La politique reposait sur le principe raisonnable voulant que, si le gouvernement du Canada demandait aux entreprises canadiennes et aux Canadiens de se conformer aux principes du développement durable, il devait le faire en premier lui-même : il doit balayer devant sa propre porte.
That policy was based upon the reasonable premise that, if the Government of Canada were to ask Canadian businesses, Canadian enterprises, Canadian industry and Canadians as individuals to observe the principles of proper sustainable development, it must first do so itself; it must take care of its own backyard.