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Departmental Results Report (DRR) 2018-2019

Northern Pipeline Agency

2018–19
Departmental Results Report

PDF Version (PDF, 653 KB)

The Honorable Seamus O’Regan, P.C. , M.P.
Minister of Natural Resources

© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Natural Resources, 2019

Cat. No. BT31-2/2019III-31
ISSN 2368-4054

This report is published separately in both official languages.

Copies are available on the Northern Pipeline Agency website

Printed in Canada

2018-19 DRR survey

Table of contents

Commissioner’s Message

Christyne Tremblay

It is my pleasure to present the 2018-19 Departmental Results Report for the Northern Pipeline Agency (the Agency).

The Agency was established by the Northern Pipeline Act (the Act) in 1978 to facilitate the planning and construction by Foothills Pipe Lines Ltd. (Foothills) of the Canadian portion of the Alaska Highway Gas Pipeline (AHGP) project and to maximize social and economic benefits from its construction and operation while minimizing any adverse effects. The pipeline was certificated in 1978 under the Act to transport Alaskan and possibly northern Canadian natural gas to southern markets in Canada and the United States, as provided for by the Canada-U.S. Agreement on Principles Applicable to a Northern Natural Gas Pipeline.

The southern portion of the pipeline was constructed in the early 1980s and presently transports Canadian gas to commercial markets. Economic conditions since 1982 have led to several delays in the completion of the northern portion of the AHGP. Agency activity levels reflect these fluctuating conditions.

In 2008, TransCanada PipeLines Limited (now TC Energy), which owns Foothills, was selected by the State of Alaska to pursue a large-scale pipeline project that would transport natural gas in a large diameter buried pipeline from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska to Boundary Lake, Alberta using the northern portion of the AHGP project. However, TC Energy notified the Agency in February 2013 that no further work is planned on the AHGP for now and will await further commercial interest before recommencing its efforts.

To align with the reduction in the AHGP project activities for the foreseeable future, the Agency has scaled down its operations to a minimal level while continuing to fulfill Canada’s ongoing obligations as set out in the Act. During this time, the Agency will also respond to any incoming inquiries from other government agencies, Indigenous peoples and the public.

Christyne Tremblay
Commissioner

Results at a glance

For more information on the Agency’s plans, priorities and results achieved, see the “Results: what we achieved” section of this report.

  • What funds were used? $230,481
  • Who was involved? 1 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE)
  • Results Highlights
    • The Agency has scaled down its operations to a minimal level to fulfill Canada’s ongoing obligations as set out in the Northern Pipeline Act.
    • The Agency exceeded its target for performance in responding to requests from external parties in a timely fashion.

Results: what we achieved

Programs

Program title

Oversee and regulate the planning and construction of the Canadian portion of the Alaska Highway Natural Gas Pipeline Project.

Description

Oversee and regulate the planning and construction of the Canadian portion of the Alaska Highway Natural Gas Pipeline Project.

Results

Results achieved
Departmental results Performance indicators Target Date to achieve target 2018–19 Actual results 2017–18 Actual results 2016–17 Actual results
The Agency will maintain the appropriate minimum level of preparation activities for a regulatory framework, so as to remain prepared to ramp up quickly to effectively regulate and facilitate the planning and construction of the pipeline should the project proceed. The Agency will respond to company and public correspondence within 15 business days of receipt. 80% Annual basis 100% 100% 100%

In 2018-19, the Agency received only one request from the public.

Budgetary financial resources (dollars)
2018–19
Main Estimates
2018–19
Planned spending
2018–19
Total authorities available for use
2018–19
Actual spending
(authorities used)
2018–19 Difference (Actual spending minus Planned spending)
493,880 493,880 468,599 230,481 (263,399)

The decrease between Planned and Actual spending reflects the reduced spending in program expenditures, which aligns with the reduction in the AHGP project activities.

Human resources (full-time equivalents)
2018–19
Planned full-time equivalents
2018–19
Actual full-time equivalents
2018–19
Difference (Actual full-time equivalents minus Planned full-time equivalents)
1 1 0

Financial, human resources and performance information for the Agency’s Program is available in the GC InfoBase.

