Canada's Performance 2002

The Canadian Environment

The Issue
 

A clean and healthy environment is essential for Canada's economic and social well-being and that of future generations. The natural environment has a tremendous capacity to absorb and filter the outputs of human activity. Much of it is renewable and highly resilient. But, when it becomes overloaded, the economic, health, and social impacts can be devastating.

Our environment is part of our identity, part of our values. The results of inaction and failure to strategically manage issues are clear: costs to our health and the health care system will increase; the sustainability of the economy and our way of life will continue to be compromised; safety and security risks will rise; opportunities to promote innovative solutions to environmental issues will be lost; costs of clean-up and recovery will increase for future generations; and more and more unique spaces and species - our natural heritage - will be lost.

For these reasons, Canadians are profoundly interested in the environment. One of the ways Canadians demonstrate their concern is through willing participation in environmental assessments. Federal departments and agencies undertake, on average, 5,500 to 6,000 environmental assessments annually. These are conducted to identify the environmental effects of proposed projects and the measures required to address them. Many Canadians participate in these assessments by providing their views on how the potential ill effects of specific projects can be avoided or reduced.

Individuals, businesses, and all levels of government bear stewardship responsibility for the environment. From commuters who decide to carpool, to industrial plants that implement pollution prevention programs and process improvements, all Canadians play a crucial role in sustaining the value and integrity of the country's environmental assets.

The role of the federal government is complex. The Government of Canada is responsible not only for environmental management of federal lands and territories at sea, which are set out as legislative obligations, but also for substantial international commitments. The federal government has a critical role to play in the advancement of knowledge in the public interest. This knowledge is the foundation upon which the other federal roles rely, and upon which we can promote and leverage action by others.

Defined by these roles, the Government of Canada addresses environmental issues on many fronts, and does so with a sustainable development approach, which is one that recognizes the synergies of environmental, economic, and social policy objectives. Many federal departments, for instance, regularly table sustainable development strategies that are monitored by the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development. These strategies help departments to position their programs, policies, and initiatives in relation to broad environmental, economic, and social outcomes.

The federal government has a three-pronged strategy that responds to the complexity and global nature of environmental issues. Knowledge is essential for good policy and sound decision making. The federal government has a significant role to play to ensure that the right research and information, and sound understanding of them, including possible uncertainties, are made available in a timely manner to decision-makers. Second, innovative approaches support our ability to apply environmental knowledge and shift behaviours while promoting efficiency and long-term competitiveness. Third, while governments must continue to play a leadership role, addressing environmental issues is a shared responsibility. Partnerships between jurisdictions and different sectors within society are key to lasting solutions.

International comparisons are difficult in the realm of environmental indicators. Canada is a fairly strong performer according to many World Economic Forum indicators, for instance, but an average-to-poor performer when compared with peer nations using some OECD indicators. However, there is general consensus that Canada's environmental performance shows a need for improvement in some areas. In particular, despite the small size of our population relative to the vast size of our country, we face increasing demands on our natural resources. In fact, in some resource sectors, such as energy use and water consumption, Canadians rank among the highest per capita generators of environmental pressures in the world. (Key Environmental Indicators, 2001, OECD)

Developing a coherent picture of our environment from existing information is a challenge. On one hand, we have information on broad-scale issues, such as acid rain and climate change. On the other hand, information on issues of local importance, such as water and air quality, is limited but also important. Obviously, no single measure could cover the full spectrum. The challenge is to develop information systems describing the interaction between human activities and the environment and casting light on issues from the local to the global for all major components of the environment (i.e., natural resources, land areas and ecosystems).

At present, Canada has several of the components of such a system, and the federal government is striving to fill in the gaps and integrate elements already in place. The Minister of the Environment commissioned a task force to explore the development of a Canadian Information System for the Environment. The task force presented its final report in October 2001, and work on an implementation plan is now proceeding. The National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy has also been commissioned to develop indicators that show key linkages between the environment and social and economic well-being.

With existing information, it is possible to form a useful, though incomplete, picture of Canada's environment and our relationship with it. This chapter presents a snapshot of some of this information based on the following four indicators:

• air quality, assessed by the levels of ground-level ozone, particulate matter, and several other air pollutants;
• water quality, assessed by the percentage of the municipal population with wastewater treatment;
• biodiversity, assessed by the change in status of species considered at risk; and
• toxic substances in the environment, assessed by the amount of these substances released across Canada.

