An evaluation of Canada's environmental sustainability planning system

In 1992, Canada committed to developing a national sustainable development strategy (NSDS). Canada has chosen a decentralized approach to NSDS in which each federal department creates its own sustainable development strategy (SDS). Federal legi slation and environmental initiatives provide additional environmental protection. These three components - SDS, environmental legislation and initiatives - represent Canada's environmental sustainability planning system (CESPS). This report uses an innovative methodology based on best practices to evaluate the CESPS to assess its strengths and weaknesses and provide recommendations for improvement. Best practices were derived from the literature and include: 1) comprehensive goals with measurable targets, 2) effective strategy, 3) integration, 4) monitoring, 5) leadership and accountability, 6) adaptive management, 7) stakeholder collaboration, and 8) legal framework. The results indicate that Canada's current sustainability structure has significant weaknesses that should be addressed.