2023 to 2024 Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy Report

From 2023 to 2027, Parks Canada will:

• Participate in the Government of Canada’s Youth Employment and Skills Strategy (YESS) to provide meaningful employment to youth facing barriers to employment, both by direct hiring to employment and providing funding to external environmental sector organizations to support additional hiring of youth through this program.

Programs:

• Heritage Places Establishment
• Heritage Places Conservation
• Heritage Places Promotion and Public Support
• Visitor Experience
• Heritage Canals, Highways, and Townsites Management
• Internal Services

Performance Indicator:

Number of youth facing barriers to employment hired by Parks Canada through the YESS Program each year.

Starting Point:

Annual target.

Target:

565 annually.

Parks Canada’s involvement in the YESS program helps youth overcome barriers to employment and develop a broad range of skills and knowledge to participate in the current and future labour market.

This program provides support tailored to the needs of youth that are facing barriers to employments. Through its participation in this program, Parks Canada helps youth navigate through the labour market and to successfully transition into sustained employment, with skills and knowledge gained from working in an environmental and heritage sector organization, inspiring further education and career goals in this sector, and contributing to the growth of Canada’s pool of science talent.

This action also contributes to commitments under goals 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

Relevant targets or ambitions:

GIF Target – 4.4 By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship.

Indicator result:

751

Notes:

Parks Canada has exceeded its target of youth hired under the YESS. With 751 youth hired, 43.8% have self-identified as being under at least one of the Employment Equity groups.

From 2023 to 2027, Parks Canada will:

• Participate in the Government of Canada’s Youth Employment and Skills Strategy (YESS) to provide meaningful employment to youth facing barriers to employment, both by direct hiring to employment and providing funding to external environmental sector organizations to support additional hiring of youth through this program.

Programs:

• Heritage Places Establishment
• Heritage Places Conservation
• Heritage Places Promotion and Public Support
• Visitor Experience
• Heritage Canals, Highways, and Townsites Management
• Internal Services

Performance Indicator:

Number of youth facing barriers to employment hired by external organizations funded by Parks Canada through the YESS Program each year.

Starting Point:

Annual target.

Target:

650 annually.

Parks Canada’s involvement in the YESS program helps youth overcome barriers to employment and develop a broad range of skills and knowledge to participate in the current and future labour market.

This program provides support tailored to the needs of youth that are facing barriers to employments. Through its participation in this program, Parks Canada helps youth navigate through the labour market and to successfully transition into sustained employment, with skills and knowledge gained from working in an environmental and heritage sector organization, inspiring further education and career goals in this sector, and contributing to the growth of Canada’s pool of science talent.

This action also contributes to commitments under goals 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

Relevant targets or ambitions:

GIF Target – 4.4 By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship.

Indicator result:

710

Notes:

Parks Canada’s partner organisations have exceeded its target of youth hired under the YESS. With 710 youth hired, 59.7% have self-identified as being under at least one of the Employment Equity groups.

From 2023 – 2027, Parks Canada will:

• Launch an Employment Equity Action Plan to identify actions to recruit and retain members of equity-deserving groups, including women, in Parks Canada’s workforce.

Program:

Internal Services

Performance Indicator:

Percentage of Parks Canada’s workforce who are women compared to the labour market availability (LMA) for women in Canada.

Starting Point:

As of March 2023, Parks Canada’s workforce is 50.9% women and the LMA is 47.4%.

Target:

By March 2027 the percentage of Parks Canada’s workforce who are women will meet or exceed the LMA of women.

Ensuring Parks Canada’s workforce meets or exceeds LMA representation of women contributes to promoting women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunity for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic, and public life.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

SDG Target - 5.5 Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life.

GIF Target - 10.2 By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.

GIF Target - 10.3 Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies, and action in this regard.

Indicator result:

52.2%

Notes:

While representation of women surpassed the labour market availability, women are under-represented in certain occupational groups, which shows that work still need to be done to achieve equity.

From 2023 – 2027, Parks Canada will:

• Launch an Employment Equity Action Plan to identify barriers to the recruitment and retention of members of equity-deserving groups, including women, in Parks Canada’s workforce.

Program:

Internal Services

Performance Indicator:

Starting Point:

New initiative for March 2023.

Target:

By September 2024, Parks Canada will have a pay equity plan.

The purpose of the Pay Equity Act is to achieve pay equity – equal pay for equal work – in a proactive way by addressing systemic gender-based discrimination that may exist in pay practices, removing barriers to full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at Parks Canada.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

GIF Target – 5.5 Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life.

Indicator result:

Parks Canada does not yet have a pay equity plan in place.

Notes:

Parks Canada strives to achieve compliance with the Pay Equity Act and completed key steps of the project, i.e. determine job class and gender predominance; and started to determine the value of work. A new target for completion will be included in Parks Canada’s DSDS update in early 2025.

• Create a pay equity plan as part of its implementation of the Pay Equity Act to ensure that Parks Canada team members are receiving equal pay for equal work.

Program:

Internal Services

Performance Indicator:

Percentage of Parks Canada’s workforce who are women compared to the labour market availability (LMA) for women in Canada.

Starting Point:

As of March 2023, Parks Canada’s workforce is 50.9% women and the LMA is 47.4%.

Targets:

By March 2027 the percentage of Parks Canada’s workforce who are women will meet or exceed the LMA of women.

This action contributes to promoting equity in Parks Canada’s workforce by ensuring that it meets or exceeds labour market availability for women, providing full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at Parks Canada.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

GIF Target – 5.5 Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life.

Indicator result:

52.2%

Notes:

While representation of women surpassed the labour market availability, women are under-represented in certain occupational groups, which shows that work still need to be done to achieve equity.

From 2023 to 2027, Parks Canada will:

• Continue the implementation of its 2022 to 2025 Accessibility Action Plan to remove barriers to recruitment and retention of persons with disabilities within Parks Canada’s workforce; and,
• Launch and begin the implementation of an Employment Equity Action Plan to identify barriers to the recruitment and retention of members of equity-deserving groups, including people with disabilities, in Parks Canada’s workforce.

Program:

Internal Services

Performance Indicator:

Percentage of Parks Canada’s workforce who are persons with disabilities compared to the labour market availability (LMA) for persons with disabilities in Canada.

Starting Point:

As of March 2023, Parks Canada’s workforce is 3.75% persons with a disability and the LMA is 8.4%.

Target:

By March 2027 the percentage Parks Canada’s workforce who are persons with disabilities will meet or exceed the LMA of persons with disabilities.

This action helps to remove barriers to recruitment and retention for persons with a disability at Parks Canada, increasing employment opportunities.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

GIF Target - 8.5 By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value.

Indicator result:

4.2%

Notes:

Representation of persons with disabilities is below the labour market availability (8.4%).

To increase representation, an Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility Strategy along with an Employment Equity Action Plan has been developed and will be implemented in 2024-25.

This year, numerical hiring goals for under-represented groups were established and approved by Parks Canada’s PCEO.

From 2023 to 2027 Parks Canada will:

• Support building skills in heritage crafts in its workforce, particularly those that support sustainable stewardship of historic places; and,
• Provide training workshops to trades employees and students to support building skills in heritage crafts.

Program:

Heritage Places Conservation

Performance Indicator:

Number of training workshops and skills building projects related to the sustainable stewardship of historic places have been offered to Parks Canada trades employees and students taking part in heritage crafts.

Starting Point:

16 as of March 2023.

Target:

30 by March 2027.

Through these workshops, employees in skilled trades are given opportunities to advance their skills and incorporate more sustainable approaches in the stewardship of cultural heritage places, including adapting and mitigating environmental impacts.

Sustainable stewardship contributes to achieving various environmental objectives including reducing waste and limiting greenhouse gas emissions. By extending the life cycle of existing buildings, their continued use is an inherently sustainable approach to reducing the amount of embedded energy required for new construction. A workforce skilled in sustainable maintenance and conservation of cultural heritage aligns with the government of Canada's commitment to sustainability across the economy, including through the creation of sustainable jobs so that all Canadians can enjoy the benefits of a clean economy.

Indicator result:

26

Notes:

10 skills building projects related to the sustainable stewardship of historic places were offered to Parks Canada trades employees and students taking part in heritage crafts in 2023-23, for a cumulative total of 26 workshops.

From 2023 to 2027, Parks Canada will:

• Contribute to the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (UNDA) by reviewing and developing legal instruments, policy, and operational practices that support Indigenous peoples’ exercise of rights and responsibilities in places administered by Parks Canada and develop, in consultation with Indigenous peoples, a measurement framework to measure UNDA Action Plan progress.

Programs:

• Heritage Places Establishment
• Heritage Places Conservation
• Heritage Places Promotion and Public Support
• Visitor Experience
• Heritage Canals, Highways, and Townsites Management
• Internal Services

Performance Indicator:

Number of indicators developed by Parks Canada in collaboration with Indigenous partners to report on the progress of the UNDA Action Plan and the Indigenous Stewardship Framework.

Starting Point:

New initiative started in June 2023.

Target:

5 by March 2027.

As the largest manager of federal lands, Parks Canada’s work plays an important role in the Government of Canada’s implementation of UNDA. Parks Canada strives to work collaboratively with Indigenous peoples, uplifting Indigenous voices and perspectives and working to provide meaningful involvement in the stewardship of national heritage places.

Through its five measures in the UNDA Action Plan, Parks Canada will undertake work to address harvesting by Indigenous peoples, governance, cultural continuity, Indigenous knowledge, and apologies/acknowledgements. Parks Canada will also work to align its governing legislation with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Parks Canada is taking a co-development approach to ensure UNDA Action Plan progress measurement is meaningful and reflective of Indigenous partners' priority interests. As a result, the first step in its process to implement UNDA is the co-development of indicators to measure its progress. The 2023 to 2027 DSDS will be amended to include these new indicators as they are developed.

Additional initiatives supporting the UNDA Action Plan implementation can be found under “Implementation strategies supporting the goal” below.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

GIF Target - 10.3 Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies, and action in this regard.

Indicator result:

0

Notes:

Discussions have not yet been initiated with Indigenous partners; however, work is planned with Indigenous Stewardship Circle for 2024-25, in conjunction with work on Parks Canada’s Departmental Results Framework renewal.

From 2023 – 2027, Parks Canada will:

• Launch an Employment Equity Action Plan to identify actions to recruit and retain members of equity-deserving groups, including women, in Parks Canada’s workforce.

Program:

Internal Services

Performance Indicator:

Percentage of Parks Canada’s workforce who are women compared to the labour market availability (LMA) for women in Canada.

Starting Point:

As of March 2023, Parks Canada’s workforce is 50.9% women and the LMA is 47.4%.

Target:

By March 2027 the percentage of Parks Canada’s workforce who are women will meet or exceed the LMA of women.

Parks Canada contributes to the Government of Canada’s goal for the federal public service to meet or surpass the workforce availability for women. This work helps to ensure that women are an equal part of the Parks Canada team that creates and implements actions to protect and present Canada's natural and cultural resources.

As part of this work, Parks Canada is identifying barriers to the recruitment and retention of women in its workforce.

This indicator is also included under FSDS Goal 5, above.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

GIF Target - 10.2 By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.

GIF Target - 10.3 Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies, and action in this regard.

Indicator result:

52.2%

Notes:

While representation of women surpassed the labour market availability, women are under-represented in certain occupational groups, which shows that work still need to be done to achieve equity.

From 2023 to 2027, Parks Canada will:

• Continue the implementation of Parks Canada’s 2022 to 2025 Accessibility Action Plan to remove barriers to recruitment and retention of persons with disabilities within Parks Canada’s workforce.
• Launch and begin the implementation of an Employment Equity Action Plan to identify barriers to the recruitment and retention of members of equity-deserving groups, including women, visible minorities, Indigenous peoples, and persons with disabilities in Parks Canada’s workforce.

Program:

Internal Services

Performance Indicator:

Percentage of Parks Canada’s workforce who are women compared to the labour market availability (LMA) for women in Canada.

Starting Point:

As of March 2023, Parks Canada’s workforce is 50.9% women and the LMA is 47.4%.

Target:

By March 2027, the percentage of Parks Canada’s workforce who are women will meet or exceed the LMA of women.

Parks Canada contributes to the Government of Canada’s goal for the federal public service to meet or surpass the workforce availability for women, Indigenous persons, persons with a disability, and members of visible minority groups.

This work helps to ensure that equity-deserving groups are part of the Parks Canada team that creates and implements actions to protect and present Canada's natural and cultural resources.

As part of this work, Parks Canada is identifying barriers to the recruitment and retention of women, Indigenous persons, persons with a disability, and members of a visible minority group.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

GIF Target - 10.2 By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.

GIF Target - 10.3 Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies, and action in this regard.

Indicator result:

52.2%

Notes:

While representation of women surpassed the labour market availability, women are under-represented in certain occupational groups, which shows that work still need to be done to achieve equity.

From 2023 to 2027, Parks Canada will:

• Continue the implementation of Parks Canada’s 2022 to 2025 Accessibility Action Plan to remove barriers to recruitment and retention of persons with disabilities within Parks Canada’s workforce.
• Launch and begin the implementation of an Employment Equity Action Plan to identify barriers to the recruitment and retention of members of equity-deserving groups, including women, visible minorities, Indigenous peoples, and persons with disabilities in Parks Canada’s workforce.

Program:

Internal Services

Performance Indicator:

Percentage of Parks Canada workforce who are persons with a disability compared to the labour market availability for persons with disabilities in Canada.

Starting Point:

As of March 2023, Parks Canada’s workforce is 3.75% persons with a disability and the LMA is 8.4%.

Target:

By March 2027 the percentage of Parks Canada’s workforce who are persons with a disability will meet or exceed the LMA of persons with disabilities.

Parks Canada contributes to the Government of Canada’s goal for the federal public service to meet or surpass the workforce availability for women, Indigenous persons, persons with a disability, and members of visible minority groups.

This work helps to ensure that equity-deserving groups are part of the Parks Canada team that creates and implements actions to protect and present Canada's natural and cultural resources.

As part of this work, Parks Canada is identifying barriers to the recruitment and retention of women, Indigenous persons, persons with a disability, and members of a visible minority group.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

GIF Target - 10.2 By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.

GIF Target - 10.3 Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies, and action in this regard.

Indicator result:

4.2%

Notes:

Representation of persons with disabilities is below the labour market availability (8.4%).

An Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility Strategy along with an Employment Equity Action Plan has been developed and will be implemented in 2024-25.

This year, numerical hiring goals for under-represented groups were established and approved by Parks Canada’s PCEO.