Internal Services

Description

Internal Services are those groups of related activities and resources that the federal government considers to be services in support of programs and/or required to meet corporate obligations of an organization. Internal Services refers to the activities and resources of the 10 distinct service categories that support Program delivery in the organization, regardless of the Internal Services delivery model in a department. The 10 service categories are: 

  • Acquisition Management Services
  • Communications Services
  • Financial Management Services
  • Human Resources Management Services
  • Information Management Services, Information Technology Services
  • Legal Services
  • Material Management Services
  • Management and Oversight Services
  • Real Property Management Services

Results

Budgetary financial resources (dollars)
2018–19 Main Estimates 2018–19 Planned spending 2018–19 Total authorities available for use 2018–19 Actual spending (authorities used) 2018–19 Difference (Actual spending minus Planned spending)
0 0 0 0 0

The Agency has a single strategic outcome and a single program. As a small and separate federal entity, the Agency has a service agreement with Natural Resources Canada and expenditures for internal services through this agreement are recorded as program spending.

Human resources (full-time equivalents)
2018–19
Planned full-time equivalents
2018–19
Actual full-time equivalents
2018–19
Difference (Actual full-time equivalents minus Planned full-time equivalents)
0 0 0

Analysis of trends in spending and human resources

Actual expenditures

Departmental spending trend graph

Departmental spending trend graph
Text Version

Departmental Spending Graph

This bar graph shows the Northern Pipeline Agency planned and actual spending for the fiscal years between 2016-17 and 2021-22.

Total spending and planned spending by period is as follows:

2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22
Statutory 3,337 5,319,361 3,599 29,070 106,335 106,335
Voted 250,994 221,805 226,882 1,055,000 1,802,770 1,202,770
Total 254,331 5,541,166 230,481 1,084,070 1,909,105 1,309,105

The Agency’s Voted actual spending has remained relatively constant between 2016-17 and 2018-19. This spending aligns with the reduction in the AHGP project activities while continuing to fulfill Canada’s obligations under the Act. The actual Statutory spending increased in 2017-18 due to a remittance to TC Energy representing the outstanding over-collection balance from Foothills that had accumulated as of December 14, 2017. This over-collection balance occurred as a result of the Agency’s cost-recovery mechanism, based on forecasted expenditures. The Agency’s forecasted spending for 2019-20 onwards reflects the increased funding allocated to the Agency when Phase II (the northern portion) of the project was being advanced by Foothills/TC Energy. The planned spending in 2020-21 and future years will be re-assessed in 2019-20 and adjusted as necessary.

Budgetary performance summary for Programs and Internal Services (dollars)
Programs and Internal Services 2018–19
Main Estimates
2018–19
Planned spending
2019–20
Planned spending
2020–21
Planned spending
2018–19
Total authorities available for use
2018–19
Actual spending (authorities used)
2017–18
Actual spending (authorities used)
2016–17
Actual spending (authorities used)
Oversee and regulate the planning and construction of the Canadian portion of the AHGP Project. 493,880 493,880 1,084,070 1,909,105 468,599 230,481 5,541,166 254,331
Subtotal 493,880 493,880 1,084,070 1,909,105 468,599 230,481 5,541,166 254,331
Internal Services 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 493,880 493,880 1,084,070 1,909,105 468,599 230,481 5,541,166 254,331

In 2018-19, the Agency spent only $230,481 compared to the planned spending of $493,880. The decrease of actual spending in 2018-19 aligns with the reduction in the AHGP project activities, while the Agency continues to fulfill Canada's obligations under the Act.

Actual human resources

Human resources summary for Programs and Internal Services (full time equivalents)
Programs and Internal Services 2016–17
Actual full-time equivalents
2017–18
Actual full-time equivalents
2018–19
Planned full-time equivalents
2018–19
Actual  full-time equivalents
2019–20
Planned full-time equivalents
2020–21
Planned full-time equivalents
Oversee and regulate the planning and construction of the Canadian portion of the Alaska Highway Natural Gas Pipeline Project. 1 1 1 1 4 4
Subtotal 1 1 1 1 4 4
Internal Services 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 1 1 1 1 4 4

Expenditures by vote

For information on the Agency’s organizational voted and statutory expenditures, consult the Public Accounts of Canada 2018–2019.

Government of Canada spending and activities

Information on the alignment of the Agency’s spending with the Government of Canada’s spending and activities is available in the GC InfoBase.

Financial statements and financial statements highlights

Financial statements

The Agency’s financial statements (unaudited) for the year ended March 31, 2019, are available on the Agency’s website

Financial statements highlights

The highlights presented in this section are drawn from the Agency’s financial statements.

The financial statements were prepared using the Government of Canada accounting policies, which are based on Canadian public sector accounting standards resulting in figures that may differ from those provided in other sections of the Departmental Results Report prepared on an expenditure basis. A reconciliation between authorities used on an expenditure basis and the net cost of operations prepared on an accrual basis is set out in Note 3 of the Agency’s financial statements.

