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Monitoring Sustainable Development Strategy Commitments
The Commissioner reports on how well federal departments and agencies are meeting the objectives and implementing the plans set out in their sustainable development strategies.
Our observations on selected strategy commitments should not be applied to other related issues or used to draw conclusions about overall progress toward sustainable development.
SDS Commitments audited since 2003:
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Access to Weather Warning Information
Department |
SDS Commitment |
CESD Monitoring |
Environment Canada |
Put proper mechanisms in place, through work with community partners, to make warning information accessible to individuals in time for them to take action.
See objective 1.4
Environment Canada’s commitment
Improve Canadian's accessibility to, and understanding of, high impact weather warnings.
See commitments for Outcome 1.3
Environment Canada’s commitment |
2005 Report to Parliament - Chapter 7 |
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Climate Change
Department |
SDS Commitment |
CESD Monitoring |
Correctional Service Canada |
Reduce emissions of the greenhouse gas group nitrogen oxides (NOx) from CSC facilities in the Quebec City–Windsor corridor and the Fraser Valley by 10 percent from a 2004 baseline.
See target 1.1.2 pg.15
Correctional Services Canada’s commitment (PDF) |
2006 Report to Parliament - Chapter 4 |
Finance Canada |
Continue to conduct economic research and analysis, including through the use of one of the economic models the Department maintains, to assess the potential costs of a major economic instrument, such as emissions trading, and other policy or program options to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases
See action 2b.2 under objective 2b. pg.11
Finance Canada’s commitment |
2006 Report to Parliament - Chapter 4 |
Environment Canada |
Develop a national research and development approach to help address the science needs associated with high-impact weather and climate events.
Refine and use climate models to inform climate change scenarios and policy discussions.
See commitments under intermediate-term outcome 1 pg.10
Environment Canada’s commitment (PDF)
Work in partnership with federal and provincial governments, academia, and the private sector to make regional scale climate change scenario tools available for decision making.
See commitments under intermediate-term outcome 3.3 pg. 20
Environment Canada’s commitment (PDF) |
2006 Report to Parliament - Chapter 4 |
Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat |
Work with other departments to develop an approach to the climate change agenda that assures accurate reporting on expenditures and results, measurement and reporting frameworks, management systems, and a governance structure.
See Climate Change Activity pg. 9
Treasury Board of Canada’s commitment (PDF) |
2006 Report to Parliament - Chapter 4 |
Natural Resources Canada |
Undertake science and technology to improve Canada's ability to further mitigate and adapt to climate change impacts.
By 2005, complete a quantitative assessment of terrestrial and coastal response to climate change in key physiographic zones (permafrost, coastal and near-shore environments, forests).
See target under action 2.4 pg. 63
Natural Resources Canada’s commitment (PDF)
Undertake science and technology to improve Canada's ability to further mitigate and adapt to climate change impacts.
By 2006, prepare a national assessment of landscape and forest ecosystem response to climate change (two synthesis reports).
See target under action 2.4 pg. 63
Natural Resources Canada’s commitment (PDF) |
2006 Report to Parliament - Chapter 4 |
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Eco-efficiency
Department |
SDS Commitment |
CESD Monitoring |
Canadian Heritage |
Develop a set of sustainable development principles that can be applied to the design and delivery of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games.
See target 2.2.2 pg. 18
Canadian Heritage’s commitment |
2006 Report to Parliament - Chapter 4 |
Industry Canada |
Objective: Enhance the capacity of Canadians, industries, and firms to develop and use eco-efficiency practices, tools and technologies, and products that contribute to increased productivity and environmental performance.
Industry Canada's commitment
Objective: Facilitate the development and diffusion of environmental and enabling technologies that produce long-term economic and environmental benefits.
Industry Canada's commitment |
2003 Report to Parliament - Chapter 3 |
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Environmental Assessment
Department |
SDS Commitment |
CESD Monitoring |
Finance Canada |
Continue to maintain awareness of the Department's process for implementing the 1999 Cabinet Directive on the Environmental Assessment of Policy, Plan and Program Proposals (Strategic Environmental Assessment).
See target 2b.1 under objective 2b pg. 24
Finance Canada’s commitment |
2006 Report to Parliament - Chapter 4 |
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada |
On an ongoing basis, AAFC policy analysts and senior management will receive training about sustainable development.