What We Know
 

Average air pollution levels in Canada have improved over the last 25 years. Despite this improvement, smog remains a serious health concern in many parts of the country. Smog is a common term for urban air pollution made up of the following two key components:

• Particulate matter refers to all solid or liquid airborne particles - except pure water - that are microscopic in size. Particles are either directly emitted into the air from smoke, fumes, and dust or are formed in the atmosphere through chemical reactions involving previously emitted gases, such as nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide, volatile organic compounds and ammonia. The smallest airborne particles, particulate matter with diameters smaller than or equal to 2.5 micrometers (PM_2.5), pose the greatest threat to human health, because they can travel deepest into the lungs.  
   
• Ground-level ozone is formed when pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds react in the presence of sunlight. Ground-level ozone is an air pollutant that can irritate the lungs and make breathing dangerously difficult, particularly for people with asthma or other lung ailments. It can also pose a serious health hazard for elderly persons and children.

It is difficult to identify definitive trends upwards or downwards for particulate matter or ground-level ozone in recent years. Weather conditions (the frequency of hot days with low wind speeds, for example) are especially important, causing year-to-year variations in ground-level ozone and particulate matter concentrations. Climate change is also expected to worsen summer smog episodes in Canada.

The major areas of concern for smog episodes are the Windsor-Quebec City corridor, the southern Atlantic Region, some parts of Alberta and the lower Fraser Valley of British Columbia.

In 2000, Canada signed the Ozone Annex under the 1991 Canada-US Air Quality Agreement to reduce the flow of certain air pollutants across the Canada-US border. Also in 2000, the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment endorsed Canada-wide standards for several airborne pollutants, including ground-level ozone and fine particulate matter (PM_2.5). These standards set ambient targets to be achieved by 2010.

Since 1980, decreases have been observed in the level of nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, and carbon monoxide in Canada, as a percentage of maximum acceptable levels. Air quality data is measured at over 152 stations in 55 cities in the provinces and territories.

Water Quality: Canadians rely on high-quality fresh water for consumption, recreation, livestock watering, and crop irrigation as well as industrial processes. Clean water is also vital for aquatic life. Lifestyle and economy in Canada are often closely linked to water quality as well, particularly for Northern, remote and First Nations communities. Canadians consider protecting the quality of drinking water sources and maintaining the integrity of aquatic ecosystems to be important environmental issues.

Human activity affects the quality of water resources throughout the country. Threats to water quality can come from sewage, storm water runoff, industrial effluent, waste from intensive livestock operations, agricultural runoff, and the deposition of atmospheric pollution. Climate change also influences water quality. Higher temperatures and more evaporation in summer, for example, will reduce surface water volume while promoting growth of micro-organisms. Municipal wastewater effluents remain one of the biggest sources of pollution, by volume, to Canadian waters. Wastewater contaminants degrade the quality of Canadian estuaries, lakes, rivers, and coastal waters.

Where investments in wastewater treatment infrastructure, technology and sewer-use control programs have been instituted, progress has been significant. Wastewater treatment from municipal systems has shown continuous improvement over the past two decades. In 1983, more than 27% of the municipal population in Canada connected to municipal sewer systems had no sewage treatment. By 1999, this number had dropped to less than 4%.

Despite these improvements, challenges remain, especially with the ageing of many wastewater treatment facilities and the lack of such facilities in many rural and coastal communities. The degree of wastewater treatment varies greatly across Canada. In British Columbia, about 63% of the population served by sewers had secondary or tertiary treatment in 1999. In Ontario and the Prairie provinces, over 94% of the sewered population had secondary or tertiary treatment, and in Quebec some 43% of the sewered population had primary treatment and about 54% had secondary or tertiary treatment in 1999. Currently, negligible amounts of tertiary treatment exist in the Atlantic Provinces. (National Environmental Indicator Series "Urban Water," Summer 2001)

Many rural Canadians are served by septic systems, and many coastal communities have only primary wastewater treatment or no treatment at all. Additional pressure comes from expanded agricultural operations and population growth. Since 1983, urban population growth has contributed to a 24% increase in nitrogen loadings to Canadian fresh waters passing through municipal treatment plants. It is also known that certain chemicals are not effectively removed from the effluent stream, examples include pharmaceuticals and personal care products. Emerging science indicates that some of these chemicals may have insidious environmental effects by disrupting hormonal processes in animal and plant life.

