Archived: Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy 2015-16, Environment and Climate Change Canada, chapter 6

Strategic Environmental Assessment

Environment Canada ensures that it continues to comply with the Cabinet Directive on the Environmental Assessment of Policy, Plan and Program Proposals. A departmental policy on SEA establishes the core elements of a well-functioning SEA management system (e.g., clear accountabilities and procedures, updated guidance materials and a comprehensive SEA tracking system).

Environment Canada will continue to implement its SEA policy and further strengthen its SEA performance by ensuring that

• high-quality SEAs are completed for policy, plan and program proposals as required by the Cabinet Directive;
• SEAs include a detailed integrated analysis of the potential environmental effects of proposals as well as potential impacts on the achievement of the FSDS goals and targets;
• SEAs also include, as appropriate, measures to mitigate negative environmental effects and enhance positive environmental effects (including effects on the FSDS goals and targets); and
• public statements are issued when SEAs have been formally approved or announced.

In addition, Environment Canada will provide departments and agencies with expert policy, technical and scientific analysis and advice on sustainable development and the potential environmental effects of initiatives.

Expected to be tabled in Parliament in the fall of 2016, Environment Canada’s 2015-16 Departmental Performance Report will include a description of how policies, plans and programs subject to SEAs have affected or are expected to affect progress toward the goals and targets of the FSDS.

Additional information on the results of the SEAs is available on Environment Canada’s public statement website.