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

Sustainable development strategies

Who we audited: Privy Council Office and the Environment and Sustainable Development Coordinating Committee

Formulate and elaborate national strategies and begin their implementation by 2005.

Context. Canada first committed to develop a national sustainable development strategy in 1992 at the Earth Summit. In 1995, it amended the Auditor General Act to require the ministers of 25 departments and agencies to table a sustainable development strategy in Parliament every three years, in line with this commitment. The federal government has promised to develop an overall federal strategy, although it recognizes that this would not constitute a national strategy.

What we found. The government has not developed a federal strategy. It will not be able to meet its commitment for a national strategy by 2005.

For more information, see paragraphs 7.10 to 7.12 of this chapter.

The Canadian Biodiversity Strategy

Who we audited: Environment Canada

Achieve a significant reduction in the rate of loss of biological diversity by 2010.

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Context. Biological diversity refers to the variety of life in all its forms—the foundation for the continued existence of a healthy planet and well-being of its inhabitants.

What we found. While the government is working toward such reporting and reporting is taking place in various sectors, there is no overall picture of the state of biodiversity in Canada. By not knowing the state of its own biodiversity or how it is changing over time, the federal government is limited in its ability to help conserve biodiversity and use it sustainably. Consequently, the federal government cannot demonstrate it is meeting its commitment, and we are unable to rate progress.

For more information, see Chapter 3 of this Report.

Oceans management

Who we audited: Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Encourage the application, by 2010, of the ecosystem approach to the management of oceans.

What we found. The Department is developing an ecosystem approach, which is a key component of its integrated management planning. It is testing some aspects of the approach.

For more information, see Chapter 1 of this Report.

Establish marine protected areas consistent with international law and based on science, including representative networks, by 2012.

Context. Two other departments that we did not audit have responsibilities for marine protected areas. Parks Canada has authority to protect places that represent Canada's marine regions, and Environment Canada has authority to designate Marine Wildlife Areas to protect habitat.

What we found. The Department has designated 2 marine protected areas under the Oceans Act, and has identified 11 areas of interest as potential marine protected areas. But, we are concerned that Canada is in danger of not meeting the commitment to establish representative networks of marine protected areas by 2012 for the following reasons:

• delays in developing a federal marine protected areas strategy,
• no plan as to how the commitment will be met, and
• uncertainties about funding.

For more information, see Chapter 1 of this Report.

Promote integrated, multidisciplinary and multisectoral coastal and ocean management at the national level.

What we found. The Oceans Act, Canada's Oceans Strategy, and Canada's Oceans Action Plan promote an integrated management approach. However, moving from a definition of integrated management to implementing it has been difficult. The Department is leading integrated management planning initiatives in five large ocean areas.

For more information, see Chapter 1 of this Report.

Implement the work programme arising from the Jakarta Mandate on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine and Coastal Biological Diversity of the Convention on Biological Diversity.

What we found. The Oceans Act, Canada's Oceans Strategy, and Canada's Oceans Action Plan are consistent with the Jakarta Mandate. Key elements, including integrated management, ecosystem approach, and marine protected areas have been reported in the previous three commitments.

For more information, see Chapter 1 of this Report.