2005 September Report of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development

Biodiversity modules

The three modules that were not completed in 2000 remain unfinished. Some components from the modules have been incorporated into strategies that guide federal departments in their work on biodiversity issues.

Federal implementation plan

As in 2000, there is still no federal plan for implementing the strategy. A national (federal-provincial-territorial) biodiversity outcomes framework, which would take the place of a federal implementation plan, is being discussed, but this is at a very early stage.

Federal-provincial-territorial co-ordination

Federal-provincial-territorial co-ordination has improved since our 2000 audit. There is still no formal ministerial home for biodiversity. The proposed national biodiversity outcomes framework may lead to a national structure, such as a formal ministerial council, to oversee implementation of the strategy. Engagement and accountability have been identified as lacking in the current governance structure.

Biodiversity science and information

Our 2000 audit noted concerns about the lack of federal biodiversity science capacity. Working Together included a recommendation to prepare a strategy to better manage biodiversity information (by 2002) and prepare a biodiversity science agenda (by 2003); neither the strategy nor the agenda has been completed.

Monitoring and reporting

Similar to what we found in our 1998 and 2000 audits, there is still no consolidated, comprehensive report on the state of biodiversity in Canada. Nor is there a report on federal implementation of the strategy. This commitment has led to work on a Canadian Biodiversity Index and Internet access to biodiversity status and trends. The index is not expected to be operational before 2006. Work on this commitment has not enhanced federal monitoring of biodiversity.

Invasive species

The commitment to prepare a plan to address invasive alien species has largely been met with the approval of the Invasive Alien Species Strategy for Canada in 2004; however, action plans necessary to implement this national strategy are not expected until October 2005. The federal government announced $85 million over five years in funding for invasive species programs in the February 2005 budget.

Stewardship

The federal, provincial, and territorial governments met their commitment to prepare a biodiversity stewardship strategy by 2003. The federal-provincial-territorial working group responsible for stewardship is currently dormant; however, other stewardship activity continues across Canada.