Canadians are among the biggest water users in the world. Since 1980, overall water use in Canada has increased by 25.7%. In comparison with 30 OECD nations, only U.S. citizens use more water than Canadians per capita. Canada uses 16,000 litres of water per person per year, a per capita water consumption that is 65% above the OECD average.
(OECD Environmental Data, 1999)

Biodiversity: Healthy biological diversity - as reflected in functioning ecosystems - contributes fundamentally to the earth's suppl y of clean water, clean air, climatic stability, and productive soils. The conservation of the variety of species, their genetic diversity, and the ecosystems of which they are a part is essential to the stability and sustainability of life and livelihoods on the planet. Canadians have a shared responsibility to ensure that native ecosystems and species are conserved.

Canada is home to about 71,500 known species of wild animals, plants, and other organisms, and an estimated 66,000 species may yet be discovered. (Canada's National Environmental Indicator Series: 10 Years of Reporting, 2002) Around the world, wildlife populations and their habitats have been disappearing rapidly as a result of deforestation, the spread of non-native species, the loss and deterioration of wetlands, hunting and harvesting, and air and water pollution. Loss of species or change in species composition may threaten ecosystem health and pose risks to our economic and socio-cultural sustainability.

The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) has been identifying and monitoring Canadian species considered to be at risk since 1978. COSEWIC regularly reassesses the status of many species on the list. During the period from 1985 to 2002, the status of most reassessed species remained unchanged, and the status of a quarter of the reassessed species deteriorated. The places in Canada with the most endangered or threatened species are those where humans have had the greatest impact on the environment. (Canada's National Environmental Indicator Series: 10 Years of Reporting, 2002)

Humans are exerting significant stress on our natural flora and fauna. While Canada is abundant in natural resources, it is not immune from threats to it. Ongoing stresses include the disappearance of prime agricultural land, water, and soil pollution. This has contributed to the depletion of critical vegetation cover and biodiversity as well as the pending extinction of some of Canada's species. Canada's wetlands continue to disappear; old-growth forests on the West Coast and in the boreal forests are shrinking. Less than 5% of Canada's tall grass prairie and 10% of Ontario's Carolinian forests remains.

Marine environments are also facing severe environmental threats from over-exploitation, pollution from land-based and sea-based activities, and the alteration and destruction of habitats and ecosystems. The health of oceans is affected by sewage and pollutant discharge in marine waters, excessive growth of marine plant life, alien species introduction, and changes to hydrology and sediment flow.

The federal government is responding by increasing the number of areas where the natural and marine environments are protected and by taking action to protect endangered species.

The amount of strictly protected area in Canada has been increasing significantly over the last century. To date, over 1,044,000 km² have been protected. Parks, wilderness areas, habitat, and species protected areas make up the largest portions of this total. However, most protected areas are smaller than 10 km², likely too small to protect the ecosystems within. Over 40% of Canadian ecoregions have no strictly protected areas.

Toxic Substances: Toxic substances come from many industrial and household sources. As of 1986, approximately 23,000 substances were in use in industrial processes and consumer goods in Canada. In addition, new substances are developed in or imported into Canada every year. Some of these improve our standard of living; however, others could threaten our health and our environment.

Certain substances, such as mercury, dioxins or furans and PCBs, build up in organisms over time, become increasingly concentrated, and have a stronger toxic effect as they move through the food chain.

Marine mammals and other wildlife are being studied and are used as an early warning signal for potential effects on human health. Human health concerns related to these chemicals are also being studied by monitoring levels in breast milk and tissues. For example, numerous studies have found that levels of certain organo-chlorines and heavy metals such as mercury are significantly higher in the breast milk of Inuit women than among women in southern Canada.

The federal government's principal framework for protecting Canadians and the environment from harmful substances is the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999). Under CEPA 1999 the Government of Canada is mandated to categorize the 23,000 substances on the domestic substances list by 2006. Categorization will determine which substances require assessments. As well, all new chemicals, polymers and products of biotechnology are assessed prior to manufacture, import or sale in Canada. Canada is the first country to systematically categorize all substances in commerce.

The federal government, in partnership with the provinces and territories, is also working to reduce the amount of toxic substances released into the environment through measures such as codes of practice, pollution prevention plans, economic instruments, regulations, Canada-wide standards and voluntary initiatives.