By March 31, 2003, there will be a formal process in place to ensure the analysis of policies and programs.
By March 31, 2004, AAFC will undertake reviews of existing and new policy programs and initiatives from the perspective of sustainable development.
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's commitment (PDF) |
2004 Report to Parliament - Chapter 4 |
Industry Canada |
Improve and formally adopt a set of guidelines and a template for conducting strategic environmental assessments (SEAs) within the Department. The improvements will be based upon an internal evaluation, as well as a review of best practices with the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency and other federal departments.
Industry Canada's commitment |
2004 Report to Parliament - Chapter 4 |
Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat |
Develop and apply a framework for the application of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) to Treasury Board Secretariat policies and programs.
Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat's commitment |
2004 Report to Parliament - Chapter 4 |
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Environmental Management
Department |
SDS Commitment |
CESD Monitoring |
Industry Canada |
Continue to implement the Computers for Schools (CFS) initiative and work toward the program’s long-term environmental sustainability by working with governments, industry, and other stakeholders to increase program knowledge on costs and implementation of environmentally sound recycling practices, and to research Canadian recycling and disposal capabilities and infrastructure.
See Outcome 3.2 pg. 37
Industry Canada’s commitment |
2007 Report to Parliament - Chapter 1 |
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Food Safety
Department |
SDS Commitment |
CESD Monitoring |
Health Canada |
Work in consultation with stakeholders to develop and/or update science-based guidelines and standards to improve the safety of the food supply and reduce food-borne illness. To this end, Health Canada will also engage in initiatives with the aim of improving the transparency of the regulatory system and increasing public awareness of food safety issues.
See objective 1.1 target 1.1.5 pg. 22
Health Canada’s commitment |
2007 Report to Parliament -Chapter 1 |
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Funding for Green Infrastructure
Department |
SDS Commitment |
CESD Monitoring |
Treasury Board of Canada, Secretariat |
Objective 2.1: Meet investment targets for green municipal infrastructure
Performance Measure: Improved environmental conditions: air quality, water quality, solid waste management, lower energy consumption. [Implemented by Infrastructure Canada]
Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat's commitment |
2003 Report to Parliament - Chapter 3 |
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Governance/Policy
Department |
SDS Commitment |
CESD Monitoring |
Canada Revenue Agency |
Integrate sustainability criteria into negotiations, discussions, partnerships, and decision making with provinces and territories and other government departments and agencies on CRA business.
See target 2.2.1 under objective 2.2 pg. 22
Canada Revenue Agency’s commitment (PDF) |
2006 Report to Parliament - Chapter 4 |
"Finalize CCRA environmental Policy"
See commitment 3.1.1
Canada Revenue Agency’s commitments |
2005 Report to Parliament - Chapter 7 |
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada* |
Develop a departmental sustainable development policy that provides guidance on department-wide sustainable development priorities, and clearly situates it within the Department's Integrated Management Framework.
See target 1.1.2 under objective 1.1 pg. 10
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada’s commitment
|
2006 Report to Parliament - Chapter 4 |
Social Development Canada* |
Develop a departmental sustainable development policy that provides guidance on department-wide sustainable development priorities, and clearly situates it within the Department's Integrated Management Framework.
See target 1.1.2 under objective 1.1
Social Development Canada’s commitment
|
2006 Report to Parliament - Chapter 4 |
Industry Canada |
Identify, for annual review by senior managers, sustainable development opportunities across Industry Canada's strategic objectives that the Department could pursue as part of its policy and program proposals, to further integrate sustainable development into corporate decision-making procedures and reporting documents.
See action plan item under 3.3.1 pg. 41
Industry Canada’s commitment |
2006 Report to Parliament - Chapter 4 |
Transport Canada |
Continue to maintain the environmental emergency plans that are in place for all Transport Canada owned and operated facilities.
See target under environmental aspect 6 p. 58
Transport Canada’s commitment (PDF)
Develop a Transport Canada training plan, by 2004–05, and deliver one training session per fiscal year or as deemed required, through to 2006–07.
See target under environmental aspect 6 on pg. 58
Transport Canada’s commitment (PDF) |
2006 Report to Parliament - Chapter 4 |
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Green Employment
Department |
SDS Commitment |
CESD Monitoring |
Human Resources and Development Canada |
Objective: To begin building a better understanding of sustainable development-related issues of particular interest to HRDC and their implications for social policy and programs
Targets: Explore the labour market and social adjustment issues related to the Kyoto Protocol and other possible interventions over the longer term to address climate change/global warming. Produce research study by 31 March 2002.
