Sustainable Development Strategy 2007-2010
Moving Forward on Sustainable Development

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2007-2010 - Moving Forward on Sustainable Development
(PDF: 580KB / 37 pages)

Table of Contents

• Message from the Minister
• Part I. Introduction.
  • Our Vision - Making the Business Case for Sustainable Development
• Part II. Agency Profile.
  • Our Legislative Mandate.
  • ACOA’s Key Programs and Services.
• Part III. Assessing Our Progress.
  • Highlights from SDS III
  • Evaluation of SDS III
• Part IV. Consultations.
  • Highlights of External Consultations.
  • Highlights of Internal Consultations.
• Part V. Issue Scan.
  • Assessing ACOA’s activities in terms of their impact on sustainable development
  • Issues Affecting Sustainable Development in Atlantic Canada.
• Part VI. Logic Model – Inputs, Outputs, Outcomes.
  • Summary of Outcomes, Outputs, Targets and Indicators.
  • Link between federal goals and ACOA’s SDS IV.
• Annex A Regional Success Stories.
• Annex B Acronyms.
• Annex C Bibliography.

Message from the Minister

Atlantic Canada boasts some of the richest and finest natural attributes in the world – energy, minerals and metals, forests, and marine and freshwater resources. Our region’s amazing natural beauty and captivating historical and cultural roots have contributed to fostering a quality of life for Atlantic Canadians that is second to none. This Government is committed to ensuring that our natural habitat continues to flourish and that our communities remain strong and dynamic.

The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) is committed to building a stronger Atlantic economy, encouraging innovation, improving productivity and competitiveness, and spurring growth in communities throughout our region. The Agency will pursue its broad-based mandate to stimulate economic growth and business opportunities while, at the same time, to maintain a clean environment.

Sustainable development is not something that can be achieved in isolation – it requires the support of all Atlantic Canadians. ACOA works closely with businesses and associations in a variety of economic sectors. These partnerships are crucial in managing our region’s future and in fostering prosperity in Atlantic communities. ACOA is well-positioned to bring awareness of, and promote action on, sustainable development issues and initiatives of the private sector, research institutions and communities throughout Atlantic Canada.

The consultations with stakeholders from around Atlantic Canada, which helped develop ACOA’s strategy, confirm the leadership role the Agency can play in contributing to the improved economic health of our region. The strategy sets realistic goals and objectives that will allow us to work with Atlantic Canadians to promote a more competitive, productive and sustainable economy.

I am confident that ACOA’s policies and programs will support the large number of initiatives that are turning challenges into opportunities. Atlantic Canada’s economy is changing and the Agency will continue to encourage its public and private sector partners, and its employees, to support sustainable development and adopt eco-friendly practices. Together, we can make a genuine difference and achieve real results.

As Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, I am pleased to present the Agency’s Sustainable Development Strategy IV as part of our contribution to the Government of Canada’s commitment to sustainable development.

The Honourable Peter G. MacKay
Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency

Part I.    Introduction

Sustainable businesses and communities in Atlantic Canada are the main focus for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA). Since its inception, ACOA has worked to foster economic growth and prosperity in the Atlantic region. Having served the citizens of Atlantic Canada since 1987, the Agency is proud of the work it has done to improve the number of jobs and level of earned incomes, and its contributions to promoting research and development (R&D) in new technology. At ACOA, we recognize there is no easy way to build a vibrant economy in the face of global competition. Nevertheless, our broad-based approach to development has helped create thousands of jobs in Atlantic Canada, and our investments in the region have helped lower the overall unemployment rate. Such results will continue to drive our work in the years to come.

The ultimate aim of development is to improve the quality of human life. People depend on their environment and on economic development to meet their basic needs and to improve their quality of life. Economic growth is an important component of development, and reviving growth through improved productivity is the primary focus of economic policy. Economic growth also provides the wealth to make investments in protecting the environment, supporting education, science and technology, and in maintaining the health and well-being of Canadians. A Guide to Green Government - 1995

Sustainability, however, encompasses much more than the economy; it also requires consideration of the environment and society. To that end, ACOA is also involved in community development through support to Community Business Development Corporations and Regional Economic Development Organizations. The Agency is also jointly responsible for managing infrastructure programs in Atlantic Canada. These programs are designed to renew and build infrastructure in rural and urban municipalities in Atlantic Canada.