From 2023 to 2027, Parks Canada will:

• Continue the implementation of Parks Canada’s 2022 to 2025 Accessibility Action Plan to remove barriers to recruitment and retention of persons with disabilities within Parks Canada’s workforce.
• Launch and begin the implementation of an Employment Equity Action Plan to identify barriers to the recruitment and retention of members of equity-deserving groups, including women, visible minorities, Indigenous peoples, and persons with disabilities in Parks Canada’s workforce.

Program:

Internal Services

Performance Indicator:

Percentage of Parks Canada workforce who are members of visible minority groups compared to the labour market availability for visible minorities in Canada.

Starting Point:

As of March 2023, Parks Canada’s workforce is 5.5% members of visible minority groups and the LMA is 11.75%.

Target:

By March 2027, the percentage of Parks Canada’s workforce who are members of visible minority groups will meet or exceed the LMA of members of visible minority groups.

Parks Canada contributes to the Government of Canada’s goal for the federal public service to meet or surpass the workforce availability for women, Indigenous persons, persons with a disability, and members of visible minority groups.

This work helps to ensure that equity-deserving groups are part of the Parks Canada team that creates and implements actions to protect and present Canada's natural and cultural resources.

As part of this work, Parks Canada is identifying barriers to the recruitment and retention of women, Indigenous persons, persons with a disability, and members of a visible minority group.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

GIF Target - 10.2 By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.

GIF Target - 10.3 Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies, and action in this regard.

Indicator result:

6%

Notes:

Representation of racialized workers is significantly below labor market availability (11,7%).

An Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility Strategy along with an Employment Equity Action Plan has been developed and will be implemented in 2024-25.

This year, numerical hiring goals for under-represented groups were established and approved by Parks Canada’s PCEO.

From 2023 to 2027, Parks Canada will:

• Continue the implementation of Parks Canada’s 2022 to 2025 Accessibility Action Plan to remove barriers to recruitment and retention of persons with disabilities within Parks Canada’s workforce.
• Launch and begin the implementation of an Employment Equity Action Plan to identify barriers to the recruitment and retention of members of equity-deserving groups, including women, visible minorities, Indigenous peoples, and persons with disabilities in Parks Canada’s workforce.

Program:

Internal Services

Performance Indicator:

Percentage of Parks Canada workforce who are Indigenous peoples compared to the labour market availability for Indigenous peoples in Canada.

Starting Point:

As of March 2023, Parks Canada’s workforce is 7.3% Indigenous peoples and the LMA is 7.5%.

Target:

By March 2027, the percentage of Parks Canada’s workforce who are Indigenous peoples will meet or exceed the LMA of Indigenous peoples.

Parks Canada contributes to the Government of Canada’s goal for the federal public service to meet or surpass the workforce availability for women, Indigenous persons, persons with a disability, and members of visible minority groups.

This work helps to ensure that equity-deserving groups are part of the Parks Canada team that creates and implements actions to protect and present Canada's natural and cultural resources.

As part of this work, Parks Canada is identifying barriers to the recruitment and retention of women, Indigenous persons, persons with a disability, and members of a visible minority group.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

GIF Target - 10.2 By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.

GIF Target - 10.3 Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies, and action in this regard.

Indicator result:

7.4%

Notes:

Representation of Indigenous employees is slightly below the labour market availability (7.5%).

An Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility Strategy along with an Employment Equity Action Plan has been developed and will be implemented in 2024-25.

This year numerical hiring goals for under-represented groups were established and approved by Parks Canada’s PCEO.

An Indigenous Career Navigator position was also implemented to help eliminate barriers in recruitment and retention, as well as provide guidance on career paths and advancement.

From 2023 to 2027 Parks Canada will:

• Explore, with Indigenous partners, the potential for new co-managed national historic sites, national parks, national marine conservation areas, and national urban parks as opportunities to enable conservation and reconciliation.
• Investigate, with Indigenous partners, potential methods of fostering joint, contiguous, or co-designated national parks, national marine protected areas, and Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas.
• Enhance rights-based negotiations with Indigenous peoples that prioritize timely, implementable agreements.

Programs:

• Heritage Places Establishment
• Heritage Places Conservation

Performance Indicator:

Number of natural heritage places managed cooperatively with Indigenous peoples.

Starting Point:

20 as of March 2019.

Target:

27 by March 2024.

Parks Canada has worked with Indigenous partners for many years together to negotiate agreements related to protected heritage place establishment and operations that create new–or enhance existing–cooperative management structures at Parks Canada-administered places. These management structures support co-stewardship of natural resources and collaboration on the management of natural heritage areas.

In the establishment of new protected heritage areas in areas where there are no existing Indigenous treaties, impact and benefit agreements set out financial, cooperative management, and land use arrangements to address the potential impacts that the creation of a national park reserve may have for Indigenous peoples as well as the potential benefits, often including employment provisions.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

GIF Target – 10.2 By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.

GIF Target – 10.3 Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies, and action in this regard.

Indicator result:

23

Notes:

In January 2024, Forillon National Park - Gaspésie Field Unit signed a Rights Reconciliation Agreement with the Nation Micmac de Gespeg.

From 2023 to 2027 Parks Canada will:

• Explore, with Indigenous partners, the potential for new co-managed national historic sites, national parks, national marine conservation areas, and national urban parks as opportunities to enable conservation and reconciliation.
• Investigate, with Indigenous partners, potential methods of fostering joint, contiguous, or co-designated national parks, national marine protected areas, and Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas.
• Enhance rights-based negotiations with Indigenous peoples that prioritize timely, implementable agreements.

Programs:

• Heritage Places Establishment
• Heritage Places Conservation

Performance Indicator:

Number of cultural heritage places managed cooperatively with Indigenous peoples.

Starting Point:

4 as of March 2019.

Target:

6 by March 2024.

Parks Canada has worked with Indigenous partners for many years together to negotiate agreements related to protected heritage place establishment and operations that create new–or enhance existing–cooperative management structures at Parks Canada-administered places. These management structures support co-stewardship of natural resources and collaboration on the management of natural heritage areas.

In the establishment of new protected heritage areas in areas where there are no existing Indigenous treaties, impact and benefit agreements set out financial, cooperative management, and land use arrangements to address the potential impacts that the creation of a national park reserve may have for Indigenous peoples as well as the potential benefits, often including employment provisions.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

GIF Target – 10.2 By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.

GIF Target – 10.3 Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies, and action in this regard.

Indicator result:

8

Notes:

In August 2023, A Rights Reconciliation Agreement was signed by Parks Canada, Crown-Indigenous Relations Canada, and the Peskotomuhkati Nation at Skutik for St. Andrews Blockhouse National Historic Site. Co-management of this cultural heritage place is governed by this agreement.

From 2023 to 2027, Parks Canada will:

• Work with Indigenous peoples to pursue opportunities for meaningful connections with their traditional territories, such as through collaborative projects, agreements, or mechanisms that support Indigenous leadership in the stewardship of lands, water, and ice in places administered by Parks Canada.

Program:

Heritage Places Conservation

Performance Indicator:

Number of places administered by Parks Canada where Indigenous Peoples use lands and waters according to their traditional and modern practices.

Starting Point:

31 as of March 2019.

Target:

Between 32 and 42 by March 2025.

In the spirit of UNDA, Parks Canada supports Indigenous peoples’ connections to traditional territories, to contribute to repairing connections that, in many instances, were severed when protected heritage places were created. Parks Canada and Indigenous partners continue to work towards finalizing agreements that will facilitate Indigenous peoples’ use and stewardship of land, waters, and ice at protected heritage places across Canada.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

GIF Target – 10.2 By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.

GIF Target – 10.3 Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies, and action in this regard.

Indicator result:

48

Notes:

During the reporting period, the following heritage places were added:

1. Forillon National Park - Gaspésie Field Unit signed a Rights Reconciliation Agreement with the Nation Micmac de Gespeg in January 2024
2. St. Andrews Blockhouse National Historic Site - Co-management of this place is governed by a Rights Reconciliation Agreement signed by Parks Canada, Crown-Indigenous Relations and the Peskotomuhkati Nation at Skutik, in August 2023
3. Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park - Rights Reconciliation Agreement signed with Première Nation Wolastoqiyik Wahsipekuk in 2022
4. Grosse Île and the Irish Memorial National Historic Site - Rights Reconciliation Agreement with the Wolastoqey Wahsipekuk First Nation in Quebec signed in August 2022
5. Pointe-au-Père Lighthouse National Historic Site - Rights Reconciliation Agreement with the Wolastoqey Wahsipekuk First Nation in Quebec signed in August 2022
6. Lévis Forts National Historic Site - Rights Reconciliation Agreement with the Wolastoqey Wahsipekuk First Nation in Quebec signed in August 2022

A previous error was corrected. In 2022-23, 39 heritage places were reported. The Lake Louise, Yoho and Kootenay Field Unit was counted as one heritage place, but the agreement covers multiple heritage places (four parks).

From 2023 to 2027 Parks Canada will:

• Support the Indigenous -led nomination of Tr’ondëk-Klondike (Yukon) as a World Heritage site through a multi-phased evaluation in 2021. This work will continue until this place is considered by the World Heritage Committee at its 2023 meeting.
• Support the nomination of Anticosti (Quebec) as a World Heritage site through a multi-phased evaluation in 2021, which was carried out with the support of Indigenous partners. This work will continue until this place is considered by the World Heritage Committee at its 2023 meeting.
• Work with Indigenous partners is advanced on additional selected nominations of World Heritage Sites from Canada’s Tentative List.

Program:

• Heritage Places Establishment

Performance Indicator:

Committee decisions are adopted on the inscription of Tr’ondëk-Klondike and Anticosti as Canada’s 21st and 22nd World Heritage sites.

Starting Point:

Preparatory work is ongoing as of March 2023.

Target:

Committee decisions are adopted by March 2024.

Parks Canada works to support nominations for World Heritage. Canada’s heritage places reflect the rich and varied heritage of Canada. World Heritage nominations provide an opportunity for advancing reconciliation with Indigenous people through the identification and protection of natural and cultural heritage important to Indigenous peoples and the potential for economic and social benefits to Indigenous communities.

Relevant Targets:

GIF Target – 10.2 By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.

Indicator result:

Target met. Indicator complete.

Notes:

Anticosti (Quebec) and Tr’ondëk-Klondike (Yukon Territory) were inscribed on the World Heritage List at the 45th Session of the World Heritage Committee.

From 2023 to 2027 Parks Canada will:

• Support the Indigenous -led nomination of Tr’ondëk-Klondike (Yukon) as a World Heritage site through a multi-phased evaluation in 2021. This work will continue until this place is considered by the World Heritage Committee at its 2023 meeting.
• Support the nomination of Anticosti (Quebec) as a World Heritage site through a multi-phased evaluation in 2021, which was carried out with the support of Indigenous partners. This work will continue until this place is considered by the World Heritage Committee at its 2023 meeting.
• Work with Indigenous partners is advanced on additional selected nominations of World Heritage Sites from Canada’s Tentative List.

Program:

• Heritage Places Establishment

Performance Indicator:

Number of world heritage nominations where advice and guidance has been provided to Indigenous partners.

Starting Point:

Preparatory work is ongoing as of March 2023.

Target:

At least 2 by December 2026.

Parks Canada works to support nominations for World Heritage. Canada’s heritage places reflect the rich and varied heritage of Canada. World Heritage nominations provide an opportunity for advancing reconciliation with Indigenous people through the identification and protection of natural and cultural heritage important to Indigenous peoples and the potential for economic and social benefits to Indigenous communities.

Relevant Targets:

GIF Target – 10.2 By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.

Indicator result:

1

Notes:

Parks Canada provided advice and guidance to the nomination team for Wanuskewin.

From 2023 to 2027 Parks Canada will:

• Support projects through the work of Stories of Canada Program that will prioritize opportunities for Indigenous people to share and communicate their history in their own voices at heritage places across the country administered by Parks Canada

Program:

• Heritage Places Establishment

Performance Indicator:

Starting Point:

12 projects completed as of March 2023.

Target:

15 by March 2025.

In its work to support the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, Parks Canada is working with Indigenous partners and communities to implement the Framework for History and Commemoration. This work aims to transform the historical narrative at the heritage places it administers.

The work of Stories of Canada renews the approach to history presentation at Parks Canada-administered places. It seeks to tell broader and more inclusive stories that represent the diversity and complexity of Canadian history, focussing on how stories are told – and by whom – with an emphasis on sharing multiple perspectives.

Through the application of key practices in public history, Stories of Canada helps heritage places expand their programs and messages through addressing controversial stories, sharing authority, confronting colonial legacies, and supporting Indigenous communities to share their stories, in their way, at heritage sites.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

GIF Target – 10.2 By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.

GIF Target – 10.3 Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies, and action in this regard.

Indicator result:

12

Notes:

No changes to report. As of March 2023, 12 projects were completed and include traditional place name signs, outdoor historical interpretive panels, Indigenous research, art installations, videos, and interpretive exhibits.

Since 2018, the program has partnered on over 50 projects with more than 60 different Indigenous communities to ensure that the voices, histories, and cultures of Indigenous peoples are respected and reflected in Parks Canada administered places.

Funding supported place-based approaches to building relationships and formalizing working partnerships that respect the unique cultures, rights, and responsibilities of Indigenous partners.

From 2023 to 2027 Parks Canada will:

• Support the work of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada (HSMBC) and leverage the designation of people, events, and places to tell the stories of Canada’s history from multiple perspectives.
• Continue to review existing and engage Indigenous organizations, communities, and Survivor groups in new designations to the HSMBC pertaining to Indian Residential Schools, their legacies, and Indigenous histories in Canada.
• Continue work to support the legislative proposal Bill C-23: Historic Places of Canada Act related to protecting and presenting nationally significant examples of Canada’s cultural heritage.

Program:

• Heritage Places Establishment

Performance Indicator:

Percentage of designations of national historic sites, persons and events that are related to Indigenous history.

Starting Point:

10% by March 2023

Target:

12% by March 2025

Note: the current reporting timeframe to 2025 reflects target in Horizontal Initiative reporting to TBS. Updates to target beyond 2025 are not yet determined.

Parks Canada’s commemoration programs contribute to the Government of Canada’s commitment to reconciliation with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples in Canada. These programs play a key role in carrying out several of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC)’s calls-to-action 79 and 80, calling to give Indigenous peoples a significantly stronger role in the commemoration and management of cultural heritage.

Bill C-23: Historic Places of Canada Act responds to TRC calls-to-action 79 and 80. If passed as written, it would include the establishment of positions on the HSMBC for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis and establish mechanisms for Indigenous governments to commemorate and manage their own cultural heritage.

To respond to TRC call-to-action 75, Parks Canada is also engaging with Indian Residential School Survivors, Indigenous communities, and scholars so that Indigenous voices and perspectives are reflected in nominations, designations, and commemorations of Indian Residential Schools, their legacies, and Indigenous histories in Canada.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

GIF Target – 10.2 By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.

Indicator result:

12%

Notes:

12% of the new designations of national historic sites, persons and events under the National Program of Historical Commemoration relate to Indigenous history.

From 2023 to 2027 Parks Canada will:

• Support the work of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada (HSMBC) and leverage the designation of people, events, and places to tell the stories of Canada’s history from multiple perspectives.
• Continue to review existing and engage Indigenous organizations, communities, and Survivor groups in new designations to the HSMBC pertaining to Indian Residential Schools, their legacies, and Indigenous histories in Canada.
• Continue work to support the legislative proposal Bill C-23: Historic Places of Canada Act related to protecting and presenting nationally significant examples of Canada’s cultural heritage.

Program:

• Heritage Places Establishment

Performance Indicator:

Number of engagement workshops held by Parks Canada with Indigenous organizations, communities or Survivor groups that explore commemorating Indian Residential Schools (IRS), their legacies, and Indigenous histories in Canada.

Starting Point:

2 workshops as of March 2023.

Target:

5 by March 2025.

Parks Canada’s commemoration programs contribute to the Government of Canada’s commitment to reconciliation with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples in Canada. These programs play a key role in carrying out several of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC)’s calls-to-action 79 and 80, calling to give Indigenous peoples a significantly stronger role in the commemoration and management of cultural heritage.

Bill C-23: Historic Places of Canada Act responds to TRC calls-to-action 79 and 80. If passed as written, it would include the establishment of positions on the HSMBC for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis and establish mechanisms for Indigenous governments to commemorate and manage their own cultural heritage.

To respond to TRC call-to-action 75, Parks Canada is also engaging with Indian Residential School Survivors, Indigenous communities, and scholars so that Indigenous voices and perspectives are reflected in nominations, designations, and commemorations of Indian Residential Schools, their legacies, and Indigenous histories in Canada.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

GIF Target – 10.2 By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.

Indicator result:

5

Notes:

Five engagement workshop sessions held with Indigenous scholars and scholars working in Indigenous history to begin efforts to collaborate on the history of residential schools and their legacy.

From 2023 to 2027 Parks Canada will:

• Support the work of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada (HSMBC) and leverage the designation of people, events, and places to tell the stories of Canada’s history from multiple perspectives.
• Continue to review existing and engage Indigenous organizations, communities, and Survivor groups in new designations to the HSMBC pertaining to Indian Residential Schools, their legacies, and Indigenous histories in Canada.
• Continue work to support the legislative proposal Bill C-23: Historic Places of Canada Act related to protecting and presenting nationally significant examples of Canada’s cultural heritage.

Program:

• Heritage Places Establishment

Performance Indicator:

Number of new nominations to the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada pertaining to residential schools or Indigenous histories that have been reviewed under the National Program of Historical Commemoration.

Starting Point:

4 as of March 2023.

Target:

15 by March 2025.

Parks Canada’s commemoration programs contribute to the Government of Canada’s commitment to reconciliation with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples in Canada. These programs play a key role in carrying out several of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC)’s calls-to-action 79 and 80, calling to give Indigenous peoples a significantly stronger role in the commemoration and management of cultural heritage.

Bill C-23: Historic Places of Canada Act responds to TRC calls-to-action 79 and 80. If passed as written, it would include the establishment of positions on the HSMBC for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis and establish mechanisms for Indigenous governments to commemorate and manage their own cultural heritage.

To respond to TRC call-to-action 75, Parks Canada is also engaging with Indian Residential School Survivors, Indigenous communities, and scholars so that Indigenous voices and perspectives are reflected in nominations, designations, and commemorations of Indian Residential Schools, their legacies, and Indigenous histories in Canada.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

GIF Target – 10.2 By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.

Indicator result:

13

Notes:

During the reporting year, 13 new nominations were submitted to the HSMBC under the National Program of Historical Commemoration. This measure is intended to measure the number of new nominations that are presented to the Board for review annually that pertain to residential schools or Indigenous histories.

From 2023 to 2027 Parks Canada will:

• Continue to engage Indigenous communities connected to Parks Canada’s heritage places to share two-way knowledge on collections, conservation, and on access to Indigenous artifacts and objects under Parks Canada’s care, on an interest-based basis.

Program:

• Heritage Places Conservation

Performance Indicator:

Number of Indigenous nations and communities that are engaged annually to share two-way knowledge on collections.

Starting Point:

Annual target

Target:

at least 10 nations and communities annually.

This action helps to advance the implementation of Indigenous values and protocols into the protection and conservation of cultural and natural resources under the care of Parks Canada, including in its archaeological and historical collections.

Cultural resource management and heritage conservation work at heritage places contribute to safeguarding cultural resources and making gains in cultural heritage conservation. This is being done through collaboration and engagement with Indigenous communities and Indigenous partners.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

GIF Target – 10.2 By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.

Indicator result:

17

Notes:

For this reporting period there were engagements with 17 nations to share two-way knowledge on collections. To date, 185 Indigenous Partners invited to engage with 70 engagements since 2018.

This year Parks Canada also worked with Indigenous partners to develop and sign a protocol for the collection, care, and handling of archaeological objects recovered in Pukaskwa National Park. This protocol defines an ongoing cooperative relationship between Biigtigong Nishnaabeg Nation and Parks Canada, taking into account both Indigenous knowledge and western cultural resource management principles, as well as collection and conservation standards.

From 2023 to 2027 Parks Canada will:

• Continue to engage Indigenous communities connected to Parks Canada’s heritage places to share two-way knowledge on collections, conservation, and on access to Indigenous artifacts and objects under Parks Canada’s care, on an interest-based basis.

Program:

• Heritage Places Conservation

Performance Indicator:

Number of historic and archaeological object conservation actions completed at heritage places administered by Parks Canada that support Indigenous partners.

Starting Point:

New initiative for 2023.

Target:

At least 3 by March 2027.

This action helps to advance the implementation of Indigenous values and protocols into the protection and conservation of cultural and natural resources under the care of Parks Canada, including in its archaeological and historical collections.

Cultural resource management and heritage conservation work at heritage places contribute to safeguarding cultural resources and making gains in cultural heritage conservation. This is being done through collaboration and engagement with Indigenous communities and Indigenous partners.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

GIF Target – 10.2 By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.

Indicator result:

1

Notes:

In the fall of 2023, Parks Canada provided training to one employee of the Haida Gwaii Museum in cultural heritage imaging techniques to build community technological know-how and support in the conservation of Haida artifacts.

From 2023 to 2027 Parks Canada will:

• Launch and begin the implementation of an Employment Equity Action Plan to identify barriers to the recruitment and retention of members of equity-deserving groups, including Indigenous peoples, in Parks Canada’s workforce.

Program:

• Internal Services

Performance Indicator:

Starting Point:

As of March 2023, Parks Canada’s workforce is 7.3% Indigenous peoples and the LMA is 7.5%.

Target:

By March 2027 the percentage of Parks Canada’s workforce who are Indigenous peoples will meet or exceed the LMA of Indigenous peoples.

Parks Canada contributes to the Government of Canada’s goal for the federal public service to meet or surpass the workforce availability for women, Indigenous persons, persons with a disability, and members of a visible minority group.

This work helps to ensure that equity-deserving groups are part of the Parks Canada team that creates and implements actions to protect and present Canada's natural and cultural resources.

As part of this work, Parks Canada is identifying barriers to the recruitment and retention of women, Indigenous persons, persons with a disability, and members of a visible minority group.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

GIF Target - 10.2 By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.

GIF Target - 10.3 Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies, and action in this regard.

Indicator result:

7.4%

Notes:

Representation of Indigenous employees is slightly below the labour market availability (7,5%).

An Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility Strategy along with an Employment Equity Action Plan has been developed and will be implemented in 2024-25.

This year, numerical hiring goals for under-represented groups were established and approved by Parks Canada’s PCEO.

An Indigenous Career Navigator position was implemented to help eliminate barriers in recruitment and retention, as well as provide guidance on career paths and advancement.

From 2023 to 2027, Parks Canada will:

• Meet the Government of Canada’s commitment to award a minimum 5% of the total value of its contracts to Indigenous businesses each year.
• Enhance and deliver guidance and training to promote more diverse contracting practices, including incorporating Indigenous procurement considerations into its contracting activities.

Program:

• Internal Services

Performance Indicator:

Starting Point:

Annual Target.

Target:

5% annually.

This commitment helps to leverage government spending to help grow Indigenous businesses and improve the socio-economic conditions of Indigenous communities and helps to ensure that government contracting processes reach suppliers that are reflective of the composition of Canadian society.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

GIF Target - 10.2 By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.

GIF Target - 10.3 Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies, and action in this regard.

Indicator result:

10.24%

Notes:

Parks Canada successfully awarded contracts to Indigenous business largely in the construction and services commodities. Various procurement strategies were applied but more notably an Indigenous Procurement Plan (IPP) guide was established and standard IPP clauses were added to our Real Property Contracting templates, which helped foster the use of IPPs in solicitations.

From 2023 to 2027, Parks Canada will:

• Meet the Government of Canada’s commitment to award a minimum 5% of the total value of its contracts to Indigenous businesses each year.
• Enhance and deliver guidance and training to promote more diverse contracting practices, including incorporating Indigenous procurement considerations into its contracting activities.

Program:

• Internal Services

Performance Indicator:

Starting Point:

100% as of March 2023.

Target:

100% by March 2027.

This commitment helps to leverage government spending to help grow Indigenous businesses and improve the socio-economic conditions of Indigenous communities and helps to ensure that government contracting processes reach suppliers that are reflective of the composition of Canadian society.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

GIF Target - 10.2 By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.

GIF Target - 10.3 Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies, and action in this regard.

Indicator result:

100%

Notes:

This training course on Indigenous considerations in procurement forms part of the list of mandatory training requirements for all procurement specialists at Parks Canada, which is established during onboarding of staff.

From 2023 to 2027, Parks Canada will:

• Continue the implementation of Parks Canada’s 2022 to 2025 Accessibility Action Plan to remove barriers to recruitment and retention of persons with disabilities within Parks Canada’s workforce.
• Launch and begin the implementation of an Employment Equity Action Plan to identify barriers to the recruitment and retention of members of equity-deserving groups, including persons with disabilities in Parks Canada’s workforce.

Program:

• Internal Services

Performance Indicator:

Percentage of Parks Canada workforce who are persons with a disability compared to the labour market availability (LMA) for persons with disabilities in Canada.

Starting Point:

As of March 2023, Parks Canada’s workforce is 3.75% persons with a disability and the LMA is 8.4%.

Target:

By March 2027 the percentage of Parks Canada’s workforce who are persons with a disability will meet or exceed the LMA of persons with disabilities.

Parks Canada contributes to the Government of Canada’s goal for the federal public service to meet or surpass the workforce availability persons with a disability.

This work helps to ensure that persons with a disability are part of the Parks Canada team that creates and implements actions to protect and present Canada's natural and cultural resources.

As part of this work, Parks Canada is identifying barriers to the recruitment and retention of persons with a disability.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

GIF Target - 10.2 By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.

GIF Target - 10.3 Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies, and action in this regard.

Indicator result:

4.2%

Notes:

Representation of persons with disabilities is below the labour market availability (8.4%).

An Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility Strategy along with an Employment Equity Action Plan has been developed and will be implemented in 2024-25.

This year, numerical hiring goals for under-represented groups were established and approved by Parks Canada’s PCEO.

From 2023 to 2027, Parks Canada will:

• Work in collaboration with municipalities, provinces, Indigenous partners, and key stakeholders to plan, consult on, and negotiate the necessary agreements to designate new national urban parks.

Program:

• Heritage Places Establishment

Performance Indicator:

Number of new national urban parks designated.

Starting Point:

As of March 2023, Parks Canada has completed the pre-feasibility work for two potential national urban parks.

Target:

Up to 6 by March 2026.

The benefits of urban green spaces such as national urban parks are significant. National urban parks will create spaces for Canadians to connect with nature, learn about natural and cultural heritage, and enjoy the benefits of spending time outside. They will help to reduce barriers to ensure that more people can have meaningful experiences in urban green space close to where they live, work, and play.

Indicator result:

No new national urban parks designated.

Notes:

Work in this area is ongoing. Parks Canada is actively involved in discussions at seven candidate national urban park sites.

Strong progress has been made in Halifax, NS and Windsor, ON. Designation is targeted for the end of 2025.

From 2023 to 2027, Parks Canada will:

• Develop a new national urban parks policy, with the input of partners and key stakeholders, to support the creation of a network of national urban parks across Canada.

Performance Indicator:

Parks Canada has developed a national urban parks policy.

Starting Point:

Discussion paper entitled ‘Toward a National Urban Parks Policy’, launched in March 2023.

Target:

Completion by March 2025.

A network of national urban parks will support Canada’s major cities in developing local solutions to biodiversity loss and in dealing with the impacts of climate change, aided by a knowledge-sharing from a network of similar places. They will help adapt to climate change and contribute to national and global biodiversity targets with innovative solutions that benefit residents, businesses, and local wildlife.

National urban parks will also help mitigate threats to infrastructure from extreme weather events, support storm water management and soil quality, and help absorb and store carbon.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

GIF Target – 11.4 Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage.

GIF Target – 11.7 By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities.

GBF Target – 3 Protect and conserve areas.

GBF Target – 12 Urban blue and green spaces

Indicator result:

Parks Canada does not yet have an urban parks policy.

Notes:

Parks Canada consulted with partners, stakeholders, and the public on a National Urban Parks Policy, soliciting feedback on a discussion paper published online. Feedback will inform the development of a policy. It is anticipated that the policy will be published by summer 2024, ahead of the March 2025 timeline.

From 2023 – 2027, Parks Canada will:

• Support visitation to Parks Canada places by engaging with Canadians and facilitating the enjoyment and appreciation of national historic sites, national parks, national marine conservation areas, and national urban parks and promoting the value of cultural and natural heritage and conservation.

Program:

• Visitor Experience

Performance Indicator:

Number of visitors per year to Parks Canada-administered places.

Starting Point:

22.5 million in fiscal year 2022-23.

Target:

At least 23.7 million annually by the end of fiscal year 2026-27.

This work seeks to remove barriers, foster participation, and embrace diversity and inclusion by designing and delivering visitor services and experiences so that all Canadians and visitors from around the world can enjoy and appreciate national parks, historic sites, and marine conservation areas.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

GIF Target - 11.7 By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive, and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities.

