Planning for a Sustainable Future:
A Federal Sustainable Development Strategy for Canada
2013–2016 - Consultation Paper

Sustainable Development Office
Environment Canada

February 2013

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Message from the Minister

I am very pleased to present to Canadians the public consultation draft of the second Federal Sustainable Development Strategy. This strategy underscores the Government of Canada’s continuing commitment to ensuring the transparency and accountability of environmental decision making.

In passing the Federal Sustainable Development Act in 2008, our government established a new and innovative sustainable development approach. This approach provides a whole-of-government view of actions to achieve environmental sustainability, is integrated into core federal planning and reporting, and is supported by a robust measurement strategy. The Act called for a Federal Sustainable Development Strategy, to be updated every three years, as well as regular progress reports. Canada’s first Federal Sustainable Development Strategy, established in 2010 in accordance with the Act, was a significant step towards achieving transparency and accountability.

The second cycle of the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy, covering the period 2013–2016, continues along this course by expanding the strategy’s whole-of-government picture, more closely aligning our sustainable development commitments with departmental performance reporting, and providing a broader range of environmental sustainability indicators to measure progress.

It builds on the foundation of the goals, targets and implementation strategies that are already delivering results, while reflecting more recent initiatives such as our current efforts to adapt to changes in the climate. It also reflects a growing recognition--within Canada and internationally--that environmental sustainability and economic prosperity can support and reinforce one another. It also updates our targets to ensure that government does its part to limit environmental effects from its operations.

Finally, it recognizes that these successes would not have been possible were it not for the support and partnership of others who share our vision of realizing synergies among environmental, economic and social objectives. I thank our colleagues and stakeholders for their dedication, their ideas and their hard work.

As with the first Federal Sustainable Development Strategy, the strategy for 2013–2016 will no doubt benefit from public consultation and input before the final strategy is tabled later this year. The Act provides for a 120-day period in which we will seek the advice of interested Canadians and their organizations. I look forward to receiving comments on this draft report.

Peter Kent
Minister of the Environment

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