Sustainable Development

Sustainable Development Strategy 1997

Safeguarding our Assets, Securing our Future

Goal 2, Objective 2.1

Employment levels and productivity in resource and resource-related
industries. Reported in 1999-2000.

What Does the Graph Mean?

Improving our quality of life and standard of living requires production
improvements. Resources remain important to Canada's economy
due to production gains. Six of Canada's top ten leaders in
productivity growth from 1984-98 were resource based. More recently,
the pulp and paper sector has seen productivity growth of 2.5% per
year over the 1993 to 1998 time period, reflecting significant capital
investments in the early 1990s. In 1998, five of the ten leaders
in GDP per hour of work were resource industries. Canada's
Natural Resource sectors provide a steady and solid foundation of
high paying, highly skilled jobs. For the period 1998-99 overall
employment in the resource industries increased by 15,000 GDP per
employee was high at an average of 96,000 per employee

NRCan's Contribution

NRCan provides accurate measurements of employment and GDP for
the resource sectors by reviewing the subject matter to ensure accuracy
and applicability to the resource.

NRCan has reviewed productivity reports to determine the significant
achievements of the resource industry in this area.

NRCan provides contributions to projects done in conjunction with
private industry that will improve the productivity of workers,
including:

• focuses on economic growth and quality of life
• an innovation plan to spur productivity
• investing in science, new technologies and knowledge; and
• supporting skills development and knowledge dissemination

Next Steps

More knowledge will be provided by ResSources/NRCan's On-line
initiative.

Our finding will be used to improve the work opportunities forCanadians
in rural, northern and Aboriginal communities. NRCan will continue
to provide accurate employment and productivity data for the resource
industries, reviewed by subject matter officers familiar with the
industry. Productivity rates for the resource industries will continue
to be calculated using the sectoral comparison data generated by
NRCan.

NRCan will continue to advance work on innovation, science and
resource-related technologies that will improve productivity. Information
for resource-related industries will be added to the performance
indicators when the data are available.

Goal 2, Objective 2.1

Contribution of the natural resources sector to the GDP. Reported
in 2000-01.

What Does the Graph Mean?

• This graph brings together statistical information on the
  GDP in 1992 prices to describe the importance of natural resources
  industries, including the energy, forestry, and minerals and metals
  industries, to the economy.
• In 2000, the GDP of the natural resources industries was
  estimated at $94,416 million, accounting for 12% of the GDP of the
  total economy. From 1996 to 2000, the GDP of the natural resource
  industries increased by 8.55%, averaging more than a 2% increase
  per year.
• In addition to being directly responsible for over 900 thousand
  employees in Canada, these industries create many more indirect
  jobs in other industries that provide supplies and services.
• Employment is the most important measure to many of resource-dependent
  communities in Canada. Natural resources industries provide high
  paying jobs across Canada, particularly in rural and remote areas.

NRCan's Contribution

• NRCan is recognized internationally for the research and
  development it conducts in cooperation with leading research institutions
  making significant contributions to the strength of natural resources
  industries within the Canadian economy.
• NRCan supports development of world-class energy technologies,
  promotes Canadian forest science and technology throughout the world,
  and houses the world's leading knowledge base of Canada's minerals
  and metals industry.
• NRCan develops resource-oriented technologies, and promotes
  the success of natural resources industries in the knowledge-based
  innovative economy.
• NRCan explores and enhances international opportunities
  for Canadian companies, and leads international trade and investment
  missions to provide improved market access for Canadian natural
  resource products.
• NRCan helps Canadian companies market products at home and
  internationally.

Next Steps

• Innovation and productivity growth are key to maintaining
  strong natural resources industries in Canada. NRCan will both perform
  and support R&D to improve our industrial competitiveness, and
  to provide S&T solutions for a healthy environment
• To spur innovation in natural resources industries, NRCan
  will continue to strengthen its science and technology programs.
• NRCan will strive to build strong collaborative partnerships
  to develop the critical mass necessary to achieve research excellence
  and competitive advantage.
• NRCan will continue to promote the vital economic contributions
  of natural resources industries to the economy.
• NRCan will advance sustainable development by working
  with partners to develop technically- sound solutions to environmental
  problems.

