Sustainable Development Strategies

Sustainable development strategies fail to meet Parliament's expectations

Chapter 1, 2007 Report of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development

Ottawa, 30 October 2007—Sustainable development strategies are not helping to ensure that departments assess the environmental impacts of their policies and programs along with the social and economic impacts, as envisioned by Parliament in 1995, says the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, Ron Thompson, in his Report tabled today in the House of Commons. This is the Commissioner's tenth annual report on sustainable development strategies.

"The ambition and momentum that existed in the early stages of sustainable development strategies have faded," said Mr. Thompson. "The strategies are a major disappointment."

Sustainable development is the approach Canada and many others have chosen to protect the environment while achieving social and economic progress. The Report says that key weaknesses in the strategies noted over the past decade persist. Most departments examined by the Commissioner had not identified the significant sustainable development impacts of their policies and programs and how those impacts would be addressed, which was Parliament's expectation for the strategies.

The Report also notes that despite repeated commitments, there is still no sustainable development strategy for the federal government as a whole to guide the efforts of the 32 departments and agencies now producing strategies. In addition, the guidance provided to departments for their most recent strategies is ambiguous and optional.

The Commissioner notes in his Report that there has been no thorough review of the government's approach to sustainable development strategies since they were introduced in 1995.

"I call on the government to carry out a thorough review of what needs to be fixed," said Mr. Thompson. "I am pleased that the government has recognized the need for a review and has committed to completing one by October 2008."

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The chapter "Sustainable Development Strategies" is 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