OTTAWA, April 2, 2019 — On April 2, 2019, the Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP) responded to the consultation on the Draft Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS) 2019-2022. The document was developed by a committee of volunteers selected by the CIP Board of Directors, and included a range of professional perspectives to deliver a critically-informed response.
The FSDS consultation was an important opportunity to influence national dialogue concerning key issues which CIP has published policies on; healthy communities, climate change, and reconciliation. The Institute’s response included examples from the Awards for Planning Excellence and made specific suggestions to strengthen the strategy. CIP also highlighted the significant contribution planners make to sustainable development, and the importance of including planners – and allied professionals – as key partners in the FSDS.
The FSDS, is updated every three years by the Federal Government, as a requirement of the Sustainable Development Act, and since 2010, CIP has provided comments. The FSDS sets out goals aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. As such, it takes a multi-faceted approach to address the broad spectrum of sustainable development issues in Canada and includes priorities, goals, and targets.
Looking forward, CIP will seek to review and assess the final version of the FSDS, as well as identify opportunities for the Institute’s members to engage in its implementation and future strategies.
Special thanks to Kristy Kilbourne MCIP, RPP, Carla Stewart MCIP, RPP, Gloria Venczel MCIP, RPP, and Mike Sullivan MCIP, RPP for their valuable professional input into the response.
To read the response in full, please click here.