Since its first sustainable development strategy, tabled in Parliament in 1997, ACOA has developed a balanced approach to regional development, which considers and responds to social, economic and environmental dimensions. ACOA is well-placed to help Atlantic Canada move toward a prosperous and sustainable future.

Our Vision - Making the Business Case for Sustainable Development

The Government of Canada wants to ensure a prosperous economy and a clean and healthy environment. The Government of Canada wants Canadians to have a safe, secure place to work and live. This means encouraging highly efficient use of energy, water and resources, and efforts that seek to reuse or recycle all that it produces. ACOA’s vision for sustainable development in Atlantic Canada is to help develop more competitive, resource-efficient and sustainable businesses and communities in the region. This includes finding ways to minimize the environmental impact of economic development by supporting businesses that practice “smart growth” – keeping a balance between economic growth and environmental and societal considerations. It also includes supporting sustainable communities through support to programs and services at the local level.

Part II.   Agency Profile

The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) is a Government of Canada agency that works in partnership with the people of Atlantic Canada to improve the economy of the region through the successful development of businesses and employment opportunities.

ACOA offers a broad range of programs and services designed to build a stronger Atlantic economy. ACOA improves the growth and competitiveness of Atlantic enterprises; helps rural communities to become more economically self-reliant; and influences and co-ordinates national policies and investments that affect economic growth in Atlantic Canada. The Agency’s sustainable development strategy is built around this work.

Developing and adopting new products and services that are currently unavailable in the market place will give businesses a competitive advantage critical to capturing market share and maintaining healthy profit margins. ACOA approaches its work in a strategic manner, focusing on: creating economic growth through innovation; improving the financing continuum for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs); entrepreneurship and business skills development; trade and investment promotion; community economic development; and investment in the region's infrastructure

The Agency ensures that a wide variety of business development tools and resources are available to Atlantic entrepreneurs throughout all stages of the business life cycle, from the time they are thinking about setting up a new business, to the time they are planning for growth and expansion.

ACOA strives to ensure SMEs, universities and regional communities in the region become more innovative in the development and adoption of new products, services and technologies. Through its policies and varied funding programs, such as the Atlantic Innovation Fund (AIF) and the Business Development Program (BDP), ACOA is working with all stakeholders to improve the level of technology development and adoption within the region.

Strong communities, both rural and urban, are key to economic growth in Canada and the foundation of Atlantic Canada’s social and economic fabric. According to the 2001 Census, there are 867 communities in Atlantic Canada, 97% of which have a population of less than 10,000. In addition, 46.1% of the region’s population lives in rural areas. While the overall economy of the Atlantic region has fared quite well over the past five years, unemployment, youth out-migration and rural depopulation remain significant challenges for Atlantic Canada. For example, over the past decade, Atlantic Canada’s rural population declined by 7.5% and the number of Atlantic Canadians aged 15 to 29 declined by over 20% (representing a loss of over 115,000 young people).

For these reasons, ACOA continues to focus on community economic development initiatives to foster business and economic opportunities for communities within Atlantic Canada. Such activity and programming empower communities to take responsibility for managing their own future.

ACOA’s Head Office is located in Moncton, New Brunswick, and the Agency is represented in each Atlantic province with a regional office in the provincial capitals and smaller district and sub-district offices throughout the provinces.

The regional vice-presidents are responsible for the delivery of ACOA’s programs and initiatives within their respective regions, in keeping with the mandate of the Agency. The Agency chairs three of the four Regional Federal Councils in Atlantic Canada, which provide an information sharing forum involving heads of federal departments, agencies and Crown corporations. In Cape Breton, ACOA’s programs are delivered by Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation.

