As part of Environment Canada's Environmental Performance Agreements program, an Advisory Committee was established by the department to provide strategic advice and recommendations on how to advance the use of Environmental Performance Agreements. It strives to maintain the program's balance by recommending potential improvements and identifying areas for future growth. The Advisory Committee meets semi-annually to provide advice and recommendations to Environment Canada on issues such as:

• the process for identifying opportunities for developing and implementing Environmental Performance Agreements within the context of Environment Canada's risk management strategies and its overall environmental management efforts;
• further definition of the design criteria outlined in the policy framework;
• potential linkages with similar or complementary provincial programs; and
• other ways to improve the program.

The Advisory Committee includes representation from non-governmental organizations (health and environmental), industry, provincial government, and other federal government departments. Environment Canada sits on the committee in an ex officio capacity.

Previous Recommendations made by the Advisory Committee

The Environmental Performance Agreements Advisory Committee provides Environment Canada with recommendations on ways to strengthen and improve the program. Some examples of recommendations provided by the Advisory Committee to date include the following:

• Use Environmental Performance Agreements to get early action on substances that are a priority.
• Have policies and systems in place to ensure that those that take early action through an Environmental Performance Agreement are not penalized compared with those that do not take early action.
• Have policies and systems in place to ensure that early action through Environmental Performance Agreements is directed at priority substances and sources.
• Communicate the objective and primary focus of Environmental Performance Agreements to all key internal and external stakeholders.
• Ensure public reporting and management follow-up for Environmental Performance Agreements.