Partners for a Green Hill - Partenaires pour une Colline verte

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDINGENVIRONMENTAL PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENTBETWEENThe Senate of Canada(Hereinafter called “the Senate”)andThe House of Commons(Hereinafter called “the House”)andThe Library of Parliament(Hereinafter called “the Library”)CommitmentIn accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Memorandum of Understanding, theSenate, the House and the Library hereby agree to enter into a partnership for the environmentalmanagement of Parliament Hill under a new environmental program entitled “Partners for aGreen Hill – Preserving our Past, Protecting our Future”. This program represents acommitment to preserve and enhance the Parliament Hill environment by implementing the“4Rs” of environmental protection – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Rethink.Canadians consider environmental protection a core value. Most are well aware of the linksbetween the environment and health. The Canadian government has responded to this view bytaking major initiatives, such as investing in the environment in the 2003 budget, the largest inCanada’s history, and ratifying the Kyoto Protocol. It makes sense for the three main employerson Parliament Hill, the seat of our national government, to be leaders in environmentalmanagement.The new partnership will build upon the highly successful initiatives of past environmentalprograms of the Senate and the House: the Green Committee Program and the Greening the HillProgram. The new program will provide a unified voice for the standardization andmodernization of current environmental programs and practices and the introduction of newprograms to promote environmental protection on the Hill.Partners for a Green Hill will increase awareness with target audiences to preserve and protectthe Parliament Hill environment. The programs will involve the buildings and the workingenvironment of more than 4,000 people including: Parliamentarians and their staff, andemployees of the Administration of the Senate, the House of Commons, the Library ofParliament and the general public. This partnership is formed in order to strengthen theEnvironmental Management System (EMS) and allow each organization within this partnershipto continue to improve its environmental performance.Term of the AgreementThis partnership agreement will come into force on January 1, 2004, and will remain in effectuntil amended or cancelled by the parties to it.Page 1 of 2

Amendments to the AgreementAll amendments to this agreement shall be acceptable to the Senate, the House and the Library.They shall be made in writing and signed by the parties.General responsibilitiesEach party remains responsible for its own environmental policies, practices and actions.The cost of implementing activities initiated under this agreement will be borne by each party(on a pro-rated basis), unless specified otherwise and agreed to by the parties.Governance structureA Partners for a Green Hill Steering Committee (herein called “the Steering Committee”) willbe established to ensure the successful coordination and implementation of environmentalpriorities and activities on Parliament Hill.The Steering Committee will consist of the Clerk of the Senate, or delegate, the Clerk of theHouse, or delegate, and the Parliamentary Librarian, or delegate. Within the parameters of thisagreement, the Steering Committee will establish its operating procedures.The parties will keep current internal committees and working groups and the terms ofreferences of these committees in order to manage their environmental risks and programseffectively within their institutions.Paul C. BélisleClerk of the Senate and Clerk of the ParliamentsWilliam C. CorbettClerk of the House of CommonsRichard ParéParliamentary LibrarianJanuary 1 st , 2004Page 2 of 2

ADDENDUMMEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDINGENVIRONMENTAL PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENTIn accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in the Memorandum ofUnderstanding, Public Works and Government Services Canada Parliamentary PrecinctDirectorate (hereinafter called “PWGSC-PPD”) agrees to enter into the partnership forthe environmental management of Parliament Hill with the Senate of Canada, the Houseof Commons and the Library of Parliament.PWGSC-PPD hereby agrees to enter into a new environmental program entitled“Partners for a Green Hill – Preserving our Past, Protecting our Future”. Thisprogram represents a commitment to preserve and enhance the Parliament Hillenvironment by implementing the “4Rs” of environmental protection – Reduce, Reuse,Recycle and Rethink.PWGSC-PPD hereby agrees to follow the terms and conditions set forth in theMemorandum of Understanding such as commitment, term of the agreement,amendments to the agreement, general responsibilities and governance structure.PWGSC-PPD hereby agrees to designate the Director General of the ParliamentaryPrecinct Directorate to the Steering Committee established to ensure the successfulcoordination and implementation of environmental priorities and activities on ParliamentHill.On behalf of Public Works and Government Services CanadaI. David MarshallDeputy Minister and Deputy Receiver General for CanadaJanuary 1 st , 2004