Problems and issues associated with traditional approaches to land use planning include the need for more provincial and often international direction that does not interfere with local autonomy; settlement and resource land use planning; relationships among provincial, regional and local land use planning and program implementation; and coordination and integration of existing programs and policies. When combined, these problems and issues point to the need for a strategic and integrated approach to land use planning.

Five provinces have developed provincial land use policies and implementation strategies: British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, and Quebec. In the Northwest Territories and Yukon, regional land use planning processes are being put in place through the implementation of land claims agreements with Aboriginal people.

Many integrated resource and land management planning efforts that are under way at the provincial level include strategies for wildlife, parks and protected areas, and forestry. For example, Ontario and Alberta have structured approaches to resource land planning. British Columbia's Commission on Resources and Environment (CORE) is another excellent example of developing a more open process to examine multiple land resource issues and goals.

Federal and provincial governments are using an ecosystem framework to provide a road map to more detailed information in various resource databases. The ecological framework will help in the assessment of current land use and resource management practices across Canada. For example, there are currently ten large-scale environmental studies, funded by Environment Canada's Eco-Research Program, focusing on a cross-disciplinary approach to ecosystem management and providing a series of sustainable development models on which to develop, test, and recommend management options.

One major challenge to the sustainable management of land resources is the management of urbanization, especially its effects on agricultural and other biologically productive land. As cities grow, land use conflicts will become more acute if they are dealt with through traditional approaches and ways of valuing land.

Data requirements for land resource/use planning are growing as are the abilities to analyze, integrate and communicate such information. In contrast, many of the major land resource and land use gathering programs which supported these efforts no longer exist.

Many provincial initiatives typify the shift to ecosystem-based forest management. These include legislated requirements for integrating economic, environmental and social interests in forest management (e.g. employment, wildlife habitat, biodiversity, non-timber forest products and local communities); stricter environmental protection measures; forest protection strategies including silvicultural methods and the use of biological pest control products; decrease in the size of timber harvest areas; changes in timber harvesting methods to promote natural regeneration; increased royalties; adoption of a framework of criteria and indicators; and integrating natural resource inventories.

An aspect of sustainable forest management that continues to evolve is decision-making. Public participation is now legislated in most provinces. At the same time, debate and some conflicts continue regarding the acceptability of some forestry practices and the need to sustain local communities and overall economic activity. Wood and paper product companies have initiated corporate environmental reporting, adopted voluntary codes of practice and increased their capacity to monitor their own performance and compliance with regulations. They have invested heavily in pollution reduction, virtually eliminating dioxins and furans from pulp and paper mill effluents. New equipment for high-yield pulp, composite panels and recycled papers spare wood fibre. The Canadian Standards Association has established a voluntary certification standard to identify timber produced under sustainable forest management regimes. The Forest Stewardship Council is also promoting a voluntary certification system, linking products to performance throughout product life-cycles.

Research continues to increase our understanding of forest ecosystem functions and the impacts of human activities on them. This is leading to the development of more environmentally benign and cost-effective practices. The nature of this research and the potential spin-offs foster R&D partnerships.

Canada's principal mechanism for implementing UNCED forest commitments is its National Forest Strategy. Sustainable Forests: A Canadian Commitment addresses nine strategic subject areas through close to one hundred actions. An independent mid-term evaluation concluded that Canadians remain strongly committed to the strategy. A final evaluation, again at arm's length, will be completed by May 1997. A successor strategy will be ready by the end of 1997.

In 1994, the federal House of Commons Standing Committee on Natural Resources recommended that forest research focus on sustainable development, that better information be made available on Canada's forests and their management, and that Canada continue its international efforts to promote sustainable forest management worldwide. The current federal forest research programme fully reflects those recommendations.

Following extensive consultations, the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers (CCFM) released a scientifically-based framework of criteria and indicators of sustainable forest management in October 1995. Defining Sustainable Forest Management: A Canadian Approach to Criteria and Indicators identifies 6 criteria and 83 indicators which express the values held by Canadians and their views on forests and their use. Currently, efforts are focused on compiling information and data on the indicators, and developing approaches to fill identified gaps. A first report will be released in January 1997. In addition, the CCFM is developing an action plan to strengthen Canada's future reporting.

The report, OECD Environmental Performance Review: Canada, released in November 1995, noted that: the renewal of Canada's forests is secure as a result of policies that have been in place for some time; private companies have made substantial progress in reducing pollution; and public participation in decision-making is remarkable. The report also urged the continued development of alternative silviculture methods and the expansion of scientific knowledge of the biodiversity of Canada's forests.

The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) was Canada's lead agency in the negotiations. CIDA ,along with the International Development Research Centre (IDRC),will implement the Convention on Canada's behalf. Current initiatives under the Convention respond to the Urgent Action for Africa Resolution supporting preparation of National Action Programs and Public Awareness Raising. Both CIDA and IDRC have ongoing programs addressing land degradation in dryland areas.

IDRC's activities focus on research and knowledge sharing. Programming includes: fostering local community participation through sponsored workshops, research on coping and adaptive strategies, indigenous production, and social and environmental indicators. Research is also taking place on integrated decision-support systems and information networks for future reporting. CIDA supports United Nations organizations and international research networks that deal with desertification issues. It also provides bilateral funding for research on pest control, agriculture, and drought mitigation.

Some of CIDA's programming deals directly with the problem of land degradation by focusing on natural resource management techniques. In Burkina Faso, programs focus on improving soil fertility through composting, drought preparedness, small scale irrigation, and plant and tree protection. Action on desertification often reflects the place of poverty alleviation as a core programming theme for CIDA. CIDA undertakes programming which focuses on education, popular participation and the promotion of alternative livelihoods. In China, CIDA is running a desertification related program focusing on alternative livelihoods and income generation to reduce poverty and improve the situation of women.