Our Legislative Mandate

ACOA’s mandate is derived from Part 1 of the Government Organization Act, Atlantic Canada 1987, R. S., c G-5-7, otherwise known as the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Act. Its purpose is to “increase opportunity for economic development in Atlantic Canada and, more particularly, to enhance the growth of earned incomes and employment opportunities in the region.”

While ACOA has changed since its inception, its mandate has remained constant. Modifications have been made to its financial support programs for SMEs but, its work to increase self-sufficiency and earned incomes in Atlantic Canada is still at the heart of Agency operations. Consistency in ACOA’s mandate allows the Agency to enjoy a measure of stability in its programming and permits Agency staff to remain focused on the tasks at hand.

Virtually all of ACOA's developmental work involves collaboration with stakeholders. The Agency works closely with business leaders and associations in a variety of economic sectors. For instance, in tourism, the Agency leads broad-based initiatives with the industry through the Atlantic Canada Tourism Partnership, Tourism Best Practices Missions, and the TourismTechnology.com initiative. The Agency also focuses on specific developmental priorities, such as external trade, notably through the work of the Team Canada Atlantic missions.

The Agency plays a leadership role in developing the regional agenda for innovation. For example, ACOA works closely with stakeholders to maximize access to national programs such as the Canada Foundation for Innovation, the National Research Council, the National Sciences and Engineering Research Council, and Genome Canada.

ACOA’s Key Programs and Services

The sustainable development strategy outlines objectives and commitments for incorporating sustainable development into departmental policies, programs and operations.

The Business Development Program (BDP) and the Atlantic Investment Partnership (AIP) are currently ACOA’s primary program vehicles and make major investments in four key areas: innovation; business climate through trade and investment; human capital through entrepreneurship and business skills development; and community economic development.

The BDP is ACOA’s principal program for providing direct financial assistance to Atlantic Canada’s small and medium-sized enterprises. It helps them to start, expand or modernize their businesses by offering access to interest-free, unsecured, repayable contributions. Under the innovation element of the BDP, ACOA supports the adoption and development of new products and technology by SMEs in the region. Innovation is recognized as a critical factor in achieving long-term competitiveness and sustainability. The BDP also provides financial contributions to non-commercial organizations that support SMEs. ACOA’s Productivity and Business Skills Initiative encourages SMEs to improve their competitiveness through the provision of training for existing personnel, the acquisition of skills by hiring new employees, and the development and implementation of plans for improved production efficiency, product quality or environmental management effectiveness.

Innovation - The Atlantic Innovation Fund (AIF) supports projects and activities that have a strategic importance for the development and commercialization of technology in Atlantic Canada. It focuses on R&D projects in the area of natural and applied sciences, as well as in social sciences, humanities, arts and culture, where these are explicitly linked to the development of technology-based products, processes or services, or their commercialization.

More specifically, the AIF focuses on areas of strategic regional importance, which offer the most potential for future growth. These include information technology, ocean technologies, aquaculture, bio-technology, health/medical technologies, and environmental technologies. AIF investments also strengthen the region's ability to develop technologies that allow natural resource industries (e.g. oil and gas, agriculture and agri-food, fisheries, forestry and mining) to maintain and increase their competitiveness.

Business Climate - The Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (ATIP) helps companies export through initiatives that include: trade missions to U.S. and Europe; development of export strategies for key industries; trade education and skills development; and export internship for trade graduates. ATIP also works to increase foreign direct investment in the Atlantic region through investment research, promotional activities and investment development partnerships. The Canada/Atlantic Provinces Agreement on International Business Development assists SMEs in Atlantic Canada to explore, enter and succeed in international markets. The partners in this agreement include three federal departments (ACOA, Industry Canada and Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada) and the four Atlantic provincial governments.

Tourism development is important to Atlantic Canada’s economy. The Tourism Atlantic branch of ACOA plays a leadership role in growing tourism in the region by bringing a pan-Atlantic approach to research, marketing and product development. Its initiatives are designed to enhance and extend the tourism-related efforts of the provincial tourism departments and the private sector. The principal pan-Atlantic tourism initiative is the Atlantic Canada Tourism Partnership (ACTP), which includes ACOA, Atlantic Canada’s four tourism industry associations and the four provincial departments responsible for tourism. The partnership is dedicated to promoting Atlantic Canada as a tourism destination in international markets, including the primary market of the New England States, and secondary markets in the Mid-Atlantic States, Europe and Japan.