Indicator result:

23.7 million

Notes:

Parks Canada welcomed 23.7 million visitors, a 10 percent increase over the baseline. Parks Canada drew on its experience, good working relationships, and a strategic mix of media and planning to keep heritage places top of mind among Canadians and international travellers.

From 2023 to 2027, Parks Canada will:

• Continue to provide high-quality camping services at campgrounds in Parks Canada-administered places, including by implementing and promoting novel, accessible, and inclusive camping options (such as furnished accommodations) and by outreach programs that promote camping education for those new to camping.

Program:

• Visitor experience

Performance Indicator:

Annual camping nights at campgrounds in Parks Canada-administered places compared to baseline year.

Starting Point:

750,000 in fiscal year 2022-23 (baseline year).

Target:

Maintain camping nights per year at 2022-23 levels.

Note: Campground availability may fluctuate due to external factors, such as when campgrounds are closed for safety reasons (fire, flood, wildlife, etc.) or capital work. This calculation only includes those places that use the Parks Canada Reservation System to manage and track campground occupancy.

Providing high-quality camping services and innovative camping options encourages Canadians to get out and experience nature in the places administered by Parks Canada as it works to make its campgrounds and related facilities and activities more inclusive and accessible to all. Parks Canada also supports this action through outreach education on camping, such as instructional videos on its website and through Learn to Camp programs at parks and sites.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

GIF Target - 11.7 By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities.

Indicator result:

992,958 camping nights

Notes:

Nearly 1 million camping nights occurred, a 32% increase over the baseline.

Total annual occupancy was 59.8%. Figures may fluctuate annually based on campground availability, closures for safety reasons (e.g., wildfires, floods, hurricanes) or capital work. There were multiple wildfires across the country in 2023-24 affecting campgrounds.

• Improve the Parks Canada reservation system to improve the trip planning process for visitors reserving camping and other activities, including shuttle services, at places administered by Parks Canada.

Program:

• Visitor experience

Performance Indicator:

An improved reservation system is implemented by Parks Canada.

Starting Point:

New target for March 2023.

Target:

An updated reservation system will be launched by December 2025.

The Parks Canada Reservation System is an important part of the trip planning process for potential visitors and is a key service by Parks Canada to ensure visitors to Parks Canada places are provided with quality services from the start of their experience. A new system will help to improve the overall reservation process and reduce barriers to visiting national historic sites, national parks, and national marine conservation areas.

By improving the reservation process for shuttles and adding more shuttle services to the system, traffic impacts on protected heritage areas will be reduced, accessibility for persons with disabilities will be improved, and visitation will be managed at sustainable levels.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

GIF Target - 11.7 By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities.

Indicator result:

In progress.

Notes:

A contract for a renewed reservation service was issued in mid 2023. Parks Canada is working with the vendor to implement new products, services, and functionalities that will improve the visitor experience and staff options. The renewed reservation service launches in late 2024. The new offers will be deployed in alignment with local capacity to integrate with the system over the coming months and years.

• Continue to engage Canadians in volunteer activities at places administered by Parks Canada.

Program:

• Visitor experience

Performance Indicator:

Annual number of volunteers at Parks Canada-administered places.

Starting Point:

8000 in fiscal year 2022–23.

Target:

Maintain or increase annual number of volunteers at 2022–23 levels at Parks Canada-administered places until March 2027.

Volunteer programs at Parks Canada-administered places offer Canadians the opportunity to participate in engaging and meaningful volunteer activities that support conservation objectives and local management priorities. Parks Canada offers volunteer activities in every part of the country, from coast to coast to coast. Members of the public assist Parks Canada staff with special initiatives, such as language ambassador programs to help with outreach to new Canadians, research and monitoring support, like Bioblitz and shoreline cleanups, and living history programs. By taking part in Parks Canada's volunteer activities, volunteers develop a connection to protected heritage places, enrich their lives, and make a difference, including improving visitor experience.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

GIF Target - 11.7 By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities.

Indicator result:

7,433

Notes:

In 2023-24, 7,433 volunteers supported nearly 300 activities across Canada, including citizen science, bioblitzes, special events, and heritage programming. The number of volunteers fluctuates annually based on needs.

• Develop a measurement framework to assess accessibility and inclusion in Parks Canada’s visitor experience activities, including:

Program:

• Visitor experience

Performance Indicator:

Number of indicators developed to measure accessibility and inclusion in Parks Canada’s visitor experience activities.

Starting Point:

New initiative for March 2023.

Target:

At least one by March 2027.

To ensure that there is universal access to the places it administers, Parks Canada is developing a way to measure its progress in implementing accessible and inclusive visitor experience activities. This action is also part of Parks Canada’s 2022 to 2025 Accessibility Action Plan and in line with commitments made in response to the 2023 Minister’s Round Table (see Section 3: Listening to Canadians, above).

Relevant targets or ambitions:

GIF Target - 11.7 By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities.

Indicator result:

Not yet achieved.

Notes:

Parks Canada is committed to providing accessible trails, camping, and activities to ensure all Canadians can enjoy national parks and national historic sites. Parks Canada continues to explore meaningful indicators and measurement approaches to demonstrate progress on this commitment.

• Ensure that heritage places administered by Parks Canada are safeguarded for current and future generations of Canadians by continuing to safeguard the cultural resources in Parks Canada’s care, including by investing in assets and mitigating impacts from climate change.

Program:

• Heritage Places Conservation

Performance Indicator:

Percentage of historical and archaeological collection, cultural landscapes and archaeological sites in Parks Canada's care that are safeguarded.

Starting Point:

68% as of March 2023.

Target:

90% by March 2026.

Cultural resources are maintained through conservation work at national historic sites, national parks, national marine conservation areas and national urban parks administered by Parks Canada. This work contributes to enhancing visitor experience in parks and historic places by ensuring that cultural resources are safeguarded and conserved and that their heritage value is shared for the understanding, appreciation, and enjoyment of present and future generations.

Additional initiatives that contribute to this implementation strategy can be found under goal 10, Reducing Inequality, above, under the subheading “Implementation Strategies supporting the goal.”

Relevant targets or ambitions:

GIF Target - 11.7 By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities.

Indicator result:

68%

Notes:

No changes to report. Continuing to complete construction of the new purpose-built facility. A contract to move 60 percent of the collection was awarded and work will commence in autumn 2024.

From 2023 to 2027, Parks Canada will:

• Continue to promote access to national historic sites, national parks, national marine conservation areas, and national urban parks through its outreach channels, including its E-Newsletter.

Program:

• Heritage Places Promotion and Public Support

Performance Indicator:

Number of subscribers to the Parks Canada e-newsletter per year.

Starting Point:

2 million as of March 2023.

Target:

Maintain or increase the number of subscribers annually.

Promoting the natural and cultural heritage places administered by Parks Canada and the way it is working to improve their accessibility and inclusivity helps create awareness for accessing these places and support for Parks Canada’s mandate.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

GIF Target - 11.7 By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities.

Indicator result:

2.028 million

Notes:

The Parks Canada Newsletter was issued five times to over 2 million subscribers from Canada and around the world. The mix of travel, non-travel, and operational stories helps keep people the world over engaged with Parks Canada and all it does and has to offer.

From 2023 to 2027, Parks Canada will:

• Work to providing more complete accessibility information on its website to assist with trip planning.

Program:

• Heritage Places Promotion and Public Support

Performance Indicator:

Number of indicators developed and implemented that measure the availability of information on accessible visitor offers.

Starting Point:

New target for March 2023.

Target:

3 by March 2026, including:

• Number of trails at Parks Canada managed sites that are accessible.
• Number of Parks Canada-administered places with expanded accessible offers.
• Percentage of Parks Canada sites that have accessibility information online.

By providing more complete information on accessibility measures at national historic sites, national parks, national marine conservation areas, and national urban parks, Parks Canada will be promoting access to the places it administers for persons requiring accommodations. This, in turn, promotes universal access to these protected heritage areas for all Canadians.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

GIF Target - 11.7 By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities.

Indicator result:

Not yet achieved.

Notes:

Information on accessible visitor experiences, including accessible trails, camping, and recreation activities are available on Parks Canada’s website and are promoted through its digital channels. Parks Canada continues to explore meaningful indicators and measurement approaches to demonstrate progress on this commitment.

From 2023 to 2027, Parks Canada will:

• Continue to provide funding support to the Trans Canada Trail to connect Canadians and visitors to nature and to one another, from coast to coast to coast, through accessible and inclusive outdoor activities.

Performance Indicator:

Number of kilometres of enhanced and maintained trails accessible to the public added to the Trans Canada Trail network.

Starting Point:

New target for March 2023.

Target:

2800 kilometres by March 2027.

The Trans Canada Trail is a network of multi-use pathways linking 15,000 communities and passing through every provincial and territorial capital across 28,000 kilometres of land and water routes through urban, rural and wilderness landscapes, from coast to coast to coast. As the longest multi-use trail in the world, it helps provide universal access to greenspaces for all Canadians. In addition to preserving greenspace and promoting conservation in the communities it passes through, it also contributes to local economies, stimulates tourism, and supports to the Government of Canada’s objectives to lower greenhouse gas emissions by providing safe spaces for active transportation.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

GIF Target - 11.7 By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities.

Indicator result:

234 kilometres completed. 700 kilometres in progress.

Notes:

The Trans Canada Trail is approximately one-third of the way towards adding 2,800 kilometres to the trail network. More than 200 kilometres of trails were added in 2023-24, with another 700 kilometres in progress at the time of this report.

From 2023 to 2027, Parks Canada will:

• Continue to provide funding support to the Trans Canada Trail to connect Canadians and visitors to nature and to one another, from coast to coast to coast, through accessible and inclusive outdoor activities.

Performance Indicator:

Number of universally accessible trails created or improved as part of the Trans Canada Trail.

Starting Point:

New target for March 2023.

Target:

5 by March 2027.

The Trans Canada Trail is a network of multi-use pathways linking 15,000 communities and passing through every provincial and territorial capital across 28,000 kilometres of land and water routes through urban, rural and wilderness landscapes, from coast to coast to coast. As the longest multi-use trail in the world, it helps provide universal access to greenspaces for all Canadians. In addition to preserving greenspace and promoting conservation in the communities it passes through, it also contributes to local economies, stimulates tourism, and supports to the Government of Canada’s objectives to lower greenhouse gas emissions by providing safe spaces for active transportation.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

GIF Target - 11.7 By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities.

Indicator result:

One project completed. Five projects in progress.

Notes:

The Trans Canada Trail remains on track to achieve the target by March 2027. One of 5 projects was completed and another five projects to address universal accessibility were underway at the time of this report.

From 2023 to 2027, Parks Canada will:

• Continue to provide funding support to the Trans Canada Trail to connect Canadians and visitors to nature and to one another, from coast to coast to coast, through accessible and inclusive outdoor activities.

Performance Indicator:

Percentage of Canadians who live within 30 minutes of a section of the Trans Canada Trail.

Starting Point:

80% as of March 2023.

Target:

82% by March 2027.

The Trans Canada Trail is a network of multi-use pathways linking 15,000 communities and passing through every provincial and territorial capital across 28,000 kilometres of land and water routes through urban, rural and wilderness landscapes, from coast to coast to coast. As the longest multi-use trail in the world, it helps provide universal access to greenspaces for all Canadians. In addition to preserving greenspace and promoting conservation in the communities it passes through, it also contributes to local economies, stimulates tourism, and supports to the Government of Canada’s objectives to lower greenhouse gas emissions by providing safe spaces for active transportation.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

GIF Target - 11.7 By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities.

Indicator result:

81.4%

Notes:

81.4% of Canadians now live within 30 minutes of the Trail.

From 2023 – 2027, Parks Canada will:

• Provide support for cultural heritage conservation and presentation to heritage places not administered by the federal government through cost-sharing agreements.

Program:

• Heritage Places Conservation

Performance Indicator:

Number of heritage places per year where threats have been mitigated or reduced through cost-sharing agreements.

Starting Point:

Annual target.

Target:

10 annually.

Parks Canada’s National Cost-Sharing Program for Heritage Places is a contribution program that helps ensure the protection of heritage places that have been formally recognized by the Government of Canada, but that it does not administer. The program supports the Parks Canada’s mandate of protecting and presenting nationally significant examples of Canada’s cultural and natural heritage.

The National Cost-Sharing Program for Heritage Places encourages public and private sector investments to support heritage conservation which contributes to sustainable cities and communities and improves access to Canada’s historic places for Canadians. In many cases, the program supports projects for interpretation that aim to present the story of the place in a more inclusive way. It also supports projects that include considerations for improving Canadians’ access to heritage places.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

GIF Target - 11.7 By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities.

Indicator result:

15

Notes:

Provided increased financial assistance, for a second year, to support the protection and presentation of 15 nationally recognized heritage places not administered by the federal government through the National Cost-Sharing Program for Heritage Places.

In line with the commitments made in response to the Minister’s Round Table 2020, the available funding envelope was again $2 million in 2023-24 to provide greater support to heritage places that have been formally recognized by the Government of Canada, but that it does not administer.

From 2023 to 2027, Parks Canada will:

• Co-chair Heritage Resources Working group meeting with the Federal, Provincial, Territorial, Cultural Heritage Table (FPTCH)

Program:

• Heritage Places Conservation

Performance Indicator:

Number of Heritage Resources Working group meetings that Parks Canada co-chairs (annually) with the Federal, Provincial, Territorial, Cultural Heritage Table (FPTCH)

Starting Point:

Annual target.

Target:

At least 4 meetings.

As part of its work to broaden engagement with key stakeholders in the culture and heritage community, Parks Canada participates at the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Cultural Heritage (FPTCH) Table and is the Co-chair for the Heritage Resources working group.

The goals of the FPTCH working group and their 2021 to 2026 FPTCH Strategic Plan are to improve the conservation of historic places which contributes to improving access to Canada’s cultural heritage.

Parks Canada continues in an ongoing dialogue at the FPTCH Table on priority issues that reflect areas of common interest with federal, provincial, and territorial partners, such as:

• improving the collection of heritage data;
• enhancing training and awareness of the Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places; and,
• sharing updates on the National Cost Sharing Program for Heritage Places.

Indicator result:

6 meetings.

Notes:

In 2023-24, Parks Canada co-chaired regular bi-monthly meetings of the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Heritage Resource Working Group with the province of Saskatchewan.

From 2023 to 2027, Parks Canada will:

• Collaborate with provinces and territories to develop options for a new framework for the conservation of historic places in Canada.