A component of IDRC's programming is directly in support of the Convention. It is intended to support the processes of selected African countries' preparation of National Action Plans. Support programmes of this type are currently underway in Burkina Faso. CIDA is exploring the use of an umbrella program in the West African region which would permit support to a variety of small scale national initiatives related to the consultative processes for the preparation of National Action Programs. CIDA supports the efforts of Southern Africans in a community drought mitigation program. In addition, Canada also provides support through our multilateral partners.

Other CIDA programs focus on the role of grass root organizations in the process. In Burkina Faso and Mali, CIDA is working with the Canadian NGO Solidarité-Canada-Sahel (SCS) and local non-governmental organizations to encourage communities to get involved in the preparation of their countries' National Action Programs. In partnership with CIDA, other organizations such as CARE Canada and the Unitarian Service Committee of Canada (USC -Canada) work with their counterparts in developing countries to encourage and promote action at the grass-roots level. CIDA supports the work of the Developing Countries Farm Radio Network (DCFRN). This organization uses radio broadcasts and the distribution of reading material through its network in Africa and around the world to provide a forum for partners to increase public awareness and initiate dialogue.

Canada has been raising domestic public awareness about international desertification. Supported by CIDA or through SCS and USC-Canada, activities marked World Day to Combat Desertification in 1996 across the country. In addition, public service announcements in French and English were also produced to air on national television to reach out to the Canadian public.

There is a growing reliance on integrated land use and resource management planning. These practices help ensure that development in Canada's mountain ecosystems is environmentally sustainable. Watershed planning is one such mechanism, traditionally used at the community level and now increasingly used at a regional level.

In British Columbia, land and resources management plans (LRMP) are being developed as a means of resolving land and resources-based conflicts in all regions of the province, including mountain ecosystems. LRMPs have been developed through a multi-stakeholder process for several mountain regions, such as the east and west Kootenays. These plans take into consideration all aspects of sustainable development: commercial resource use; protected areas; development strategies; and certainty in land use designation. When stakeholders have agreed to an LRMP, it is forwarded to government for approval and implementation.

Mountain areas are well represented in Canada's national parks system and in the parks system of British Columbia, Alberta, and Yukon. In November 1992, Canadian parks, environment, wildlife, and forestry ministers endorsed a historic commitment to complete a network of protected areas representative of Canada's land-based natural regions by the year 2000. Federally, that commitment entails representing each of 39 natural regions in the national parks system. Ten of these regions are predominately mountainous. Of these, eight are represented by fourteen national parks (two regions are represented by two national parks and another by five). Of the two mountainous natural regions unrepresented in the national parks system, one is represented in the provincial parks system and a study is assessing the feasibility of a candidate national park in the other. Seven of Canada's mountain national parks have been judged significant enough globally to be designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Parks encourage cooperative regional land use planning and management and environmental monitoring. The broader ecosystem approach to the management of protected areas is evident in the management of several of Canada's mountain national parks. Waterton Lakes National Park, for example, is the core of one of Canada's six biosphere reserves. Designated under the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme, each biosphere reserve - which includes a core protected area, a buffer sone, and a cooperative zone where people live and work - is intended to serve as a demonstration area integrating the conservation of biodiversity with sustainable development.

Canadian Heritage Parks Service, is a partner with the Canadian Forest Service, of Natural Resources Canada in four of ten model forests, such as the Foothills Model Forest outside Jasper National Park. Through this co-operative programme, the Parks Service is working to support the maintenance of sustainable regional landscapes that require preservation efforts, as well as activities beyond park boundaries.

With the growing emphasis on ecosystem management, the Parks Service and other partners are developing and applying methods for assessing ecological integrity: monitoring, trend analysis, and cumulative impact assessment tools. Test studies are currently being conducted in seven national parks, including two mountain parks.

Legislation requires the federal government to report on the state of its national parks. To give a full picture of the state of ecosystems, a survey was conducted in 1992 to identify those internal and external stresses having an ecological impact on the national parks. In the mountain parks, forestry visitor/tourism facilities, utility corridors, and to a lesser extent, urbanization and hydro-electric development were commonly identified as having an impact on park ecology. This, in many instances, simply confirms the integration of the park and its surrounding ecosystem and the need to plan for and manage all protected areas within a broad regional context.

In order to address environmental issues in agriculture effectively, producers, processors, and governments must work together. Federal/provincial agreements on environmentally sustainable agriculture are helping producers design and implement activities focused on issues such as water quality, waste management, and soil conservation. Farmers are forming rural conservation clubs and developing environmental farm plans in Ontario, Atlantic Canada, and Quebec. In the Prairie Provinces,(Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta) the farmer-owned Wheat Pools (grain marketing cooperatives) have developed guides to environmental farm planning to be used in conjunction with other on-farm conservation planning processes. These initiatives help farmers identify their successes in effective environmental management and develop work plans to address potential risks. It is projected that from 5,000 to 6,000 of these plans will be completed in Ontario alone by the year 1997. Alberta has launched a campaign, Growing Alberta, to increase the awareness of the impact of agriculture on the environment and the economy. Producers in a number of provinces are developing management standards that guide the implementation of environmental stewardship. For example, British Columbia and Alberta have established codes of practice for the management of animal waste, and Ontario has produced 10 booklets on Best Management Practices. In Quebec, initiatives include a Sustainable Development Policy for the agricultural sector and new regulations respecting the reduction of agricultural pollution. A component of the St. Lawrence Vision 2000, an action plan between the governments of Canada and Quebec designed to conserve, protect and restore the St. Lawrence River, supports projects that contribute to reducing agricultural pollution.

Industry has developed tools for environmental stewardship, such as programmes to reduce environmental impacts and health risks in the agri-chemical industry, publications promoting improved water quality, and videos on best management practices. Canada has instituted a number of soil conservation and habitat conservation programmes over the years, such as the Permanent Cover Programme, that will ultimately convert some half-million hectares of marginal, erosion-prone land in parts of western Canada from annual crops to sustainable land uses under permanent cover. In most provinces, Federal Green Plan programs are addressing the links between pesticides and water quality, wildlife and biodiversity. Part of a new federal agricultural adaptation initiative, that is managed by farmers, is addressing issues such as water quality and waste management.