Important progress has been made towards reducing emissions from a number of toxic substances (as defined under CEPA 1999) that can have harmful effects on the environment and human health. For example, mercury emissions into the air saw an overall decrease of 35% from 1995 to 2000. Emissions were reduced primarily from incineration operations as well as the steel and primary base metals sectors. Emissions from electric power generators, however, increased over this time period. As a result, Canada-wide standards for mercury used for coal-fired electricity generators are being developed to help address this issue.

More work must be done to understand and limit the risks posed by the thousands of chemicals released into the environment annually. Progress continues toward meeting the challenge of categorizing the substances on the domestic substances list. New scientific and technological developments offer not only opportunities, but also complex risks to the health and environment of Canadians. An increased awareness of the importance of pollution prevention will be crucial for governments, industry, and communities who must all work together to deal with these risks.

Performance Information

Many federal organizations are working to improve the Canadian environment. To do so, these organizations plan, monitor, and report on their programs, policies and initiatives in accordance with broad "strategic outcomes."

Strategic outcomes are the enduring benefits to Canadians that departments and agencies attempt to achieve. These outcomes flow from the mandates of federal organizations and contribute to broad, government-wide priorities. In most cases, strategic outcomes require the combined resources and sustained effort of several partners over a long period of time.

Federal organizations report on their strategic outcomes in two sets of documents tabled annually in Parliament. In their Reports on Plans and Priorities (RPPs), departments and agencies provide information on objectives, initiatives, and planned results - including links to related resource requirements. In their Departmental Performance Reports (DPRs), departments and agencies describe the accomplishments achieved against the performance expectations set out in the RPPs.

Natural Resources Canada and Environment Canada are two departments, among others, that contribute to the government-wide attempt to improve the Canadian environment.

Following is a list of some of the other departments and agencies that have strategic outcomes related to the Canadian environment. Further information on these strategic outcomes is available via hyperlinks in the electronic version of this report. Clicking on the departments and agencies listed below will lead the reader to the Government of Canada's "Strategic Outcomes Database" (http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/rma/krc/so-rs_e.asp). This database provides information (and links for further references) on planned activities and expenditures, results evidence, relevant audits and evaluations, and program background for the government's more than 200 strategic outcomes.

In addition to the departments listed below, there are certain federal organizations that provide support to all departments and agencies such as the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, the Public Service Commission of Canada, Statistics Canada, and Public Works and Government Services Canada. Information on the performance and plans of these organizations is also available at the Strategic Outcomes Database Web site.

In the table below, departments have been clustered into several "horizontal areas;" these are areas in which several departments and agencies are working toward a common goal.

This tentative clustering of departmental efforts will facilitate horizontal or whole-of-government thinking. It will help to identify common leverage points by which different federal organizations can plan strategies and monitor success in their efforts to improve the Canadian environment.

The Strength And Safety Of Canadian Communities

The Issue
 

Ideally, communities are unified bodies of individuals with mutual interests, linked by a common history, by social, economic and political ties, and by a sense of shared destiny. At a global level, Canada as a whole participates in and contributes to the world community of nations.

The events of September 11, 2001, clearly demonstrated that a safe and secure Canada depends on an international system that is capable of resolving conflicts in a consensual manner, as well as on a domestic and international capacity to combat international criminal and terrorist activity.

Within Canada, communities are formed around diverse axes - geographical, cultural, religious, linguistic and many others - and it is in these smaller communities and neighbourhoods that the abstract idea of quality of life takes on real meaning. Strong communities can be described as ones that are safe, encourage participation, strengthen social bonds, and promote Canadian values.

The Government of Canada supports the quality of life in communities by aiding and facilitating international peace and development, by strengthening the social fabric, and by reflecting and reinforcing values that are important to Canada. These values include linguistic duality; multiculturalism and respect for diversity; human and civil rights; equality and fairness, including equal access to essential public services, such as health care; and respect for peace and the rule of law.

This chapter examines the strength and safety of Canada's communities by looking at five indicators of social relationships:

•  
• Volunteerism and civic participation are fundamental acts of citizenship essential to the well-being of a caring society. Studies such as the National Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participation have shown a positive correlation between volunteering and other forms of participatory behaviour such as philanthropy, group membership and voting. In this way, volunteering can be seen as one way to track the involvement and investment of Canadians in their society.
   
