Sustainable Development Strategies: Using the Tax System and Managing Office Solid Waste

Greening the tax system: Finance Canada dragging its feet

Chapter 3, 2004 Report of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development

Ottawa, 26 October 2004—Departments are not paying enough attention to their sustainable development promises, according to Johanne Gélinas, the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, in her report tabled today in the House of Commons. Although they can provide some examples of actions taken, departments have not taken all the necessary steps to turn their commitments into tangible results.

This year the Commissioner examined commitments in two key areas for achieving environmental and sustainable development progress: the use of the tax system and the management of office solid waste.

The audit looked at Finance Canada's commitments to examine ways to use the tax system to better integrate the economy and the environment. The Department was unable to demonstrate that it was meeting these commitments.

"The tax system has a huge potential to create incentives to improve the environment. Finance Canada is dragging its feet when it should be showing leadership," noted Ms. Gélinas.

The audit looked at six departments and agencies for their progress in managing office solid waste. Even though all of them felt that they were making some good progress, only one could demonstrate that it was meeting commitments made. In addition, the audit examined whether the federal government had met its 1990 target to reduce its waste by 50 percent by 2000. There was confusion among departments and agencies in terms of what this target entails and whether it still applies. In the end, the government does not know if it has met this target.

"I am disappointed because this is a basic area of environmental management where I expected strong performance. These examples are proof that the government is far from the environmental excellence goal it has set for itself," added Ms. Gélinas.

The Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development and her audit team are part of the Office of the Auditor General of Canada. Her mandate is to audit and report to Parliament and Canadians on significant environmental and sustainable development issues.

- 30 -

The chapter "Sustainable Development Strategies: Using the Tax System and Managing Office Solid Waste" is available on the Office of the Auditor General of Canada Web site (www.oag-bvg.gc.ca).

Information:

Communications
Tel.: (613) 952-0213, ext. 6292
E-mail: communications@oag-bvg.gc.ca