About the Open Science and Data Platform
The Open Science and Data Platform provides access to science, data, publications and information about development activities across the country that can be used to understand the cumulative effects of human activities to support better decisions in the future.
Our goal is:
- To provide access to data, scientific publications and information about natural resource development activities in Canada.
- To help Canadians learn about cumulative effects in their communities.
- To support impact and cumulative effects assessments.
Where does the information come from?
There are many federal, provincial and territorial science and data contributors to the Open Science and Data Platform. The information available will evolve as we continue to connect with additional data holders to ensure we are providing access to the best available information relevant to cumulative effects and development activities in Canada.
Science and Data Contributors
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
- Canada Energy Regulator
- Canadian Heritage
- Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
- Canadian Space Agency
- Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada
- Employment and Social Development Canada
- Environment and Climate Change Canada
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada
- Health Canada
- Impact Assessment Agency of Canada
- Indigenous Services Canada
- Infrastructure Canada
- National Capital Commission
- Natural Resources Canada
- Parks Canada
- Statistics Canada
- Transport Canada
- Government and Municipalities of Québec
- Government of Alberta
- Government of British Columbia
- Government of Manitoba
- Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
- Government of New Brunswick
- Government of Northwest Territories
- Government of Nova Scotia
- Government of Ontario
- Government of Prince Edward Island
- Government of Saskatchewan
- Government of Yukon
Natural Resources Canada, and Environment and Climate Change Canada would like to express appreciation to project development partners whose valuable science and data contributions have played a fundamental role in the success of the Government of Canada’s Open Science and Data Platform to now. We also acknowledge the invaluable support of government and non-government partners who are collaborating on the approach to address cumulative effects, including increased understanding and access to research and knowledge. This important work is in support of the Government of Canada’s priorities including implementing the Impact Assessment Act, enabling meaningful consideration of cumulative effects, ensuring regulatory efficiency for major development activities in Canada, and upholding open government principles, reconciliation and public trust in government decision-making. Together, we continue to make a meaningful impact and look forward to further strengthening these partnerships in the future.
What sets the Open Science and Data Platform apart from other federal ‘open systems’?
Following a comprehensive review of federal environmental and regulatory processes in 2016, the Government of Canada proposed an open science and data platform to access and integrate the available science, evidence and Indigenous knowledge that supports these important processes. Launched in 2021 and co-led by Natural Resources Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada, the Open Science and Data Platform provides Canadians with a single point of access to authoritative scientific publications, geospatial data and regulatory information, which can provide useful information in the understanding of cumulative effects and development activities across Canada. As an information sharing platform, which aggregates contributions from federal, provincial and territorial systems, it offers curated content, including thematic and regional collections allowing users to easily access relevant content for many areas of interest. Users can layer datasets in the Platform’s map viewer which provides a comprehensive picture of cumulative effects at a regional scale.
Open Government
As a member of the Open Government Partnership, Canada releases National Action Plans on Open Government. These plans set the direction for open government in Canada and outline specific and concrete changes to advance transparency, integrity, accountability, and public participation across government. The Open Science and Data Platform is highlighted in the 2022-2024 National Action Plan in terms of making information related to cumulative effects easier for Canadians to find and understand. As part of this commitment, user engagement and feedback are applied to guide priorities for the Platform’s development and content.
Open Science and Data Platform Feedback Survey
Natural Resources Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada ensure that user feedback is collected to inform design, delivery and continuous improvement of the Open Science and Data Platform.
View user survey summary reports:
- May 2022 to August 2022
- September 2022 to November 2022
- December 2022 to February 2023
- March 2023 to May 2023
- June 2023 to September 2023
- October 2023 to December 2023
- January 2024 to March 2024