Archived: Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy 2015 to 2016 report, Environment and Climate Change Canada, chapter 6

Section 6 - Strategic Environmental Assessment

The Cabinet Directive on the Environmental Assessment of Policy, Plan and Program Proposals (Cabinet Directive) sets out the requirements concerning strategic environmental assessment (SEAs) for federal departments and agencies. SEAs serve to support consideration of the federal government’s priorities for environmental sustainability, including the goals and targets of the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy. The Department maintains a SEA management system which supports tracking of proposals and reporting on SEAs and, through guidance, support for programs in completing SEAs. As a science and technical expert on the environment and in mainstreaming climate change considerations into proposals, ECCC developed a supplementary information module to support the consideration of the potential impacts of climate change on new federal initiatives and the related options for adapting to these changes.

The department also made significant progress in ensuring that the results of assessments conducted at the policy, plan or program level were reflected in Regulatory Impact Analysis Statements (RIAS). Reflecting the results of SEAs in RIASs (published on the Canada Gazette) aims to assure the public and stakeholders that the environment was considered during the development of policies, plans and programs which led to the development of the regulation.

ECCC continues to post SEA public statements as initiatives are approved by the Minister or Cabinet and a formal announcement has been made. These public statements provide an overview of the proposed initiatives, a summary analysis of environmental effects and potential impacts on the FSDS goals and targets.

For information about the results of SEAs conducted for Species at Risk Recovery Plans, see the Species at Risk Registry. For SEAs conducted for Ministerial Orders or reflected in new regulations, these can be found on the Canada Gazette. Other examples of SEAs undertaken during 2015-16 include the following:

• Pan Canadian Framework for Climate Change: The Pan Canadian Framework for Climate Change establishes a durable process for addressing climate change mitigation in Canada. It also aims to develop linkages between climate change policy and the transition to a low-carbon economy and clean growth. The SEA conducted concluded that the proposal would support the achievement of FSDS Goals relating to Climate Change Mitigation, Adaptation, Outdoor Air Pollutants, and Protecting Nature and Canadians.
• Negotiating Mandate for the Phase down of Hydrofluorocarbons (HFC): The adoption of an HFC amendment obliges Parties to the Montreal Protocol to phase down HFCs in accordance with specific reduction schedules agreed to by the Parties. An SEA conducted for this proposal concluded that implementation of the proposal would support the FSDS goal related to mitigation of climate impacts from HFCs.
• Minamata Convention on Mercury Treaty Negotiations: The Minamata Convention on Mercury is a new global, legally binding treaty under the auspices of the United Nations Environment Program. The objective of this Convention is to protect human health and the environment from anthropogenic emissions and release of mercury and mercury compounds. An SEA completed for this proposal concluded that this initiative will indirectly positively impact the FSDS goals related to air quality and protecting nature and Canadians by reducing the risks to Canadians and impacts on the environment and human health posed by releases of harmful substances.
• COP21 International Climate Change Strategy: This initiative sought approval of a negotiating strategy that supported successful outcomes at the Paris climate conference, including the adoption of an ambitious and effective global agreement on climate change and Canada’s pre-2020 climate finance pledge. The SEA concluded that the Paris Climate Agreement will address climate change by limiting the global temperature rise through reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, help conserve ecosystems, wildlife and habitat and protect Canadians through reducing climate change impacts.
• Species at Risk Hunting Bag Limit Provisions: During each biennial amendment cycle, Environment and Climate Change Canada releases a consultation report entitled, Proposals to Amend the Canadian Migratory Birds Regulations to facilitate transparency in decision-making, and to provide an opportunity for interested parties to input into the development of amendments to the hunting provisions of the Migratory Birds Regulations. An SEA completed for the 2013-14 hunting amendments concluded that amending the hunting provisions of the Migratory Birds Regulations will help support meeting the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy goal related to conserving and restoring ecosystems, wildlife and habitat, and protecting Canadians.
• Regulations Amending the Wild Animal and Plant Trade Regulations: The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is an international agreement between governments and was established to help ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. The Convention sets controls on the trade of animal and plant species that are, or may be, threatened due to excessive commercial exploitation. An SEA conducted for this proposal concluded that the Schedule I amendments to WAPTR would have positive environmental effects and would fulfil FSDS’ target related to Canada’s obligations under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora through the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act by helping to ensure that the status of no species is threatened by international trade.

The full SEA public statements for these initiatives can be found on the department’s SEA website.