•  
• Attitudes toward diversity serve as a bellwether for the health of Canada's communities since the acceptance and understanding of differences among groups is an important component of our identity as a nation. Canada is one of the most ethnically diverse countries in the world. With increasing globalization and immigration, Canadians are brought face to face with more diversity than ever before.
   
•  
• Participation in cultural activities serves to broaden people's experiences by exposing them to their social, cultural, and historical surroundings, introducing new and different ideas, and encouraging greater understanding across social and cultural groups. High rates of cultural participation fuel creativity and innovation and promote social harmony.
   
•  
• The level of political participation provides insight into the degree to which decisions reflect, or are perceived to reflect, the needs and desires of Canadians. Canada's political system is grounded in participation; taking part in the electoral system strengthens people's connections with the democratic decision-making process and demonstrates concern for the future development of the community and country.
   
• The safety and security of a community is an indicator of the wellness of that community. This can be gauged by crime and victimization rates as well as by the level of fear of crime in a neighbourhood. Such fear can have the debilitating effect of restricting individuals from fully participating in public life and thus can reduce one's quality of life.

What We Know
 

In 2000, 27% of Canadians volunteered 1.05 billion hours of work in Canada, equivalent to 549,000 year-round full-time jobs.³ This represents a decrease of 13% from 1997; however, the trend of a small minority accounting for the majority of hours held true. In 2000, the top 25% of volunteers (7% of Canadians) contributed 73% of all volunteer hours. There is a risk of burnout for this core group as the number of volunteers falls and demand for the services of this sector rises. 

Canadians also support the voluntary sector with their financial contributions. In 2000, 78% of Canadians contributed approximately $5 billion, an increase in donations of 11% from 1997. The top 25% of donors contributed 82% of all donations in 2000, giving $213 or more per donor. It should be noted, however, that while average donations increase with higher incomes, Canadians with incomes below $40,000 donate a substantially higher percentage of average income than others.

The organizations that benefited from the greatest number of volunteer hours were in the areas of culture, arts, and recreation and social service. Religious and health organizations, on the other hand, received most of the financial contributions. Religious organizations received almost 50% of the total amount donated in 2000 and the third highest number of volunteer hours, indicating that Canadian support for religious institutions remains strong.

Participation in volunteer activities varies substantially from province to province. The volunteer rate was highest in Saskatchewan and lowest in Quebec.

Volunteering among young people is particularly important. According to recent research findings, involvement in volunteering or other extra-curricular activities during the formative years is likely to translate into community involvement later in life. People who have seen their parents volunteering are also more likely to become volunteers.

In 2000, the federal government, in partnership with the voluntary sector, launched a voluntary sector initiative (VSI). With an investment of $100 million, this initiative aims to improve the capacity of the voluntary sector and to promote volunteerism among Canadians.

Attitudes toward diversity can be used to measure the strength of the social bonds in our communities. Our country's ethnic and cultural make-up has become increasingly more diverse over the past 40 years. Canadian society is enriched by its linguistic duality, by its acceptance of various ethnic groups and by positive social interaction between people of all backgrounds.

The year 2001 marked the 30th anniversary of the adoption of a Multiculturalism Policy in Canada, which aims to contribute to social cohesion by creating a climate of trust in which the multicultural heritage of Canadians is preserved as a richness we have in common. Canadians overwhelmingly support multiculturalism. Opinion polls conducted by Ipsos Reid in 1999 showed that more than 83% of Canadians agreed that "the multicultural make-up is one of the best things about Canada." (Canadian Heritage, Annual Report on the Operation of the Canadian Multiculturalism Act, 1999-2000).

Canada's economic, social and cultural development has been shaped by immigration, and, given our low current fertility rate, immigration will be crucial to satisfying the skills demands of the future. By 2005, immigration is expected to account for 70% of labour market growth, and visible minorities are expected to increase to 15% of the Canadian population.

According to the findings of a 2002 national survey released by the Centre for Research and Information on Canada (CRIC), Canadians continue to be genuinely concerned about racism and discrimination, but are more optimistic about reducing prejudice in the future:

• In fact, 59% of Canadians feel that racism is a big problem in Canada; and
   
• 72% of Canadians believe that prejudice against ethnic and racial minorities will decline over the next 10 years, a seven-point increase from 2000 and a 10-point increase from 1990.

