Dalhousie University
EN-14: Participation in Public Policy

The University Sustainability Office and Facilities Management Departments have played an active role in municipal and provincial level active transportation and transit public policy discussions and Projects. Concrete examples include the University involvement with Halifax Regional Municipality in the implementation of the University Avenue Bike Lane pilot project on city streets. The University is part of ongoing committees on the project, helped raise money for the pilot and are actively commenting on separated cycle track design for full implementation here and other locations in HRM. Staff also participate in provincial wide - active transportation forums organized through the Dept. of Energy and Health Promotion. On March 05, 2018 our Office submitted a letter to the Mayor and Council advocating for the local bike lane (South Street) to be approved. Our Office was asked to provide this response on behalf of the President, based on feedback from staff and faculty. The VP FA was cc. on the response to Council. This document is in public record and can be provided. In 2017, Staff of the Office of Sustainability and Faculty of Agriculture - met with Halifax Regional Municipality to participate in policy discussions for framing up the next 20 years of compost initiatives in the region. In addition a letter was sent to the city advocating for anaerobic digestion and renewable natural gas options that the University has an interest in. This letter was sent by the Executive Director of the Office of Sustainability with the VP FA and his office involved in providing direction for this letter as the ED reports to the VP FA. Students, faculty and staff at Dalhousie made public submissions on the importance of a number of issues including the Halifax Centre plan, green corridor, waste management, Integrated Mobility Plan and creating an urban protected area in Halifax. The following is an example from article from a Dal prof: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/blue-mountain-birch-cove-lakes-park-halifax-karen-beazley-1.3157895

The ED at the Office of Sustainability with the support and advice of the VP FA (on behalf of the University as stated in the letter), submitted a five page submission March 31, 2017 to the Nova Scotia Department of Environment cc to the Dept of Energy on the development of a Cap and Trade program in NS. Advice was also provide to other ngos on their submissions. Office of Sustainability ED participated in Cap and Trade policy series organized by a local non-profit, Ecology Action Centre. The ED at OS participated on behalf of the University in rate hearings for a new renewable energy rate development process. Formal letter of input was submitted with the VP FA endorsement as this rate could support or deter University renewable development and purchasing efforts. Emails can be provided showing the interaction between VPFA and the Office ED.

Office of Sustainability staff participated in providing comments on the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change through on-line internet forums and at special sessions organized by the Government of Canada in 2017 through Innovocorp and Atlantic Growth and Prosperity Forum. The University is involved in ongoing federal policy initiatives and discussions including: ED for the Office of Sustainability and heads of Facilities with direction from the VP of FA and Government Relations hosted the federal Deputy Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada and the Atlantic Regional Director - Aug, 2nd, 2017. Purpose of the meeting to outline energy and climate change initiatives and supportive future policies/programs and tour Dr. Jeff Dahn's battery storage lab. The ED of the Office of Sustainability created and presented climate and energy programs and policy supports on behalf of Atlantic University and Colleges Sustainability Network (AUCSN) to federal and provincial reps. A number of Universities were in attendance. The presentation happened Monday 23, 2017 as part of the AUCSN meeting. The AUCSN is a committee of ISI managed by the VP FA of regional institutions.

Dalhousie is actively involved in international public policy advocacy through multi-sectoral groups like the Ocean Frontiers Institute representing the University at United Nations discussions, committees and events. Dalhousie's President is active in international sustainable ocean advocacy and discussion including hosting a number of international visits. Some examples include: https://www.dal.ca/news/2017/06/06/dal-participates-at-united-nations-ocean-conference-.html https://www.dal.ca/news/2018/05/09/european-prince-impressed-by-dal-led-ocean-research.html Faculty in the College of Sustainability and a number of faculties across the University such as Science, Management, Engineering, Architecture and Planning and Agriculture are active at all levels of government, local, provincial, regional, national and internationally in feeding research and ideas into public forums on sustainability related issues. Below are highlights of some examples: Ocean Frontier Institute: https://www.dal.ca/news/2016/09/09/our-ocean-future--dal-and-partner-researchers-speak-on-ofi-s-imp.html Management: https://www.dal.ca/faculty/management/sres/news-events/news/2016/12/05/talking_with_nobel__sres_professor_participates_in_prestigious_food_dialogue.html IDS: https://www.dal.ca/faculty/arts/ids/news-events/2018/02/15/research_by_dal_ids_grad_dr__andrew_fanning__ba_2007_.html