Performance Indicator:

Delivery of options for a new framework for the conservation of historic places in Canada to FPTCH Ministers and Deputy Ministers.

Starting Point:

New initiative for March 2023.

Target:

Draft options will be presented by August 2024.

As part of its work with the Federal, Provincial, Territorial Cultural Heritage Table, Parks Canada is collaborating with provinces and territories to develop options for a new framework for the conservation of historic places in Canada, contributing to ensuring and improving access to Canada’s cultural heritage to present and future generations.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

GIF Target - 11.7 By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities.

Indicator result:

Ongoing. Options were not yet delivered.

Notes:

Ministers were updated on the continuing work of the FPT Culture and Heritage Table to develop a new collaborative framework for the conservation of historic places in Canada.

From 2023 – 2027, Parks Canada will:

• Promote the diversion ^{Footnote 1} of non-hazardous operational solid waste.

Program:

• Internal Services

Performance Indicator:

Percentage of non-hazardous operational waste (by weight) that is diverted from landfills.

Starting Point:

12% as of March 2023.

Target:

At least 75% by 2030 ^{Footnote 2}.

The Government of Canada has committed to reduce plastic pollution and waste that Canadians send to disposal. Parks Canada's waste diversion actions demonstrate leadership towards these objectives by continuing to build upon best practices for reducing, reusing, and recycling. Actions to reduce non-hazardous operational waste also help to reduce Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions.

Indicator result:

N/A

Notes:

Outmoded indicator, as Parks Canada does not meet the mandatory reporting thresholds.

Ongoing efforts will seek to refine internal waste tracking and reporting. Indicator to be removed from DSDS in winter update.

• Conduct waste audits to characterize the composition of non-hazardous operational waste.

Program:

• Internal Services

Performance Indicator:

Cumulative number of waste audits completed at operational units within the planning cycle.

Starting Point:

New initiative for March 2023.

Target:

3 by March 2026.

Diverting waste from landfill reduces landfill gas and transport hauling emissions. Material recovery via recycling reduces emissions for the extraction and production of virgin materials.

Indicator result:

0 cumulative audits have been completed.

Notes:

Parks Canada will work in 2024-25 to secure funds to undertake waste audits.

• Develop a Waste Diversion Master Plan.

Program:

• Internal Services

Performance Indicator:

Percentage completion of the Waste Diversion Master Plan (Milestones: 50%: draft; 75%: consultation 100%: completed plan)

Starting Point:

New initiative for March 2023.

Target:

Waste Diversion Master Plan completed (100%) by March 31, 2025.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

GIF Target – 12.4 By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment.

GIF Target – 12.5 By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse.

Indicator result:

0% of the Waste Diversion Master Plan has been completed.

Notes:

Work has begun on this indicator but has been delayed due to competing priorities.

From 2023 to 2027, Parks Canada will:

• Promote the diversion of waste from construction and demolition projects greater than $5M from landfills.

Program:

• Internal Services

Performance Indicator:

Percentage of total waste (by weight) from construction and demolition projects greater than $5M that is diverted from landfills.

Starting Point:

58% as of March 2023.

Target:

At least 90% (striving to achieve 100%) by 2030. ^{Footnote 3}

The Government of Canada has committed to reduce plastic pollution and waste that Canadians send to disposal. Parks Canada's waste diversion actions demonstrate leadership towards these objectives by continuing to build upon best practices for reducing, reusing, and recycling. Actions to reduce non-hazardous operational waste also help to reduce Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions.

Indicator result:

94%

Notes:

On 27 projects completed in 2023-24, Parks Canada met construction and demolition waste target.

From 2023 to 2027, Parks Canada will:

• Develop and pilot construction and demolition waste management procedures into project design and delivery.

Program:

• Internal Services

Performance Indicator:

Percentage completion of procedures for the management of construction and demolition waste (Milestones: 50%: draft; 75%: consultation; and 100%: completed procedures).

Starting Point:

New initiative for March 2023.

Target:

Procedures are completed (100%) by March 31, 2025.

Diverting waste from landfill reduces landfill gas and transport hauling emissions. Material recovery via recycling reduces emissions for the extraction and production of virgin materials.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

GIF Target – 12.4 By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment.

GIF Target – 12.5 By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse.

Indicator result:

0% of procedures for the management and construction and demolition waste has been completed.

Notes:

Work has begun on this indicator but has been delayed due to competing priorities.

From 2023 to 2027, Parks Canada will:

• Undertake life cycle analysis to measure embodied carbon in heritage buildings.

Program:

• Heritage Places Conservation

Performance Indicator:

Number of heritage buildings where life cycle analysis is used to measure embodied carbon.

Starting Point:

New initiative for 2023.

Target:

1 by March 2027

Minimal interventions in construction are recommended in the Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada to both conserve the amount of original fabric in historic buildings and reduce the amount of construction waste produced. Additionally, adaptive re-use of existing buildings will save new GHGs from being expended.

Undertaking life cycle analysis to measure embodied carbon in existing heritage buildings can demonstrate the significance of the conservation of heritage buildings and “minimal interventions” at historic sites to sustainable management of federal heritage places, including through the reduction of waste.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

GIF Target – 12.5 By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse.

Indicator result:

1

Notes:

A life cycle analysis for Hartwells Lock station Store House at Rideau Canal National Historic Site was conducted. The report is almost complete, only missing some structural drawings. This will be completed in 2024.

From 2023 to 2027, Parks Canada will:

• Replace light-duty fleet with zero-emissions vehicles (ZEVs) or hybrids.

Program:

• Internal Services

Performance Indicator:

Percentage of ZEVs in Parks Canada's light-duty fleet.

Starting Point:

5% as of March 2023.

Target:

100% by 2030.

Purchasing zero emission vehicles reduces greenhouse gas emissions from fleet operations. This enhances sustainable consumption.

Increasing the number of zero-emission vehicles in the federal administrative fleet not only contributes to the Government of Canada’s broader goal of reducing emissions, but also demonstrates leadership towards Canada’s achievement of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and fight against climate change.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

CIF Ambition – 12.1 Canadians consume in a sustainable manner.

CIF Indicator – 12.1.1 Proportion of new light duty vehicle registrations that are zero-emission vehicles

GIF Target – 12.7 Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national policies and priorities.

Indicator result:

12%

Notes:

As of March 31, 2024, Parks Canada’s total light-duty fleet includes 210 ZEV (102 BEV and 108 PHEV).

From 2023 to 2027, Parks Canada will:

• Replace light-duty fleet with zero-emissions vehicles (ZEVs) or hybrids.

Program:

• Internal Services

Phase 1 (2023-24 and 2024-25):

Performance Indicator:

Percentage of new light-duty fleet vehicle purchases in a fiscal year that are ZEVs or hybrids, where suitable options exist.

Starting Point:

Annual target.

Target:

At least 75%.

Purchasing zero emission vehicles reduces greenhouse gas emissions from fleet operations. This enhances sustainable consumption.

Increasing the number of zero-emission vehicles in the federal administrative fleet not only contributes to the Government of Canada’s broader goal of reducing emissions, but also demonstrates leadership towards Canada’s achievement of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and fight against climate change.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

CIF Ambition – 12.1 Canadians consume in a sustainable manner.

CIF Indicator – 12.1.1 Proportion of new light duty vehicle registrations that are zero-emission vehicles

GIF Target – 12.7 Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national policies and priorities.

Indicator result:

81%

Notes:

In 2023-24, new annual light-duty vehicle purchases included 30 HEV and 130 ZEV (60 BEV and 70 PHEV).

From 2023 to 2027, Parks Canada will:

• Replace light-duty fleet with zero-emissions vehicles (ZEVs) or hybrids.

Program:

• Internal Services

Phase 2 (2025-26 and beyond):

Performance Indicator:

Percentage of new light-duty fleet vehicle purchases in a fiscal year that are ZEVs, where suitable options exist.

Starting Point:

Annual target.

Target:

100%.

Purchasing zero emission vehicles reduces greenhouse gas emissions from fleet operations. This enhances sustainable consumption.

Increasing the number of zero-emission vehicles in the federal administrative fleet not only contributes to the Government of Canada’s broader goal of reducing emissions, but also demonstrates leadership towards Canada’s achievement of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and fight against climate change.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

CIF Ambition – 12.1 Canadians consume in a sustainable manner.

CIF Indicator – 12.1.1 Proportion of new light duty vehicle registrations that are zero-emission vehicles

GIF Target – 12.7 Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national policies and priorities.

Indicator result:

N/A

Notes:

The target only takes effect in 2025-26 and will at that point supersede the previous indicator.

From 2023 to 2027, Parks Canada will:

• Improve Parks Canada’s ZEV charging infrastructure by:
• Including investments required to increase ZEV charging infrastructure dedicated to Parks Canada vehicles in 5-year capital plans
• Building an inventory of Parks Canada-owned and -operated ZEV charging infrastructure.

Program:

• Internal Services

Performance Indicator:

Percentage of operational unit capital plans that integrate the tracking of ZEV charging infrastructure growth.

Starting Point:

New target as of March 2023.

Target:

100% by March 2025.

Adding ZEV chargers to Parks Canada’s inventory and ensuring that they are added to operational unit capital plans supports adding ZEV vehicles to the fleet by ensuring there are adequate charging stations. This contributes both to the Government of Canada’s broader goal of reducing emissions, and demonstrates leadership towards Canada’s achievement of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and fight against climate change.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

CIF Ambition – 12.1 Canadians consume in a sustainable manner.

CIF Indicator – 12.1.1 Proportion of new light duty vehicle registrations that are zero-emission vehicles

GIF Target – 12.7 Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national policies and priorities.

Indicator result:

35%

Notes:

In the 2023-24 Parks Canada Capital Plan, 12 out of 34 operational units included plans for charging infrastructure. The 2024-25 capital planning templates have been updated to better integrate planning for charging infrastructure.

From 2023 to 2027, Parks Canada will:

• Improve Parks Canada’s ZEV charging infrastructure by:
• Including investments required to increase ZEV charging infrastructure dedicated to Parks Canada vehicles in 5-year capital plans
• Building an inventory of Parks Canada-owned and -operated ZEV charging infrastructure.

Program:

• Internal Services

Performance Indicator:

Number of ZEV chargers recorded in Parks Canada’s asset management system.

Starting Point:

68 ZEV chargers as of June 2023.

Target:

At least 300 ZEV chargers by March 2026.

Adding ZEV chargers to Parks Canada’s inventory and ensuring that they are added to operational unit capital plans supports adding ZEV vehicles to the fleet by ensuring there are adequate charging stations. This contributes both to the Government of Canada’s broader goal of reducing emissions, and demonstrates leadership towards Canada’s achievement of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and fight against climate change.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

CIF Ambition – 12.1 Canadians consume in a sustainable manner.

CIF Indicator – 12.1.1 Proportion of new light duty vehicle registrations that are zero-emission vehicles

GIF Target – 12.7 Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national policies and priorities.

Indicator result:

68 ZEV chargers (no change).

Notes:

Parks Canada’s 2024-25 capital planning exercise will include criteria to capture current and future charging infrastructure needs.

From 2023 to 2027 Parks Canada will:

• Ensure that Parks Canada team members who participate in procurement activities, including executives, cost centre managers, and functional specialists, are trained to make green procurement decisions.

Program:

• Internal Services

Performance Indicator:

Percentage of functional specialists in procurement that have completed training on green procurement.

Starting Point:

100% as of March 2023.

Target:

100% by March 2027.

Green procurement incorporates environmental considerations into purchasing decisions and is expected to motivate suppliers to reduce the environmental impact of the goods and services they deliver, and their supply chains.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

CIF Ambition – Canadians consume in a sustainable manner.

CIF Indicator – 12.2.1 Proportion of businesses that adopted selected environmental protection activities and management practices.

GIF Target – 12.7 Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national policies and priorities.

Indicator result:

100%.

Notes:

This course is included on the list of mandatory training requirements for all procurement specialists at Parks Canada, which is established during onboarding of staff.

From 2023 to 2027 Parks Canada will:

• Ensure that Parks Canada team members who participate in procurement activities, including executives, cost centre managers, and functional specialists, are trained to make green procurement decisions.

Program:

• Internal Services

Performance Indicator:

Percentage of executives and cost centre managers that have completed training on green procurement.

Starting Point:

54% as of March 2023.

Target:

80% by March 2027.

Green procurement incorporates environmental considerations into purchasing decisions and is expected to motivate suppliers to reduce the environmental impact of the goods and services they deliver, and their supply chains.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

CIF Ambition – Canadians consume in a sustainable manner.

CIF Indicator – 12.2.1 Proportion of businesses that adopted selected environmental protection activities and management practices.

GIF Target – 12.7 Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national policies and priorities.

Indicator result:

49%

Notes:

A gap in consistent tracking of mandatory training related to delegated contracting authorities was determined. The procurement reporting team is developing an improved mandatory training tracking approach. Follow-ups with all individuals that require training will be completed.

From 2023 to 2027, Parks Canada will:

• Include criteria that address carbon reduction, sustainable plastics reuse and recycling of materials and broader environmental benefits into procurements for goods and services that have a high environmental impact.

Program:

• Internal Services

Performance Indicator:

Parks Canada specific green procurement guidance and templates for goods and services that are commonly acquired is available.

Starting Point:

Green procurement guidance has been developed and some templates for commonly acquired goods and services have been developed.

Target:

Development and delivery of Parks Canada specific green procurement guidance and templates for goods and services that are commonly acquired are available by March 2027.

Green procurement incorporates environmental considerations into purchasing decisions and is expected to motivate suppliers to reduce the environmental impact of the goods and services they deliver, and their supply chains.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

CIF Ambition – Canadians consume in a sustainable manner.

CIF Indicator – 12.2.1 Proportion of businesses that adopted selected environmental protection activities and management practices.

GIF Target – 12.7 Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national policies and priorities.

Indicator result:

No Parks Canada specific green procurement guidance and templates for goods and services are yet available.

Notes:

Due to procurement-related changes in direction coming out of Central Agencies, Parks Canada made limited progress on this indicator. However, green procurement tools and resources have been recently developed and will be incorporated into Parks Canada’s procurement strategy in the near future.

From 2023 to 2027, Parks Canada will:

• Incorporate environmental considerations into the development of any centrally-solicited procurement instruments.

Program:

• Internal Services

Performance Indicator:

Percentage of call-ups associated with Standing Offers and Supply Arrangements that include environmental criteria.

Starting Point:

13.6% in 2023.

Target:

15% by 2027.

Green procurement incorporates environmental considerations into purchasing decisions and is expected to motivate suppliers to reduce the environmental impact of the goods and services they deliver, and their supply chains.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

CIF Ambition – Canadians consume in a sustainable manner.

