| MANITOBA'S PROVINCIAL SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT CODE OF PRACTICE Further to the implementation of The Sustainable Development Act, Section 11(1), 11(2) requires Cabinet to establish a provincial Sustainable Development Code of Practice to assist in integration of sustainable development into the decisions, actions and operations of provincial public sector organizations. The decisions and activities of the public sector shall strive towards: a. integrating economic, environmental, human health and social considerations; b. ensuring the most efficient and effective use of human, natural and financial resources with due consideration of full-cost accounting; c. including processes for informing those affected by decisions and actions in a timely manner and ensuring meaningful opportunity for public consultation and due process, including, where applicable, collaborative decision making, consensus building and alternative dispute resolution; d. being carried out in an equitable manner; e. minimizing waste and utilizing environmentally, socially and economically sound and viable substitutes for scarce resources; f. being based on sound science and research; g. recognizing the value of, and integrating where possible, traditional knowledge and intergenerational considerations; h. being effective stewards in the management of the economy, environment, human health and social well-being for present and future generations; i. recognizing that all departments and agencies share responsibility for the pursuit of sustainable development in Manitoba; j. anticipating, mitigating and preventing adverse impacts to the economy, environment, human health and social well-being; k. conserving renewable and non-renewable natural resources; and l. ensuring our local decision making is consistent with our global environmental, economic and social responsibilities. In order to ensure consistency with the above principles, the public sector in the conduct of its affairs shall strive towards: 1. Complying with the requirements of all applicable regulations, laws and policies. 2. Ensuring that submissions to Cabinet and committees of Cabinet, Acts, regulations and amendments to them, management systems, administrative policies and procedures, standards, agreements, conventions, accords and protocols and information mechanisms and programs are consistent with the Principles and Guidelines of Sustainable Development. 3. Ensuring administrative policies and procedures are streamlined, coordinated and integrated. 4. Ensuring enforcement procedures, standards, policies and programs are fair and equitable, consistent with established treaty and constitutional rights and include the right to timely remedies and redress. 5. Providing employees with information, work skills training and education in sustainable development practices. 6. Ensuring meaningful opportunity for public consultation and due process, including the timely release of pertinent information and, where applicable, collaborative decision making, consensus building and alternative dispute resolution. 7. Ensuring the assessment of proposed programs and projects are carried out to determine and address their sustainability impacts. 8. Rewarding innovative actions (social, scientific, technological, financial) for initiatives having proven sustainable development benefits. 9. Participating, where possible, in resource management initiatives at the local level and supporting groups interested in human and natural resource management issues. 10. Employing the 4Rs (reducing, reusing, recycling and recovering) in its use of resources and the management of waste. 11. Ensuring efficient use of water, energy and other resources in its operations, practising conservation of non-renewable resources and using viable substitutes for scarce resources. 12. Seeking opportunities, where appropriate or beneficial, to harmonize provincial laws and processes internally and with other jurisdictions based on uniform, common or appropriate social, health, development, environmental and natural resources standards. 13. Working with other jurisdictions to clarify and separate overlapping enforcement responsibilities in the areas of health, environment and resources. The code of practice will be integrated into the operations of the public sector by: a. integrating the principles of the code of practice into government�s manuals and procedures; b. establishing any other required principle, procedure or guideline; and c. ensuring the annual reporting of departmental implementation of the code of practice. http://www.gov.mb.ca/conservation/susresmb/code/code-prac.doc Downloaded August 5, 2003 |