Sustainable development
Find out how Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) supports the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy.
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Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy and Reports
The Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy (DSDS) describes departmental actions in support of the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS) and demonstrates support of the United Nations' 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. The DSDS provides the actions we will undertake over a three-year period and progress reports inform of strides made in meeting our commitments.
ISC's role in sustainable development
The Government of Canada committed to sustainable development in 2008 by passing the Federal Sustainable Development Act. As a result of the act, a Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS) is developed every 3 years to present the Government of Canada's sustainable development priorities, goals, targets, and government actions.
For ISC, sustainable development means considering how decisions impact the social, economic and environmental long-term well-being of Indigenous and Northern communities.
ISC contributes to the Government of Canada's efforts in sustainable development by working to achieve specific sustainable development goals. This work is outlined in ISC's departmental sustainable development strategies, which are updated annually and reported on through its Departmental Plans and Results. These strategies reflect the government-wide initiatives used to strengthen accountability and show how ISC and other government departments are managing sustainable development and supporting and contributing to the FSDS.
Public statements
The Cabinet Directive on Strategic Environmental and Economic Assessment (SEEA) supports the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy as it enhances the understanding and integration of expected environmental and economic effects of proposals referred to Cabinet for decision as well as regulatory proposals and funding requests. It minimizes harms and maximize benefits for the environment and the economy.
According to the cabinet directive, ISC will issue a public statement of environmental and economic effects for all proposals for which they have conducted detailed analyses, following the proposal's implementation or announcement.
The public statement will provide assurance that environmental and economic effects have been considered during proposal development and decision-making and will be mitigated or monitored as appropriate.
ISC will also report on its integrated environment and economic assessment practices through the Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy reporting process.