The Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development's Perspective

Commissioner calls for review of government's approach to Sustainable Development Strategies

The Commissioner's Perspective—2007, 2007 Report of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development

Ottawa, 30 October 2007—Sustainable development strategies introduced a decade ago to encourage departments to take environmental issues into account when making decisions have failed to meet Parliament's expectations. So says the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, Ron Thompson, in his Report tabled today in the House of Commons. He notes that the ambition and momentum that existed originally have faded and that strategies are a major disappointment.

The Commissioner calls on the government to carry out a thorough review of what needs to be fixed. The review should result in a concrete action plan to ensure that the government delivers results that will meet Parliament's expectations, as envisioned in 1995 when it amended the Auditor General Act.

"We found little evidence that the Strategies have encouraged departments to integrate protection of the environment with economic and social issues in a meaningful way", said Mr. Thompson. "I am pleased that the government has agreed to complete a review by October 2008."

The Commissioner's Report tabled today also covers environmental petitions, also fundamental to the mandate Parliament gave the Commissioner twelve years ago. Petitions are letters sent by Canadians to the Auditor General as a way to present their environmental concerns and questions to specific ministers of the federal government. Ministers are required to respond in writing within 120 days.

The Commissioner's Report says that petitioners and departmental officials believe that petitions have had an impact on the government's management of environmental and sustainable development issues.

"Our retrospective shows that that petitioners value the process which provides a forum for voicing their concerns and assures them of a formal response," said Mr. Thompson.

The Commissioner points to opportunities to improve the petitions process including making Canadians more aware of it and providing better guidance to petitioners.

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The chapter "The Commissioner's Perspective" and his two chapters on Sustainable Development Strategies, and Environmental Petitions are available on the Office of the Auditor General of Canada Web site.

Information:

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