Investigate the concept of green employment, its broad implications for social policy, and ways in which its growth could be promoted or enhanced over the longer term. Produce research study by 31 October 2002.
From a program perspective, review how HRDC's existing programs might foster the development and growth of green employment in Canada. Complete review by 31 December 2002.
Assess overall sustainable development-related knowledge/skill needs in the economy over the medium term and how these might be better incorporated into HRDC's sectoral human resources programs and strategies. Complete assessment by 30 November 2002.
Explore ways in which HRDC could better promote and foster the shift to sustainable development in Canada over the longer term. Initiate by 1 May 2003.
Human Resources and Development Canada's commitment (PDF) |
2003 Report to Parliament - Chapter 3 |
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Human Health / Environmental Health
Department |
SDS Commitment |
CESD Monitoring |
Foreign Affairs Canada |
Develop a strategy in 2001 to address issues related to the health and welfare of employees and their families located at our missions abroad.
See commitment D-ii
Foreign Affairs Canada’s commitment
|
2005 Report to Parliament - Chapter 7
|
Transport Canada |
Transport Canada will identify third party discharges of effluent and waste at Canadian ports by 2001/2002.
Objective 1.
Work with the Association of Canadian Port Authorities (ACPA) to identify discharges at ports by requesting an inventory of existing environmental problems on Crown lands, by 2001/2002.
Objective 2.
Work closely with the ACPA (Environment Committee) to develop work plans, with timelines, to address environmental problems and determine the role of TC in the remediation process, by 2002/2003.
Objective 3.
Prepare an inventory of problematic sites for TC-owned ports, by reviewing existing audits and environmental baseline studies, by 2001/2002.
Objective 4.
Develop a monitoring framework for TC-owned ports that will include project identification, analysis and timelines for remediation, in 2002/2003.
Transport Canada’s commitment
|
2005 Report to Parliament - Chapter 7
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Making Communities More Sustainable
Department |
SDS Commitment |
CESD Monitoring |
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency |
Work with local, regional, and provincial groups to foster economic development at the community level that considers the environment.
See objective 2.1 pg. 22
Atlantic Canada Opportunity Agency’s commitment (PDF) |
2006 Report to Parliament - Chapter 4 |
Western Economic Diversification Canada |
Invest in projects that enable western Canadian communities to improve their social, environmental, and economic sustainability.
See Key Activity 3 pg. 25
The number of projects with communities that contribute to social, environmental, and economic sustainability
See indicator under immediate outcomes for Key Activity 3 pg. 25
Western Economic Diversification Canada’s commitments (PDF) |
2006 Report to Parliament - Chapter 4 |
Environment Canada |
Objective: The delivery of individual federal programs is better integrated at the community level in order to maximize their impact in meeting environmental, social and economic goals (to be achieved by December 2003)
Targets: Develop and implement, with partners, a federal framework on sustainable communities.
Explore the feasibility, with partners, of applying a sustainable communities approach through selected pilot projects (including those with Aboriginal communities), using federal councils as a catalyst where appropriate.
Develop and implement Government On-Line projects to support the delivery of sustainable community initiatives and related federal programming.
Implement the Habitat Stewardship Program for Species at Risk nationally through partnerships, and co-ordinate and integrate with other similar programs by 2002.
Environment Canada's commitment
objective 5.4 |
2003 Report to Parliament - Chapter 3 |
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Office Solid Waste
Department |
SDS Commitment |
CESD Monitoring |
Canada Customs and Revenue Agency |
Develop environmental management programs for solid waste management.
Divert an average of 60% solid waste from landfill in priority CCRA-owned facilities.
Divert an average of 70% solid waste from landfill in priority leased facilities.
Canada Customs and Revenue Agency's commitment |
2004 Report to Parliament - Chapter 3 |
Justice Canada |
By March 31 2004, divert from landfills 76% of total solid waste produced nationally.
