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2000 May Report of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development
Appendix — Economic Development Agency of Canada for Quebec Regions — Managing Implementation of the Sustainable Development Strategy
To increase its ability to evaluate and control the environmental impact of its activities, the Economic Development Agency of Canada for Quebec Regions has gradually adjusted its management practices. The Agency has made some aspects of environmental management part of its quality system, developed in accordance with the ISO 9002 standard. This involves monitoring Agency activities that could have an impact on the environment and sustainable development (ESD) and, where required, taking Agency and government ESD approaches and statutory requirements into account in the system for delivering financial and non-financial services.
Policies and strategic approaches
The Agency updates its strategic approaches on the basis of three main sources of information: diagnosis of Sustainable Development Strategy implementation by an independent firm, regular monitoring by the Sustainable Development Committee and a watch conducted through the Agency's participation in a variety of related federal interdepartmental tables.
Planning
The Agency has adopted an action plan with operational objectives, which defines roles, responsibilities and deadlines.
Responsibility for developing and implementing the action plan was assigned to the members of the SD Committee, who represent the Agency's various branches and play an active role in setting sustainable development priorities and objectives.
Implementation
The Agency has introduced mechanisms for improving its ISO 9002 quality system, in order to take ESD into account in its day-to-day operations. Control of ESD impact in projects financially supported by the Agency is ensured through compliance with the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, the decision criteria for which have been added to project analysis forms. ESD concerns have also been included in the procurement procedure.
The various standards linked to the Agency's quality system are used throughout its programming and for some internal support services: application intake, ministerial correspondence, advisory services, economic leadership, applications for financial assistance, purchasing and document management.
The members of the SD Committee share duties related to implementation of the Agency's Sustainable Development Strategy (SDS), with some branches taking the leadership role for specific activities.
Management and control
Service delivery procedures are clearly described in the Agency's ISO 9002 quality system. They include steps linked to the processing of files, reference documents (acts, regulations and guidelines) and the forms to be used (quality records). All employees must follow these procedures. Internal audits conducted twice a year serve to ensure compliance with the Agency's quality system.
Habits acquired by staff with regard to use of and respect for quality system procedures have simplified the process that allows ESD issues to be taken into account.
Compliance with procedures, together with internal quality audits, helps to ensure systematic support for the management of activities.
Review
The Agency has also made a clear commitment to continuous improvement, monitored by management reviews. The SD Committee must thus account to senior management for progress made and results obtained from its activities.
Summary of the management system
The Agency's management system is summarized in the synoptic table below.
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Factors in management/leadership |
Products and reference documents |
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1. Establishing policies and strategic approaches | |
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2. Planning and developing the operational activity framework | |
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3. Implementing and carrying out activities | |
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4. Managing and controlling quality and continuous improvement |
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5. Review and correction | |
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Source: Economic Development Agency of Canada for Quebec Regions