In the 2011 Sustainable Development Strategy, Industry Canada committed to document complementary Sustainable Development activities in the department which have taken place in recent years or are currently underway. This survey of departmental activities reveals that Industry Canada has been actively integrating sustainable development into its policies and practices across the department, as mandated in the Industry Canada Act. The following compendium of activities is organized by departmental strategic outcome.
Strategic Outcome 1: The Canadian Marketplace is Efficient and Competitive
Program Activity 1: Marketplace Frameworks and Regulations
In March 2011, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) of Industry Canada announced an initiative to expedite the examination of patent applications related to green technology. The amendments to the Patent Rules are in line with the government's priorities on science and technology, supporting the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises, developing a clean energy economy, and taking government action on global warming and capacity building. Accelerating the approval of patent applications relating to environmental (green) technologies will foster investment and expedite commercialization of environmental technologies. This in turn could help to resolve or mitigate environmental impacts or to conserve the natural environment and resources. No additional fee is required for advancing the examination of patent applications related to green technologies.
Program Activity 2: Spectrum, Telecommunications and the Online Economy
Industry Canada is advancing the digital economy in Canada by implementing the government's Digital Economy Strategy. Through the innovative utilization of electronic commerce and information and communications technologies, companies can create new products, services and processes which can provide sustainable outcomes.
Program Activity 3: Consumer Affairs
Industry Canada has put in place policies and infrastructure to support citizens' choices for responsible consumption of products and services, including consumer information tools. Working with key stakeholders, the department strives to provide a wide breadth of consumer information and services, and engages in research and policy development on consumer issues such as sustainable consumption. Industry Canada's Office of Consumer Affairs supports consumer groups and NGOs to ensure they provide effective input into policy development through its Contributions Program for Non-Profit Consumer and Voluntary Organizations, funding over 40 sustainable consumption related research projects since 2002. This work can be found through the Consumer Policy Research Database, which was developed to increase knowledge transfer across the consumer policy research community. The department also works to ensure that consumers have the information and tools needed to protect their interests, while encouraging industry to be more innovative and productive. This includes the development of ConsumerInformation.ca, an online portal that gives fast and easy access to accurate, relevant and reliable consumer information, developed in the public interest. Specific products include the development of a consumer guide to green claims.
Program Activity 4: Competition Law Enforcement
In June 2008, the Competition Bureau, an independent law enforcement agency under Industry Canada, released, in collaboration with the Canadian Standards Association, the Environmental Claims: A Guide for Industry and Advertisers. The Guide addresses a number of commonly used green claims and provides examples of best practices on how such claims can be used to assist businesses in complying with the false or misleading provisions of the laws enforced by the Competition Bureau.
Strategic Outcome 2: Advancements in science, technology, knowledge and innovation strengthen the Canadian economy
Program Activity 1: Science, technology and innovation capacity
Industry Canada's Science and Technology Strategy identified environmental science and technologies, and natural resources and energy, natural resources and energy, health and related life sciences and technologies, as priority areas for research and development. Under the S&T Strategy, $230 million was invested over four years (2007-11) in the EcoEnergy Technology Initiative to support research, development and demonstration of clean-energy technologies.
Program Activity 2: Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) Research and Innovation
Industry Canada through its portfolio partner CANARIE (Canada's Advanced Research and Innovation Network) provided $2.4 million in funding for four ground-breaking Green IT projects aimed at reducing the ICT carbon footprint and measuring the impact of ICT and cyber-infrastructure on university electric consumption. This funding occurred as part of CANARIE 's mandate between 2007-2012.
Program Activity 3: Industrial Research and Development (R&D) Financing
Industry Canada, through its portfolio partner the National Research Council, conducted a three year National Bioproducts Program (NBP) research program designed to have a net positive impact on sustainable energy; the environment; and rural revitalization. With a $10M per year commitment over three years, four R&D projects were undertaken:
- chemical and ethanol production from ligno-cellulosic materials;
- eco-materials and bio-polyols for the production of environmentally-friendly products for the industry;
- use of biomass- municipal waste to produce energy and chemicals through anaerobic digestion, gasification and pyrolysis; and
- establishing a Canadian capacity to produce biofuels from marine algae.
3. Strategic Outcome 3: Canadian businesses and communities are competitive
Program Activity 1: Small business research, advocacy and services
Industry Canada has produced a SME Sustainability Roadmap to help Canadian companies integrate sustainability considerations into their operations, product development, and business strategies.
Industry Canada developed the Clean, Lean and Green web portal, which provided small and medium-sized enterprises with a selection of tools, guides and programs to help them harness the opportunities presented by sustainability.
To increase industry awareness of sustainable manufacturing practices, Industry Canada, in collaboration with the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, published a workbook in 2007, Going for the Green: A Manufacturer's Guide to Lean and Green. The guide was geared toward small and micro-businesses, and contained workbooks and eco-maps to assist small businesses in discovering problems and opportunities in their environmental, health and safety performance.
