This indicator presents results from a 2014 survey of the Ontario Public Service (OPS) Biodiversity Network. It provides an assessment of the number Ontario government programs and policies that integrate, or have the potential to integrate, biodiversity values.
Figure 2. Number of Ontario government policies and programs that include biodiversity values, as well as Ontario government policies and programs that could include biodiversity considerations.
Figure 2. Number of Ontario government policies and programs that include biodiversity values, as well as Ontario government policies and programs that could include biodiversity considerations.
Figure 3. Number of Ontario government policies and programs that include biodiversity values by Ministry.
Figure 3. Number of Ontario government policies and programs that include biodiversity values by Ministry.
Status:
- In 2014, the OPS Biodiversity Network identified 116 Ontario government policies or programs that integrate biodiversity values. Recently developed policies or programs that integrate biodiversity values include Biodiversity: It’s in Our Nature. Ontario Government Plan to Conserve Biodiversity, 2012-2020; Climate Ready: Ontario’s Adaptation Strategy and Action Plan 2011-2014; Ontario’s Great Lakes Strategy; the Provincial Policy Statement 2014 and Achieving Balance: Ontario’s Long Term Energy Plan.
- In 2014, the OPS Biodiversity Network identified 10 opportunities to include biodiversity considerations in new policies or programs or updates to existing ones. Examples include integrating biodiversity in the coordinated review of the Greenbelt Plan, Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan, Niagara Escarpment Plan and Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, as well in the recently proposed Infrastructure for Jobs and Prosperity Act.
- Overall, the largest number of policies or programs that integrate biodiversity values are administered by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (49), followed by the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change (17) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (17). These differences can be attributed to the specific mandates of each ministry, in which some have a larger responsibility for the conservation of biodiversity.
Data for this indicator were collected through a survey of the Ontario Public Service (OPS) Biodiversity Network commissioned by the Ontario Biodiversity Council. The purpose of the survey was to gather information on the number of Ontario government programs and policies that integrate, or have the potential to integrate, biodiversity values. The OPS Biodiversity Network provides a diverse, cross-Ministry forum for the OPS to strategically plan and implement biodiversity-related activities, policies, processes and projects across the Province. Fourteen ministries are currently represented on the OPS Biodiversity Network: Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry; Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs; Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs; Ministry of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure; Ministry of Education; Ministry of Energy; Ministry of Environment and Climate Change; Ministry of Finance; Ministry of Health and Long-term Care; Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing; Ministry of Northern Development and Mines; Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport; Ministry of Transportation; and the Treasury Board Secretariat.
To help respondents identify programs or policies that integrate biodiversity values a screening tool was provided (Figure 1). Respondents were asked to limit their responses to strategic level policies (i.e., direct the ministry or government as a whole over an extended period; state overall intent, and provide guidance for subsequent policy and program development. This includes legislation and regulations) or program level policies (i.e., address a specific program area; support the direction established in legislation, strategic policies and other government direction), with the understanding that operational policies and other program guidance follow from these policies. Respondents were also asked to identify opportunities to include biodiversity values in new policies or programs, or updates to existing policies or programs.
Because biodiversity initiatives touch on the mandates of several ministries, they often require an integrated and collaborative approach. Where more than one ministry had a role in the implementation of a policy or program, the policy or program was assigned to the lead ministry. Responses were received from 13 OPS ministries, including one ministry that did not identify any programs or policies that included biodiversity values (Figure 2).
Figure 1: Screening tool to aid respondents in the identification of programs and policies that integrate biodiversity values.
Figure 1: Screening tool to aid respondents in the identification of programs and policies that integrate biodiversity values.
Web Links:
Biodiversity: It’s in Our Nature. Ontario Government Plan to Conserve Biodiversity, 2012-2020 http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/c8f28fef#/c8f28fef/1
References:
Ontario Biodiversity Council (OBC). 2010. State of Ontario’s biodiversity 2010. A Report of the Ontario Biodiversity Council. Peterborough, ON.
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. 2012. Biodiversity: it’s in our nature. Ontario government plan to conserve biodiversity, 2012-2020. Queen’s Printer for Ontario. Toronto, ON.
