The Canada Aviation Museum - Ottawa, Ontario
March 22-23, 2004

Introduction

The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA) hosted a workshop for federal public servants on March 22 and 23, 2004. The workshop was designed to develop and strengthen capacity within the federal policy community regarding the role of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) in government. Specific goals of the workshop included:

• Increasing participants' understanding of the updated Cabinet Directive on the Environmental Assessment of Policy, Plan and Program Proposals (the Cabinet Directive), which became effective January 1, 2004.
• Providing participants with insight into how SEA relates to Sustainable Development Strategies, the Management Accountability Framework, public consultation and other topics.
• Sharing information on SEA from multiple perspectives, including government, industry and non-governmental organizations.
• Examining next steps to strengthen the role of SEA in horizontal, integrated decision making.

Through presentations, case studies, group discussions and open forum sessions, participants learned about current SEA practice and its evolution within the federal government and the importance of developing internal departmental SEA procedures and best practices. The workshop also provided the opportunity for participants to network and exchange information in order to gain practical advice and techniques for planning and implementing effective SEA processes.

The workshop was organized by CEAA with support from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Environment Canada, Transport Canada, Natural Resources Canada and the departments of Foreign Affairs Canada and International Trade Canada, and National Defence.