Language selection

Search

Archived - Evaluation of the Plant Protection Program

This page has been archived

Information identified as archived is provided for reference, research or record-keeping purposes. It is not subject to the Government of Canada Web Standards and has not been altered or updated since it was archived. Please contact us to request a format other than those available.

Evaluation

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency's (CFIA) Evaluation Directorate is responsible for evaluating the relevance and performance of Agency programs, policies and initiatives. This effort supports informed decision-making and enhances performance and accountability.

The Evaluation Directorate is accountable to the CFIA's Evaluation Committee, chaired by the President. All evaluations must be reported to the Evaluation Committee and must be conducted in accordance with the Treasury Board's Policy on Evaluation. Evaluation projects are selected during an annual Agency planning process, and then reflected in the Agency's Evaluation Plan, which is approved by the Evaluation Committee.

Overview

The need for an internal evaluation of the Plant Protection Program (PPP) was identified in the Agency's Evaluation Plan (2013–2018). The evaluation was meant to inform ongoing program design and decisions making. In addition, it was meant to support the CFIA's compliance with the requirements of the Treasury Board Policy on Evaluation (2009) for evaluation coverage of all direct program spending within a five-year period.

The PPP is one of four subprograms operating under the CFIA's Plant Resources Program. The PPP is meant to mitigate the risks associated with introduction and spread of plant pests, including Invasive Alien Species, into Canada. This involves limiting their entry into the country as well as detecting, tracking, and eradicating once they have been identified in Canada. The legislative basis for the PPP is primarily the Plant Protection Act (PPA) and Regulations and, to a lesser extent, the Seeds Act and Regulations.

Key Findings

The evaluation noted that the PPP supports three government objectives: Healthy Canadians; Strong Economic Growth; and a Clean and Healthy Environment.  As such, there is a continued need for the program.  The program is also aligned with government priorities, roles and responsibilities.  However, the evaluation found that it was difficult to determine the efficiency and economy of the program because of insufficient performance measures.  Most of the evaluation's recommendations are aimed at addressing the need for better performance data.

Complete Report

Date modified: