2020- 2022 Policy Process | Green Party of Canada

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Review and Comment 2020-03-26 - 2022-03-27

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G21-P055 Ensuring Intergenerational Justice via a Wellbeing of Future Generations Act

Official proposal

05/06/2021 13:21

Submitter Name

Victor Brice

Ratification Vote Results: Adopted

Proposal

The Wellbeing of Future Generations. Canada should adopt legislation that would give us the ambition, permission and legal obligation to improve our social, cultural, environmental and economic well-being.

Objective

A Wellbeing of Future Generations Act would require public bodies in Canada to think about the long-term impact of their decisions, to work better with people, communities and each other, and to prevent persistent problems such as poverty, health inequalities and climate change.

Benefit

The binding nature of the legislation would oblige all government departments and agencies to consider the wellbeing of future generations in all deliberations. The Act could put in place seven wellbeing goals: A Prosperous Canada, A Resilient Canada, A More Equal Canada, A Healthier Canada, A Canada of Cohesive Communities, A Canada of Thriving Cultures and Indigenous Respect, A Globally Responsible Canada.

Supporting Comments from Submitter

The Welsh Assembly adopted such legislation in 2015, and established a Future Generations Commissioner for Wales, who issued her first Report in 2020. https://www.futuregenerations.wales

Other countries including New Zealand, Iceland, Scotland and Bhutan have made a commitment to measure wellbeing annually, including regional and local differences, and to prioritize actions that increase the wellbeing of their people and nature.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-50650155

Scotland has established a Well-being Economy Governments (WEGo) group, consisting of New Zealand, Iceland, Wales and Scotland.

https://www.gov.scot/groups/wellbeing-economy-governments-wego/

Trevor Hancock on Wellbeing Budgets, in the Times Colonist:

https://www.timescolonist.com/opinion/columnists/trevor-hancock-b-c-should-follow-the-lead-of-scotland-and-bring-in-a-well-being-budget-1.24243496