Condensed Statement of Operations (unaudited) for the year ended March 31, 2019 (dollars)
Financial Information 2018–19
Planned resultsFootnote *
2018–19
Actual results
2017–18
Actual results
Difference (2018–19 Actual minus
2018–19 Planned results)
Difference (2018–19 Actual minus
2017–18 Actual results)
Total expenses 498,950 235,355 231,582 (263,595) 3,773
Total net revenues 0 0 0 0 0
Net cost of operations before government funding and transfers 498,950 235,355 231,582 (263,595) 3,773

Total Agency expenses of $235,355 are consistent with the prior year and the alignment to the reduction in the AHGP project activities while continuing to fulfill Canada’s obligations under the Act.

Condensed Statement of Financial Position (unaudited) as of March 31, 2019 (dollars)
Financial Information 2018–19 2017–18 Difference
(2018–19 minus
2017–18)
Total net liabilities 16,866 136,825 (119,959)
Total net financial assets 11,746 129,042 (117,296)
Departmental net debt 5,120 7,783 (2,663)
Total non-financial assets 5,120 7,783 (2,663)
Departmental net financial position 0 0 0

Total Agency net liabilities include accounts payable of $16,866 to other government departments and agencies. The decrease of $119,959 in accounts payable to other government departments and agencies from 2017-18 is mainly due to the timing of billing by other government departments and agencies, as compared to the previous year.

Total Agency net financial assets of $11,746 consist of $25,281 in accounts receivable from other government departments and agencies and $13,535 due to the consolidated revenue fund, which represents amounts that may have been credited to the Agency authorities but have not been collected yet.

Total Agency non-financial assets of $5,120 consist of tangible capital assets. The decrease of $2,663 from 2017-18 is due to the amortization of capital assets.

Supplementary information

Corporate information

Organizational profile

Appropriate minister: The Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, P.C., M.P.

Institutional head: Christyne Tremblay

Ministerial portfolio: Natural Resources

Enabling instrument: Northern Pipeline Act

Year of incorporation / commencement: 1978

Other: The operating costs of the Northern Pipeline Agency to carry out federal responsibilities for the planning and construction of the Alaska Highway Natural Gas Pipeline project are fully recovered from Foothills Pipe Lines Ltd., the project proponent.

Raison d’être, mandate and role: who we are and what we do

“Raison d’être, mandate and role: who we are and what we do” is available on the Agency's website.

Raison d’être

The Northern Pipeline Agency (Agency) was established by the Northern Pipeline Act in 1978 and, in the context of the 1977 Agreement between Canada and the United States of America on Principles Applicable to a Northern Natural Gas Pipeline. The Agency has a mandate to carry out federal responsibilities in respect of the planning and construction of the Canadian portion of the Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline. The Agency plays a key role in supporting efficient and expeditious regulatory approval while ensuring environmental protection and social and economic benefits for Canada.

Mandate and role

The Agency was created under the Act in 1978 to:

  • facilitate the efficient and expeditious planning and construction of the Canadian portion of the Alaska Highway Gas Pipeline (AHGP) project, taking into account local and regional interests, the interests of the residents, particularly of Indigenous Peoples, and recognizing the responsibilities of the Government of Canada and other governments, as appropriate;
  • facilitate, in relation to the pipeline, consultation and coordination with the governments of the provinces, the Yukon Territory, and the Northwest Territories;
  • maximize the social and economic benefits from the construction and operation of the pipeline while at the same time minimizing any adverse effect on the social and environmental conditions of the areas most directly affected by the pipeline; and
  • advance national economic and energy interests and maximize related industrial benefits.

For more information on the Minister of Natural Resources’ mandate letter commitments, see the Minister's mandate letter.

Operating context and Key Risks

Information on operating context and key risks is available on the Agency’s website.

Operating context

The Agency was responsible for the regulatory oversight of the construction of Phase I (the southern portion) of the AHGP (also known as the Prebuild) in 1981-82 for the initial purpose of transporting gas sourced from Western Canada to the United States (U.S.). These facilities, located in southern British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan, were expanded five times between 1985 and 1998 under the authority of the Act. The current flow capacity of the Prebuild is approximately 94.5 million cubic metres per day (3.3 billion cubic feet per day).

Phase II (the northern portion) of the AHGP would link the Prebuild with U.S. natural gas reserves at Prudhoe Bay in Alaska. Economic conditions since 1982 have led to several delays in the completion of the northern portion of the AHGP. Agency activity levels reflect these fluctuating conditions. Prior to commencing construction of this section of the pipeline, Foothills/TC Energy is required to obtain a comprehensive series of specific approvals from the Agency as set out under the Act. These approvals relate to socio-economic and environmental requirements, routing, technical and engineering design and other matters, such as the demonstration of project financing.