CIF Indicator – 12.2.1 Proportion of businesses that adopted selected environmental protection activities and management practices.

GIF Target – 12.7 Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national policies and priorities.

Indicator result:

11%

Notes:

Results for this reporting period indicate that there was a higher usage of Standing Offers and Supply Arrangements that did not include environmental criteria. Parks Canada will continue to promote environmental considerations in the development of Parks Canada issued procurement tools and continue to emphasize how users can search green products and services.

Parks Canada has also invited Public Services and Procurement Canada to present the new green products database to functional procurement specialists to further promote green products.

From 2023 to 2027, Parks Canada will:

• Incorporate environmental considerations into the development of any centrally-solicited procurement instruments.

Program:

• Internal Services

Performance Indicator:

Percentage of dollar value of expenditures associated with Standing Offers and Supply Arrangements that include environmental criteria.

Starting Point:

9.5% in 2023.

Target:

10% by 2027.

Green procurement incorporates environmental considerations into purchasing decisions and is expected to motivate suppliers to reduce the environmental impact of the goods and services they deliver, and their supply chains.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

CIF Ambition – Canadians consume in a sustainable manner.

CIF Indicator – 12.2.1 Proportion of businesses that adopted selected environmental protection activities and management practices.

GIF Target – 12.7 Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national policies and priorities.

Indicator result:

10%

Notes:

Parks Canada is committed to greening operations and will continue to promote education related to green procurement and focus on developing tools and resources for procurement specialists to facilitate efficient application of green procurement strategies.

From 2023 to 2027, Parks Canada will:

• Incorporate environmental considerations into the development of any centrally-solicited procurement instruments.

Program:

• Internal Services

Performance Indicator:

Percentage of new centrally-solicited procurement instruments over $100,000 that include environmental considerations.

Starting Point:

Annual target.

Target:

25% annually.

Green procurement incorporates environmental considerations into purchasing decisions and is expected to motivate suppliers to reduce the environmental impact of the goods and services they deliver, and their supply chains.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

CIF Ambition – Canadians consume in a sustainable manner.

CIF Indicator – 12.2.1 Proportion of businesses that adopted selected environmental protection activities and management practices.

GIF Target – 12.7 Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national policies and priorities.

Indicator result:

25%

Notes:

Parks Canada is pursuing the development of agency-wide procurement plans based on forecasted needs, in efforts to strategically establish procurement tools with integrated environmental considerations.

From 2023 – 2027, Parks Canada will:

• Contribute to the delivery of Phases IV and V of the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan (FCSAP).
• Contaminated sites are closed or in long-term monitoring after risk mitigation ^{Footnote 4} activities have been implemented.

Program:

• Internal Services

Performance Indicator:

Number of FCSAP-funded high priority contaminated sites where risk reduction activities have been completed or where long-term monitoring is undertaken.

Starting Point:

New target for March 2023.

Target:

3 by March 2027.

Risk mitigation measures are developed and implemented to address impacts from substances found to be harmful to human health and/or the environment and reduce associated risk and financial liabilities.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

GIF Target – 12.4: By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment.

Indicator result:

No new FSCAP funded high priority contaminated sites undertook monitoring or completed risk reduction activities.

Notes:

Risk reduction activities are still ongoing.

From 2023 – 2027, Parks Canada will:

• Continue to track and report progress on annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Program:

• Internal Services

Performance Indicator:

Percentage change in Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions from 2005–06 to current reporting year.

Starting points:

In 2005-06, scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions were 40.2 ktCO2e.

Targets:

Reduce Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions by 40% by 2025 and by at least 90% below 2005 levels by 2050.

Actions to implement the greening government strategy will demonstrate leadership and support Canada’s sustainability goals already established under the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change, and commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Additional measures contributing to the Greening Government Strategy can be found under goal 12, above.

Indicator result:

25% reduction

Notes:

Progress towards reducing GHG emissions through operational efficiencies and increased use of clean electricity.

From 2023 to 2027, Parks Canada will:

• Continue to progress towards using 100% clean grid electricity by participating in the PSPC-led clean electricity initiative.

Program:

• Internal Services

Performance Indicator:

Percentage of annual grid electricity consumption from clean energy sources.

Starting Point:

80% as of March 2023.

Target:

100% by March 31, 2025.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

CIF Ambition – Canadians reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

CIF Target – By 2030, reduce Canada's total greenhouse gas emissions by 40 to 45%, relative to 2005 emission levels. By 2050, achieve economy-wide net-zero greenhouse gas emissions.

Indicator result:

89%

Notes:

Parks Canada continues to participate in the Public Service and Procurement Canada-led 100% clean electricity initiative.

From 2023 – 2027, Parks Canada will:

• Develop the Parks Canada Net-Zero Portfolio Plan, implementing actions pertaining to buildings.

Program:

• Internal Services

Performance Indicators:

Percentage completion of Net-Zero Portfolio Plan. (Milestones: 33% at first draft, 66% at second draft and 99% at final report stages).

Starting Point:

33% complete as of March 2023.

Target:

100% completion by March 2024.

The actions contributing to this implementation strategy support a transition to net-zero carbon operations by identifying targets for energy demand reductions and/or promoting a transition to lower carbon sources of energy.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

CIF Ambition – Canadians reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

CIF Target – By 2030, reduce Canada's total greenhouse gas emissions by 40 to 45%, relative to 2005 emission levels. By 2050, achieve economy-wide net-zero greenhouse gas emissions.

Indicator result:

100%—Target met. Indicator complete.

Notes:

The Net-Zero Portfolio Plan project was completed in March 2024. The summary report will be used to evaluate next steps and opportunities to integrate plan elements into existing and/or future policy instruments.

• Prioritize and conduct energy audits on buildings to close data gaps in Parks Canada's asset management system and support net-zero carbon building design.

Program:

• Internal Services

Performance Indicators:

Number of priority facilities identified and audited within high GHG-emitting operational units.

Starting Point:

New initiative for March 2023.

Target:

At least 5% by March 2026.

The actions contributing to this implementation strategy support a transition to net-zero carbon operations by identifying targets for energy demand reductions and/or promoting a transition to lower carbon sources of energy.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

CIF Ambition – Canadians reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

CIF Target – By 2030, reduce Canada's total greenhouse gas emissions by 40 to 45%, relative to 2005 emission levels. By 2050, achieve economy-wide net-zero greenhouse gas emissions.

Indicator result:

0%

Notes:

Five high priority facilities within high GHG emitting operational units have been identified and two audits are planned before March 2026.

• Develop and pilot a process for tracking and disclosing embodied carbon in construction.

Program:

• Internal Services

Performance Indicator:

A process for tracking and disclosing embodied carbon in Parks Canada’s construction activities is developed and piloted. (Milestones: 25%: Roles and responsibilities identified; 50%: procedures drafted; 75%: communicate requirements 100%: implementation)

Starting Point:

New initiative for March 2023.

Target:

100% completed by March 2025.

The actions contributing to this implementation strategy support a transition to net-zero carbon operations by identifying targets for energy demand reductions and/or promoting a transition to lower carbon sources of energy.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

CIF Ambition – Canadians reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

CIF Target – By 2030, reduce Canada's total greenhouse gas emissions by 40 to 45%, relative to 2005 emission levels. By 2050, achieve economy-wide net-zero greenhouse gas emissions.

Indicator result:

A process for tracking and disclosing embodied carbon in Parks Canada’s construction activities has not yet been developed.

Notes:

Work has begun on this indicator but has been delayed due to competing priorities.

In 2023 to 2027, Parks Canada will:

• Develop a guideline for life cycle cost analysis (LCCA) and pilot it as part of new construction and major retrofits.

Program:

• Internal Services

Performance Indicators:

Percentage completion of a Parks Canada guideline and pilot for LCCA for new construction and major retrofits. (Milestones: 20%: draft guideline; 40%: technical review; 60%: internal consultations; 80%: finalize guideline; 100%: guideline approval and implementation.

Starting points:

20% (draft guideline) complete as of March 2023.

Targets:

100% completed by March 2026.

The actions contributing to this implementation strategy support a transition to net-zero carbon operations by identifying targets for energy demand reductions and/or promoting a transition to lower carbon sources of energy.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

CIF Ambition – Canadians reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

CIF Target – By 2030, reduce Canada's total greenhouse gas emissions by 40 to 45%, relative to 2005 emission levels. By 2050, achieve economy-wide net-zero greenhouse gas emissions.

Indicator result:

80%

Notes:

Consultations have been completed and work is currently ongoing to incorporate comments and finalize the guidelines. Future work will seek to align the guideline with Standard on Green Built Assets at Parks Canada.

From 2023 to 2027, Parks Canada will:

• Design a pilot project in collaboration with the National Research Council to conduct energy retrofits on heritage buildings, proving that greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced simultaneously while preserving heritage integrity.

Program:

• Heritage Places Conservation

Performance Indicator:

Pilot projects are conducted to perform an energy retrofit on heritage buildings.

Starting Point:

New initiative for March 2023.

Target:

At least 2 by March 2027.

Understanding the reduction of GHGs while preserving the heritage integrity of a building will contribute to understanding how this can contribute to decrease their energy consumption and reduce the carbon footprint towards climate change mitigation targets.

These pilot projects will consider both embodied and operational carbon by repairing existing building fabric, reducing air leakage, considering insulation strategies, and conserving and improving heritage window performance. Parks Canada will use lessons learned in these pilots to expand the practices within its heritage asset portfolio and share them in with other managers of heritage assets, increasing capacity to respond to the effects of climate change.

Cultural heritage conservation and reducing the carbon footprint of heritage buildings is a priority action on climate change that can take place at national historic sites, national parks, national marine conservation areas and national urban parks.

Related targets or ambitions:

GIF Target – 13.1 Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.

GIF Target – 13.2 Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.

GIF Target – 13.3 Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning.

Indicator result:

1

Notes:

One energy audit was completed for Sir John Johnson House National Historic Site.

From 2023 – 2027, Parks Canada will:

• Complete a portfolio-level climate change risk analysis of built-assets and their distribution.

Program:

• Internal Services

Performance Indicator:

Percentage completion of portfolio-level climate change risk analysis (Milestones: 25%: first draft & technical review; 50% plan is finalized and approved; 75% portfolio-level risk assessment is completed; 100%: risk assessment is communicated and integrated).

Starting Point:

25% (technical review stage) as of March 2023.

Target:

100% complete by March 2026.

Completing portfolio-level risk assessment will advance Parks Canada’s understanding of current and projected climate impacts to its operations over time. It will also contribute to the development of adaptation measures and support timely, informed decision-making. This action also more broadly supports Canada's need to adapt to the changing climate by building resilience and reducing vulnerability to impacts in communities, regions, ecosystems, and economic sectors.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

GIF Target - 13.1 Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.

GIF Target – 13.2 Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.

GIF Target – 13.3 Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning.

Indicator result:

40%

Notes:

The final draft has been completed and is undergoing technical review. Next steps will focus on finalizing and approving the portfolio-level risk assessment.

From 2023 to 2027, Parks Canada will:

• Mitigate the effects of wildfires on lands administered by Parks Canada, including through wildfire risk reduction activities such as prescribed burns and responding to wildfires.

Program:

• Heritage Places Conservation

Performance Indicator:

Average number of hectares treated annually for fuel management.

Starting Point:

Historical average of 200 hectares per year, as of March 2023.

Target:

Average of 300 hectares/year by March 2027.

Climate change is driving more intense, faster moving and longer lasting wildfires. Parks Canada takes direct wildfire risk reduction actions, such as prescribed fires, forest thinning, and the creation of community fire guards. By decreasing the buildup of flammable vegetation, these wildfire risk reduction actions help reduce the rate of spread and intensity of wildfires and allow more time to use fire suppression methods.

Parks Canada’s prescribed fire and effective fire management program can help create more diverse landscapes and improve ecosystems’ ability to adapt to the changing climate. Resilient landscapes can recover and persist, even with the predicted impacts of climate change.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

GIF Target – 13.1 Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.

GIF Target – 13.2 Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning.

GBF Target – 8 Climate Change and Biodiversity and

GBF Target – 11 Ecosystem Services and Functions

Indicator result:

252

Notes:

In 2023-24, completed 252 hectares of wildfire fuel load (flammable vegetation) management work through 22 initiatives at 16 national parks or national historic sites.

From 2023 to 2027, Parks Canada will:

• As part of preventive conservation, complete climate change risk assessments at national historic sites, including capturing level of disaster preparedness for objects and mitigation measures for climate change related impacts and disasters.

Program:

• Heritage Places Conservation

Performance Indicator:

Number of completed risk assessments.

Starting Point:

8 assessments completed as of March 2023.

Target:

35 risk assessments completed by March 2027.

Climate change risk assessments allow for practical management of historical and archaeological objects at national historic sites by establishing a plan to identify, respond to, and mitigate the effects of climate change on these cultural resources. Risk mitigation measures identified in the completion of risk assessments are a way to respond to the challenges of climate change. This supports Parks Canada in making targeted investments in preventive conservation at heritage places to be prepared and able to implement mitigation measures that can help to safeguard these cultural heritage assets from climate change related impacts and disasters.

Related targets or ambitions:

GIF Target – 13.1 Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.

GIF Target – 13.2 Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning.

GIF Target – 13.3 Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning.

Indicator result:

13

Notes:

Risk assessments involve travelling to the site to assess the factors that impact moveable cultural heritage resources on-site. In some cases, data is provided to built heritage experts within Parks Canada, such as when mould or humidity problems are detected.

From 2023 to 2027, Parks Canada will:

• Continue efforts to protect and conserve national marine conservation areas (NMCAs) and contribute to effective area-based conservation measures by advancing knowledge of coastal and marine areas.

Program:

• Heritage Places Conservation

Performance Indicator:

Parks Canada has a new indicator that describes and accounts for progress on monitoring for coastal and marine ecosystems in NMCAs.

Starting Point:

New initiative for 2023.

Target:

One new indicator by December 2024.

The development and implementation of monitoring protocols for the NMCA program helps to build knowledge of coastal and marine ecosystems through research and the identification of stressors. This knowledge will contribute to making effective and timely management decisions to reduce threats, respond to change and enhance ecosystems.

Relevant targets or ambitions

GIF Target - 14.2 By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans.

Indicator result:

No indicator has yet been developed.

Notes:

Parks Canada is on track to meet this target. In 2023-24, five NMCAs continued to develop and implement their monitoring plans. A monitoring standard was drafted which will support nationally consistent monitoring programs upon which the indicator will be based.