In the future, farmers will continue their shift to sustainable management practices and industry will improve its ability to self-regulate through initiatives such as environmental codes of practices and self-assessment guides. Industry and governments will continue to promote environmental sustainability and improve the understanding of the links between the sector's activities and their impacts on the environment. Provincial and federal governments will continue to work towards ensuring that policies and programs contribute to sound environmental practice by, for example, adapting their initiatives to the ecosystem approach and addressing issues at the rural-urban interface. Agriculture and Agri-food Canada has completed a national consultative process to examine the challenges of environmental sustainability facing the sector and to develop a federal departmental strategy and action plan. A new Strategy for Environmentally Sustainable Agriculture and Agri-Food Development in Canada, that will provide the key underpinning for the department's post-Green Plan environmental activities, will be realised early in 1997. It will reflect an increased emphasis on pollution prevention and environmental stewardship among farmers and agri-food industries.

Convention on Biological Diversity

Convention

Signed in 1992

Ratified in 1992

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora

Convention ratified in 1975

Latest report submitted in 1996

Additional comments relevant to this chapter

In November 1995, environment ministers from each of Canada's provinces and territories joined the federal Minister of the Environment in signing the Canadian Biodiversity Strategy. Based on extensive consultation with all sectors of Canadian society, the Strategy will be implemented through measures such as: the filing, within one year of Strategy approval, of jurisdictional reports on policies, activities, and plans that help implement the Convention on Biodiversity (CBD); coordination of national and international Strategy elements; formal mechanisms that permit and encourage non-government participation in Strategy implementation; and reports on the status of biodiversity. In November 1995, Montreal was chosen as the site for the Permanent Secretariat of the CBD by the second meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the CBD meeting in Djakarta, Indonesia. The new premises of the Permanent Secretariat in Montreal were officially opened in May 1996.

In October, 1996, the Endangered Species Protection Act bill was introduced into Parliament. The Act is designed to prevent extirpation or extinction of wildlife species, and to secure their recovery. The scope of the Act covers wildlife within federal jurisdiction, and will be complemented by provincial and territorial legislation and programs under a National Accord for the Protection of Species at Risk. Other important legislative or policy initiatives include the proposed Oceans and Endangered Species legislation, and a National Program of Action on Land-Based Sources of Marine Pollution.

In 1996, the federal government in cooperation with the provinces, territories, and Aboriginal communities, created two new national parks and provided interim protection for two areas that have been proposed as national parks. In addition, the federal government has announced that it is considering the establishment and management of national marine conservation areas.

The national Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network (EMAN) is providing the opportunity to develop inventories and engage in long-term biodiversity monitoring at many locations across the country.

In order to fully implement the CBD, much scientific research remains to be done. For example, Canada needs to improve basic inventory data at both species and ecosystem levels. Only approximately 50 percent of the species that are thought to exist in the country have been identified. Moreover, we must continue to heighten public understanding of the issues related to conservation and sustainable use of biological resources. As well, at both the national and international levels procedures and mechanisms must be in place to ensure that the sharing of benefits from biological resources is fair and equitable.

In 1993, nine federal government departments agreed to a framework for regulating the products of biotechnology. Among the principles agreed to was a commitment to maintain Canada's high standards for the protection of the health of workers, the general public and the environment, to use existing legislation and avoid duplication and to develop clear guidelines for evaluating products of biotechnology that are in harmony with national priorities and international standards. In 1996, two federal departments (Agriculture and Environment) published proposed amendments to regulations that would clarify responsibility for and enable environmental risk assessment of the products of agricultural and environmental biotechnology in 1997. These amendments will implement the regulatory components of the federal framework and will ensure that all assessments of biotechnology products in Canada will include assessment of whether they are toxic as defined in the CEPA. The text of the amendments is available to the public on the Internet.

A reorganization of seven sectoral biotechnology networks has resulted in the formation of three 'teams' (health, environment and resources) under the umbrella of a new "National Biotechnology Network" with over 4000 members. Each team consists of members of government, industry, and academia and functions to encourage communication between industry, academia, government and the general public regarding both the promotion and regulation of biotechnology products. Communications within the network is fostered by a biannual newsletter and by an annual meeting.

Improved public awareness of biotechnology will be important in the future. To help address this, the National Biotechnology Strategy has provisionally approved funding for several projects to identify detailed ethical issues associated with biotechnology. The federal government will spearhead these initiatives and will ensure the involvement of all major groups with an interest in the issue.

The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea

has been signed

Canada is a coastal state with vital sovereign interests in three bordering oceans. Canada has the world's largest coastline (almost 250,000 km) and second largest continental shelf (6.5 million sq. km.). Its 200-mile Exclusive Fishing Zone, declared in 1977, represents 27% of Canada's territory. Approximately 6.5 million Canadians (23%) live in coastal communities. Many major cities are coastal ports or are located on the St. Lawrence/Great Lakes system, one of the world's longest and most heavily used waterways. In Canada, the federal government has authority over oceans and its resources. Provincial and territorial governments have jurisdiction over shorelines, some marine areas, and many land-based activities. Aboriginal people are gaining greater control over specific resource management concerns in some regions. Canadian governments have begun to pursue ocean-related policies that reflect an ecosystem based approach, incorporating principles of sustainable development and integrated management.

The federal Parliament recently passed the new Canada Oceans Act (COA) which received Royal Assent in December 1996. The COA represents a pivotal step in establishing Canadian oceans jurisdiction and consolidating federal management of oceans. The COA responds to many of the measures outlined in Chapter 17 of Agenda 21. The Act confirms Canada's jurisdiction over its maritime zones (its Territorial Sea, the Contiguous Zone, and the Exclusive Economic Zone), and their resources consistent with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and the responsibility to manage them

sustainably.