Canadians have also shown consistent support for the protection of minority rights in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. In the CRIC survey, only 11% of respondents felt that the Charter "goes too far" to protect minority rights.

In addition, Canadians have demonstrated a positive attitude towards institutional recognition of Aboriginal communities. Approximately two-thirds of non-aboriginal Canadians support some form of self-government for Aboriginal peoples. (Ipsos-Reid "Public Views Regarding Aboriginal People," 2002)

Participation in cultural activities strengthens social cohesion and establishes a common ground between generations and cultures. It also creates and preserves cultural heritage, which provides community identity, distinctiveness and collective pride.

Some of the trends in cultural participation are as follows:

• From 1992 to 1998, there was a decline in the proportion of the Canadian population aged 15 and over who read newspapers, magazines and books, or borrowed library materials. (Patterns in Culture Consumption and Participation, Culture Statistics Program, Statistics Canada, 2000)
   
• The percentage of the population attending various performing arts, such as classical music and performances of live theatre, also declined between 1992 and 1998. However, participation in cultural or heritage festivals and other events has increased (Ibid). 
   
• After four decades of decline, movie-going rebounded in the 1990s with a 60% increase by the end of the decade. By 2000, attendance reached 120 million, the highest level in 40 years. (The Daily, February 7, 2002, Statistics Canada)
   
• Pay TV and specialty services are growing at the expense of conventional cable television, which has seen its market share drop from over 99% in 1982 to 65% in 2000. On the other hand, Canadians currently listen to approximately the same number of hours of radio as in 1986: 20 hours per week. (The Daily, October 23, 2001, Statistics Canada)
   
• The Internet has emerged as an important new tool to engage Canadians in cultural activities. A study in 2001 showed that 59% of Canadian households have access to the Internet and that a majority of users relied on this medium to find information on Canada's history and culture. ("Rethinking the Information Highway," Ekos Research Associates, 2002)

The patterns of cultural participation of Canadians varied slightly according to their home language. English-speaking Canadians are slightly more likely to be readers, to visit heritage institutions, historic sites, conservation areas, and nature parks. On the other hand, French-speaking Canadians are more likely to attend festivals, performances of classical music, or symphonies.

Sporting activities are an important part of Canadian society. In 1998, 34% of the Canadian population aged 15 and over participated in sports on a regular basis, down from 45% in 1992. Men participated more than women in 1998, with rates of 43% and 26% respectively. On the other hand, 32% of Canadians watched amateur sporting events in 1998, up from 24% in 1992. Sports participation is related to age, income, and level of education.

Political participation is one measure of a democracy's health. A citizen who participates in the democratic political process demonstrates a concern for the future development of the community. Voting is a primary means by which citizens participate in the political sphere, and is a key indicator of political engagement. In the last half-century, Canadian voter turnout rates in federal elections have fluctuated between a high of 80.6% in 1958 and a low of 61.2% in 2000. In the 1990s, the turnout rates have been the lowest for any decade in this period, leading to concerns about the level of engagement of citizens in the political process. In the US, voter turnout has declined in a similar manner, from 78% in 1992 to 59% in 2000. In fact, this trend has been observed in many industrialized countries.

Research indicates that voter turnout rates are lower among young Canadians, recent immigrants and persons with a lower income; rates are higher among seniors, university graduates, and people who identify with a political party.

The safety and security of communities and neighbourhoodsare fundamental to the enjoyment of a high quality of life. One important measure of safe and secure communities is their vulnerability to crime. Canadian communities are affected by international crimes, such as terrorism and organized crime, by local violent and property crimes, and by other types of crime, such as prostitution and drug-related crimes.

Safety and security can be measured in a number of ways, such as the following:

• the level of crime: these are crimes reported to the police;
• the level of victimization: these are experiences of victimization identified by respondents in sample population surveys; and
• the level of fear of crime in a neighbourhood.

In 2001, there were 2.4 million crimes reported to the police, 13% of which were violent crimes, 53% property crimes, and 34% other crimes. The overall crime rate edged up marginally in 2001, after declining for nine consecutive years. At the current level of 995 reported crimes per 100,000 Canadians, the violent crime rate is now 8% lower than in 1992, but 52% higher than the rate 20 years ago. In contrast, property crimes are at a 30-year low.