From 2023 to 2027, Parks Canada will:

• Continue work with provincial, territorial, and Indigenous governments towards the establishment of new national marine conservation areas (NMCAs) in unrepresented marine regions from the system plan.
• Work with partners to ensure the work for new protected areas is grounded in science, Indigenous knowledge, and local perspectives, resulting in co-management agreements with Indigenous organizations.

Program:

• Heritage Places Establishment

Performance Indicator:

Percentage of marine regions represented in the NMCA system.

Starting Point:

17% as of March 2012.

Target:

At least 31% by March 2025.

The establishment of new national marine conservation areas provides for their protection, management, and restoration by Parks Canada. It also contributes toward Canada’s commitment to protect 25% of Canada’s coastal areas and marine waters by 2025 and 30% by 2030, as well as to Canada’s commitments in the 2022 Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF).

Relevant targets or ambitions:

CIF Ambition – Canada protects and conserves marine areas and sustainably manages ocean fish stocks.

CIF Indicator - 14.1.1 Proportion of marine and coastal areas conserved.

CIF Target – 14.1.1 Conserve 25% of Canada's oceans by 2025, working towards 30% by 2030.

Indicator result:

21%

Notes:

As of March 31, 2024, the national marine conservation area system remains at 21% complete, with six of 29 marine regions represented.

There are seven sites that are either in active feasibility assessments or negotiations for new national marine conservation areas across the country.

Parks Canada and partners completed two feasibility assessments for Torngats Inuit Protected Area/NMCA (Newfoundland and Labrador) and for Western James Bay and Southwestern Hudson Bay NMCA (Ontario.) These two sites represent three marine regions.

Parks Canada also continued to work to bring three additional sites into the feasibility assessment phase.

From 2023 to 2027, Parks Canada will:

• Continue work with provincial, territorial, and Indigenous governments towards the establishment of new national marine conservation areas (NMCAs) in unrepresented marine regions from the system plan.
• Work with partners to ensure the work for new protected areas is grounded in science, Indigenous knowledge, and local perspectives, resulting in co-management agreements with Indigenous organizations.

Program:

• Heritage Places Establishment

Performance Indicator:

Number of new memoranda of understanding or other agreements negotiated with Indigenous groups to support work towards the establishment of new NMCAs.

Starting Point:

New target for March 2023.

Target:

8 agreements by March 2026.

The establishment of new national marine conservation areas provides for their protection, management, and restoration by Parks Canada. It also contributes toward Canada’s commitment to protect 25% of Canada’s coastal areas and marine waters by 2025 and 30% by 2030, as well as to Canada’s commitments in the 2022 Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF).

Relevant targets or ambitions:

CIF Ambition – Canada protects and conserves marine areas and sustainably manages ocean fish stocks.

CIF Indicator - 14.1.1 Proportion of marine and coastal areas conserved.

CIF Target – 14.1.1 Conserve 25% of Canada's oceans by 2025, working towards 30% by 2030.

Indicator result:

1

Notes:

A memorandum of understanding was signed in June 2023 to begin the feasibility assessment for South Coast Fjords (Newfoundland and Labrador).

There are seven sites that are either in active feasibility assessments or negotiations for new national marine conservation areas across the country, and work is taking place to bring three additional sites into the feasibility assessment phase. While progress is being made within these phases, no new agreements have been signed with those partners.

From 2023 to 2027, Parks Canada will:

• Establish new national marine conservation areas (NMCAs) in collaboration with Indigenous governments, organizations, and communities, along with provincial and territorial governments and develop strategic partnerships to identify new candidate sites for NMCAs for protection under the Canada National Marine Conservation Areas Act.

Program:

• Heritage Places Establishment

Performance Indicator:

Number of NMCAs with demonstrable progress towards establishment (e.g. negotiation of Memorandum of Understanding or other interim protection measure).

Starting Point:

New target for March 2023.

Target:

10 by March 2026.

GIF Target - 14.2 By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans.

GBF Target – 2 Restoration of degraded ecosystems.

GBF Target – 3 Protect and Conserve Areas.

Indicator result:

10

Notes:

A memorandum of understanding was signed in June 2023 to begin the feasibility assessment for South Coast Fjords (Newfoundland and Labrador).

Feasibility assessments were completed for Torngats Inuit Protected Area/NMCA (Newfoundland and Labrador), and for Western James Bay and Southwestern Hudson Bay NMCA (Ontario).

Work continued to advance on feasibility assessments for five proposed national marine conservation areas in eastern James Bay (Quebec), Îles de la Madeleine (Quebec), Southern Strait of Georgia (British Columbia), Central Coast of British Columbia, and Mingan-Anticosti (Quebec).

Parks Canada is in active discussions with Indigenous partners and provincial/territorial governments on two further projects.

From 2023 to 2027, Parks Canada will:

• Develop new general regulations to support the implementation of the Canada National Marine Conservation Areas Act in national marine conservation areas (NMCAs).

Program:

• Heritage Places Conservation

Performance Indicator:

General regulations will set controls for activities and uses in NMCAs in support of protection and ecologically sustainable use objectives.

Starting Point:

New initiative for March 2023.

Target:

Regulation coming into force by December 2026.

Milestone:

Pre-publication of draft regulation in Canada Gazette Part 1 by December 2024.

The development of legally enforceable general regulations for managing activities in NMCAs will support their sustainable use by establishing protection and ecological sustainable use objectives. They will also provide standards for the protection of natural and cultural resources in NMCAs, consistent with the marine protection standards announced in 2019 for federal marine protected areas (managed by Fisheries and Oceans Canada). These new regulations will lead to increase protection of the marine and coastal ecosystems and thereby contribute to maintaining the health of Canada's oceans.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

GIF Target - 14.2 By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans.

GBF Target – 2 Restoration of degraded ecosystems.

GBF Target – 3 Protect and Conserve Areas.

Indicator result:

Regulations are not yet in force.

Notes:

In 2023-24, Parks Canada completed public and stakeholder engagement to seek views on policy approaches for the proposed regulations. The input informed the development of the draft regulations.

From 2023 to 2027, Parks Canada will:

• Limit threats to the Southern Resident killer whale by implementing programs that support prey availability (including forage fish), address physical and acoustic disturbance, and contaminants of concern in coordination with key partners.

Program:

• Heritage Places Conservation

Performance Indicator:

Percentage of actions in Parks Canada conservation plans that are implemented for Southern Resident Killer Whales.

Starting Point:

93.5% of actions have been completed as of March 2023.

Target:

100% by March 2026.

This action contributes to the protection and recovery of the Southern Resident Killer Whale within and adjacent to Gulf Islands and Pacific Rim National Park Reserves, in collaboration with Indigenous partners and others.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

GIF Target – 14.2 By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans.

Indicator result:

95% of actions in Parks Canada conservation plans for Southern Resident Killer Whale have been implemented.

Notes:

Parks Canada continues to implement actions in its conservation plans and engages with Indigenous partners to identify opportunities to enable Indigenous-led stewardship and conservation actions and/or collaboration. In 2023-24, Parks Canada expanded the environmental DNA salmon project to include streams within and adjacent to the Long Beach Unit of Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. This work supports the protection and preservation of freshwater habitat of important Southern Resident killer whale prey stocks (i.e., salmon) and was implemented in collaboration with First Nations whose territories and interests overlap with the study area (total of six First Nations).

From 2023 to 2027, Parks Canada will:

• Identify candidates for and establish new national parks and national park reserves, in collaboration with Indigenous, provincial, and territorial governments and other stakeholders and support the creation of other protected areas, such as Indigenous protected and conserved areas.
• This work will also include the assessment of national heritage sites administered by Parks Canada that meet the criteria for recognition under the category of “Other effective area-based conservation measures” (OECMs) that will contribute toward Canada’s targets.

Program:

• Heritage Places Establishment

Performance Indicator:

Number of national parks and freshwater national marine conservation areas with demonstrable progress toward establishment.

Starting Point:

New target for March 2023.

Target:

10 new National Parks by March 2026.

By collaborating with Indigenous, provincial/territorial, and other partners to establish new national parks and national park reserves, Parks Canada directly supports the Government of Canada’s goal to conserve 25% of lands and inland waters by 2025 and 30 % of each by 2030, halt and reverse nature loss by 2030 in Canada, achieve a full recovery of nature by 2050 and champion this goal internationally.

By collaborating with partners to establish new national parks and national park reserves in representative natural regions across the country, Parks Canada will ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

CIF Ambition – Canada conserves and restores ecosystems and habitat.

CIF Indicator – 15.3.1 Proportion of terrestrial (land and freshwater) areas conserved.

CIF Target – 15.3.1 Conserve 25% of Canada’s land by 2025, working towards 30% by 2023.

GIF Target – 15.1 By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains, and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements.

GIF Target – 15.4 By 2030, ensure the conservation of mountain ecosystems, including their biodiversity, in order to enhance their capacity to provide benefits that are essential for sustainable development.

GBF Target – 3 Protect and conserve areas.

Indicator result:

9

Notes:

Two national parks – Pituamkek (Prince Edward Island) and South Okanagan (British Columbia) – are in active negotiations.

A tripartite memorandum of understanding to assess the feasibility of a national park in the Seal River Watershed (Manitoba) was signed in January 2024.

Parks Canada is in active discussions with Indigenous partners and provincial/territorial governments on six further projects and has signed contribution agreements to support Indigenous partners capacity and engagement efforts for five establishment projects.

From 2023 to 2027, Parks Canada will:

• Identify candidates for and establish new national parks and national park reserves, in collaboration with Indigenous, provincial, and territorial governments and other stakeholders and support the creation of other protected areas, such as Indigenous protected and conserved areas.
• This work will also include the assessment of national heritage sites administered by Parks Canada that meet the criteria for recognition under the category of “Other effective area-based conservation measures” (OECMs) that will contribute toward Canada’s targets.

Program:

• Heritage Places Establishment

Performance Indicator:

Percentage of terrestrial regions represented in the national park system.

Starting Point:

75% as of March 2015.

Target:

at least 82% by March 2025.

By collaborating with Indigenous, provincial/territorial, and other partners to establish new national parks and national park reserves, Parks Canada directly supports the Government of Canada’s goal to conserve 25% of lands and inland waters by 2025 and 30 % of each by 2030, halt and reverse nature loss by 2030 in Canada, achieve a full recovery of nature by 2050 and champion this goal internationally.

By collaborating with partners to establish new national parks and national park reserves in representative natural regions across the country, Parks Canada will ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

CIF Ambition – Canada conserves and restores ecosystems and habitat.

CIF Indicator – 15.3.1 Proportion of terrestrial (land and freshwater) areas conserved.

CIF Target – 15.3.1 Conserve 25% of Canada’s land by 2025, working towards 30% by 2023.

GIF Target – 15.1 By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains, and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements.

GIF Target – 15.4 By 2030, ensure the conservation of mountain ecosystems, including their biodiversity, in order to enhance their capacity to provide benefits that are essential for sustainable development.

GBF Target – 3 Protect and conserve areas.

Indicator result:

79%

Notes:

This percentage will not change until formal establishment of new parks is completed.

From 2023 to 2027, Parks Canada will:

• Identify candidates for and establish new national parks and national park reserves, in collaboration with Indigenous, provincial, and territorial governments and other stakeholders and support the creation of other protected areas, such as Indigenous protected and conserved areas.
• This work will also include the assessment of national heritage sites administered by Parks Canada that meet the criteria for recognition under the category of “Other effective area-based conservation measures” (OECMs) that will contribute toward Canada’s targets.

Program:

• Heritage Places Establishment

Performance Indicator:

Percentage of marine regions represented in the national marine conservation area system.

Starting Point:

17% as of March 2012.

Target:

at least 31% as of March 2025.

By collaborating with Indigenous, provincial/territorial, and other partners to establish new national parks and national park reserves, Parks Canada directly supports the Government of Canada’s goal to conserve 25% of lands and inland waters by 2025 and 30 % of each by 2030, halt and reverse nature loss by 2030 in Canada, achieve a full recovery of nature by 2050 and champion this goal internationally.

By collaborating with partners to establish new national parks and national park reserves in representative natural regions across the country, Parks Canada will ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

CIF Ambition – Canada conserves and restores ecosystems and habitat.

CIF Indicator – 15.3.1 Proportion of terrestrial (land and freshwater) areas conserved.

CIF Target – 15.3.1 Conserve 25% of Canada’s land by 2025, working towards 30% by 2023.

GIF Target – 15.1 By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains, and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements.

GIF Target – 15.4 By 2030, ensure the conservation of mountain ecosystems, including their biodiversity, in order to enhance their capacity to provide benefits that are essential for sustainable development.

GBF Target – 3 Protect and conserve areas.

Indicator result:

21%

Notes:

As of March 31, 2024, the national marine conservation area system remains at 21% complete, with six of 29 marine regions represented.

There are seven sites that are either in active feasibility assessments or negotiations for new national marine conservation areas across the country.

Parks Canada and partners completed two feasibility assessments for Torngats Inuit Protected Area/NMCA (Newfoundland and Labrador) and for Western James Bay and Southwestern Hudson Bay NMCA (Ontario). These two sites represent 3 marine regions.

Parks Canada also continued to work to bring three additional sites into the feasibility assessment phase.

From 2023 to 2027, Parks Canada will:

• Conserve and restore natural spaces by continuing to monitor the ecological integrity of park ecosystems, to restore impaired ecosystems and to recover species at risk on a priority basis through its Conservation and Restoration program and other park-based initiatives

Program:

• Heritage Places Conservation

Performance Indicator:

Percentage of national park ecosystems with stable or improving trends.

Starting Point:

79% as of March 2023.

Target:

92% by March 2025.

Parks Canada's ecological integrity monitoring program supports the understanding of ecosystem changes, and prioritisation of evidence-based actions to improve ecological integrity, protect species at risk, and reduce and halt the loss of biodiversity within Parks Canada-administered places.

These actions will support ecosystem conservation, biodiversity, and health by monitoring ecosystems in both terrestrial and marine components of national parks, and focus efforts on understanding and responding to ecological integrity indicators that will improve conservation results.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

GIF Target – 15.1 By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains, and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements.

GIF Target – 15.5 Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species.

GBF Target – 2 Restoration of degraded ecosystems

GBF Target – 11 Restore, maintain, and enhance nature’s contribution to people including ecosystem functions and services.

Indicator result:

80%

Notes:

As of March 2024, the ecological integrity of 80% of park ecosystems has been maintained or improved, which is a slight improvement over the last two years.

Monitoring results indicate that large-scale threats, such as climate change and invasive species, and local stressors like water pollution, are affecting ecosystems. Monitoring results also indicate that Parks Canada’s management actions are contributing to stabilizing and improving ecosystem integrity.

