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![[Table of Contents]](/web/20071121031853im_/http://www.justice.gc.ca/en/dept/pub/sds/img/btoc.gif)
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The Meaning of Sustainable Development
Sustainable development means using natural and human
resources to achieve social and economic goals without
harming the environment upon which current and future
generations depend. It requires the ongoing integration of
environmental considerations into economic and social
decision making.
Sustainable Development and the Law
Law can be an important instrument for advancing sustainable
development. Legislation and regulation can articulate
sustainable development principles, establish sustainable
development processes and institutions, and set sustainable
development criteria and standards that must be upheld. It
can also provide mechanisms to hold both the private sector
and government accountable for their actions.
Sustainable Development and the Department of
Justice
The Department of Justice is responsible for the legal
affairs of the government of Canada as a whole, and for
providing legal services to individual departments and
agencies. As a department whose mandate centres on the law
and the justice system, the Department of Justice has an
important role to play in sustainable development initiatives
across the federal government.
The Justice Mandate
The Department's work reflects its Minister's dual role as
Attorney General of Canada and Minister of Justice, which is
described in the Department of Justice Act.
The Attorney General of Canada protects the interests of the
federal government within the framework of existing law. This
involves providing legal services to federal departments and
agencies, including the conduct of litigation. The Attorney
General also prosecutes for violations of all federal
legislation, except for violations of the Criminal
Code within provinces.
The Minister of Justice has general policy responsibility
concerning the administration of justice (except for
policing, corrections and parole) and lead or shared policy
responsibility for criminal justice, human rights, family and
youth law, administrative law, Aboriginal justice, access to
information and privacy, official languages, courts and
judges, and private international law. The Minister is also
responsible for drafting government bills and regulations and
ensuring that they respect the bijural nature of Canada and
comply with the Canadian Charter of Rights and
Freedoms as well as other government policy and
legislation.
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The most widely used definition of sustainable
development is the definition used by the World
Commission on Environment and Development (commonly
known as the Brundtland Commission) in 1987:
"Sustainable development is development that meets
the needs of the present without compromising the
ability of future generations to meet their own
needs." This is the definition used in the
Auditor General Act in directing federal
departments to develop sustainable development
strategies.
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Justice Objectives
The Department has three overall objectives, as stated in its
Report on Plans and Priorities for 2000-2001, tabled in
Parliament:
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To provide the Government of Canada and federal
departments and agencies with high-quality legal
services
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To have superintendence of all matters connected with
the administration of justice in Canada that are not
within provincial or territorial jurisdiction
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To implement policy and program initiatives in this
context with a view to ensuring that Canada is a fair,
just and law-abiding society with an accessible,
equitable, efficient and effective system of justice
Justice Activities
To fulfil its responsibilities and objectives, the Department
of Justice carries out three main types of activity, on which
it reports to Parliament:
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Client Services
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Policy
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Administration
Each of these areas of activity approaches sustainable
development in a distinct way, as described in the following
chapters.
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