Human Capital - The Entrepreneurship and Business Skills Development (EBSD) sub-activity aims to provide Atlantic Canadians with the motivation and skills required to successfully start, sustain or grow a business. This is done by increasing awareness and interest in entrepreneurship as a viable career option, enhancing entrepreneurs' business skills needed to establish, maintain and grow their businesses, and by building capacity in the region for individuals to obtain the business skills they need to succeed.

The EBSD activities are funded through two initiatives. One is the Women in Business Initiative, which helps improve the growth and competitiveness of women-owned businesses and increase their representation in Atlantic Canada’s emerging growth sectors. The other has a particular focus on youth – the Young Entrepreneur Development Initiative – and helps raise awareness of entrepreneurship among young Atlantic Canadians by exposing them to the process of starting a business. This initiative also helps young people who are already in business to improve their capacity to succeed and grow.

Communities – The Agency reaches out to communities through the Innovative Communities Fund (ICF), which invests in strategic projects that build the economies of Atlantic Canada’s communities. Working in partnership with Atlantic communities and stakeholders, the ICF builds on the strengths of communities and provides the tools needed to identify opportunities available for their sustainable economic growth. The ICF focuses on investments that lead to long-term employment and economic growth in rural communities. Urban initiatives that stimulate the competitiveness and vitality of rural communities may be considered on a selective basis.

ACOA also reaches out to businesses and communities through Canada Business (formerly the Canada Business Service Centres), the Community Business Development Corporations (CBDCs) and the Regional Economic Development Organizations (REDOs). The objective of Canada Business is to improve service to small businesses and start-up entrepreneurs by providing comprehensive information and referrals on government services, programs and compliance requirements for both the federal and provincial levels of government. ACOA is the federal managing partner of Canada Business in Atlantic Canada. The CBDCs comprise an ACOA-funded network of 41 autonomous, not-for-profit organizations, located throughout rural Atlantic Canada, which work with all levels of government and the private sector to assist small businesses through counselling and financial services. The CBDCsalso deliver the Seed Capital Program, which provides loans to start, expand or improve a small business, as well as acquire business skills training. The REDOs include 52 ACOA-funded organizations that work to plan and drive economic development at the local level. These work in partnership with other federal, provincial and municipal governments, economic development organizations and various stakeholders.

Community infrastructure is an essential building block for community development. Investments in infrastructure ensure safe drinking water, effective waste management systems, and key transportation projects that facilitate the safe movement of people and goods. As well, strategic infrastructure that supports community development and economic growth benefits all communities. Community-based infrastructure programs are managed by ACOA in the Atlantic region on behalf of the Government of Canada. Provinces and municipalities manage the individual projects. In most cases, the Government of Canada matches provincial contributions and generally provides up to one-third of the cost of infrastructure projects. Under various funds, Infrastructure Canada provides national co-ordination among delivery partners in the implementation of the projects.

Part III.  Assessing Our Progress

As part of updating sustainable development strategies (SDS), the Commissioner for the Environment and Sustainable Development requires that each federal department and agency assess its previous sustainable development strategy to determine: what has been achieved; what has changed; and what needs to be done differently in an updated SDS. This assessment serves two purposes: to guide the preparation of the new strategy, and to inform those consulted in the previous SDS as to what progress has been made.

Highlights from SDS III       

ACOA’s detailed commitments to sustainable development are reported in the Agency’s Report on Plans and Priorities, and performance is measured in its Departmental Performance Report. Both reports can be found on ACOA’s website at http://www.acoa-apeca.gc.ca/eng/publications/ParliamentaryReports/Pages/home.aspx.

Following are highlights from the initiatives and commitments presented in the Agency’s SDS III.