In 2023–24, Parks Canada invested $23M in 56 conservation projects aimed to improve ecological integrity.

• Support the creation and stewardship of ecological corridors;
• Provide national criteria mapping priority areas for ecological corridors;
• Engage with experts, Indigenous partners, provinces, territories, and other national stakeholders to identify potential locations of ecological corridors.

Program:

• Heritage Places Establishment

Performance Indicator:

Number of ecological corridors identified and recognized.

Starting Point:

New program in April 2022.

Target:

3 by December 2025.

Ecological corridors improve ecological connectivity between protected and conserved areas by facilitating species movement between protected and conserved areas safely and allowing dispersal to new habitats and completing life cycle needs.

Ecological corridors also allow researchers to observe and anticipate shifts in the distribution of species and ecosystems and facilitate adaptation to a changing climate. They strengthen the resilience and adaptive capacity of biota and their biomes and protect against biodiversity loss.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

GIF Target – 15.1 By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains, and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements.

GIF Target – 15.5 Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species.

GBF Target – 11 Restore, maintain, and enhance nature’s contribution to people including ecosystem functions and services.

Indicator result:

No new ecological corridors were identified and recognized.

Notes:

In 2023-24, Parks Canada finalized guiding resources that outline criteria and priority areas for ecological corridor identification and creation in Canada.

Three new contribution agreements were signed by Parks Canada to support on-the-ground projects, including two Indigenous-led projects.

From 2023 – 2027, Parks Canada will:

• Prioritize Indigenous leadership in conservation through the establishment and operation of cooperative management structures for national parks, national parks reserves and national marine conservation areas.

Program:

• Heritage places conservation

Performance Indicator:

Number of natural heritage places managed cooperatively with Indigenous peoples.

Starting Point:

20 as of March 2019.

Target:

At least 27 by March 2024.

Parks Canada works closely with Inuit, Métis, and First Nations peoples to braid Indigenous knowledge with western science in the way it administers the heritage places in its care. This helps to gain a more complete picture of conservation challenges and solutions. It also contributes towards targets for the conservation of land and fresh water.

This action also contributes to implementation strategies under Goal 10, above.

Indicator result:

23

Notes:

In January 2024, Forillon National Park - Gaspésie Field Unit signed a Rights Reconciliation Agreement with the Nation Micmac de Gespeg.

From 2023 to 2027, Parks Canada will:

• Facilitate Indigenous connections and reconnections to their traditional territories in the national heritage places it administers for traditional and modern cultural practices.

Program:

• Heritage places conservation

Performance Indicator:

Number of places where Indigenous Peoples use lands and waters according to their traditional and modern practices.

Starting Point:

31 as of March 2019.

Target:

Between 32 and 42 by March 2025.

Since time immemorial, Indigenous peoples have been nurturing a long-term relationship with lands, waters, and ice, resulting in deep understandings of places and living systems. Parks Canada is committed to a system of national heritage places that recognizes and honours the historic and contemporary contributions of Indigenous peoples, their histories, and cultures, as well as the stewardship relationships Indigenous peoples have with ancestral lands, waters, and ice.

This action also contributes to implementation strategies under Goal 10, above.

Indicator result:

48

Notes:

During the reporting period, the following heritage places were added:

1. Forillon National Park - Gaspésie Field Unit signed a Rights Reconciliation Agreement with the Nation Micmac de Gespeg in January 2024
2. St. Andrews Blockhouse National Historic Site - Co-management of this place is governed by a Rights Reconciliation Agreement signed by Parks Canada, Crown-Indigenous Relations and the Peskotomuhkati Nation at Skutik, in August 2023
3. Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park - Rights Reconciliation Agreement signed with Première Nation Wolastoqiyik Wahsipekuk in 2022
4. Grosse Île and the Irish Memorial National Historic Site - Rights Reconciliation Agreement with the Wolastoqey Wahsipekuk First Nation in Quebec signed in August 2022
5. Pointe-au-Père Lighthouse National Historic Site - Rights Reconciliation Agreement with the Wolastoqey Wahsipekuk First Nation in Quebec signed in August 2022
6. Lévis Forts National Historic Site - Rights Reconciliation Agreement with the Wolastoqey Wahsipekuk First Nation in Quebec signed in August 2022

A previous error was corrected. In 2022-23, 39 heritage places were reported. The Lake Louise, Yoho and Kootenay Field Unit was counted as one heritage place, but the agreement covers multiple heritage places (four parks).

• Continue to support Indigenous Guardians and other equivalent programs in protected heritage areas administered by Parks Canada, including through exploratory conversations, capacity-building activities, and the implementation of Indigenous Guardians programs.

Program:

• Heritage places conservation

Performance Indicator:

Number of Indigenous Guardian and equivalent programs operating in protected heritage areas administered by Parks Canada.

Starting Point:

17 implemented programs as of March 2023.

Target:

30 by March 2025.

Parks Canada prioritizes Indigenous leadership in conservation through its commitment to managing natural heritage places cooperatively with Indigenous peoples and through its programs. The Indigenous Guardians program supports Indigenous management practices and stewardship responsibilities within their territories based on a cultural relationship with lands, water, and ice.

Indigenous Guardians programs are Indigenous community/partner-led programs which are place-based expressions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis responsibilities to their traditional territories, treaty lands and ancestral homelands.

Indigenous Guardians programs also provide training and capacity building for Indigenous peoples to support their contribution to the protection and management of land and resources.

Parks Canada’s work in this area touches many areas of its mandate. More contributions to this commitment can also be found under Goal 10, above.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

GIF Target - 15.1 By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services

Indicator result:

37

Notes:

In addition to the 37 guardian programs, there are 5 capacity building initiatives and 7 exploratory initiatives with Indigenous partners that may move towards development into Indigenous Guardians programs.

Additionally, there are 9 proposals for funding that are in development as well as amendments to existing programs to build on successes, expand in new areas and allow for growth.

There is growing momentum in Indigenous Guardian programs at Parks Canada administered places.

From 2023 to 2027, Parks Canada will:

• Conserve and restore natural spaces by continuing to monitor the ecological integrity of park ecosystems, to restore impaired ecosystems and to recover species at risk on a priority basis through its Conservation and Restoration program and other park-based initiatives.

Program:

• Heritage Places Conservation

Performance Indicator:

Percentage of national park ecosystems with stable or improving trends.

Starting Point:

79% as of March 2023.

Target:

92% by March 2025.

Parks Canada's ecological monitoring program supports understanding of ecosystem changes, and prioritisation of evidence-based actions to improve ecological integrity, protect species at risk, and reduce and halt the loss of biodiversity within Parks Canada administered places.

These actions will support terrestrial and marine ecosystem conservation, biodiversity, and health by monitoring ecosystems in national parks, and focus efforts on understanding and responding to ecological integrity indicators that will improve conservation results.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

CIF Ambition – Canada ensures all species have healthy and viable populations.

CIF Indicator – 15.1.1 Proportion of native wild species ranked secure or apparently secure according to the national extinction risk level.

CIF Indicator – 15.2.1 Proportion of species at risk showing progress towards their population and distribution objectives.

GIF Target – 15.1 By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains, and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements.

GBF Target – 11 Restore, maintain, and enhance nature’s contribution to people including ecosystem functions and services.

Indicator result:

80%

Notes:

As of March 2024, the ecological integrity of 80% of park ecosystems has been maintained or improved, which is a slight improvement over the last two years.

Monitoring results indicate that large-scale threats, such as climate change and invasive species, and local stressors like water pollution, are affecting ecosystems. Monitoring results also indicate that Parks Canada’s management actions are contributing to stabilizing and improving ecosystem integrity.

In 2023–24, Parks Canada invested $23M in 56 conservation projects aimed to improve ecological integrity.

• Develop multi-species action plans to guide the management of species at risk in lands administered by Parks Canada, in collaboration with Indigenous partners and stakeholders.

Program:

• Heritage Places Conservation

Performance Indicator:

Number of multi-species action plans posted on the Species at Risk Public Registry.

Starting Point:

23 as of March 2023.

Target:

26 by March 2026.

Parks Canada multi-species action plans identify recovery measures that will contribute to the recovery of species at risk by supporting the population trends consistent with recovery strategies and management plans. In support of this, Parks Canada works in collaboration with key Indigenous partners and stakeholders to enhance species recovery across the landscape.

Parks Canada’s ability to deliver actions on the ground identified through multi-species action plans, will contribute to the protection and recovery of threatened species and support biodiversity.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

CIF Ambition – Canada ensures all species have healthy and viable populations.

CIF Indicator – 15.1.1 Proportion of native wild species ranked secure or apparently secure according to the national extinction risk level.

CIF Indicator – 15.2.1 Proportion of species at risk showing progress towards their population and distribution objectives.

GIF Target – 15.5 Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species.

GBF Target – 4 Halting species extinction and reducing extinctions risk.

Indicator result:

23

Notes:

On track to meet this target. Parks Canada has developed 23 multi-species action plans addressing over 200 SARA-listed species and more than 50 species of conservation concern across 55 places administered by Parks Canada.

• Review and develop performance indicators to measure Parks Canada’s contribution to the conservation and recovery activities for species at risk.

Program:

• Heritage Places Conservation

Performance Indicator:

Parks Canada has a suite of performance indicators that demonstrate its contribution to conservation and recovery of species at risk and meeting the federal target.

Starting Point:

1 as of March 2023.

Target:

Complete indicator suite by March 2024.

The 2022 audit of the Commissioner on Environment and Sustainable Development on the development of strategies in support of federal species target highlighted the need to provide relevant performance indicators to demonstrate Parks Canada’s full contribution in this area. The development of these indicators will allow Parks Canada to better to track and demonstrate its contributions toward meeting the federal target.

The existing performance indicator is “Number of multi-species action plans posted on the species at risk public registry” and will be reported on as part of this DSDS.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

CIF Ambition – Canada ensures all species have healthy and viable populations.

CIF Indicator – 15.1.1 Proportion of native wild species ranked secure or apparently secure according to the national extinction risk level.

CIF Indicator – 15.2.1 Proportion of species at risk showing progress towards their population and distribution objectives.

GIF Target – 15.5 Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species.

GBF Target – 4 Halting species extinction and reducing extinctions risk.

Indicator result:

The indicator suite is not yet in place.

Notes:

Work is underway to determine the best indicators to provide a more fulsome picture concerning contribution to the conservation and recovery of species at risk. Work on draft indicators is planned to begin in autumn 2024. The target date will be adjusted in the winter 2025 DSDS update.

From 2023 – 2027, Parks Canada will:

• Create multi-species action plans for protected heritage areas, in collaboration with Indigenous peoples and other stakeholders, focusing conservation efforts, in line with the principles in the Pan-Canadian Approach to Transforming Species at Risk Conservation in Canada and the Framework for Aquatic Species at Risk Conservation.

Program:

• Heritage Places Conservation

Performance Indicator:

Number of multi-species action plans posted on the Species at Risk Public Registry.

Starting Point:

23 as of March 2023.

Target:

26 by March 2026.

Parks Canada multi-species action plans identify recovery measures that will contribute to the recovery of species at risk by supporting the population trends consistent with recovery strategies and management plans. In support of this, Parks Canada works in collaboration with key Indigenous partners and stakeholders to enhance species recovery across the landscape, working to ensure conservation efforts focus on shared priority places, species, and threats, and strengthening partnerships.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

CIF Ambition – Canada ensures all species have healthy and viable populations.

CIF Indicator – 15.1.1 Proportion of native wild species ranked secure or apparently secure according to the national extinction risk level.

CIF Indicator – 15.2.1 Proportion of species at risk showing progress towards their population and distribution objectives.

GIF Target – 15.5 Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species.

GBF Target – 4 Halting species extinction and reducing extinctions risk.

Indicator result:

23

Notes:

On track to meet this target. Parks Canada has developed 23 multi-species action plans addressing over 200 SARA-listed species and more than 50 species of conservation concern across 55 places administered by Parks Canada.

From 2023 – 2027, Parks Canada will:

• Advance protection and recovery action for priority species at risk including through the co-application of western science and Indigenous Knowledge in Conservation and Restoration projects, by applying principles of Parks Canada’s Indigenous Stewardship Framework

Program:

• Heritage Places Conservation

Performance Indicator:

An indicator is developed that accounts for progress on co-application of western science and Indigenous Knowledge in Conservation and Restoration projects, linked to the principles of Parks Canada’s Indigenous Stewardship Framework.

Starting Point:

New initiative for March 2023.

Target:

One indicator by March 2027.

Parks Canada collaborates with Indigenous partners to weave Indigenous Knowledge into the planning and implementation of its Conservation and Restoration projects, in support of increasing conservation successes.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

GIF Target – 15.5 Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species.

GBF Target – 2 Restoration of degraded ecosystems

GBF Target – 4 Halting species extinction and reducing extinctions risk.

GBF Target – 21 Ensure data, information, and knowledge are accessible to decision makers, practitioners, and the public.

Indicator result:

No indicator has yet been developed.

Notes:

Work to co-develop indicators with Indigenous partners is ongoing.

From 2023 – 2027, Parks Canada will:

• Develop an evidence-based and prioritized approach for the management of invasive alien species as a key element of work to maintain and improve ecological integrity.

Program:

• Heritage Places Conservation

Performance Indicator:

Percentage of ecosystems with stable or improving trends.

Starting Point:

79% as of March 2023.

Target:

92% by March 2025.

Parks Canada’s ecological integrity monitoring includes the development and implementation of tools that will allow assessment of invasive alien species detection and inform management actions in their prevention, eradication, and control.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

CIF Ambition – Canada ensures all species have healthy and viable populations.

CIF Indicator – 15.1.1 Proportion of native wild species ranked secure or apparently secure according to the national extinction risk level.

CIF Indicator – 15.2.1 Proportion of species at risk showing progress towards their population and distribution objectives.

GIF Target – 15.8 By 2020, introduce measures to prevent the introduction and significantly reduce the impact of invasive alien species on land and water ecosystems and control or eradicate the priority species.

GBF Target – 6 Managing invasive alien species.

Indicator result:

80%

Notes:

As of March 2024, the ecological integrity of 80% of park ecosystems has been maintained or improved, which is a slight improvement over the last two years.

Monitoring results indicate large-scale threats, such as climate change and invasive species, and local stressors like water pollution, are affecting ecosystems. Monitoring results also indicate that Parks Canada’s management actions are contributing to stabilizing and improving ecosystem integrity.

In 2023–24, Parks Canada invested $23M in 56 conservation projects aimed to improve ecological integrity.