Archived: Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy 2013-14 report, Environment and Climate Change Canada, chapter 6

Section 6: Strategic Environmental Assessment

During the 2013-14 reporting cycle, Environment Canada considered the environmental effects of initiatives subject to the Cabinet Directive on the Environmental Assessment of Policy, Plan and Program Proposals (the Cabinet Directive), as part of its decision making processes. Through the strategic environmental assessment (SEA) process, Environment Canada-led initiatives were found to have positive effects on the Federable Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS) 2013-16 goals and targets in Themes I - Addressing Climate Change and Air Quality; II - Maintaining Water Quality and Availability; and III - Protecting Nature and Canadians.

The Department continues to be committed to developing high quality SEAs in compliance with the Cabinet Directive. These SEAs for policy, plan or program proposals include an analysis of any change that the policy, plan or program may cause in the environment, including any effect of such change on health and socio-economic conditions and in relation to progress towards the FSDS goals and targets.  

Environment Canada’s Departmental Policy on SEA ensures a well-functioning SEA management system focused on accountabilities and efficiencies. The Department continues to seek opportunities to strengthen the application of SEAs, as well as:

• including measures to mitigate negative environmental effects (including effects on the achievement of the FSDS goals and targets) and enhance positive environmental effects; and
• responding to requests from other departments and agencies for expert policy, technical and scientific analysis on sustainable development, and the potential environmental effects of initiatives.

Summary of Contributions to FSDS Goals and Targets

The SEAs conducted in 2013-14 supported a number of key 2013-16 FSDS goals and targets:

• Goal 3: Water Quality and Water Quantity - protect and enhance water so that it is clean, safe and secure for all Canadians and supports healthy ecosystems:
  • Target 3.3: Great Lakes - Canadian Areas of Concern - Take federal actions to restore beneficial uses for delisting five Canadian Areas of Concern and to reduce the number of impaired beneficial uses in the remaining Areas of Concern by 25% by 2018.
  • Target 3.4: Great Lakes - Contribute to the restoration and protection of the Great Lakes by developing and gaining bi-national acceptance of objectives for the management of nutrients in Lake Erie by 2016 and for the other Great Lakes as required.
  • Target 3.6: Lake Simcoe and South-eastern Georgian Bay - Reduce an estimated 2000 kg of phosphorus loadings to Lake Simcoe by 2017, which will support the Province of Ontario’s target to reduce phosphorus inputs into Lake Simcoe to 44,000 kg/year by 2045; reduce an estimated 2000 kg of phosphorus loadings to South-eastern Georgian Bay watersheds by 2017. 
• Goal 2: Air Pollution - minimize the threats to air quality so that the air Canadians breathe is clean and supports healthy ecosystems:
  • Target 2.1:Outdoor Air Pollutants - Improve outdoor air quality by ensuring compliance with new or amended regulated emission limits by 2020 and thus reducing emissions of air pollutants in support of Air Quality Management System (AQMS) objectives.
• Goal 4: Conserving and Restoring Ecosystems, Wildlife and Habitat, and Protecting Canadians - resilient ecosystems with healthy wildlife populations so Canadians can enjoy benefits from natural spaces, resources and ecological services for generations to come:
  • Target 4.1: Species at Risk - By 2020, populations of species at risk listed under federal law exhibit trends that are consistent with recovery strategies and management plans

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