Question Period Note: CANADA’S IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 2030 AGENDA FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

What is the Government of Canada doing to support implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals?

• The Government of Canada is advancing policies and programming initiatives that support the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals such as growing and strengthening Canada’s middle class; reducing poverty, reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples; advancing gender equality; and ensuring access to justice for all Canadians.
• In June 2019, the Government of Canada released Towards Canada’s 2030 Agenda National Strategy. Consistent with implementation plans developed by other countries, this interim document was a first step toward establishing the structures, processes and activities that needed to be in place to move the 2030 Agenda forward in a coordinated, transparent and accountable manner.
• A Funding Program has also been established to support initiatives to raise public awareness of the Sustainable Development Goals, develop new partnerships, improve knowledge on emerging sustainable development issues, implement innovative approaches that advance several Sustainable Development Goals, and support the important work of reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.
• In February 2021, the Government of Canada launched the 2030 Agenda National Strategy. Moving Forward Together – Canada’s 2030 Agenda National Strategy is an important milestone in continuing to implement the 2030 Agenda and make progress on the Sustainable Development Goals in Canada and abroad.
• The National Strategy promotes a whole-of-society approach to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. It builds on the 30 actions and five core principles outlined in Towards Canada’s 2030 Agenda National Strategy, and feedback from in-person and online consultations and outreach across Canada. Strengthened by a commitment to leave no one behind, the strategy will help build a Canada that is stronger, fairer, and more equitable for everyone.
• Most recently in July 2021, the Government of Canada released its Federal Implementation Plan for the 2030 Agenda, which communicates to Canadians how the federal government will contribute to the advancement of the National Strategy. The plan articulates how federal departments and agencies will work together to improve whole-of-government collaboration to advance the Sustainable Development Goals, and commits to report back annually to Canadians on progress. The Federal Implementation Plan also highlights avenues to involve and engage Canadians and stakeholders in support of the Sustainable Development Goals.

In 2015, Canada and all United Nation member states adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (2030 Agenda), a global framework of action for people, planet, prosperity, peace, and partnership, that leaves no one behind. At the heart of the 2030 Agenda lie 17 Sustainable Development Goals, with 169 targets and over 230 indicators, which aim to address, measure and track progress on today’s economic, social and environmental challenges.

At the federal level, Employment and Social Development Canada leads the coordination of Canada’s implementation of the 2030 Agenda, in close collaboration with all other ministers and their departments. All departments and agencies are accountable for implementing the 2030 Agenda and for advancing and reporting on the Sustainable Development Goals under their responsibility.

In June 2019, the Government of Canada released Towards Canada’s 2030 Agenda National Strategy. The result of nationwide consultations, this interim document proposed the structures, processes and activities that needed to be in place to move the 2030 Agenda forward in a coordinated, transparent and accountable manner. It also highlighted the various actors involved and the partnerships, innovation and investment required to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Sustainable Development Goals Funding Program ($59.8 million over 13 years; $4.6 million annually) aims to strengthen partnerships with organizations to catalyze efforts, deliver improved outcomes to Canadians, and foster innovative and horizontal initiatives that support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in Canada.To date, the Sustainable Development Goals Funding Program has provided funding to 127 projects, for a total of approximately $22 million. In addition, the Government of Canada is supporting National Indigenous Organizations (Assembly of First Nations, the Métis National Council, and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami) by providing $300,000 per year over three years (2020-23), for a total of $900,000 per organization.

In February 2021, the Government of Canada launched the 2030 Agenda National Strategy. Moving Forward Together: Canada’s 2030 Agenda National Strategy aims to create and foster an enabling environment for ongoing participation, dialogue, and whole-of-society collaboration to help advance progress.

To create this environment, Employment and Social Development Canada, together with other government departments, is leveraging new and existing opportunities to engage with all levels of government, Indigenous organizations, civil society, academia, and the private sector to develop mechanisms for ongoing collaboration on five core elements:
• Enhancing leadership, governance and policy coherence
• Raising awareness, engagement and communications
• Ensuring accountability, transparency and reporting
• Advancing reconciliation with Indigenous people
• Investing in the Sustainable Development Goals
Most recently in July 2021, the Federal Implementation Plan for the 2030 Agenda was released. The plan communicates to Canadians how the federal government will contribute to the advancement of the 2030 Agenda National Strategy at the federal level, and further enhances public accountability. It clarifies the roles and responsibilities of federal departments and agencies, and establishes departmental leads and contributing departments for each of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals and for crosscutting objectives. It also commits to reporting on progress to Canadians through the publication of an Annual Report (starting June 2022), and highlights ongoing opportunities for public engagement.
To support domestic monitoring and reporting of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, Statistics Canada developed the Canadian Indicator Framework, updated in June 2021, which includes ambitions, indicators and targets for the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

• In 2015, all United Nations Member States came together to adopt the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. At its heart lies 17 Sustainable Development Goals that encompass the social, economic, and environmental challenges of today.
• The Government of Canada supports the 2030 Agenda, and is committed to working with its partners to build a more peaceful, inclusive and prosperous world that leaves no one behind.
• To accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals, Moving Forward Together: Canada’s 2030 Agenda National Strategy, developed in collaboration with whole-of-society stakeholders, was released in February 2021. In addition, the Federal Implementation Plan for the 2030 Agenda was released in July 2021 to articulate the Government of Canada`s commitment and contribution to the National Strategy.