Canada makes important strides towards a 2030 Agenda National Strategy

Press Release

From: Employment and Social Development Canada

June 28, 2019 Gatineau, Québec Employment and Social Development Canada

The 2030 Agenda is a call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity. At its core are 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and a commitment to leave no one behind. To accelerate progress and create a common vision for Canada’s path forward, the Government of Canada is leading the development of a 2030 Agenda National Strategy, through engagement with Canadians.

Today, the Government of Canada announced it is marking an important milestone in advancing progress on the 2030 Agenda by releasing Towards Canada’s 2030 Agenda National Strategy, an interim document informed by a nationwide consultation. A first step toward developing a national strategy, this interim document proposes 30 concrete federal actions, including supporting a national SDG Forum to allow for greater stakeholder collaboration, establishing an external advisory committee to help advise on Canada’s implementation of the 2030 Agenda, a commitment to regular reporting, and a second Voluntary National Review to the United Nations.

Towards Canada’s 2030 Agenda National Strategy includes a first iteration of the Canadian Indicator Framework, and proposes ambitions, indicators and targets, which lays the foundation for Canada to accurately track and report on its progress on the 17 SDGs. Once fully developed, the Canadian Indicator Framework will help Canada to look beyond the GDP to measure its growth, sustainability and well-being in a more holistic way.

This interim document will serve as the foundation for further engagement on the development of a national strategy that reflects the perspectives of Canadians. Comments and feedback can be shared online at www.Canada2030agenda.ca, by email at Programme2030-2030Agenda@canada.gc.ca or on social media channels by using the hashtag #Can2030Agenda.

Additionally, the Government of Canada also announced a call for proposals for contributions under the 2019-2020 SDG Funding Program. The call for proposals will fund projects for up to $300,000 per year for a maximum duration of 36 months. The call will be open from June 28 to September 19, 2019 and seeks projects that focus on research, foster innovation and investment for the SDGs, create resources to enhance knowledge sharing including the contribution of Indigenous knowledge, and help establish accountability frameworks to support impact measurement.

Quotes

“Canada has shown incredible economic growth in the past years; however, not everyone is benefiting from it. With our commitment to implement the 2030 Agenda here in Canada, we aim to ensure everyone benefits from this economic growth. We will do this by looking beyond the GDP to measure progress through the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Today’s announcement is another milestone Canada has reached towards protecting the planet and building a more peaceful, inclusive and prosperous society that truly leaves no one behind.”

-The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development

“The Sustainable Development Goals are ambitious, but together we can make great strides to achieve them both at home and abroad, by bringing governments, Indigenous peoples, civil society, private sector organizations and all Canadians together. This concerted effort, along with guidance from Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy, is central to creating a more peaceful, prosperous and inclusive world and ensuring no one is left behind.”

-The Honourable Maryam Monsef, Minister of International Development and Minister for Women and Gender Equality

Quick facts

• The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is a 15-year global framework that was adopted by Canada and all other 192 United Nations Member States in 2015. At its heart are the 17 SDGs that encompass the social, economic, and environmental dimensions of sustainable development.
• In Budget 2018, the Government of Canada announced up to $59.8 million in funding over 13 years ($4.6 million annually), starting in 2018-2019, for programming to support Canada’s implementation of the SDGs.
• To inform the development of the national strategy, public consultations were held from March 15, 2019 to May 15, 2019. These consultations captured the feedback of almost 2,500 Canadians engaged in person in more than 30 cities, in 13 provinces and territories. Canadians expressed their commitment to the 2030 Agenda and their desire to have coordinated and inclusive action toward achieving the SDGs across Canada.
• Interested organizations can submit a completed application under the call for proposals for contributions through the Grants and Contributions Online Services account, to EDSC.ODD2030-2030SDG.ESDC@servicecanada.gc.ca, or by mail. An Applicant Guide is is available to assist organizations in completing their submissions.
• To date, 19 organizations received grant funding for a total of $1.5 million through the 2018-19 SDG Funding Program. These completed projects successfully helped to raise public awareness of the SDGs, gathered community-level feedback from Canadians, engage with several civil society, private sector, academia, Indigenous peoples, youth and vulnerable populations, and strengthened partnerships to further action on the SDGs.

Related products

• Towards Canada’s 2030 Agenda National Strategy
• Backgrounder: 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
• Backgrounder: Sustainable Development Goals Funding Program

Associated links

• Apply for funding under the Sustainable Development Goals Program – Contributions
• Apply for funding under the Sustainable Development Goals Program – Grants
• Canada takes action on the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development
• Towards Canada’s 2030 Agenda National Strategy – Portal
• SDG Data Hub

Contacts

For media enquiries, please contact:

Valérie Glazer
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Families, Children and Social Development
819-654-5546

Media Relations Office
Employment and Social Development Canada
819-994-5559
media@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca

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