Archived - International Polar Year

Name of Horizontal Initiative: International Polar Year (IPY)

Name of Lead Department(s): Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC) – Northern Affairs Program

Lead Department Program Activity: Northern Science and Technology

Start Date: April 1, 2006

End Date: March 31, 2012

Total Federal Funding Allocation (from start date to end date): $150 million over six years

Description of the Horizontal Initiative (including funding agreement): To support Canada's participation in International Polar Year (IPY), the Government of Canada has invested $150 million over six years. This funding is being used to carry out an innovative and multidisciplinary Arctic science program. The Government of Canada IPY program is led by AANDC and involves 12 federal departments and agencies, including the lead departments of Environment Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Health Canada, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (on behalf of Industry Canada), Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

Canada's significant involvement and investment in IPY contributes to the government's stewardship of Canada's Northern Region. The Government of Canada IPY program is working with Canadian scientists and northern communities in developing and conducting activities such as research, training and capacity building.

Key areas of the Government of Canada IPY program include:

• undertaking new science and research in and for the North, which includes the involvement of northern communities;
• ensuring the health and safety of scientists and communities conducting research in the North;
• communicating information about the program and the science undertaken;
• building capacity, through training opportunities for youth and Northerners aimed at enhancing participation in northern scientific research;
• ensuring that the resultant scientific knowledge and data are properly managed, archived and made accessible; and
• supporting the appropriate procedural, regulatory and infrastructure framework for conducting scientific research.

The funds are distributed among federal departments and agencies according to their involvement in the various aspects of the program. The Northern IPY Co-coordinators maintain a regional network to support all aspects of Canada's IPY program in four Inuit regions across the North. The federal departments and agencies participating in IPY are undertaking research projects, delivering support for logistics and emergency preparedness, and contributing to projects for training, communications and outreach.

Shared Outcome(s): The IPY program works toward the achievement of two outcomes:

• Increased understanding of impacts of a changing climate and of health and well-being of northern communities, informs policy and decision making, and contributes to recognition of Canada as an expert on the Canadian North.
• Northern research capacity is enhanced through newly trained scientists, knowledge and skills transfer to Northerners, and greater participation in planning and delivery of research by Northerners.

Governance Structure(s):

• Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM) Committee on Arctic Science and Technology (chaired by the ADM of Northern Affairs, AANDC);
• IPY Federal Program Office (housed at AANDC);
• Director Generals communications committees on IPY; and
• IPY advisory subcommittees.
• International Steering Committee comprised of international polar science organizations to assist in the program development of the IPY "Knowledge for Action" Conference that Canada hosted in April 2012.

Performance Highlights:

IPY Program
2011–2012 was the final year for the International Polar Year (IPY) program, which has positioned Canada as a leader in Arctic science and research. In 2011–2012 efforts were focused on synthesizing, communicating and preserving the vast amount of knowledge generated since the program's inception.  IPY Highlight and Synthesis reports, regional newsletters and an IPY Canada Science Report, which will be published in a special issue of the Journal of Climate Change, will help ensure that Canadians and Northerners benefit from the program's findings. The Canadian IPY Publications Database was created to ensure the preservation and legacy of the scientific data obtained. AANDC will maintain an ex-officio role in the governance of the Canadian Polar Data Network (formerly the IPY Data Assembly Network).

Of the 45 Canadian IPY scientific projects, 33 included the application of traditional knowledge. The results and new knowledge generated from the Canadian IPY projects will increase the understanding of sea ice and oceans, atmospheric and terrestrial systems, ecosystems, wildlife, human health and community well-being. This knowledge will be important for developing Canada's northern natural resources and will contribute to the economic growth and competitiveness of Canada's northern regions. This knowledge will also inform policies, programs and practices both within Canada and abroad, and contribute to a better understanding of the state of the polar regions. For example, the Inuit Health Survey helped to inform health policy and early childhood education. As a result of this research, the Government of Nunavut created a Food Security Task Force to set priorities for health interventions and the Nunavik Board of Health modified its nutritional policy and promotional campaign to encourage country food consumption.

IPY 2012 Conference
Planning continued for the April 22–27 International Polar Year 2012 Conference, entitled "From Knowledge to Action." The goal of the IPY conference, to be held in fiscal year 2012–2013, is to present findings that will contribute to discussions of how this new knowledge can be used to advance Arctic issues. One month prior to the event, the conference program had over 1000 presentations and 800 posters scheduled.