Support to Business

ACOA recognizes that both business and the environment benefit from eco-efficiency. In its SDS III, the Agency committed to helping SMEs find ways in which they could reduce energy costs and material waste. This commitment is supported under the Agency’s BDP, its previous Innovation Skills Development Initiative, and the new Productivity and Business Skills Initiative, all of which help businesses improve their productivity. The BDP contributed to projects that promote eco-efficiency and lean manufacturing through awareness sessions and workshops. The Agency also assisted companies in becoming more eco-efficient through changes to production processes and attitudes in day-to-day operations, as well as the purchase of more efficient equipment.

ACOA established a direct portal for clients on the ACOA website. This portal, ACOA Direct, allows existing clients to do business with ACOA electronically via the Government of Canada’s secure channel – rated one of the most secure networks in the world. It is part of the Government of Canada’s and ACOA’s overall plans to deliver programs, services and information via the Internet. It represents a key component in ACOA’s vision to improve service delivery to clients, and to Atlantic Canadians in general. Allowing clients to submit claims and to view their profiles, the status of their claims, and repayment schedules online – wherever and whenever they want – reduces paper consumption and mailing costs.

Support to Communities

ACOA’s support includes funding to the CBDCs, which work with all levels of government and the private sector to provide counselling and financial services for small businesses; the Agency also supports the work of the REDOs, which assist businesses in their local communities in Atlantic Canada. ACOA engaged the services of a consultant to develop a customized workshop package on eco- and energy efficiency, and deliver it to all of the CBDCs and REDOs in the region. The last of 13 sessions will be completed by the end of March 2007. In addition, ACOA manages the federal portion of the infrastructure programs in Atlantic Canada. Through these programs, ACOA was able to surpass its goal of supporting 175 green infrastructure projects (e.g. clean water and waste management systems).

ACOA has been very active in the energy sector, and provided financial assistance to the Prince Edward Island Wind Test Site and support for the establishment of the Wind Energy Institute of Canada (more details are provided in Annex A). The Agency is also working with provincial colleagues on oil and gas and alternative energy initiatives such as tidal power that will reduce the region’s dependency on fossil fuels.

Awareness and Capacity Building

Eco-efficiency fact sheets were created under SDS II and are sent to all who apply for ACOA funding. In addition, ACOA, with Environment Canada, provided support for sector-specific workshops to promote eco-efficiency for the National Association of Metal Finishers, and the Wineries and Breweries Associations in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

The Agency’s New Brunswick regional office undertook a pilot project to determine the feasibility of integrating pollution prevention and eco-efficiency practices into the management of SME operations. The goal is to improve the productivity and economic sustainability of the businesses involved. This is an ongoing initiative that is expected to be rolled out to the rest of Atlantic Canada.

In collaboration with Environment Canada, Industry Canada and the National Research Council, ACOA held a series of stakeholder meetings to discuss ways to advance environmental technology innovation in Atlantic Canada. Aegis Management Consulting Group was engaged to analyze existing models that would foster greater environmental technology innovation and commercialization in the region. Its report was submitted in August 2005, and ACOA and its stakeholders continue to work on this initiative.

Setting an Example

In an effort to continually reduce paper consumption, ACOA encourages double-sided copying of all documents. The Agency will continue to look for other ways to reduce paper consumption, particularly through communication with staff. The use of electronic documents and announcements and posting items on the ACOA intranet site, have reduced printing and distribution costs. All external printing suppliers working for ACOA must use paper with a recycled content as well as print with vegetable-based inks.

ACOA’s information technology/information management (IT/IM) group was able to leverage technology (Systems Management Server) integrated within the existing IT/IM infrastructure that permits staff to shut down their computers at night without having a major impact on the maintenance schedule. The Agency’s intranet site for sustainable development has been updated and work is progressing on making the site a source for tips and information as well as an avenue for staff to access numerous green websites.

The Agency has purchased three additional alternative-fuel vehicles, making a total of 11 hybrid vehicles in the Agency’s 25-vehicle fleet. The vehicles have proven to be very popular with staff and are fully utilized.

