Common menu bar links
Breadcrumb Trail
ARCHIVED - Parks Canada
This page has been archived.
Archived Content
Information identified as archived on the Web is for reference, research or recordkeeping purposes. It has not been altered or updated after the date of archiving. Web pages that are archived on the Web are not subject to the Government of Canada Web Standards. As per the Communications Policy of the Government of Canada, you can request alternate formats on the "Contact Us" page.
Sustainable Development Strategy
In December 2006, the Minister of the Environment tabled the 2007-2009 Parks Canada Agency Sustainable Development Strategy (SDS) in Parliament. The complete SDS document is accessible at: http://www.pc.gc.ca/docs/pc/strat/sdd-sds-2007/index.
Parks Canada’s mandate aligns well with the goals of sustainable development. The business of Parks Canada is the protection and presentation of significant examples of Canada’s history and culture and representative examples of Canada’s ecosystems and biodiversity. In doing this, Parks Canada plays a key role in the implementation of the federal government’s commitment to sustainable development.
Parks Canada’s actions in support of government priorities include commitments to increase and expand the system of national parks and national marine conservation areas; designate new national historic sites of Canada; maintain or improve the overall ecological integrity in all national parks; improve the overall average commemorative integrity rating in national historic sites; and minimize the environmental impact of its operations.
The following table provides an update on nine of the key commitments of the Parks Canada SDS.
| 1. Federal SD goal: Water — Clean and secure water for people, marine and freshwater ecosystems | ||
| SDS Agency Commitment 2007-2009 |
Performance measure from current SDS | Agency’s Planning Highlights for 2009-10 |
|---|---|---|
| Provide responsible environmental stewardship, heritage conservation, and efficient and affordable administration to the five national park townsites administered by Parks Canada. | Townsite targets for growth, sewage effluent quality and management of contaminated sites are met.3 | Parks Canada will continue to demonstrate environmental stewardship by minimizing the impact of townsite operations; meeting townsite targets for limits to growth, sewage effluent quality and management of contaminated sites. |
| Parks Canada will create national parks and national marine conservation areas in unrepresented regions. | Increase the number of represented terrestrial natural regions from 28 in March 2007 to 30 of 39 by March 2010; make progress towards establishing national parks in six unrepresented regions by March 2011.1 | As of March 31, 2008, 28 of Canada’s 39 natural regions are represented by one or more national parks. Work will continue on assessing feasibility or negotiating park agreements for six proposed national parks. |
| Increase the number of represented marine regions from three in March 2007 to four of 29 by March 2010; make progress towards establishing national marine conservation areas in two unrepresented regions by March 2011.1 | As of March 31, 2008, three of Canada’s 29 marine regions are represented. Work will continue on two national marine conservation area (NMCA) proposals (Gwaii Haanas and Southern Strait of Georgia), which are at the feasibility assessment and agreement negotiation stages. Subject to territorial or provincial government readiness, two other projects (Lancaster Sound and Îles de la Madeleine) could proceed to feasibility assessment. | |
| It will complete or expand some existing parks. | Expand two national parks by March 2010 and increase the targeted land holdings in three unfinished national parks.1 | Work will continue on the expansion of Nahanni National Park Reserve of Canada and Tuktut Nogait National Park of Canada. |
| Parks Canada will conduct ecological monitoring and reporting on the state of aquatic ecosystems in national parks and national marine conservation areas. | Approved monitoring guidelines and indicators to measure the state of ecological sustainable use in 2 operating sites by March 2013.2 | Parks Canada will continue to develop, as a priority, the various elements of the national marine conservation areas program. A national zoning framework for national marine conservation areas that reflects a spectrum of management approaches has been developed and is being applied. Parks Canada will develop a framework to report on the state of ecosystem health in national marine conservation areas. |
| Outside of national parks in the far north with an already acceptable ecological integrity status, 80% of national parks have at least one improved ecological integrity indicator from March 2008 to March 2013.3 | Through active management and restoration initiatives, the Agency will continue to address conservation challenges in Canada’s national parks. Strategic initiatives to demonstrate improvements in key indicators of ecological integrity will be devised and implemented. Priority management strategies and actions will be identified in park management
plans and ecological integrity conditions and trends will be reported in state of park reports. Examples of active management projects planned for 2009-10 include: • implementing a multi-year, regional ecosystem restoration program in Kootenay National Park of Canada to restore traditional winter habitat for bighorn sheep through the re-establishment of fire-maintained open forest and grasslands. • restoring salmon-bearing stream and coastal dune ecosystems with their associated species at risk in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve of Canada. •restoring the hydrological function and populations of genetically-unique, indigenous brook trout in La Mauricie National Park of Canada. |