Federal Partners	Federal Partner Program Activity	Names of Programs for Federal Partners	Total Allocation (from start date to end date) ($ millions)	2011–12 ($ millions)
AANDC	Lands and Resources	Government of Canada IPY program	59.7	Planned Spending: 3.71 Actual Spending: 4.67 Expected Results: Preparing a final report on the findings / results of the IPY science projects; supporting the scientific synthesis process. Dissemination to northern communities of the results and knowledge acquired through IPY science projects. Increased participation of Northerners and Aboriginal people in Arctic science activities. Managing the data collected through the IPY science programs for long term preservation and future access. Improve access to information, training and communication amongst northern research licensing stakeholders. Results Achieved: Produced three synthesis reports and four northern newsletters. The IPY Conference planned will focus on Synthesizing IPY Results. Completed the collection of available IPY data as a legacy for future generations and produced four regional northern newsletters. Continued northern communication through the work of the IPY Northern Coordinators. The IPY 2012 "From Knowledge to Action" conference, April 23-27, 2012, will generate discussion of how this new knowledge can be used to advance Arctic issues.
Health Canada	Sustainable Environmental Health	Environmental Health Surveillance	0.16	Planned Spending: 0.0 Actual Spending: 0.0 Expected Results: Not applicable, as IPY funding has not been allocated in FY 2011–2012 Results Achieved: Not applicable, as IPY funding has not been allocated in FY 2011–2012
Environment Canada	Biodiversity – Wildlife and Habitat	Government of Canada IPY program	11.7	Planned Spending: 0.0 Actual Spending: 0.0 Expected Results: Not applicable, as IPY funding has not been allocated in FY 2011–2012 Results Achieved: Not applicable, as IPY funding has not been allocated in FY 2011–2012
	Water Resources
	Weather and Environmental Services for Canadians
Fisheries and Oceans Canada	Oceanography and Climate Aquatic Ecosystem Science	Government of Canada IPY program	31.54	Planned Spending: 0.0 Actual Spending: 0.0 Expected Results: Not applicable, as IPY funding has not been allocated in FY 2011–2012 Results Achieved: Not applicable, as IPY funding has not been allocated in FY 2011–2012
Natural Resources Canada	Adapting to Changing Climate and Hazard Risk management	Climate Change Geoscience , Public Safety Geoscience	3.06	Planned Spending: 0.0 Actual Spending: 0.0 Expected Results: Not applicable, as IPY funding has not been allocated in FY 2011–2012 Results Achieved: Not applicable, as IPY funding has not been allocated in FY 2011–2012
	Ecosystem Risk Management	Environmental Geoscience Program
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)	Science for Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation	Government of Canada IPY program	31.29	Planned Spending: 0.0 Actual Spending: 0.0 Expected Results: Not applicable, as IPY funding has not been allocated in FY 2011–2012 Results Achieved: Not applicable, as IPY funding has not been allocated in FY 2011–2012
	Health and Well-being of Northern Communities
Canadian Institutes of Health Research	Strategic Priority Research	Government of Canada IPY program	9.75	Planned Spending: 0.0 Actual Spending: 0.0 Expected Results: Not applicable, as IPY funding has not been allocated in FY 2011–2012 Results Achieved: Not applicable, as IPY funding has not been allocated in FY 2011–2012
Canada Food Inspection Agency	Food Safety and Nutrition Risks	Parasitology	0.41	Planned Spending: 0.0 Actual Spending: 0.0 Expected Results: Not applicable, as IPY funding has not been allocated in FY 2011–2012 Results Achieved: Not applicable, as IPY funding has not been allocated in FY 2011–2012
Parks Canada Agency	Conserve Heritage Resources	IPY Climate Change Impacts on the Canadian Arctic Tundra	0.82	Planned Spending: 0.0 Actual Spending: 0.0 Expected Results: Not applicable, as IPY funding has not been allocated in FY 2011–2012 Results Achieved: Not applicable, as IPY funding has not been allocated in FY 2011–2012
		IPY Freshwater Systems	0.53
Public Health Agency of Canada	Public Health Agency of Canada	Government of Canada IPY program	0.62	Planned Spending: 0.0 Actual Spending: 0.0 Expected Results: Not applicable, as IPY funding has not been allocated in FY 2011–2012 Results Achieved: Not applicable, as IPY funding has not been allocated in FY 2011–2012
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada	Agriculture and Agri-Food	Government of Canada IPY program	0.16	Planned Spending: 0.0 Actual Spending: 0.0 Expected Results: Not applicable, as IPY funding has not been allocated in FY 2011–2012 Results Achieved: Not applicable, as IPY funding has not been allocated in FY 2011–2012
Canadian Museum of Civilization	Canadian Museum of Civilization	Government of Canada IPY program	0.80	Planned Spending: 0.0 Actual Spending: 0.0 Expected Results: Not applicable, as IPY funding has not been allocated in FY 2011–2012 Results Achieved: Not applicable, as IPY funding has not been allocated in FY 2011–2012
Total			150.54	Total Planned Spending: 3.71 Total Actual Spending: 4.67

Comments on Variances: The increase in actual funds spent was a result of the upfront costs necessary for planning an international conference. AANDC contributed this additional variance and the IPY 2012 Conference Partnership and Fundraising Committee has been working to offset the costs.

Results Achieved by Non-Federal Partners (if applicable): N/A

Contact Information:
John Kozij
A/Director General
Aboriginal Affairs & Northern Development Canada
15 Eddy, 10th Floor. Gatineau, QC  K1A 0H4
Tel: 819-997-9449
Fax: 819-997-0552
John.Kozij@aadnc-aandc.gc.ca