Key to the COA is the development of an Oceans Management Strategy (OMS). Based on the principles of sustainable development, the integrated management of activities in estuaries, coastal and marine waters, and the precautionary approach, the OMS will set the stage for many oceans activities. Addressing objectives within Chapter 17 of Agenda 21, the OMS is based on the premise that oceans activities management must be based on a collaborative effort among stakeholders. The OMS allows for the development of flexible strategies on oceans activities management that can be implemented regionally by stakeholders. The OMS also calls for the creation of marine protected areas. Canada intends to develop a National Program of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment From Land-Based Activities by 1998. Canada's National Program of Action will be developed and implemented as a partnership between federal and provincial/territorial governments, in consultation with other relevant stakeholders including environmental groups, aboriginal organizations, industry, academia, and private sector organizations. It will focus on regional implementation in the Atlantic Ocean, the St. Lawrence River / Gulf of St. Lawrence, the Pacific and Arctic Oceans under the umbrella of a National Programme of Action. Canada is also actively collaborating with Arctic nations to develop an Arctic Regional Program of Action under the auspices of the Arctic Environmental Protection Strategy and the Arctic Council. The federal government has taken legislative and policy steps to address marine pollution in the Fisheries Act, the Toxic Substances Management Policy, and the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA). The federal government intends to amend CEPA to help further guide reduction of contamination from land-based sources of pollution.

The Arctic Ocean is a particularly sensitive environment. It has been the focus of many Canadian environmental initiatives. Prominent among them is the Arctic Environmental Protection Strategy and the recent creation of the Arctic Council. This has expanded scientific research on contaminants, the use of traditional knowledge concerning marine living resources, the monitoring of water quality, the cleanup of hazardous wastes in Canada's North and the promotion of sustainable development.

In 1994, Canada acceded to the International Convention on Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation, which is aimed at pollution of the sea by oil. As a result, Canada is revising its joint marine contingency plan with the United States for responding to spills in shared boundary waters. Canada is also playing an active role in the revision of the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Waste and other Matter.

The conservation and sustainable utilization of fishery resources remains a primary focus of oceans-related activity for Canada. Stock conservation problems, allocation conflicts between user groups, international transboundary disputes, excessive harvesting capacity and fiscal restraint have combined to encourage the federal government to pursue a strategy to advance industry restructuring and to introduce changes to fisheries policies and management practices domestically and internationally. The objective of these changes is an economically and environmentally sustainable fishing sector. Canada is guided in this undertaking by the following principles: conservation comes first; aboriginal rights must be respected; industry capacity must be balanced with the sustainable carrying capacity of the resource; and, government and industry must move towards operating in partnership with one another. In addition, provincial and territorial governments are working cooperatively with the federal government to improve policies to strengthen fisheries management. Internationally, the "Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 Relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks" (the UN Fish Agreement (UNFA)) was adopted by consensus in August 1995 at the United Nations Conference on Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks. Canada participated actively in its elaboration as the leader of a group of coastal states and was among the first countries to sign the Agreement in December 1995.

Policy and Legislation: Federal and provincial governments continue to incorporate the principles of sustainable development into water policy and legislation. The legislative framework protecting water is being strengthened through both sector-specific and broad-based environmental legislation such as those designed to control toxic substances and prevent pollution (e.g., Canadian Environmental Protection Act and provincial legislation). The establishment of environmental assessment legislation by all provinces and one territory over the past two decades, and by the federal government (Canadian Environmental Assessment Act) in 1995, has ensured that environmental considerations are integrated into the planning phase of developments, including those which impact on water. Regulations under federal and provincial legislation have been revised to set stricter limits on effluent discharges from pulp and paper mills. The 1996 Alberta Water Act promotes water conservation, strengthens licensing and restricts interbasin diversion. In British Columbia, the 1995 Water Protection Act prohibits bulk water export and diversion between major watersheds. "Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality" (6th edition, 1996) and "Guidelines for Canadian Recreational Water Quality" are routinely updated by and published by Health Canada. "Canadian Water Quality Guidelines" are currently being updated by the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME). These guidelines recommend science-based, nationally consistent levels of protection for major water uses in Canada including: drinking, recreation, freshwater and marine aquatic life, and agricultural uses (irrigation and livestock water). They are based on the scientific assessment of human and environmental health risks associated with priority chemicals as well as physical, radiological, and microbiological water quality parameters.

Actions: Initiatives such as the Great Lakes, Fraser River, St. Lawrence and Atlantic Coastal Action Plans, and the Arctic Environmental Strategy show how federal, provincial and territorial governments work together with communities and non-governmental organizations to address ecosystem health and sustainable development, including control and clean up of fresh water pollution. This cooperation is also the basis for an improved understanding of the cumulative effects of industrial and municipal development on aquatic ecosystems, under the recently completed Northern Rivers Basin Study. Governments continue to work directly with these sectors to prevent or reduce pollution: examples include Ontario's Municipal/Industrial Strategy for Abatement, Quebec's Program for the Reduction of Industrial Discharges, and the federal Accelerated Reduction and Elimination of Toxics program.

Broad-based cooperation is the basis of the National Action Plan to Encourage Municipal Water Use Efficiency adopted by the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment in 1994. Using water efficiently will save money and energy as well as reducing the need for new or expanded water and wastewater systems. Water and sewer projects accounted for $2.1B of the total $6B spent under the Canada Works national infrastructure program over the last 3 years. Innovative approaches have been developed to support freshwater objectives. For example, Nova Scotia has developed a successful fee credit program by which water withdrawal approval fees can be directed back to support community watershed management groups and water-related research.

As noted in Chapter 9, Canada has met its commitments under the Montreal Protocol on 0zone Depleting Substances.

Canada's National Pollutant Release Inventory requires companies meeting certain criteria to collect information on the releases of specified substances into air, water and land. Reports for 1993 and 1994 have been published. Detailed emission data for individual companies are available on Environment Canada's Web Site, Green Lane.

Canada announced the Chlorinated Substances Action Plan in 1994. The Plan focuses on eliminating or significantly reducing toxic chlorinated substances using both regulatory and non-regulatory tools. Over 1000 chlorinated substances have been targeted under the program.