The Agency is also responsible for the administration of the Canada - Foothills easement agreement, which was entered into on November 24, 1983. Pursuant to the decision under the Act, a grant of easement was issued by Order in Council on November 28, 1983. The easement follows the Alaska Highway from the Yukon-Alaska border near Beaver Creek, Yukon, to the Yukon-British Columbia border near Watson Lake, Yukon. The easement agreement allows Foothills/TC Energy to conduct investigative work on easement lands; however, the company requires the approval of the minister responsible for the Agency before it can begin pipeline construction. Unless the term is once again amended, the agreement will expire on September 20, 2022. In addition to the easement, the Agency holds approximately 220 reserves of land along the pipeline route that could be used to support the construction and operation of the pipeline system.

To align with the reduction in the AHGP project activities for the foreseeable future, the Agency has scaled down its operations to a minimal level to fulfill Canada’s ongoing obligations as set out in the Act. During this time of reduced activities, the Agency will also respond to any incoming inquiries from other government agencies, Indigenous peoples and the public. The future of the northern portion of the AHGP continues to rest with its proponents and the commercial marketplace.

Key risks

In May 2012, Foothills/TC Energy notified the Agency that no regulatory filings were planned on the AHGP for now and of their intentions to maintain the AHGP project assets in Canada. Foothills/TC Energy informed the Agency in February 2013 that no further work is planned on the AHGP and that it will await further commercial interest before recommencing its efforts.

The challenge before the Agency is to preserve the progress and outcomes achieved in recent years to deliver an efficient and effective regulatory review framework of updated environmental, socio-economic and technical information which takes into account changes since the Act came into force and the pipeline was certificated in the late 1970s. Failure to be positioned for timely preparations, should the project be resumed, could jeopardize the Government of Canada’s performance of its responsibilities under the Act.

Key risks
Risks Risk response strategy and effectiveness Link to the department’s Programs Link to mandate letter commitments and any government wide and departmental priorities
The Agency needs to be able to manage its ongoing core responsibilities and be in a position to adjust quickly should the proponent receive a clear positive response from the marketplace, and Phase II work is resumed. The Agency will continue to maintain a minimum level of resources to fulfil ongoing responsibilities until such time as Foothills/TC Energy resumes the project, or that Agency actions or federal decisions are needed. Oversee and regulate the planning and construction of the Canadian portion of the Alaska Highway Gas Pipeline Project. Not applicable

Reporting framework

The Agency’s Strategic Outcome and Program Alignment Architecture of record for 2018–2019 are shown below.

1. Strategic Outcome: The planning and construction of the Canadian portion of the Alaska Highway Gas Pipeline project is efficient and expeditious while ensuring environmental protection and social and economic benefits for Canadians.

1.1 Program: Oversee and regulate the planning and construction of the Canadian portion of the Alaska Highway Natural Gas Pipeline Project.

Internal Services

Supporting information on lower-level programs

The Agency has no applicable lower level programs.

Supplementary information tables

The Agency has no applicable supplementary information tables.

Federal tax expenditures

The tax system can be used to achieve public policy objectives through the application of special measures such as low tax rates, exemptions, deductions, deferrals and credits. The Department of Finance Canada publishes cost estimates and projections for these measures each year in the Report on Federal Tax Expenditures. This report also provides detailed background information on tax expenditures, including descriptions, objectives, historical information and references to related federal spending programs. The tax measures presented in this report are the responsibility of the Minister of Finance.

Organizational contact information

The Northern Pipeline Agency has been designated as a department for the purposes of the Financial Administration Act. The Agency currently reports to Parliament through the Minister of Natural Resources, who is responsible for the management and direction of the Agency. During 2018-19, the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi was the Minister of Natural Resources. The Agency has one senior officer, a Commissioner appointed by the Governor in Council. The Commissioner is currently the Deputy Minister of Natural Resources Canada. The Northern Pipeline Agency’s organizational structure is defined by the Northern Pipeline Act.

The Agency’s contact information is as follows:

Mailing address:
470-588 Booth Street
Ottawa, ON K1A 0Y7

Phone: (613) 995-1150

Email: info@npa-apn.gc.ca

Appendix: Definitions

appropriation (crédit)
Any authority of Parliament to pay money out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

budgetary expenditures (dépenses budgétaires)
Operating and capital expenditures; transfer payments to other levels of government, organizations or individuals; and payments to Crown corporations.

