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Presentation by Yvonne Devine, ACOA November 18, 2005

Sustainable Development in Atlantic Canada About ACOA, visit: http://www.acoa-apeca.gc.ca/e/index.shtml About business programs, visit CBSCs: http://canadabusiness.gc.ca/gol/cbec/site.nsf. Presentation by Yvonne Devine, ACOA November 18, 2005. Overview. 1. Sustainable Development.

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Presentation by Yvonne Devine, ACOA November 18, 2005

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  1. Sustainable Development in Atlantic CanadaAbout ACOA, visit:http://www.acoa-apeca.gc.ca/e/index.shtmlAbout business programs, visit CBSCs:http://canadabusiness.gc.ca/gol/cbec/site.nsf Presentation by Yvonne Devine, ACOA November 18, 2005

  2. Overview 1. Sustainable Development 2. 2003 Consultations 3. Update 4. What’s next?

  3. Three Pillars of SD Economy Environment Society

  4. SDS Consultations - 2003 • Federal departments and agencies preparing three-year sustainable development strategies since 1997. (SDS I – 1998-2000, SDS II – 2001-2003, SDS III – 2004-2006) • In preparation for SDS III - what did Atlantic Canadians feel were the major issues and challenges facing the region. • Partners – ACOA, Environment Canada, Industry Canada, NRCan, PWGSC • Four Consultation sessions held – • St. John’s, Halifax, Moncton, Charlottetown • 109 participants in total • 11 priorities identified as important issues and challenges to sustainable development in the region.

  5. Issues & Challenges - Atlantic Canada 2003 Define Sus. Comm. Best Practices Education Energy Economy Gov. Interaction Skills 11 priorities Infrastructure Incentives R & D R & D Community Empowerment Perception Economy

  6. 1. Define Sustainable Community • Asustainable community is one that: • Acknowledges economic, environmental and social issues are interrelated. • Recognizes sensitive interface between the natural and built environments. • Understands begins to shift away from polluting and wasteful practices. • Considers environmental, economic and social impacts. • Understands its natural, cultural, historical and human assets. • Fosters multi-stakeholder collaboration. • Promotes resource conservation and pollution prevention. • Focuses on improving community health and quality of life. • Acts to create value-added products and services in the local economy.

  7. 2. Education • Access to Education – better access to skills development opportunities, both youth and adult levels – improving • Literacy rate (five million adult Canadians (approximately 22 per cent of the population) – remains a huge issue • Wider range of programs and broad range of career opportunities – technical, industrial and trades programs for youth within communities – community and specialized colleges thriving. • Skills pertaining to sustainable development – degree programs in environmental studies, environmental engineering and environmental health increasing • Increased awareness of SD – school programs and community initiatives through campaigns, TV ads, etc.

  8. 3. Recruitment and Retention of Skilled Labor • Successful youth efforts • active & direct approach to inform about local bus. startup & employment opportunities. • provide apprenticeship & mentorship opportunities • local govs. provide info. about housing, services, etc. • work with the education sys. on entrepreneurship-related curriculum Seed capital Program, The Centre for Entrepreneurship Education and Dev., Young Entrepreneur Dev. Initiative (YEDI) - Junior Chamber International • Successful immigration activities • multi-stakeholder committee - “welcoming committees”.

  9. 4. Infrastructural Improvement • Infrastructure Canada Program • Broadband – high speed internet is now more widely available in the region. • Energy - Wind energy gaining popularity; hydro energy being explored again; natural gas access extended. • HR infrastructure -Atlantic Canada has excellent universities, colleges and institutes to accommodate students. • HRSDC’s Skills Development Employment Benefit helps the unemployed learn new skills.

  10. 5. Promote Research and Development • ACOA’s Atlantic Innovation Fund • Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) • National Research Council grants • Sustainable Development Technology Canada • Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) Tax Incentive Program • The NRC Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP) • Canada Research Chairs • Communications Research Centre Canada (CRC) • Genome Canada • Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) • Networks of Centres of Excellence • Precarn • Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC)

  11. 6. Community Empowerment • The Green Municipal Funds program • Infrastructure Canada Program • Community Futures Program • The Natural Step to Sustainable Communities • CMHC Community Planning Tools Program • Green Communities Canada (GCC) http://www.gca.ca • The Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) program • The Centre for Sustainable Community Development

  12. 7. Improve perception of Atlantic Canada • Council of Atlantic Premiers Building on Progress: Atlantic Action Plan 2005–08 (http://www.cap-cpma.ca/) Vision • Encourage a climate in which Atlantic Canadians can fully participate and compete in the global economy, benefit from similar levels of quality public services as other Canadians, and continue to enjoy the quality of life and environment that is unique to the region. • The four provinces in Atlantic Canada cover 505,000 square km (195,000 sq mi) of land or 5% of the area of Canada. Working together just makes sense

  13. 8. Opportunities for government interaction & partnerships • CIPEC Atlantic • Team Atlantic Environment • Environmental Industries Associations • Environmental Technology Working Group • National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy • Canadian Environmental Network (CEN)

  14. 9. Incentives for sustainable Choices • NRCan programs. • Canadian Industry Program for Energy Conservation (CIPEC) • Commercial Building Incentive Program (CBIP) • Commercial Transportation Energy Efficiency and Fuels Initiative • EnerGuide for Existing Buildings (EEB) Retrofit Incentives • Energy efficient equipment • Renewable Energy Deployment Initiative (REDI) • ENERGY STAR® qualified products • Home energy efficiency retrofit grants • Industrial Building Incentive Program (IBIP) • New housing

  15. 9. Incentives for sustainable Choices - more • Environment Canada • Atlantic Coastal Action Program (ACAP) • Community Interaction Funding Program • EcoAction Community Funding Program • Endangered Species Recovery Fund • Environmental Damages Fund • Habitat Stewardship Program • Interdepartmental Recovery Fund • Technology Early Action Measures (TEAM)

  16. 10. Enhance long-term thinking in economic management • Ongoing process • Budget 2005 • Cross-Canada Workshops on Smart Regulations * • Competitiveness and Environmental Sustainability Framework (CESF) • Benefits of energy efficiency and waste reduction • Atlantic Premiers Commitment • Increased awareness of climate change and environment issues • More grassroots initiatives

  17. 11. Make use of best practices • Many federal/provincial/municipal groups are partnering on SD initiatives • Best practices abound in Canada and around the world. • Web sites carry more information than you can read in a lifetime. • Pick the best and leave the rest! • Share.

  18. What’s next SDS IV due December 2006 Strategic Priorities Federal Agenda Discussions Feedback

  19. Where to from here? • Are all these issues and challenges still relevant? • Are there new issues and challenges? • Are there success stories to tell?

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