Environmental Strategic Plan
The primary document guiding the development of environmental initiatives within the City Administration is the Environmental Strategic Plan. This Strategic Plan was developed by the City's Environmental Committee for use in identifying, prioritizing and budgeting for various environmental initiatives within all City Departments. The Plan was originally adopted by City Council on September 21, 1992 and is updated yearly.

The Mission Statement for the Environmental Strategic Plan is:

"To ensure an environment that is ecologically sound and responsive to the health, safety and well-being of its residents by identifying and implementing policies and practices which impact positively on the environment"

Some of the underlying philosophies, assumptions and guiding principles upheld while working towards the Mission include:

	Working toward the Mission within the framework of provincial legislation and regional government
	Encouragement, support and collaboration with citizens and corporate interests who wish to take direct action toward the betterment of the environment
	Commitment toward the implementation of the best management practices available throughout the organization
	Consideration of the environment in its broadest possible terms
	Recognizing that a primary objective of the Mission is to achieve a net gain in the quality of the environment while functioning in such a way as to ensure no net decrease in the quality of the environment

The Environmental Strategic Plan identifies seven generic categories, known as Main Functional Areas, affecting the city environment. These categories were used because they cut across the Departmental hierarchy of the City Administration and are influenced to some degree by all aspects of the organization.

The seven Main Functional Areas of the Environmental Strategic Plan are Water Resources; Environmental Education and Public Awareness; Waste Management; Land Resource and Growth Management; Energy Systems; Natural and Recreational Amenity Areas; and, Resource Consumption. For each of the Main Functional Areas, a primary objective was identified, overall program priorities were established, and specific strategic priorities were developed.