In 1995, the federal government adopted the Toxic Substances Management Policy. The Policy emphasizes the need to strengthen preventive and precautionary approaches to managing toxic substances. The first management objective is the virtual elimination from the environment of persistent and bioaccumulative toxic substances that result from human activity (Track 1 substances). The second objective is the management of other toxic substances of concern throughout their life cycle to prevent or minimize release to the environment (Track 2 substances). Provincial governments are also developing comprehensive approaches to the management of toxic substances.

As part of a major reform of the pesticide regulatory system, the federal government created the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA), a centralized agency responsible for pesticide registration. Reforms include greater emphasis on alternative pest management strategies. This area of work is also supported by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada which is engaged in research efforts focused on integrated pest management approaches. PMRA is developing a national database on pesticide use.

Examples of federal/provincial cooperation to eliminate or substantially reduce deleterious and toxic substances include the Fraser River Action Plan, St Lawrence Vision 2000, and the Canada-Ontario Agreement respecting the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem.

Canada strengthened its ability to assess the impacts of disease and toxic substances on wildlife by establishing the Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre in 1992 and by maintaining support for wildlife toxicology research by federal agencies. In 1996 the federal government banned the use of lead shot for migratory game bird hunting in National Wildlife Areas (NWAs) and is now working toward a national ban. Also in this year the use of small lead fishing weights was banned in NWAs and National Parks.

The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal

Basel Convention

Signed; and

Ratified in 1992

The latest information was provided to the Basel Convention Secretariat in 1995.

Additional comments relevant to this chapter

A. Hazardous Waste Minimization

Although the industry-led Hazardous Waste Minimization Committee, established in 1992, addressed many hazardous waste issues, it failed in its goal to put in place a national waste minimization strategy. Therefore, Environment Canada is evaluating various options for pursuing hazardous waste minimization, including economic instruments, regulatory measures and partnership agreements.

In 1993, the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) re-established its Hazardous Waste Task Group to promote the uniform management of hazardous wastes across Canada.

In 1995, Canada completed a national inventory of generation rates of hazardous wastes. The inventory is to be used as a tool to set waste minimization targets.

B. Strengthening Institutional Capacities

The federal government is updating the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA). A bill to renew CEPA was introduced in the House of Commons in December 1996. It proposes additional authority on issues such as: banning exports and imports to and from any country when required under international agreements; controlling transboundary movements of non-hazardous wastes for final disposal; better ensuring the environmentally sound management of transboundary movements of hazardous wastes; and requiring plans for reducing/phasing out of the exported hazardous waste destined for final disposal. Some provinces are currently reviewing their regulations and policies concerning the generation of hazardous wastes and their management, in order to prevent pollution arising from inappropriate disposal.

In 1994, the Ministers of the CCME committed their departments to work towards a harmonized national definition of hazardous waste, taking into account Canada's international obligations. A completion date of March 1997 is expected to be met.

Under the former National Contaminated Sites Remediation Program, governments initiated or completed remediation at over 40 high-risk contaminated sites. More than 50 technologies were also demonstrated under the Development and Demonstration of Site Remediation Technologies component. Furthermore, some 325 federal government sites were assessed, and 18 were remediated under the Federal Sites Component of the program. This program ended as scheduled at the end of March, 1995. The provinces also have various programs to identify and restore contaminated sites.

The CCME Contaminated Sites Advisory Group has recently developed a national guideline for the management of contaminated sites in Canada. The report provides general guidance and links the various CCME technical documents and scientific tools available within this process.

In 1994, the federal government amended its Ocean Dumping Regulations to ban the disposal of radioactive waste and industrial wastes at sea. Future amendments to the Regulations will include the environmental assessment procedures and standards outlined in the Waste Assessment Framework of the London Convention 1972 and the 1996 Protocol to the Convention.

Some provincial governments have played a leading role in the development of capacity for managing hazardous waste treatment. The Alberta Special Waste Management Corporation was successful in securing one of the first fully integrated hazardous waste management facilities in North America which completed an expansion in 1993. The centre treats those hazardous wastes that remain after waste minimization and that cannot be handled by conventional methods. In 1995, Alberta opened its borders to receive hazardous waste destined for final disposal from other Canadian provinces. In 1996, the facility was divested to its private sector partner. This gives Canada hazardous waste management capacity in both the east and the west.

Nevertheless, as the process of siting new disposal facilities has become increasingly difficult, provincial governments are now placing more emphasis on reducing the quantity of wastes requiring final disposal. For example, the governments of Ontario and British Columbia have policies to implement programs on reduction at source, reuse and recycling. As a result, these governments have reduced their efforts to establish new centralized facilities, and are looking for the private sector to implement such initiatives. New private sector residual disposal capacity is expected to come on line in Ontario during 1997, to augment existing incinerator, treatment and landfill options already in place. Similarly, the Manitoba Hazardous Waste Management Corporation's initial planning and site selection work resulted in the approval of a centralized site. Plans for the development of a complete facility were substantially scaled down, however. The government of Quebec will remove barriers to the recovery of wastes in its new regulations concerning dangerous substances, and will promote the reduction at source, reuse, recycling and recovery of such materials.

C. Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes / Prevention of Illegal International Trade

Canada has developed a new computer system to support its efforts to track and control international movements of hazardous wastes. The system became operational in July, 1996 and provides enhanced validation and cross-checking of data. It will be available on-line to enforcement officials across the country by January 1997.

Following the second meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention, the federal government increased coordination among its departments to develop intelligence to detect and monitor illegal traffic of hazardous wastes. Upon Canada's ratification of the Basel Convention in 1992, Environment Canada and Customs inspectors were provided with the training necessary to monitor transboundary movements and prevent any illegal traffic of hazardous wastes involving Canadian companies. They will receive refresher training starting in late 1996.

1. Decision-Making Structure: One of the key elements of the Canadian federal regulatory process is the mechanism of multi-stakeholder consultation, by which governmental and non-governmental organizations, interested parties and businesses are permitted to comment on proposed policies and legislation at the draft stages.