Departmental Plan (plan ministériel)
A report on the plans and expected performance of an appropriated department over a three‑year period. Departmental Plans are tabled in Parliament each spring.

Departmental Results Report (rapport sur les résultats ministériels)
A report on an appropriated department’s actual accomplishments against the plans, priorities and expected results set out in the corresponding Departmental Plan.

experimentation (expérimentation)
Activities that seek to explore, test and compare the effects and impacts of policies, interventions and approaches, to inform evidence-based decision-making, by learning what works and what does not.

full‑time equivalent (équivalent temps plein)
A measure of the extent to which an employee represents a full person‑year charge against a departmental budget. Full‑time equivalents are calculated as a ratio of assigned hours of work to scheduled hours of work. Scheduled hours of work are set out in collective agreements.

gender-based analysis plus (GBA+) (analyse comparative entre les sexes plus [ACS+])
An analytical process used to help identify the potential impacts of policies, Programs and services on diverse groups of women, men and gender differences. We all have multiple identity factors that intersect to make us who we are; GBA+ considers many other identity factors, such as race, ethnicity, religion, age, and mental or physical disability.

government-wide priorities (priorités pangouvernementales)
For the purpose of the 2018–19 Departmental Results Report, those high-level themes outlining the government’s agenda in the 2015 Speech from the Throne, namely: Growth for the Middle Class; Open and Transparent Government; A Clean Environment and a Strong Economy; Diversity is Canada’s Strength; and Security and Opportunity.

horizontal initiative (initiative horizontale)
An initiative where two or more departments are given funding to pursue a shared outcome, often linked to a government priority.

Management, Resources and Results Structure (structure de gestion, des ressources et des résultats)
A comprehensive framework that consists of an organization’s inventory of programs, resources, results, performance indicators and governance information. Programs and results are depicted in their hierarchical relationship to each other and to the Strategic Outcome(s) to which they contribute. The Management, Resources and Results Structure is developed from the Program Alignment Architecture.

non‑budgetary expenditures (dépenses non budgétaires)
Net outlays and receipts related to loans, investments and advances, which change the composition of the financial assets of the Government of Canada.

performance (rendement)
What an organization did with its resources to achieve its results, how well those results compare to what the organization intended to achieve, and how well lessons learned have been identified.

performance indicator (indicateur de rendement)
A qualitative or quantitative means of measuring an output or outcome, with the intention of gauging the performance of an organization, program, policy or initiative respecting expected results.

performance reporting (production de rapports sur le rendement)
The process of communicating evidence‑based performance information. Performance reporting supports decision making, accountability and transparency.

plan (plan)
The articulation of strategic choices, which provides information on how an organization intends to achieve its priorities and associated results. Generally a plan will explain the logic behind the strategies chosen and tend to focus on actions that lead up to the expected result.

planned spending (dépenses prévues)
For Departmental Plans and Departmental Results Reports, planned spending refers to those amounts that receive Treasury Board approval by February 1. Therefore, planned spending may include amounts incremental to planned expenditures presented in the Main Estimates.

A department is expected to be aware of the authorities that it has sought and received. The determination of planned spending is a departmental responsibility, and departments must be able to defend the expenditure and accrual numbers presented in their Departmental Plans and Departmental Results Reports.

priority (priorité)
A plan or project that an organization has chosen to focus and report on during the planning period. Priorities represent the things that are most important or what must be done first to support the achievement of the desired Strategic Outcome(s) or Departmental Results.

program (programme)
Individual or groups of services, activities or combinations thereof that are managed together within the department and focus on a specific set of outputs, outcomes or service levels.

Program Alignment Architecture (architecture d’alignement des programmes)
A structured inventory of an organization’s programs depicting the hierarchical relationship between programs and the Strategic Outcome(s) to which they contribute.

result (résultat)
An external consequence attributed, in part, to an organization, policy, program or initiative. Results are not within the control of a single organization, policy, program or initiative; instead they are within the area of the organization’s influence.

statutory expenditures (dépenses législatives)
Expenditures that Parliament has approved through legislation other than appropriation acts. The legislation sets out the purpose of the expenditures and the terms and conditions under which they may be made.

Strategic Outcome (résultat stratégique)
A long‑term and enduring benefit to Canadians that is linked to the organization’s mandate, vision and core functions.

target (cible)
A measurable performance or success level that an organization, program or initiative plans to achieve within a specified time period. Targets can be either quantitative or qualitative.

voted expenditures (dépenses votées)
Expenditures that Parliament approves annually through an Appropriation Act. The Vote wording becomes the governing conditions under which these expenditures may be made.

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