Program Activity 2: Industrial Competitiveness and Capacity
Industry Canada aims to increase the competitiveness of Canadian manufacturing and other high technology firms. Several programs are in place to support the transition of these industries towards sustainability.
From 2006 to 2008, Industry Canada's sustainable production sector teams collaborated with partners to develop tools and other resources, and provide training to encourage sustainable and lean manufacturing practices within Canadian industry. Specifically, amongst the products developed were the following: the Canadian Resource Guide to High Performance Manufacturing; the manufacturing courseware web portal was updated with 'Sustainable Practices in Design and Manufacturing' and 'Design for Environment'; and a benchmarking tool for Canadian manufacturers 'Lean Benchmarking for Canadian Manufacturers—Report of Performance Benchmarks'.
Industry Canada launched its Design for Environment (DfE) study in September 2009. The report provides unique analysis on the current trends and benefits of adopting DfE practices to improve business competitiveness. Information presented in the reports includes internal and external pressures, environmental and business benefits, benchmarking information, and Best-in-Class analysis on the adoption of DfE technologies and processes.
IC , in collaboration with Design Exchange and Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters, led research on programs to integrate sustainability into distribution and retailing. In 2009, IC released reports on Logistics and Supply Chain Management. The reports provided analysis to help Canadian supply chain managers and policy makers understand the current trends and to recognize the benefits of adopting GSCM practices to improve business competitiveness.
Industry Canada worked with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) 2009-2010, along with other national governments, business representatives and international organizations to develop the OECD Sustainable Manufacturing Toolkit which was published in 2011. The Toolkit provides a step-by-step approach to measuring and benchmarking environmental performance, with a set of 18 internationally applicable, common and comparable key performance indicators to measure and improve the environmental performance of manufacturing facilities.
Industry Canada through its portfolio partner the Canadian Tourism Commission worked in collaboration with the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) in 2008 to develop a toolkit for tourism operators entitled Green your Business, which provides practical tips and guidance to help the tourism industry adopt sustainable practices.
Program Activity 3: Community Economic Development
Industry Canada's Computers for Schools (CFS) program is an innovative partnership between government and industry. Co-founded by the government and TelecomPioneers, CFS refurbishes computers and related equipment donated by the public and private sectors. Once ready, these computers are then distributed across Canada to schools, libraries and registered not-for-profit learning organizations. More than 78 million pounds of electronic waste (or over 39,000 tons) has been diverted from land fill sites in Canada since 1993. Over the past 19 years, the Computers for Schools Program has gained wide spread international recognition.
Program Activity 4: Internal Services
Industry Canada, in collaboration with other federal government departments, the government of the United States of America, and the United Nations Environment Program, contributed to the convening of the second North American Workshop on Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) held in Ottawa, January 31-February 1, 2011. The multi-stakeholder dialogue promoted bilateral collaboration on green building, and built on the first North American Workshop on SCP held in Washington, D.C., November 2008. The goal of these multi-stakeholder workshops was todefine a regional approach to advancing SCP in North America, which could contribute to the development of a ten year framework of programs as called for under the United Nations Marrakech Process.
In support of SCP efforts in North America, IC commissioned the development of an Actor and Activity Map for Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) in North America in 2010. The report identified some of the key groups, networks, industry associations and civil society organizations engaged in advancing SCP in North America; developed a set of entry points for a broader inventory of tools, practices and approaches that help capture the diversity and complexity of SCP and the actors working within it; and suggested areas for additional and promising activity for cross-sectoral and bilateral collaborations.
Industry Canada has been working closely with other the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and other government departments for more than two years to contribute to Canada's work leading up to the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development to take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 20-22, 2012. In particular, IC has been contributing to policy development related to the theme of the green economy, and has contributed content to the Green Economy Tool Kit of leading practices put forward in Canada's national submission to the United Nations, including: CSR Tool Kit and SME Road Map; Computers for Schools; and Green Patents. Officials of IC , as well as portfolio partner Statistics Canada, have contributed to the development of green growth indicators for consideration by the international community.
Industry Canada regularly hosts expert academic and private sector speakers on sustainable development related themes so that officials may improve their understanding of the innovation, competitiveness and productivity benefits associated with the integration of sustainability thinking into business processes and practices.
Industry Canada also provides analysis and advice on the linkages between trade and the environment in the context of the Government's trade agenda and its support for sustainable development in Canada's international trade priorities. In particular, IC provides analysis and advice on market access for environmental goods, in order to enhance Canadian competitiveness in this sector, as well as on the Government's environmental assessments of free trade agreement negotiations, which examine likely environmental impacts of trade and investment negotiations in Canada in order to integrate environmental considerations into the decision-making process of an initiative. As an active participant in various OECD committees and working parties, IC contributes to OECD analysis and policy recommendations on green growth and eco-innovation.