Justice Canada's commitment |
2004 Report to Parliament - Chapter 3 |
Environment Canada |
Put in place Environment Canada’s Environmental Management System action plan related to solid waste management and commence annual reporting on progress toward targets, by March 31, 2002. [ii]
Environment Canada's commitment
By March 31, 2004, divert 70% [iii] of solid waste from landfill – that is, 70% by weight of all solid waste is to be recycled. [iv] (Adopted from SDGO guidance)
Environment Canada's commitment (PDF) |
2004 Report to Parliament - Chapter 3 |
Natural Resources Canada |
By 2003, maintain, expand and promote NRCan’s waste-free program.
The Performance Measurement Framework targets a 60% reduction in solid non-hazardous waste from the level measured in 1995-96 audits by 2000 [v].
Natural Resources Canada's commitment (PDF) |
2004 Report to Parliament - Chapter 3 |
Public Works and Government Services Canada |
By March 31, 2004, achieve and maintain a 60% diversion rate of office solid waste from landfill and incineration in all Crown-owned Real Property Service facilities, i.e., 60% by weight of all solid waste is to be recycled.
Public Works and Government Services Canada's commitment |
2004 Report to Parliament - Chapter 3 |
Veterans Affairs Canada |
Divert 5.6 % of solid waste from landfill per year until March 2004.
Veterans Affairs Canada's commitment |
2004 Report to Parliament - Chapter 3 |
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Using the Tax System
Department |
SDS Commitment |
CESD Monitoring |
Finance Canada |
Key Issue #2: Integrating the Economy and the Environment
"Integrating the Economy and the Environment" involves building on the Department’s analytical foundation and knowledge base in support of more fully integrating environmental and economic considerations into targeted tax, spending and related policies.
Objective 2a: Using the Tax System
On an ongoing basis, the Department examines ways to better integrate the economy and the environment through targeted use of the tax system. The primary goal has been to identify specific areas where the tax system may be acting as an impediment to the attainment of sustainable development.
Actions for 2001–2003:
2a.1 The Department will continue to examine areas where the tax system may be having an impact on the longer-term goals of sustainable development.
2a.2 The Department will continue to assess policy options aimed at levelling the playing field between various economic activities.
2a.3 The Department will evaluate all environment-related tax proposals as they are received from stakeholders, including those meant to encourage environmentally positive activities and discourage environmentally negative ones.
Finance Canada's commitment |
2004 Report to Parliament - Chapter 3 |
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Water
Department |
SDS Commitment |
CESD Monitoring |
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada |
Develop a performance measure and establish a baseline to measure whether there has been an increase in the trend in the adoption of best practices for water use by the agri-food sector. 2001
See target 1.2.6 pg. 19
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s commitment (PDF) |
2006 Report to Parliament - Chapter 4 |
Natural Resources Canada |
Increase understanding of water resource supply and minimize impacts of natural resource sector activities on aquatic ecosystems.
By 2006, produce an assessment of costs of climate change and water resource impacts to Prairie agriculture and economy.
See target under action 1.3 pg. 36
Natural Resources Canada’s commitment (PDF) |
2006 Report to Parliament - Chapter 4 |
Department of Fisheries and Oceans |
Develop and implement integrated management plans and complete demonstration projects in three coastal regions: Eastern Scotian Shelf, Western Arctic, and Gulf of St. Lawrence.
See commitment 1.1.1
Establish Minister’s Advisory Council on Oceans.
See commitment 1.1.1
Develop an operational framework for incorporating ecosystem considerations within oceans management.
See commitment 2A.1.1
Develop and implement a national system of marine protected areas including designation of five marine protected areas (MPAs).
See commitment 2B.2.4
Establish marine environmental quality guidelines, objectives, and criteria.
See commitment 2B.2.4
Department of Fisheries and Oceans’ commitments |
2005 Report to Parliament – Chapter 1 |
Treasury Board of Canada, Secretariat |
Lead the collection of policy and program information related to water from all involved federal departments under the guidance of the IWAC.
Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat’s commitment |
2005 Report to Parliament - Chapter 4 |
Health Canada |
Continue to develop the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality.
Develop an integrated, source-to-tap approach to drinking water quality in Canada.
Work with other federal departments to develop a compliance framework for drinking water quality in areas of federal jurisdictions.
Health Canada’s commitments (PDF)
Develop or update at least six drinking and recreational water quality guidelines, in collaboration with the provinces and territories.
See commitment 1.6.4
Health Canada’s commitment |
2005 Report to Parliament - Chapter 4 |
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