In 2000, the International Crime Victimization Survey (ICVS) indicated a victimization rate in Canada of 54%. This means that more than half of Canadians aged 16 and above experienced criminal victimization one or more times between 1996 and 2000. This rate is slightly lower than the 57% recorded for the period from 1991 to 1995. According to this survey, approximately half of all crimes were not reported to the police in 2000 - the same level as in 1990.

It appears that the decreases in the crime rate over the last decade are becoming visible to Canadians. According to the ICVS survey of 2000, 83% of Canadian respondents indicated feeling safe walking alone after dark in their neighbourhoods, up from 74% in the 1996 survey. This puts Canada tied with the United States among the 13 industrialized countries in this survey. Canada ranks only slightly behind the highest scoring country, Sweden, where 85% of respondents felt safe walking alone after dark in their neighbourhoods.

While Canadians indicated feeling safer in their neighbourhoods, there is, understandably, a growing concern about threats to Canadian society from external sources. In a poll conducted a few weeks after the September 11^th terrorist attack, 74% of Canadians felt that the world was less safe today than it was a decade ago. Furthermore, between 1998 and 2001, more Canadians felt concerned about terrorism (from 45% in 1998 to 81% in 2001); the spread of biological and chemical weapons (from 61% to 74%); the spread of nuclear weapons (from 59% to 69%); illegal drugs entering Canada (from 66% to 68%); and international crime (from 48% to 64%). (Canadians' Opinions on the Canadian Forces (CF) and Related Military Issues, conducted by Pollara for the Department of National Defence, 1998 to 2001)

Performance Information

Many federal organizations are working to improve the strength and safety of Canadian communities. To do so, these organizations plan, monitor, and report on their programs, policies, and initiatives in accordance with broad "strategic outcomes."

Strategic outcomes are the enduring benefits to Canadians that departments and agencies attempt to achieve. These outcomes flow from the mandates of federal organizations and contribute to broad, government-wide priorities. In most cases, strategic outcomes require the combined resources and sustained effort of several partners over a long period of time.

Federal organizations report on their strategic outcomes in two sets of documents tabled annually in Parliament. In their Reports on Plans and Priorities (RPPs), departments and agencies provide information on objectives, initiatives and planned results - including links to related resource requirements. In their Departmental Performance Reports (DPRs), departments and agencies describe the accomplishments achieved against the performance expectations set out in the RPPs.

Correctional Service Canada is one example of a federal agency, which is contributing to the government-wide attempt to improve the strength and safety of Canadian communities.

Following is a list of some of the other departments and agencies that have strategic outcomes related to the safety and security of Canadian communities. Further information on these strategic outcomes is available via hyperlinks in the electronic version of this report. Clicking on the departments and agencies listed below will lead the reader to the Government of Canada's "Strategic Outcomes Database" (http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/rma/krc/so-rs_e.asp). This database provides information (and links for further references) on planned activities and expenditures, results evidence, relevant audits and evaluations, and program background for the government's more than 200 strategic outcomes.

In addition to the departments listed below, there are certain federal organizations that provide support to all departments and agencies such as the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, the Public Service Commission of Canada, Statistics Canada, and Public Works and Government Services Canada. Information on the performance and plans of these organizations is also available at the Strategic Outcomes Database Web site.

In the table below, departments have been clustered into several "horizontal areas;" these are areas in which several departments and agencies are working toward a common goal.

This tentative clustering of departmental efforts will facilitate horizontal or whole-of-government thinking. It will help to identify common leverage points by which different federal organizations can plan strategies and monitor success in their efforts to improve the strength and safety of Canadian communities.

Conclusion

This is a report on our quality of life and where we stand in comparison with other post-industrial nations. This information will help parliamentarians and Canadians to put the performance of federal government organizations into context.

In general, the performance information in this report indicates that Canada is doing well with respect to health; improvements are particularly noticeable in the area of life expectancy and infant mortality. While Canada's economy has shown strong performance, especially in the area of employment, the results indicate that not all members of our society are reaping the benefits of our strong economic performance. In addition, while some progress has been made in neighbourhood safety, other indicators point to a less involved civic society. Finally, some of Canada's environmental indicators continue to be a cause for concern.

The Government of Canada is working to ensure that we continue to perform well in those areas where we have been a strong achiever, while working to address those areas where we need to improve. Since the federal government is only one of many players taking actions that influence these broad social and economic outcomes, it is committed to working in partnership toward common goals.