Goal 2, Objective 2.3

Leveraged funding from First Nations Communities and other partners
under the First Nations Forestry Program. Reported in 1998-99.

What Does the Graph Mean?

• Federal funding has been used by First Nations project applicants
  to lever additional project funds from First Nations communities
  and other non-Aboriginal partners annually since 1996-97.
• Non-Aboriginal partner funding has grown substantially since
  the beginning of the program.
• Over the first three years of the program, 1996-97
  to 1998-99, federal funding of $16.4 million resulted in an additional
  $27.9 million being levered bringing total program value to $44.0
  million.
• Leverage ratios were 1:1 in 1996-97; 1:2.2 in 1997-98;
  and 1:1.9 in 1998-99.

NRCan's Contribution

• NRCan works closely with First Nations project applicants
  and encourages them to seek out partners to support projects.
• NRCan informs non-Aboriginal forestry companies and provincial
  government agencies of the First Nations Forestry Program and the
  potential opportunities to partner with First Nations.
• NRCan provides the infrastructure and coordination
  for the implementation of the program, including the coordination
  of the National Management Committee and provincial and territorial
  managements committees that bring the program partners together.

What's Next?

• NRCan will continue to assist First Nations to acquire
  non-Aboriginal partner funds.
• NRCan will continue to market the benefits and importance
  of partnerships to government and non-Aboriginal forestry companies
  to ensure First Nations forestry needs are met.

Goal 2, Objective 2.3

Leveraged funding from First Nations Communities and other partners
under the First Nations Forestry Program. Reported in 2000-01.

What Does the Graph Mean?

• Canada's First Nation Forestry Program is a vehicle
  for improving economic conditions in First Nation communities based
  upon sustainable forest management.
• Federal funding has been used by First Nation project applicants
  to lever additional project funds from First Nation communities
  and other non-Aboriginal partners annually since 1996-97.
• Over the first five years of the program, federal contribution
  funding of $21.1 million resulted in an additional $49.0 million
  being levered from First Nation and other sources to bring total
  program value to $74.1 million.

NRCan's Contribution

• NRCan works closely with First Nation project applicants
  and encourages them to seek out partners to support projects.
• NRCan informs non-Aboriginal forestry companies and provincial
  government agencies of the First Nation Forestry Program and the
  potential opportunities to partner with First Nations.
• NRCan provides the infrastructure and coordination for the
  implementation of the program, including the coordination of the
  National Management Committee and provincial and territorial management
  committees that bring program partners together.
• FNFP has supported 966 projects and successfully provided
  3,900 First Nation workers with job experience, created over 55,000
  person-weeks of employment and received 1,480 project proposals
  valued at $152.5 million.
• Examples of project accomplishments over the past five years
  include training and technology transfer in specialized areas such
  as home log building, nursery development, wildfire certification
  courses, silviculture and business planning. Other accomplishments
  included the creation of First Nation and non-Aboriginal partnerships
  in forestry activities and processing.

What's Next?

• NRCan and its partner, INAC, will continue to provide technical
  and other assistance to First Nations in the development of forestry
  related economic opportunities.
• NRCan will continue to assist First Nations to acquire non-Aboriginal
  partner funds.
• NRCan will continue to market the benefits and importance
  of partnerships to government and non Aboriginal forestry companies
  to ensure First Nation forestry needs are met.
• NRCan will demonstrate that the FNFP is meeting objectives.
• NRCan will continue to chronicle community-based success
  stories in the FNFP annual report and in departmental publications
  such as the First Nation Forestry Program, Five Years in Review
  (1996/97 2000/01).
• NRCan, in collaboration with Indian and Northern Affairs
  Canada, will seek the renewal of the FNFP in 2001-2002.