Mid-Term Evaluation of Industry Canada's Sustainable Development Strategy, 2003-2006 (SDS III)

II. Update on Results of SDS II

Before presenting the findings of the mid-term evaluation of SDS III, this chapter first provides an update on the results of SDS II. This update presents results from action items completed towards achieving SDS II objectives, and a validation of findings of the previous SDS II mid-term evaluation (completed in July 2003).^{Footnote 5}

2.1 Profile of SDS II

In its second Sustainable Development Strategy (SDS II), Industry Canada committed to promoting sustainable development as part of its mandate to create the foundation for a more productive, competitive, knowledge-based economy.

Industry Canada's SDS II consisted of three objectives that focused on eco-efficiency, environmental technologies, and decision making. Exhibit 1 identifies the vision of the strategy, and the objectives and targeted areas for action.

The overall vision of SDS II was aligned with Industry Canada's mandate to create the foundation for a more productive, competitive, knowledge-based economy. The following were the overall strategic objectives of SDS II:

• Eco-efficiency: Enhance the capacity of Canadians, industries and firms to develop and use eco-efficient practices, tools, technologies and products that contribute to increased productivity and environmental performance.
• Environmental technologies: Facilitate the development and diffusion of environmental and enabling technologies that produce long-term economic and environmental benefits.
• Decision-making: Improve the integration of sustainable development objectives into the decision-making and delivery of departmental policies, plans, programs and operations.

Within these strategic objectives, the department established nine priority activity areas (Exhibit 1) to play a leadership role and promote sustainable development.

Exhibit 1: Profile of SDS II

2.2 Update on Achievement of Objectives of SDS II

As part of this current mid-term evaluation of SDS III, interviewees within Industry Canada were asked the following questions to update and validate the results of the previous mid-term evaluation of SDS II.

• Success of SDS II — How successful was the department in achieving its overall SDS II objectives?
• Results of SDS II — What were the results achieved by the action items you were responsible for, or participated in, during SDS II?
• Reporting on SDS II — How successful was Industry Canada in capturing (identifying/measuring) these results, and reporting on them (e.g., in evaluation and/or other reports)?

Success of SDS II — Based on progress reports from SDS II responsibility centres, on the SD action items, the implementation of SDS II has been successfully completed. SDS II was seen by most IC persons interviewed for this evaluation as a successful progression from the previous SDS I experience.

The mid-term evaluation study of SDS II reported on the results of the strategy as of July 2003. At that time, out of 58 action items, the department had fulfilled, or exceeded, requirements connected with 34 items, and was making good progress towards completing another 16 items. Another 8 action items were reported to be in a planning or early implementation phase and were likely to be rolled into SDS III.

The final status of SDS II, since reporting in the previous mid-term evaluation report, is that all action items were either completed successfully and concluded, or completed and carried into SDS III for continued and additional SD-related initiatives. Those action items that were carried into SDS III include: Technology Partnership Canada, Sustainable Cities Initiative, Technology Roadmaps, Precarn, Recycling Computers and Telecommunications Equipment, Corporate Social Responsibility, and Greening Operations.

The majority of officials interviewed from several branches of IC felt that they had achieved their SDS II targets. Generally, they also felt that the department achieved its objectives for SDS II, making the strongest link with sustainability through its innovation and marketplace objectives.

Many of the 58 action items of SDS II were tracked and reported on at different levels within the department. Presentations on the progress and final results were made at policy committee meetings and at the ADM level. As a result, SDS II had significant profile within the department – more so than the previous SDS I.

SDS II received a favourable assessment on the Fall 2003 performance audit conducted by the Office of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development (CESD) on the eco-efficiency and environmental technologies strategic objectives. The CESD's report noted that "Industry Canada is making a serious effort in the area of sustainable development …".

Results of SDS II — Results reported in the SDS II mid-term evaluation study focused on the extent to which short and near-term objectives of the strategy were achieved, to the year 2003. The reporting on results by the evaluation study focused on project deliverables, outputs and near-term outcomes of the strategy. The findings of the mid-term evaluation of SDS II have been validated in interviews with SDS III responsibility centres. Industry Canada successfully integrated SD into its decision-making and planning processes during SDS II. The department also became smarter (more effective) in collaborating and partnering with other government departments, provinces, municipalities, and private industry, non-profit organizations and associations – for SD-related activities. However, while the quality of discussion and expertise about SD within the department increased considerably during SDS II, the challenges of measuring midand long-term SD results are still quite significant.

During SDS II, the department has wisely used the tools and programs it has at its disposal, to achieve its targets in eco-efficiency, environmental technologies, and decision-making. Interviewees for this current mid-term evaluation of SDS III were able to provide validation of the achievements of SDS II in relation to that strategy's objectives. Exhibit 2 provides a summary of results of SDS II reported in the final progress report to the Senior ADM Policy Sector.

