CONNECT Spring 2018 A publication of the Alberta Council for Global Cooperation The Auditor General’s Spring Report on Canada’s (Un) Preparedness to Implement the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals SAVE THE DATE! On Tuesday April 24, 2018, Julie Gelfand, Despite some success in these two steps Together 2018 Commissioner of the Environment and (1 and 3), the report indicated failure in Sustainable Development, released her the other five steps of implementation will be in Edmonton Spring Audit including her Report on including Establishing Governance, Planning, November 5 & 6 Canada’s Preparedness to Implement the Measuring, Monitoring and Reporting. See page 6 for details United Nations’ Sustainable Development The report did note that Statistics Canada Goals. While not surprised, we are gravely has developed a framework to collect data concerned and disappointed by the for measuring Canada’s progress towards report’s findings that clearly indicate that the the 2030 Agenda against the United Government of Canada is not sufficiently Nations’ indicators. The Sustainable Contents prepared to implement the SDGs in Canada Development Goals Data Hub has since and abroad. been released. 3 Together 2017 Takes ACGC to Germany The report uses the recommended seven- Comparing Canada’s preparedness to other step implementation model (next page) countries, the report highlights successful 4 Youth for Gender to assess the Government of Canada’s examples of developing governance Equality and the Y7 preparedness to achieve the 2030 Agenda. structures in Germany and Estonia and it It indicates some progress, largely in the references Switzerland for their success 5 IDW and Top 30 2018 step of Commitment and Responsibility— consulting and engaging many stakehold- signaled by clear messaging that Canada is ers. Germany and Switzerland are again 6 Together 2018 on board to implement the 2030 Agenda. mentioned for their successful develop- 7 ACGC in Action It also notes some very limited progress in ment of implementation plans. Showing that the step of Engaging and Consulting. For other countries are much more prepared to 8 Current Members example, the report points to the extensive achieve the 2030 Agenda indicates not only consultations that Global Affairs Canada that it is possible to do better, but that we conducted leading up to the release of must do better. Photos: Top 30 Zeel Patel (left); their new Feminist International Assistance Top 30 Chelsea Donelon and Policy in June 2017. MP Linda Duncan (centre); and, Laveza Khan in Bonn (right). Continued onto page 2 Continued from page 2 implementation. Indeed, it is clear from both the findings and the recom- mendations in the Auditor’s Report that where the Government of Canada has made some progress is in the realm of commitments and acknowledgements of responsibility (though they could certainly do more Commissioner of the Environment & here), and that where they are drastically Sustainable Development’s Spring Report failing is in all the subsequent steps required civil society and the private sector are to bring the positive promises into concrete well-placed to engage Canadians on actions and outcomes. the 2030 Agenda. Since leadership by Adapted by the Office of the Auditor General In October 2017 ACGC hosted Together the federal government is critical in this from the International Organization of Supreme 2017: Collaboration, Innovation & the context of shared responsibility, it is Audit Institutions’ 7-step model to assess Sustainable Development Goals, the first important to align government efforts to governmental preparedness for SDGs Canadian multi-stakeholder symposium on the 2030 Agenda among the first steps the Sustainable Development Goals. Earlier in implementation as well as in decision The report acknowledged that in February this year we released the Together 2017 making. The federal government should the Government released its 2018 Budget, Symposium Report. Recommendations work more across levels of government “which proposes to provide $49.4 million included localizing the 2030 Agenda in and in partnership with non-state actors over 13 years, starting in 2018–2019, to partnership with provinces, territories, and to engage Canadians further, including establish a Sustainable Development Goals municipalities as well as with non-state through the provision of strong financial Unit and to fund monitoring and reporting actors. Because non-state actors in support. Canada should play a stronger activities by Statistics Canada.” Canada have been working to raise aware- role in financing the 2030 Agenda at Indeed, in the official response issued on ness of the SDGs, especially amongst youth, home and abroad through the strategic Tuesday, April 25 from Environment and use of its development finance institu- Climate Change, Catherine McKenna; tion, and through regulatory changes the Minister of International Development that promote social enterprises and and La Francophonie, Marie-Claude other alternative business models that Bibeau; and the Minister of Fisheries, promote sustainable development. Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, ACGC will be participating in the United Dominic LeBlanc stated that “The Govern- Nations High-Level Political Forum ment of Canada is fully committed to the on Sustainable Development in New implementation of the 2030 Agenda and York City this coming July. It is the main the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), platform for reviewing the 2030 Agenda here in Canada and overseas” and that “an at the global level. This year Canada SDG unit will be created to support and will present its first Voluntary National help coordinate all these efforts.” Review Report on its progress. ACGC While such promises certainly point to will be watching closely to see how the where the Government needs to go, we government shares its progress. are concerned that they will continue to communicate such commitments, while largely falling short of implementing the necessary steps towards their full Together 2017 Symposium Report 2 Together 2017 Takes ACGC to Bonn Germany for the Global Festival of Action for Sustainable Development Heather and Laveza at the Festival of Action In March Heather McPherson and I went to I took a number of key takeaways from the Bonn, Germany to represent ACGC at the Festival for achieving the SDGs, including Global Festival of Action for Sustainable the importance of being more creative in Development. ACGC was one of 38 finalists the way we collaborate. More specifically, for the United Nations SDG Action Awards we must be open to multi-stakeholder part- for our Together 2017 Symposium held in nerships and the kind of innovative Calgary, Alberta in October 2017. and intersectional processes this requires. Secondly, human connection drives the It was a privilege to be amongst some of work we do, thus we must ensure that we the greatest innovative minds, community leave no one behind, especially under- mobilizers and SDG advocates from across represented groups such as Indigenous and the Globe. The Festival was buzzing with marginalized communities. Youth across interesting conversations, exciting projects the world are doing really amazing work and SDG enthusiasts like myself who were to drive change and advance the SDGs. ready to dive in and make the most of the It is important to support this momentum. three days. Lastly and perhaps most importantly, I was The days were packed with interactive reminded that amongst the chaos of this sessions that focused on how to put the world, there is hope. There are people who SDGs into action through innovation, citizen are mobilizing across the globe, fighting Heather and Laveza at the Festival of Action engagement, communication, mobiliza- inequalities, and dedicating their lives to tion and multi-stakeholder engagement. building communities in the spirit of collaborating towards the SDGs. Lastly, We shared and learned from one another sustainable development. Leaving no one behind: Identifying data about the specific actions we are taking needs and gaps to support humanitarian We are so grateful for the Global Festival of to achieve Agenda 2030 in our respective and development response explored the Action’s acknowledgement of the Together home countries. intersection of data, humanitarian develop- 2017 Symposium and for providing the One of my favourite interactive sessions ment and how the information collected opportunity to learn, share and connect was World’s largest lesson activation, can be effectively used to develop better with SDG advocates from around the world. which enabled conference attendees to and more comprehensive programming. We are excited to channel the momentum take our lessons learned and apply them towards advancing the 2030 Agenda as we My experience at the festival was shaped in the local Bonn community by teaching convene this fall in Edmonton, Alberta for by many thought-provoking conversations, young citizens about the Global Goals. Together 2018. engaging sessions and passionate discus- Another favorite was Youth-led account- sions that opened my mind to new ways Laveza Khan, Member Outreach and ability for the SDGs: Education, empow- of mobilizing and partnering with those Government Relations Coordinator erment and engagement, which provided who are investing their time and energy to space for youth advocates who have led ensure we achieve Agenda 2030. grassroots SDG campaigns an opportunity to share best practices in mobilizing and 3 Youth for Gender