Sustainable Communities: Local Solutions for local needs

How does WD help create sustainable communities?

A sustainable community is one that can independently manage and maximize its resources in order to develop a strong economic and social environment for its population. Along with fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in Western Canada, creating sustainable communities is one of WD's three strategic directions.

Local solutions for local needs

We work to integrate federal programs so their impact on community development and sustainability is maximized; strengthen the capacity of urban and rural communities to implement activities promoting sustainability; and help identify new economic opportunities for communities facing severe adjustment impacts.

WD is firmly committed to ensuring that its sustainable economic or community development activities are relevant to regional needs. WD fosters economic development through partnerships and collaboration with other levels of government, as well as private, non-profit, and community organizations. We work with universities, community groups, research organizations, municipal governments and businesses to determine local needs and local opportunities. We help these local entities form strategic partnerships, which can more successfully access funds, and create an environment where economic development opportunities can flourish.

Sustainable solutions for long-term growth

WD considers sustainability an integral part of the decision-making process on economic development matters. Every WD development or diversification initiative is examined based on sustainability and impact on the environmental, social, and economic future of the West. WD focuses on activities that support the on-going economic well-being of Western Canada while making significant contributions to environmental and social areas as well.

WD's Sustainable Development Strategy (SDS) outlines our commitment to sustainability. Every three years, federal departments and agencies are required to update their SDSs. The progress of these strategies is reported annually in the Departmental Performance Report (DPR).

What's the WD Connection?

Sustainable Community Programs and Services

WD helps the West develop to its full economic potential through a variety of programs and services, tailored to the region's own particular strengths, needs, and opportunities.

Western Economic Partnership Agreements (WEPAs) are agreements between the federal government and each of the four provincial governments to promote economic growth and improved quality of life in Western Canada. These agreements focus on strategic areas of mutual interest and will bring a total of $200 million in federal and provincial contributions over four years.

The Infrastructure Canada Program is a national program designed to help renew and build infrastructure in rural and urban municipalities across Canada. By administering this program in the western provinces, WD is helping to ensure that western Canadian communities have the municipal physical infrastructure to meet their development needs.

The Softwood Community Economic Adjustment Initiative (SICEAI) is a national program to support forest-dependent communities across Canada that have experienced a negative impact on local employment since the introduction of the US countervailing duties on softwood lumber. WD delivers the program in Western Canada.

Through the Francophone Economic Development Initiatives, WD is committed to fulfilling the objectives of Section 41 of the Official Languages Act in Western Canada, which include enhancing the vitality of English and French linguistic minority communities, supporting and assisting their development, and fostering the full recognition and use of both English and French in Canadian society.

WD's Urban Development Agreements are agreements between federal, provincial, and municipal governments to address broad urban issues through partnership and shared goals. Urban Development Agreements focus on addressing key challenges facing the largest cities in the West, realizing opportunities in innovation and ensuring the full participation of all groups in the economies of those cities.

Red River Valley Flood Protection programs are helping reduce future damage - in both social and economic terms - from major floods in Winnipeg.

WD fosters economic development by serving the needs of Western Canada's small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Through our partners in the Western Canada Business Service Network, SMEs can access WD's business services in through a single portal. Partners include Canada Business Service Centres, Community Futures Development Corporations, Women's Enterprise Initiative offices, and Francophone Economic Development Organizations.

Since 1995, WD and the western provinces have worked together to support pan-western tourism marketing through the Tourism Alliance for Western Canada Inc., which represents the western provinces in areas of mutual concern relating to the tourism industry. Most recently, WD and the four provinces together contributed $10 million to support an emergency recovery marketing initiative to assist the western tourism industry. In total, WD has contributed approximately $19 million to the Tourism Alliance for marketing initiatives, and about $19 million in support of more than 90 other tourism projects since 2000.

WD is responsible for administering the Urban Aboriginal Strategy

in the West. The UAS aims to reduce the level of disparity that urban Aboriginal people currently face by tailoring government programs to address the local needs and priorities of Aboriginal people living in cities. The 2004 federal budget announced that federal funding for the Strategy is being doubled to $50 million over four years.

WD is working with a wide variety of partners to prepare for the United Nations World Urban Forum, which will be held in Vancouver in 2006. Held every two years, the Forum provides an opportunity for interaction between governments, private sector, and not-for-profit groups committed to building sustainable urban communities around the world. The 2006 Forum will showcase international examples of best practices and replicable projects that will help to generate global actions and fundamentally impact the national urban policies of participating countries.

What's been accomplished and what's on the horizon?

WD has invested millions of dollars to promote sustainable communities in the West, and will continue to work to build partnerships between governments, the private sector, and local residents and organizations to capitalize on economic and community development opportunities. Click on the program links above for detailed information on what's been accomplished and what's ahead.


	Last Updated: 2006-01-17	top of page	[ Important Notices ]