013 |
| Number of days of closure of through highways due to asset condition | Zero (0) days of closure of through highways due to asset condition |
| Townsite and Throughway Infrastructure Program Activity Planned Spending ($ Thousands) and Full Time Equivalents (FTE) |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010–11 | 2011–12 | 2012–13 | 2013–14 | 2014–15 | |
| Planned Spending | 161,344 | 122,762 | 77,746 | 62,746 | 57,746 |
| FTE | 333 | 325 | 323 | 322 | 322 |
Program Activity Description:
This program involves managing, operating and providing municipal services to five townsite communities within Canada’s national parks. These are Field in Yoho National Park of Canada, British Columbia; Lake Louise in Banff National Park of Canada, Alberta; Wasagaming in Riding Mountain National Park of Canada, Manitoba; Waskesiu in Prince Albert National Park of Canada, Saskatchewan; and Waterton in Waterton Lakes National Park of Canada, Alberta. Two other townsites, Banff and Jasper, are self-governed since 1990 and 2002, respectively. Parks Canada retains authority for community plans and by-laws in Banff, and for community plans, land-use planning and development in Jasper. This program also involves the operation of provincial and inter-provincial highways and waterways that connect communities and pass through national parks and national historic sites.
Planning Highlights:
To achieve the expected result, Parks Canada plans to undertake the following activities:
- Parks Canada will continue to demonstrate environmental stewardship by minimizing the impact of townsite operations as well as meeting townsite targets for limits to growth and sewage effluent quality.
- As a result of funding obtained through Canada’s Economicte Action Plan, Parks Canada will continue to make substantial investments to upgrade other townsite infrastructure to address levels of service and safety requirements.
- Parks Canada will maintain the condition of through highways so that they remain open to through traffic. Substantial infrastructure investments will be made.
- Parks Canada is responsible for portions of the Trans-Canada Highway located within national parks. Work is underway on twinning segments of the highway (partially funded through Canada’s Economic Action Plan) located within Banff National Park of Canada to the British Columbia border in order to increase passenger safety and ease traffic flows.
- Parks Canada is investing $125.8 million to improve the condition of Parks Canada administered waterway assets.
Benefits for Canadians:
Five of Canada’s national parks provide a haven for vibrant townsite communities, to which Parks Canada provides a variety of municipal or other services. The Agency also manages and maintains the provincial and inter-provincial highways and waterways that connect communities and pass through national parks and national historic sites. The investments will facilitate opportunities for Canadians and foreign visitors alike to enjoy these treasured natural and historic places.
Internal Services
| Internal Services Planned Spending ($ Thousands) and Full Time Equivalents (FTE) |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010–11 | 2011–12 | 2012–13 | 2013–14 | 2014–15 | |
| Planned Spending | 81,546 | 81,522 | 81,482 | 81,482 | 81,482 |
| FTE | 487 | 487 | 487 | 487 | 487 |
Internal Services are groups of related activities and resources that are administered to support the needs of programs and other corporate obligations of an organization. These groups are: Management and Oversight Services (i.e., Investment Planning, Project Management, Risk Management, Planning and Reporting, Internal Audit and Evaluation); Communications Services; Legal Services; Human Resources Management Services; Financial Management Services; Information Management Services; Information Technology Services; Real Property Services; Materiel Services; Acquisition Services; and Travel and Other Administrative Services. Internal Services include only those activities and resources that apply across an organization and not to those provided specifically to a program.
Planning Highlights:
With regard to its Internal Services, Parks Canada plans to undertake the following activities:
- In accordance with Treasury Board’s management agenda, Parks Canada will make progress in implementing over the next two years, the new financial policy direction over four disciplines: financial management governance; internal control; financial resource management, information and reporting; and financial systems.
- Parks Canada is continuing to increase its capacity in order to make progress in meeting the policy requirement by March 2013 to evaluate 100 percent of direct program spending over five years.
- Over the next five years, the Agency will internalize the Parks Canada Agency Vision into its operations and programs.
- In order to ensure an effective delivery of its mandate on behalf of all Canadians, Parks Canada will continue to position itself as an employer of choice by fostering a workplace that: is representative of Canadian diversity; promotes a culture of competence; supports employees to advance their careers through learning and other developmental opportunities; and, is managed in a way that respects employer legislated and contractual obligations.
- The Agency will address the recommendations of its Asset Management Audit and Evaluation Report and complete the implementation of a new real property suite that complies with the new Treasury Board Policy on Investment Planning and the Management of Projects.
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