Sustainable Development Act Becomes Federal Law
A new Act requiring the Canadian government to create and implement a government-wide sustainable development strategy recently became law. The Federal Sustainable Development Act, which received Royal Assent on June 26, 2008, provides the legal framework for developing and implementing a Federal Sustainable Development Strategy to make environmental decision-making more transparent and accountable to Parliament.
Additionally, the Act will require the government to regularly evaluate the environmental consequences of its actions. The Act also creates a Sustainable Development Advisory Council made up of representatives from the Aboriginal communities, business, labour, and the environmental movement to advise the government on its sustainable development strategy.
The Act cites the Government of Canada’s acceptance of “the basic principle that sustainable development is based on an ecologically efficient use of natural, social and economic resources,” acknowledging the need to integrate environmental, economic and social factors into government decision-making.