Evaluation of SDS III

ACOA’s Internal Audit Directorate undertook a review of the Agency’s sustainable development strategies and prepared a guidance report to help ensure that ACOA’s SDS IV would be an effective strategic planning document reflecting the comments and recommendations made by the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development (CESD) and the Greening of Government Operations Initiative. The review focused on accountability and operations. It also provided recommendations on how to integrate sustainable development into the Agency’s strategy, planning and operations.

The review looked at four specific areas, which were approved prior to the review by the Agency’s SDS Committee:

1. ACOA is clear on the role and fit of its SDS.
2. Goals and objectives are clear, long-term and focused on outcomes.
3. The targets and actions are measurable and clearly linked to goals and objectives.
4. Reporting is complete and balanced.

A common point of interest within each was the upkeep and use of the Environment Management System (EMS). Whereas the EMS was developed as a framework for managing the Agency’s environmental agenda (e.g. tracking, evaluating and communicating environmental performance), it became obvious that it should be maintained and used to drive the integration of SD into the Agency’s core operations (activities).

The review found that the Agency’s SDS needed to be more clearly linked with its planning and reporting cycles to ensure a greater impact on the Agency’s strategic outcomes. Among the challenges in making this link is the fact that the SDS is on a three-year planning cycle, while the Agency is on a one-year planning cycle. In addition, there appears to be a need for an SDS visioning exercise to gather the various SD priorities into one logic model that can provide a lens for the Agency’s strategic outcomes.

Some results based on the four areas mentioned above include:

1. Federal departments and agencies are to implement SD within their organizations and the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development (CESD) is responsible for monitoring SD activities. The audit review noted that strengthened guidelines and a clear vision would make it easier to link SD to the Agency’s Program Activity Architecture (PAA). Because SD impacts directly on economic development, it should be more clearly integrated into the Agency’s vision. There is also a need for increased senior management involvement in the implementation of SD within the Agency’s core activities. Formal integration of SD into the annual planning cycle and the organizational work plans would help ensure that the Agency’s SD-related activities meet the CESD’s expectations.

2. ACOA’s previous strategies did not completely meet the expectations of the CESD. Specifically, the strategies did not establish clear, long-term plans focused on outcomes, goals and objectives; therefore, there is a need for a structured logic model linking ACOA’s SD vision to strategic outcomes. It would also be beneficial if the planning and reporting cycles of SD could be co-ordinated with those of the Agency.

3. Management could be more involved in the planning of the Agency’s SD objectives and defining performance expectations.

4. According to the EMS manual, responsibility for reporting on SD projects is defined within program delivery. Account managers should report to committee members who, in turn, report to senior management. The enhancement of the Agency’s information management system would allow it to accurately capture the data required for monitoring and performance reporting purposes.

By addressing these four specific areas, ACOA would move closer to achieving the goals and objectives set out in the SDS, as recommended by the CESD.

Lessons Learned and Future Direction

In looking back over progress and commitments made since the first strategy was tabled in 1997, some very good initiatives have been completed. In each strategy, however, the challenge has been to establish targets that are quantifiable in the sense of numbers of projects and initiatives. ACOA is a regional economic development agency and must focus on areas that will have the greatest positive effect on businesses and communities in Atlantic Canada. In terms of sustainable development, this focus is promotion, primarily through support to workshops, conferences and information sessions, either to non-profit organizations or in collaboration with larger federal departments. This responds to comments from external and internal consultations that there is a need to make people more aware of sustainable development and of the SD funding programs available to them. The focus also addresses eco-efficiency by encouraging clients to undertake eco-efficiency reviews and by including an eco-efficiency fact sheet with letters sent to acknowledge funding requests.

Increased sustainable development activity in the region is the result of many factors, some of which can be attributed to ACOA’s SD activities. The Agency does not control the number or type of applications for funding it receives; therefore, linking funded projects to SD performance measures will not provide an accurate success indicator. ACOA’s SDS IV will concentrate on areas it can control such as getting the message out, promoting eco-efficiency and monitoring success through the increase in program activities related to sustainable development.