2. Capacity-Building/Technology Issues: Canada provides bilateral assistance through its Canadian International Development Agency and participates in many bilateral activities related to capacity building. Canada has Memoranda of Understanding on environmental cooperation with several countries and has undertaken various activities related to hazardous waste management. Under the Basel Convention, Canada has been involved in the preparatory work towards the establishment of regional centres for training and technology transfer in the Latin American and Caribbean region.

3. Major Groups: Internationally, Canada is party to the Basel Convention, the OECD Council Decision on Trade in Recyclable Materials, and the Canada-USA Agreement dealing with Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes. Domestically, the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) and its Hazardous Waste Task Group has undertaken work in the areas of harmonization of waste legislation, policies and programs on a national basis.

4. Finance: The Canadian market for hazardous waste management services is estimated at $2 billion annually, and employs 4,000 to 5,000 people providing services in consulting, chemical analysis and operation of hazardous waste management facilities.

5. Regional/International Cooperation: In January 1993, representatives from the four western provinces of Canada, the western U.S. states, Canada's Department of the Environment and the United States Environmental Protection Agency met to review existing policies regarding the flow of hazardous waste in western Canada and the western United States. They achieved a better understanding of the flow and capacities of hazardous waste to determine the needs for further infrastructure development. It is an example of an effort to find regional solutions for waste management.

Under the North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation, priority substances are being considered for regional action that, will take into account all aspects of their lifecycle, including waste management. For example, a regional action plan for PCBs is undergoing final approval.

In November 1996, the Canada-USA Agreement on the Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes was renewed for five years. A policy of sharing facilities, based on the proximity principle, is incorporated into the Agreement. This policy is consistent with the environmentally sound management of hazardous wastes.

In 1990, the CCME endorsed the National Packaging Protocol to reduce packaging waste by 50% by the year 2000 compared to 1988. The Protocol includes interim targets of 20% reduction by 1992, 35% by 1996 and 50% by 2000. Canada met its 1992 target of 20% reduction of waste packaging going for disposal. Preparation is under way to conduct the 1996 target year survey. Work is underway on the development of a national packaging stewardship model. The model will address national needs while recognizing regional differences.

Provincial and territorial governments have endorsed a national pollution prevention strategy and are pursuing numerous individual initiatives to meet waste reduction goals. Most provinces have adopted stewardship approaches to materials such as household hazardous wastes and beverages as part of their waste reduction strategy for increasing waste diversion.

Since 1988, more than 1 million home composting units have been distributed to Canadian households to divert organics from landfills. The number of centralized composting facilities had more than doubled by 1995 as compared to 1991. A reported 23% of Canadian households composted in 1994 through home composting or by having their organics collected by municipal governments or others for composting. However, only 10% of the total organic waste stream is currently composted. The CCME, as well as some provinces, have also produced Guidelines for Compost Quality.

Canada is developing a national approach for dealing with municipal wastewater to address concerns on a variety of contaminants including ammonia, chlorine, heavy metals and other toxics. One of the current trends is a move toward chlorine-free effluents through dechlorination or alternative forms of disinfection. Provincial and territorial governments promote innovative initiatives and approaches to deal with municipal sewage treatment issues. Most jurisdictions have discharge quality criteria and are stressing municipal responsibility and the user-pay principle.

In 1989, the federal Minister of the Environment appointed an independent panel to conduct an environmental assessment and review of the concept of disposing of nuclear waste in the granitic rock of the Canadian Shield. This extensive review has incorporated participation by the public, non-governmental groups and governmental bodies in the assessment of this concept. A report by the panel is anticipated in 1997.

Producers of low-level radioactive wastes must develop their own storage and disposal facilities. Atomic Energy of Canada Limited, a corporation owned by the federal government, is implementing a demonstration unit of near-surface disposal facility for its own wastes and those received from small-volume producers who cannot develop their own facilities. A federal Task Force was established in 1987 to work with willing communities to establish a disposal facility for historic low level wastes in the Province of Ontario, and negotiations with an Ontario community have been initiated by the federal government.

Canada has one of the largest uranium mining industries in the world. In the area of uranium mines and mill tailings, past and present research conducted by the industry and the federal government provides a sound basis for evaluating potential environmental impacts. The Atomic Energy Control Board (AECB), the federal government body that manages all aspects of the nuclear industry, has established regulatory criteria for the decommissioning of these waste sites.

An updated federal Nuclear Safety and Control Act has been proposed under which all stages of the development and construction of nuclear facilities would continue to be controlled and subjected to increased environmental scrutiny and evaluation. In addition, the new Act would require operators to provide financial securities for the costs of decommissioning and decontamination, and provide the funds necessary to ensure satisfactory clean-up and remediation of closed operational facilities. This initiative will modernize the control of the nuclear industry and will help to ensure the long-term protection of the environment around uranium mines.

The federal government introduced the Canadian Environmental Industries Strategy and Technology Partnerships Canada program to help encourage the development of Canada's environmental technologies industries.

The federal government has also provided funds to assist developing countries and environmental non-governmental organizations to participate in key international meetings since UNCED, including the High Seas Fisheries Conference, the first session of the CSD, meetings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Forests and negotiating sessions of the Desertification Convention.

CHANGES IN NATIONAL BUDGET TO ADDRESS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT:

Each of the federal government's recent budgets has contained measures aimed at integrating the environment and the economy. For example, new tax measures have been introduced to encourage donations of ecologically sensitive land, to improve access to financing for the renewable energy and energy conservation sector and for mine reclamation trust funds. Consultations are underway to examine options to improve the treatment of energy efficiency and heating and cooling from renewable energy sources and to examine possible government policy barriers to recycling activity.

NEW ECONOMIC INSTRUMENTS: A tradeable permit system for two ozone-depleting substances, methyl bromide and HCFCs, has been introduced. The federal and provincial governments are examining the use of economic instruments, along with other policy tools, to address specific environmental problems.

