1. Sustainability Indicators and the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy Canadian Sustainability Indicators Network (CSIN) 2010 Conference March 2010

2. DRAFT – Page 2 – May 5, 2015 Purpose To outline the Government of Canada’s new approach to sustainable development governance which seeks to: –Better reflect international best practices; –Address issues noted in internal management reviews, research findings and input from the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development (CESD); and, –Strengthen the science-policy connection through the strategic use of indicator information. The presentation argues that the new approach has the potential to be a step forward in transparency and public accounting on sustainability for the benefit of Canadians, in part because of its connection to indicators.

3. DRAFT – Page 3 – May 5, 2015 Overview Best Practices for Governance in Sustainability Former Federal Practices Background: Federal Sustainable Development Act (FSDA) Implementing the FSDA with Best Practices in Mind The Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS) Indicators and the FSDS Bridging the Science-Policy Divide Through Indicators

4. DRAFT – Page 4 – May 5, 2015 Best Practices for Governance in Sustainability The following elements are typically seen as key for national or federal SD governance structures and strategies: ▪Legislative underpinning; ▪Top-level leadership and accountability; ▪Relevant and comprehensive strategy involving as many departments as possible; ▪Connected into the fundamental planning & budgetary processes; ▪Formalized involvement of a wide range of stakeholders; and, ▪Connectivity with other governments.

5. DRAFT – Page 5 – May 5, 2015 Former Federal Practices From 1995 to June 2008, the Auditor General Act required Ministers to table departmental Sustainable Development Strategies every three years –No overarching Federal strategy. The Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development (CESD) conducted 11 highly critical audits of this approach; last report tabled in Parliament November 2008: –Lack of clearly defined federal priorities, a common vision and ‘meaningful’ targets; –Poorly defined federal accountabilities and lack of senior level leadership; –Departmental compartmentalization discouraging horizontal collaboration; –Lack of a means to measure and report on federal progress as a whole; and, –Strategies were not the ‘drivers of change’ they were intended to be. Management Review of previous process (completed by Environment Canada in November 2008), confirmed that: –Clear direction setting and leadership must be established; –Strategies need to be focused, with clear goals and targets; –Sustainable development should be integrated into federal planning and reporting; and, processes.

6. DRAFT – Page 6 – May 5, 2015 Background Federal Sustainable Development Act (FSDA) Very quick history ▪Amended private members’ bill which gained all-party support. Received Royal ascent in June, 2008. Purpose ▪s.3 “…to provide the legal framework for developing and implementing a Federal Sustainable Development Strategy that will make environmental decision-making more transparent and accountable to Parliament.” Requirements ▪Draft FSDS, Final FSDS, Progress Report. ▪CESD reports: 1) Whether targets and Implementation Strategies can be assessed; and, 2) Fairness of info in Progress Report. ▪Consultation on Draft – Public, Parliament, SD Advisory Council. Key dates ▪FSDSs – June 2010 and every 3 years thereafter. ▪First DSDSs – June 2011 and every 3 years thereafter. ▪First Progress Report – June 2011 and every 3 years thereafter.

7. DRAFT – Page 7 – May 5, 2015 Implementing the FSDA with Best Practices in Mind Material Secret – to come.

8. DRAFT – Page 8 – May 5, 2015 The Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS) Structure & Contents –The Act requires the establishment of Goals, Targets (measurable objectives) and Implementation Strategies. –[EC will be in a position to share this at the time of the presentation, but is not presently able to do so] ▪Goal themes ▪Target lists ▪Examples of implementation strategies

9. DRAFT – Page 9 – May 5, 2015 Indicators & the FSDS For each element of the FSDS there will be indicators: ▪Goals will strive to have high-level, State of the Environment- type indicators; ▪Targets will have some state-of-the environment-type indicators and some pressure-driver indicators; and, ▪Implementation Strategies will have lower-level, related performance indicators. Gaps and future work ▪Indicators will largely come from CESI and existing performance management frameworks. ▪Plan-do-check-improve cycle established.

10. DRAFT – Page 10 – May 5, 2015 Strengthening the Policy-Science connection through indicators How present governance structure gets closer to recommendations & best practices: –SDO formation & its roles; –Integration into mainstream planning; –TBS Management Accountability Framework (MAF); –Higher profile and connectivity to population through consultation; and, –Greater meaning to Canadians through transparency, accountability and indicator use.

11. DRAFT – Page 11 – May 5, 2015 Thank You Please contact: Sustainable Development Office Environment Canada 10 Wellington Street, 25 th Floor Gatineau, QC, K1A 0H3 email: sdo-bdd@ec.gc.ca