|
| 4. Federal SD goal: Sustainable communities — communities enjoy a prosperous economy, a vibrant and equitable society, and a healthy environment for current and future generations | ||
| SDS Agency Commitment 2007-2009 |
Performance measure from current SDS | Agency’s Planning Highlights for 2009-10 |
| Designate and commemorate places, persons and events of national historic significance, particularly in under-represented priority areas. | 33% of yearly recommended designations are for under-represented themes in Canada’s history.3 | Parks Canada will continue to support the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada and the Minister in the designation and commemoration of places, persons and events of national historic significance that represent the breadth and diversity of Canadian history. Through the New Commemorations Initiative, Parks Canada will undertake consultations with Aboriginal and ethnocultural communities as well as women's groups in order to encourage new nominations of places, persons and events of national historic significance in these under-represented themes. |
| Parks Canada will work with local and Aboriginal communities to develop experience opportunities for current and potential visitors. | Increase the percentage of visitors at all surveyed locations that consider the place is meaningful to them by March 2014.5 | Visitor experience opportunities will be further enhanced by fostering economic and tourism opportunities related to authentic Aboriginal cultural experiences. |
| In collaboration with ethnocultural organizations and stakeholders, provide learning experiences for these new audiences. | Increase the percentage of targeted Canadians that appreciate the significance of heritage places administered by Parks Canada by 2014.5 | Canadians in large metropolitan areas like Montreal, around Lachine Canal National Historic Site of Canada, and Vancouver with the 2010 Olympics will be more aware, understand and appreciate Parks Canada heritage places, as these places promote their role and relevance as community resources and places of pride. Urban Canadians will have opportunities
to learn and develop a sense of connection to these heritage places through collaborations with heritage and environmental organizations, the arts and culture community, and other stakeholders. Ethnocultural communities, Aboriginal and women’s groups and stakeholders will be involved in new designations and commemorations of national historic places, persons or events. |
| 5. Federal SD goal: Sustainable development and use of natural resources | ||
| SDS Agency Commitment 2007-2009 |
Performance measure from current SDS | Agency’s Planning Highlights for 2009-10 |
| Parks Canada will provide meaningful opportunities by facilitating experiential connections with Canada’s protected heritage areas. | Increase the percentage of visitors at all surveyed locations that consider the place is meaningful to them by March 2014.5 85% of visitors at surveyed locations are satisfied, and 50% are very satisfied, with their visit.5 |
Canadians and international travelers’ desires, expectations, needs and social values will be reflected in the opportunities for visitor experience facilitated by Parks Canada at its heritage places. This will be achieved through applying a market based approach to: identify and understand target markets; develop products, programs, events,
facilities and services; and promote and deliver those meaningful opportunities. In collaboration with a broad range of partners, an increased number of visitors will be attracted through the enhancement of existing and the development of new visitor experience opportunities, including improved and diversified accommodation offers, front country trail systems, and an expanded number of interpretive products. Strategies will be identified in management plans and results will be reported in state of park and site reports. |
| 6. Federal SD goal: Strengthen federal governance and decision-making to support sustainable development | ||
| SDS Agency Commitment 2007-2009 |
Performance measure from current SDS | Agency’s Planning Highlights for 2009-10 |
| Parks Canada will develop legislative proposals to better protect national historic sites, federal heritage buildings, and archaeological resources under federal jurisdiction. | Not applicable | The Agency will prepare for the implementation of the Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act in May 2010 by developing criteria for designation and processes related to the receipt of petitions and their evaluation. This information will be publicly accessible. Parks Canada will continue working on the development and implementation of a concept related to the creation of a National Trust for Canada as announced in Budget 2007. The intention is that the Trust would be at arm's-length from government and support heritage in Canada. |
1 Due to the increasing complexity of the national park and NMCA establishment process, the deadline for achieving the target was updated from March 2008 to March 2010.
2 Deadline extended from March 2009 to March 2013 due to a change in the scope of the work.
3 Performance measure updated to reflect current targets of the Agency.
4 Performance measure updated to reflect the next phase of work to be undertaken.
5 Performance measure updated to better align with the expected result.