In accordance with the Cabinet Directive on the Environmental Assessment of Policy, Plan and Program Proposals (2010), a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) preliminary scan was conducted for the CanCode Program. The Preliminary Scan indicated that the proposal is unlikely to result in important environmental effects but may indirectly help to achieve over the long term some of the goals and targets of the 2016–2019 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS).
The CanCode program will invest $50 million over two years, starting in 2017–18, to support initiatives providing educational opportunities for coding and digital skills development to Canadian youth from kindergarten to grade 12 (K-12). The program aims to equip youth, including traditionally underrepresented groups, with the skills and study incentives they need to be prepared for the jobs of today and the future.
The global economy is increasingly digital, and the world is moving towards the adoption of more environmentally sustainable growth strategies, energy production methods, clean resources and green technology. While Canada is already home to one of the best-educated workforces in the world, programs such as CanCode will develop the skills and talents needed for Canadians to participate in the innovative industries that are helping the world shift to a low-carbon economy.
Growing the domestic talent pool available to clean industries is essential for their continued success, international competitiveness, and innovative potential. The long term environmental impact of CanCode is likely to be positive as more Canadians become equipped with the skills and experiences required for success in a knowledge-based, low carbon economy, where clean industries are increasingly important.
With its focus on technology skills development for the digital and clean economy, CanCode could potentially help advance the following goals and targets of the 2016–2019 FSDS:
Effective action on climate change
- Long-term goal: A low-carbon economy contributes to limiting global average temperature rise to well below two degrees Celsius and supports efforts to limit the increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius
- Medium-term target: By 2030, reduce Canada's total GHG emissions by 30%, relative to 2005 emission levels
Clean growth
- Long-term goal: A growing clean technology industry in Canada contributes to clean growth and the transition to a low-carbon economy
- Medium-term target: Implement our Mission Innovation commitment to double federal government investments in clean energy research, development and demonstration, by 2020, from 2015 levels