Exhibit 2: SDS II Mid-term Evaluation Update — Highlights

SDS II Strategic Objectives	Update on Additional SDS II Results Achieved since the Mid-term Evaluation Report of July 2003 — Highlights
Eco-efficiency: Enhance the capacity of Canadians, industries and firms to develop and use eco-efficient practices, tools, technologies and products that contribute to increased productivity and environmental performance.	Provided advice on the development of the joint Ministerial letter from Ministers Rock, Anderson, Graham and Pettigrew and press release to TSX 300 CEOs announcing the new on-line Sustainability Reporting Toolkit (which IC jointly developed and funded with EC, DFAIT and Stratos Inc.) Two voluntary initiatives have been developed and signed: Canadian Chemical Producers Association MOU and the Automotive Parts Manufacturers Association Environmental Performance Agreement. Continued to participate in the Government Advisory Panel of the Voluntary Climate Change Environmental Management Plan and the Environmental Steering Group of the Canadian Chemical Producers Association. Undertook an on-line survey of the Canadian Environmental Solutions (CES) web site to evaluate all aspects of the site, including overall user impressions and user intentions regarding how the information received is then used.
Environmental technologies: Facilitate the development and diffusion of environmental and enabling technologies that produce long-term economic and environmental benefits	Technology Partnerships Canada invested $9.6 M in one project that is expected to contribute to sustainable development, and lever approximately $22.4 M in private sector investment. Minister Rock announced funding for six fuel cells demonstration projects to be administered by Fuel Cells Canada, with assistance from the Government of British Columbia. Canada Foundation for Innovation funded 73 projects at a cost of$9.6 M between April and September 2003. These were targeted in the fields of general environmental protection, protection of species and habitats, renewable energy sources, forestry, pollution and protection of the environment, renewable resource technology, the protection of soil & groundwater, and research for the protection of seas, oceans and the atmosphere. Completed two Technology Roadmaps: (1) the Fuel Cells Technology Roadmap (April 2003); and (2) the Intelligent Buildings Technology Roadmap (June 2003). The release of the Fuel Cells Technology Roadmap was announced by Minister Rock. The Technology Roadmap on Sustainable Fuels and Chemicals from Biomass has advanced to the final stages of information gathering and analysis, and the final report is expected in February 2004. Hydrogen on the Hill: Ford Canada with financial assistance from Industry Canada made a presentation on Parliament Hill, which proposed a demonstration project under which Hydrogen-run passenger vehicles would be used on the Hill. Environmental Affairs Branch coordinated the Industry Portfolio input to the interdepartmental implementation of specific components of the Climate Change Plan for Canada. The following international business competitive analyses were prepared: analytical and decision-making framework for competitive analysis; an environment industry competitiveness analysis; and an analysis of environmental merchandise export trends. Four companies applied for TPC funding for the development and commercialization of PEM and SOFC Fuel Cell Power units for stationary and mobile applications.
Decision-making: Improve the integration of sustainable development objectives into the decision-making and delivery of departmental policies, plans, programs and operations.	Delivered an SD training course in June 2003, and an SD module in IC's Advanced Policy Course in October 2003. Several pilot projects are underway to improve IC's green procurement practices as well as on the existing recycling program, which include: selecting green accommodation when travelling, converting existing printers to support double sided printing, purchase of recycled toner cartridges, improving the ink jet cartridge and battery recycling process. Work is also being done at the regional level aimed at identifying and providing information tools customized to their needs. Completed the first phase of the project related to developing an R&D driven endogenous growth model for Canada. The paper was presented in national and international conferences. Prepared and distributed seven Enviro-Notes throughout the department. Strategic Policy Branch partnered with Energy & Marine Branch to set up an SD information table during Environment Week in June 2003 to promote IC's SD agenda.

Reporting on SDS II — IC was one of four departments recognized in 2002 by the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development with a Level I ranking for its SDS II management and reporting system. The July 2003 mid-term evaluation of SDS II was part of a process for helping to develop SDS III. Two other studies were also commissioned by Industry Canada as part of this process: an "internal issues scan" (based on assessments of managers and professionals within the department), and an "external issues scan" (based on assessments of external stakeholders and clients of the department). Both these issues scans helped identify key SD opportunities that the department targeted for SDS III. The lessons learned on reporting on SDS II results, and target achievements, contributed to the development of more focused and effective performance indicators to measure progress and results of SDS III (see Chapter VI, Section 6.2).

A new reporting scheme for SDS III was developed. The current mid-term evaluation of SDS III found that the new reporting scheme has been successful in that it simplified the reporting process at the grassroots levels, enabling a rolling up of results for transparency and for management monitoring and accountability.

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Footnotes

1. ⁵ Mid-Term Evaluation Study of Industry Canada's Sustainable Development Strategy (SDS II), prepared by Bytown Consulting and KPMG Consulting, for Industry Canada, July 2003. (back to footnote reference 5)