ELIMINATION OF ENVIRONMENTALLY UNFRIENDLY SUBSIDIES: A major review of federal program spending to restructure the role of government and to generate savings for deficit reduction has significantly reduced or eliminated many subsidies, grants and contributions, many of which are in areas relevant to the environment. For example, the federal government has reduced or eliminated many subsidies to the transportation, agriculture, and non-renewable energy sectors and ended direct financial support for energy megaprojects.

Donor country.

The Canadian government recognizes that a key element of international cooperation in support of global sustainable development is the provision of assistance, including financial resources, to developing countries to help them to meet their commitments under Agenda 21. The flow of financial assistance from the developed to the developing world should supplement the mobilization of domestic financial, technical, and human resources in developing countries. Official Development Assistance has been identified as the main source of external funding to assist developing countries in the implementation of Agenda 21. Canada remains committed to the target of 0.7 percent of GNP for ODA established at UNCED as a long-term goal, the attainment of which is dependent on a strong Canadian economy. The stated purpose of Canada's ODA is to "support sustainable development in developing countries, in order to reduce poverty and contribute to a more secure, equitable and prosperous world". With this in mind, the Canadian government will continue to direct most of its ODA to low-income countries. Canadian ODA will concentrate available resources on the following six priorities: basic human needs; woman in development; infrastructure services; human rights, democracy and good governance; private-sector development; and the environment.

The Canadian environmental industry consists of some 4,500 firms that employ some 150,000 persons. It generates annual revenues of about $11 billion. One third of these firms are manufacturers and account for annual sales of $6 billion, while two thirds are service providers with annual sales of $5 billion. A number of companies have come together to create the Canadian Environment Industry Association (CEIA), an umbrella organization for nine autonomous provincial/territorial associations.

Governments support research and development in this area through tax incentives, direct grants and funding of research in institutions across the country. This support has helped Canadians to develop considerable expertise in industrial and municipal wastewater treatment, site clean-up, air emission control, solid waste management, plant safety and health technologies and remote sensing for land, agricultural, forestry and fisheries management. The application of environmentally sound technologies and alternative energy technologies that will improve the efficiency and environmental performance of traditional manufacturing and resource processing sectors is another area of particular emphasis. Governments' "green industry" initiatives such as the Canadian Environmental Industry Strategy (CEIS) foster Canadian technologies and the environmental industry.

International technology transfer is channeled to other countries through cooperative arrangements between Environment Canada, CIDA, IDRC, DFAIT, Industry Canada and Canadian companies. Governments support efforts by industries and researchers to meet international needs through agreements with other countries, joint ventures and technology transfer. Efforts in technological cooperation and capacity-building are focused on particular areas of Canadian expertise and measures have included environmental trade missions, bilateral memoranda of understanding and other institutional links and initiatives involving the Canadian environmental industry. For example, Environment Canada, with support from CIDA/DFAIT and in partnership with Canadian companies is involved in the transfer of Canadian technologies to Latvia and Ukraine to aid with the cleanup of military and missile sites. Environment Canada is also involved in other technology transfer activities in China, Mexico, Russia, Japan and South Korea. Canada has transferred expertise on environmental regulations, policies and technical programs to several developing countries under the International Environmental Management Initiative, an integral component of Canadian Environmental Industry Strategy. Projects supported by the IEMI include an environmental auditing program in Thailand, vehicle emission control workshops in Mexico and Pakistan and a laboratory accreditation program in Ukraine. Similarly, IDRC has an ongoing Sustainable Technologies Program based in Asia that facilitates the development, diffusion and adoption of cleaner production technologies.

The federal and provincial governments and environmental industry associations, municipal organizations and private sector companies, have set up three Canadian Environmental Technology Advancement Centres (CETACs). The CETACs provide technical, managerial and financial services and support to Canadian small and medium sized companies to help develop and commercialize technologies and access sources of financing and international markets.

Efforts are underway to establish an Environmental Technology Clearinghouse under a trilateral initiative between Canada, Mexico and the USA. The North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation has established this project along with the private sector in the three countries. The Canadian Environmental Training Opportunities Program has been initiated to promote, to the international community, a sampling of the many environmental training courses offered in Canada. The objective of the program is to promote a selection of one or two week full-time courses with emphasis on short courses that have integrated environmental industry support. Private sector initiatives include the development of a vehicle propulsion system using electricity produced by a hydrogen fuel cell. This state-of-the-art technology will help reduce local smog problems and global greenhouse gas emissions.

STEPS TAKEN TO ENHANCE SCIENTIFIC UNDERSTANDING, IMPROVE LONG TERM SCIENTIFIC ASSESSMENT, BUILDING OF CAPACITY AND CAPABILITY:

Canada faces a major challenge in adjusting its scientific work force to meet emerging issues with limited resources. It is committed to the training and development of new scientists as well as updating the skills of the scientific community.

In support of its commitment to sustainable development, Canada is promoting numerous scientific partnerships among federal departments and agencies, and with provincial and local governments, universities, industry, various non-governmental organizations, and Aboriginal groups. To that effect, federal resource departments are elaborating plans for a consistent approach to science. In January 1995, four federal natural resource departments signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on science and technology for sustainable development. Six working groups were created to address key environmental issues including: metals in the environment, ecosystem effects of UV-B radiation, renewable energy technologies, climate change and variability, coastal zone management, and R&D priority setting. The first annual report was issued in 1996. As the MOU enters its 2nd year, projects will be completed and new working groups will be created to deal with emerging issues. A new initiative will be the development of a strategy to value natural capital and develop economic indicators of sustainability. The MOU has made significant contribution to the federal government's sustainable development strategy and has proven to be a stepping stone toward integrating sustainable development S&T programs throughout the government. Studies resulting from the various initiatives will serve as a basis for policy and adaptation strategies.

Canada's efforts in environmental research utilizes an "ecosystem approach" that takes into account economic, social, and environmental factors in decision making. Several provinces have programs that facilitate the integration of science into development strategies. Some also have grants programs. Quebec has created an environmental component for the Fund for Governmental Priorities in Science and Technology.

