Presentation of a pioneering legislation on sustainable development.

1. 1
Quebec Sustainable
Development Act:
Setting up a new management framework within
the public administration
Jacques Prescott
Sustainable Development Coordination Office
CSD 14 Partnerships Fair
International Law for Sustainable Development
Partnership
2 May 2006
Sustainable development in action within the public administration

2. Quebec Sustainable Development Plan
> Society project submitted to public hearings in
November 2004
> Government engagement at the highest level
> Innovative governance guidelines for the public
administration
> New way to tackle and realize development
> New way to look at the future taking into account
the needs of present and future generations

3. Challenges for
the Sustainable Development Plan
1. Ensuring the coherence of government action regarding
sustainable development

4. Challenges for
the Sustainable Development Plan
1. Ensuring the coherence of government action regarding
sustainable development
2. Improving the quality of life of the population

5. Challenges for
the Sustainable Development Plan
1. Ensuring the coherence of government action regarding
sustainable development
2. Improving the quality of life of the population
3. Integrating SD principles at all levels and in all sphere of
action within the Administration

6. Challenges for
the Sustainable Development Plan
1. Ensuring the coherence of government action regarding
sustainable development
2. Improving the quality of life of the population
3. Integrating SD principles at all levels and in all sphere of
action within the Administration
4. Betting on innovation : develop and apply best available
methods and technologies

7. Challenges for
the Sustainable Development Plan
5. Base all decisions on a
long-term approach which
takes into account the
inextricable nature of the
environmental, social and
economic dimensions of
development activities.

8. Sustainable Development Plan Components
Public
Participation
Departments’
and Agencies’
action plans
Governmental
Strategy
SD Legislation
Evaluation,
monitoring &
accountability
mechanism

9. The Sustainable Development Legislation
> Scope and definition
> Who is concerned ?
> Govmnt departments and agencies responsibilities
> Principles
> Strategy
> Action plans
> Monitoring, evaluation and accountability mechanisms
> Green Fund
> Modification of the Charter of human rights and freedoms
> Public participation

10. Integration of perspectives
Scope and Definition
New development
framework :
«development that meets the needs of the
present without compromising the ability of
future generations to meet their own needs.
Sustainable development is based on a
long-term approach which takes into
account the inextricable nature of the
environmental, social and economic
dimensions of development activities.»

11. Who is concerned ?
> Government departments, agencies and
enterprises within the meaning of the Auditor
General Act
> Municipal bodies, school bodies and health and
social services institutions (upon future decree)

12. Govnmt departments and agencies responsibilities
> Participate to developing the SD strategy
> Participate to the selection of SD indicators
> Prepare a SD action plan in relation to the strategy
> Report annually on their contribution and
progress towards strategy implementation

13. Govnmt departments and agencies responsibilies
(ctnd)
> Promote SD within their jurisdiction
> Support stakeholders in their efforts towards
sustainability

14. Responsibilities of the Sustainable Development,
Environment and Parks Department
> promoting sustainable development within the
Administration and among the general public, and
fostering joint and cohesive action in order to
harmonize interventions;
> coordinating the efforts of the government
departments to define, renew or revise the
components of the sustainable development
strategy, including sustainable development
indicators, and recommending the adoption of the
strategy and indicators by the Government;

15. Responsibilities of the Sustainable Development,
Environment and Parks Department (ctnd)
> coordinating efforts to prepare periodic assessments of the
implementation of the sustainable development strategy within the
Administration and, at least every five years, drafting, an
implementation status report and submitting it to the Government
for approval;
> enhancing knowledge and analyzing experiences elsewhere in the
field of sustainable development;
> advising and providing expertise and assistance to the
Government and third persons as regards sustainable
development to help achieve the objectives of the strategy and to
ensure that the principles of sustainable development are applied
and complied with.

16. 16 principles
Health and quality of life Prevention
Social equity and solidarity Precaution
Environmental protection Protection of cultural heritage
Economic efficiency Biodiversity preservation
Participation and commitment Respect for ecosystem support
capacity
Access to knowledge Responsible production and
consumption
Subsidiarity Polluter pays
Inter-governmental partnership
and cooperation Internalization of costs

17. Sustainable Development Strategy
> Foster a concerted approach and a synergy
of interventions in keeping with all the
principles of sustainable development
> State the roles and responsibilities of each
player or certain members of the
Administration in order to ensure internal
efficiency and coherence
> Should reflect the range of concerns of
citizens and communities
> Specify monitoring mechanisms or means

18. Sustainable Development Strategy (ctnd)
> SD information and education measures to be
implemented
> Development of tools or models for the design,
determination and analysis of projects in terms of
SD
> Mechanisms to be implemented to encourage the
participation of various stakeholders
> Means selected to foster an integrated approach
and the coherence of the interventions at local,
regional and national level, including Native
communities

19. Gvmnt departments’ and agencies’ action plans
> Identify the specific objectives it intends to pursue
to contribute to a progressive implementation of
the strategy
> Identify activities to be carried out to that end
directly or in collaboration with one or more
stakeholders (ex : review of existing Acts,
regulations, policies or programs)

20. Monitoring, evaluation
and accountability mechanisms
> Appointment of an assistant auditor general
bearing the title of Sustainable Development
Commissioner
> Identification of SD indicators
> Means (performance indicators and mechanisms)
to monitor the implementation of the strategy and
action plans
> Production of annual reports on the activities
aimed at achieving SD

21. Green Fund
> Establishment of a Green Fund
> Dedicated to the financing of measures or
programs carried out by the minister of SD,
Environment and Parks to promote SD
> Support municipalities and NGO working in the
environmental field
> Funded by revenue derived from fees or other
amounts collected under the Acts or regulations
under the administration of the Minister;
environmental fines; compensation funds;
punitive damages, etc

22. Modification of the Charter of human rights and
freedoms
> Adding a new right to the economic and social
rights listed in the Charter of human rights and
freedoms
> Affirming the right of every person to live in a
healthful environment in which biodiversity is
preserved, to the extent and according to the
standards provided by law

23. Public participation
> Public audiences on the SD Plan and legislation project held in
21 municipalities of the province.
> 582 memoirs received
> More than 630 people took the floor
> 3500 participated to the audiences
> More than 4000 recommendations were recorded.
> Before its unanimous adoption by National Assembly, a further
version of the legislation was submitted again to public
consultation in the form of parliamentary committee hearings

24. Public participation
Provisions of the SD Act include :
> Submitting the strategy and any review of it to public
consultation in the form of parliamentary committee
hearings
> Integrating in the strategy information and education
measures on SD and mechanisms to be implemented
to encourage the participation of the various
stakeholders in society
> Giving the Minister the function of promoting SD
among the general public
> Making public action plans, annual and other
progress reports

25. Quebec’s Sustainable Development Plan
and Legislation
Conclusion
> Pragmatic, affordable and looking into the future
> Based on successes and achievements in Canada
and elsewhere
> Engaging public administration at all levels
> Mobilizing tool for society

26. References
Quebec’s Sustainable Development Plan
> French Version:
http://www.mddep.gouv.qc.ca/developpement/2004-2007/index.htm
> English Version
http://www.mddep.gouv.qc.ca/developpement/2004-2007/plan-
consultation-en.pdf
Quebec’s Sustainable Development Law
> French Version
http://www2.publicationsduquebec.gouv.qc.ca/dynamicSearch/tele
charge.php?type=5&file=2006C3F.PDF
> English Version
http://www2.publicationsduquebec.gouv.qc.ca/home.php#
Sustainable development coordination office:
jacques.prescott@mddep.gouv.qc.ca