ACOA has made a concerted effort to partner on many projects in the region, particularly with respect to promotion and enhancing awareness of sustainable development and funding available from national programs. This has proven to be very successful and the Agency will seek other opportunities to capitalize on the federal presence in Atlantic Canada, in order to promote the region’s natural and innovation resources that contribute to the federal government’s environmental sustainability objectives. The planning cycle for SDS IV and future strategies will be changed to fiscal years to match the regular cycle of ACOA planning and program activities.

In summary, ACOA’s SDS IV responds to feedback from both external and internal consultations to promote the use of innovative eco-efficiency tools, practices and technologies and to inform both the private sector and communities of the benefits of sustainable development. It will also respond to the expectations of the CESD, as outlined in Sustainable Development Strategies: Making a Difference, March 2003, which focuses almost exclusively on improving the strategies to make them more effective planning documents, with strong results-based performance measurement frameworks. ACOA has recognized the need to clarify its SD vision for Atlantic Canada and to use that as the beacon to direct SD initiatives in the future.

Part IV.  Consultations

As stated in A Guide to Green Government, sustainable developmentis a shared responsibility requiring the involvement of federal and provincial governments, Aboriginal people, and departmental stakeholders. A critical element to preparing an SDS is capturing information from stakeholders who have an interest in seeing the federal government realize its sustainable development goals.

Highlights of External Consultations

Recognizing the value of consultation and co-operation, ACOA invited four other federal departments to participate in joint consultations in May 2006 in preparation for their next sustainable development strategies. The consultations afforded an excellent opportunity to gather valuable information and insights about issues and challenges facing Atlantic Canada. They also led to a greater understanding of the different perspectives throughout the region. Six key issues emerged from the consultations. The results of these consultations would suggest that participants now have a better understanding of what constitutes a sustainable community than they did during the consultations conducted in 2003. They also have a more positive perception of the region than they did during SDS III consultations in 2003. Areas of concern are similar to those expressed in the SDS III consultations – education, skills development, and recruitment and retention of skilled labour, as well as infrastructure, research and development, and government interaction and partnerships. However, participants believe that Atlantic Canada has moved forward on a number of key issues since the last consultations. They emphasized that it is important to promote the positive attributes of Atlantic Canada (e.g. its rugged natural beauty, the reasonable cost of living compared to major centres, the coastline and friendly population).

1. Education, Skills, Training
2. Infrastructure
3. Energy
4. Sustainable Development Leadership
5. Innovation, Competitiveness and Productivity
6. Protection of Eco-systems

One major concern of participants in all sessions is the out-migration of the region’s skilled workforce to other areas of Canada. Another concern is the population shift from rural to urban areas within Atlantic Canada. This issue is not unique to Atlantic Canada as statistics show a global shift from rural to urban centres. In fact, many areas are struggling to keep their skilled labour, especially young workers who seek better career opportunities and access to a greater number of local amenities.

Participants in all sessions agreed that there was a general lack of awareness and education about sustainable development and its impact on the economy, society and the environment. They also stated that greater importance must be placed on promoting the option of technical, industrial and trades programs earlier in the public education system, perhaps through career days. This would provide youth with a better understanding of career options available, thereby identifying diverse skills required for responding to existing and future labour needs. All participants agreed there is a need for communities and businesses to promote sustainable actions and attitudes, and to truly integrate SD practices into everyday work and personal life.

Infrastructure was another major concern for the majority of participants, who stated that improved infrastructure was essential to building sustainable businesses and communities, and to promoting an innovative economy. The introduction of community-based infrastructure programs was cited as having helped many communities improve their infrastructure, but much remains to be done.

Energy was discussed in all sessions. Participants pointed to the need to educate the population about energy conservation as a means to decrease energy demand. They stated that the region should invest in more alternate energy sources, in order to reduce dependence on the import of fossil fuels.

All participants felt that the region faces challenges in competing in the global marketplace, but that there are opportunities to capture some distinct niche markets opening up in the environment sector.