Canada is reassessing and rationalizing scientific monitoring programmes to maintain the databases required for long-term scientific assessments. The national Environmental Knowledge Network (EKN) is building on several government initiatives to identify sources of environmental information worldwide so that Canadians can both access and contribute information. The network will facilitate the integration of environmental, social, and economic information; enhance analysis and interpretation capabilities; optimize environmental assessment; reinforce ability to report environmental information; and increase Canada's contribution to sustainable decision making globally.

The federal Environmental Effects Monitoring programme, which is being created in partnership with industry and provincial governments, to assess, predict, and mitigate the potential ecological impacts of effluent discharges on recipient aquatic ecosystems. These efforts are critical for establishing a scientific rationale for future policies supporting sustainable development in forestry and other resource-based sectors.

Canada has established the cooperative multi-agency Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network (EMAN), a broadly based network involving partners and agencies cooperating on various aspects of ecosystem research and monitoring. These partners interacting in project planning and in the integration, synthesis, and interpretation of their results. Four major issues (climate change, biodiversity change, toxic effects, and UV-B impacts) drive the network at the national level.

Through research and action programs such as the Northern River Basins Study, the Fraser River Action Plan, the Atlantic Coastal Action Plan and the Great Lakes Action Plan, the federal government is taking a leading international role in designing and implementing large ecosystem-based initiatives. These programs integrate scientific research and assessment within decision and action frameworks that recognize the importance of public participation and community involvement, the incorporation of societal values in establishing ecosystem goals and objectives for ecosystem conservation and protection, and the requirement for an effective public communication strategy.

The Canadian Global Change Programme is the national focal point for global change activities in Canada. It is an independent multidisciplinary network, linking research and policy, and communicating results, ideas, and recommendations to the policy and research communities.

Collaboration with urban agencies, such as the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, is also being undertaken to advance municipal environmental reporting and networks, and to develop urban sustainability indicators.

a) Reorientation of education towards sustainable development:

Elementary and secondary school education falls under the jurisdiction of Canadian provincial governments To ensure information sharing and collaboration in the environmental education field in Canada, the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment has established an Education & Communications Task Group. It also works in collaboration with the Council of Ministers of Education - Canada.

Provincial governments are active at different levels in the promotion of environmental education through their environment, natural resource and education ministries. In addition, non-governmental organizations such as Learning for a Sustainable Future work to integrate the concepts and principles of sustainable development into the curricula at all grade levels. At the national level, the Government of Canada made a commitment at the 1996 CSD meeting to work with all jurisdictions and stakeholders to develop a framework for sustainability education over the next twelve months.

b) Increasing public awareness:

Since September 1995, the federal government's public awareness and community funding program, Action 21, has supported over 300 community based projects and launched a public awareness initiative aimed at a broad Canadian audience. The Canadian Youth Action Guide and the Youth Edition of Agenda 21 were distributed to schools. Fifteen Canadian schools are participating in the Rescue Mission Indicators Project to monitor and report to the federal minister on the state of their local environment. The National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy has produced a guide for educators and facilitators on the round table process and sustainable development, and conducted workshops with more than 2000 high school students in Canada.

c) Promoting training:

Occupational training related to environmental issues is growing. The Canadian Council for Human Resources in the Environment Industry is an organization that brings together major employers, industry groups, educators and other interested organizations. It has been organized to identify and help find solutions to skill needs that limit the sector's growth, and to enable more people to develop the skills to enter these occupations. The Canadian Labour Congress has produced a program on workers' environmental rights which stresses the creation of joint union-management environment committees for extending the mandate of existing health and safety committees.

ROLE OF MAJOR GROUPS: Youth as the real stakeholders in the environment will play a key role in education, public awareness activities. Community based and national non-government organizations are critical in advocating, designing and delivering sustainability projects.

One of the primary goals of Canada's international cooperation with developing countries is to assist them to develop the capacity to identify and meet their own sustainable development objectives. This involves both the transfer of technology and the development of skills and management capacity, including local and indigenous knowledge. Mechanisms for technology transfer must take into consideration the intellectual property rights and terms of transfer/sharing, the appropriateness and adaptability of technologies to be transferred, the availability of financial resources and the capacity of developing countries to absorb new technologies.

Canada's approach to the transfer of technology encourages the consideration of demand-focused arrangements rather than the establishment of administratively cumbersome clearinghouse mechanisms. In addition, Canada also encourages the rationalization of existing transfer mechanisms, and the promotion of mutually beneficial technology sharing arrangements leading to expanded trade and market development for participating countries.

Canadian assistance in the form of technology transfer and capacity development is routed through a number a channels, notably the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC). Most of CIDA's development projects incorporate training programs designed to assist clients in maximizing potential project benefits. IDRC undertakes and supports research into particular development issues with a view to assisting developing countries to enhance their capacity to meet the challenges of sustainable development. Much of the work of the IDRC focuses on introducing new and adapting existing technology and know-how into developing countries through cooperative applied research ventures.

One example is CIDA's Southern Cone Technology Transfer project. It is a five year, $15 million development fund, which targets Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Uruguay. The projects funds the transfer of Canadian know-how to partner institutions in the Southern Cone, and its adaptation to, and use in, their own cultural and developmental environment. It is an attempt to multiply the institutional linkages between Canada and the Southern Cone in support of sustainable development. Another example is the Canada-Brazil Technology Transfer Project. CIDA funds short-term consulting, training, exchanges and related activities. The $15 million project is also expected to multiply the institutional linkages between Canada and Brazil in support of sustainable development.

Canada recognizes the increasing importance of transferring technology and expertise to developing countries to improve their capacity to achieve sustainable development. However, our efforts in this regard are constrained by a scarcity of resources, and consequently the broad participation of the business, academic, and NGO communities is vital if we are to continue to make progress in this regard. Canada is continuing to seek out innovative means to enhance our cooperative relationship with developing countries along non-traditional lines, building linkages at the level of civil society, and allowing for the development of a productive synergy between groups with common interests.