New Liberal consensus

Environment committee goes unanimous -- a first!

William Amos, Pontiac MP, has announced that the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development has tabled a unanimous report calling on the government to amend the Federal Sustainable Development Act to inspire economic, social and environmental actions. “This is an example of Parliament working,” said Amos.

“Federal Sustainability for Future Generations – A Report Following an Assessment of the Federal Sustainable Development Act” is based on testimony this spring during the Committee’s study of the Federal Sustainable Development Act.

Mr Amos said the committee wants to see “the federal government tighten the screws around its own operations in terms of sustainability.” One of the 13 recommendations is to develop “measures to improve enforceability and accountability within the federal government for meeting the strategy’s targets.” A second is to ensure “that the federal sustainable development strategy includes measurable, time-bound targets toward achieving the Act’s goals, and that the strategy is re-assessed and adjusted every two years.”

While the report is national, it has important repercussions locally since the federal government is one of Amos’ riding’s predominant employers.

The report is in the hands of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Catherine McKenna, who is responsible for the Federal Sustainable Development Act.

It’s a law, says Amos, that ensures (all parts of) the federal government prepare strategies to ensure sustainability within their departments and programs. It has a major impact since the government is the largest national player in procurement.