talk into action - commissioner
Ottawa, 30 May 2000 - The federal government continues to have difficulty turning its commitment to sustainable development into action, according to the Acting Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, Richard Smith.
"A prosperous economy depends on a healthy environment," said Richard Smith. "And both are critical to the well-being of Canadians. The cost of ignoring these linkages is high."
In his Report tabled today in the House of Commons, the Acting Commissioner focusses on the challenges the federal government faces in dealing with environment and sustainable development issues. Previous reports identified key weaknesses in the government's management of these issues. This fourth Report highlights the fact that progress requires partnerships that work.
Smog is an important example. It is a major health issue that poses a serious threat to the environment. The Report points out that while the federal, provincial and territorial governments started on the right foot 10 years ago, they have failed to take the next steps. They agreed on a plan but have not implemented it.
This Report identifies the key ingredients for building and sustaining effective working relationships. "Canada's smog plan failed because the partnership that underpinned it did not work," said Richard Smith. "The federal government did not lead the national effort to reduce smog. As a consequence, past improvements in air quality are slowly being eroded."
Smog is not an isolated case. In earlier reports, the Commissioner also identified persistent problems with the federal government's management of key issues like climate change, toxic substances and biodiversity. As a result, in all these cases, commitments made to Canadians were not being met.
In addition to smog, the Acting Commissioner discusses government support to energy investments, progress on sustainable development strategies and the "greening" of the federal government's operations. The Report also presents the first follow-up of work done since the appointment of the Commissioner in 1996.
"Overall progress in response to our earlier recommendations has been slow," concluded Richard Smith. "Federal departments need to accelerate their efforts in order to strengthen management of environment and sustainable development issues."
"The Commissioner's Observations - 2000" is available on the Office of the Auditor General of Canada's web site.
Home