This partnership means that our common goals, and the means by which those goals should be achieved, must be defined together. Every province and territory, every community and citizen, has a strong voice in building the country and improving quality of life. By informing Canadians about the country's social and economic situation - as well as about some of the public policy issues raised by this situation - this report will allow Canadians to be more fully engaged in this public policy dialogue.

Canada's Performance 2002 has received direction through various forms of engagement, such as consultations, focus groups, and surveys. Future reports will continue to be influenced in this way. For this purpose, we need your feedback. You can use the contact information provided at the front of the report to get in touch with us. Your contribution will help make Canada's Performance better and will ensure that the report is relevant to Canadians.

Appendix I: Additional Resources
 

Canadian Policy Research Networks. Quality of Life in Canada: A Citizens' Report Card, CPRN, 2002.

Earth Summit 2002 Canadian Secretariat. Sustainable Development: A Canadian Perspective, 2002.

Statistics Canada. Canada at a Glance. Ottawa: Minister of Industry, 2002.

The Conference Board of Canada. Performance and Potential 2002-03, 2002.

Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development. OECD in Figures. Paris: OECD, 2001.

Economic Opportunities and Innovation in Canada

Human Resources Development Canada. Knowledge Matters: Skills and Learning for Canadians. Ottawa: Government of Canada, 2001.

Industry Canada. Achieving Excellence: Investing in People, Knowledge and Opportunity. Ottawa: Government of Canada, 2001.

Statistics Canada. Perspective on Labour and Income (monthly Internet publication).

World Economic Forum. The Global Competitiveness Report 2001-2002. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002.

The Health of Canadians

Canadian Institute for Health Information & Statistics Canada Health Indicators. "Canadian Community Health Survey: Health Region Level Highlights" vol. 2002, No.1.

The Government of Canada. Healthy Canadians: A Federal Report on Comparable Health Indicators, 2002.

Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development. Health at a Glance, Paris: OECD, 2001.

World Health Organization. The World Health Report 2001; Mental Health: New Understanding, New Hope. Geneva: WHO, 2001.

The Canadian Environment

Canadian Endangered Species Conservation Council (CESCC). Wild Species 2000: The General Status of Species in Canada. Ottawa: Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada, 2001.

Environment Canada. State of the Environment Reporting Program National Indicators and Assessment Office. Canada's National Environmental Indicator Series 10 Years of Reporting, 2002.

Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development. OECD Environmental Indicators: Towards Sustainable Development 2001, Paris: OECD, 2001.

United Nations Environment Programme. North America's Environment, 2002.

The Strength and Safety of Canadian Communities

Canadian Council on Social development (CCSD). Personal Security Index 2002, 2002.

Canadian Heritage. Annual Report on the Operation of the Canadian Multiculturalism Act, 1999-2000.

Government of Canada - Voluntary Sector Initiative. Partnering for the Benefit of Canadians, 2000.

International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance. Voter Turnout from 1945 to Date, 2001.

Statistics Canada. Caring Canadians, Involved Canadians: Highlights from the 2000 National Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participating, 2001, Ottawa: Minister of Industry, 2001.

Statistics Canada. Focus on Culture. Quarterly publication. Catalogue No.: 87-004-XIE.

Appendix II: External Advisory Panel

The External Advisory Panel, chaired by the Secretary of the Treasury Board, provides advice on the preparation of the President of the Treasury Board's annual report Canada's Performance.

The panel, which generally meets two to three times per year in Ottawa, is comprised of academics, provincial representatives, and other stakeholders.

¹ Information about First Nations and Aboriginal populations is derived from various sources and can refer to different populations. Throughout this report, "Aboriginal" refers to all indigenous persons of Canada, of North American, Indian, Inuit, or Métis ancestry, including those registered under the Indian Act; and "First Nations" refers to those persons who are registered under the Indian Act and, unless otherwise stated, refers to First Nations on reserve. (Return)

² Members of the Canadian Forces are specifically not covered by the Canada Health Act. Under the National Defence Act, the Government of Canada is responsible for the health-care needs of Canadian Forces members, whether at home or abroad. It has therefore established a Military Health Care System to ensure that our military personnel receive health care that reflects the principles articulated in the Canada Health Act, whenever and wherever they serve. (Return)

³ All statistical data from The 2000 National Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participating, 2001. (Return)