The report follows a December 12, 2011 Ecojustice report showing the Canadian government is jeopardizing Canadians' health and the environment by failing to enforce its own environmental laws.

Environmental groups are pleased the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development (CESD)'s report emphasizes the importance of transparency and accountability, and the need to better integrate scientific knowledge into federal decision making.

"Today, the Commissioner made the point that effective governance requires a two-way exchange between government and its partners based on meaningful public participation," says Olivier Kolmel, chair of the Canadian Environmental Network.

The Canadian Environmental Network previously coordinated consultations on environmental issues for the Canadian Government for more than 30 years, but funding for the Network was suddenly slashed October 2011 without notice. The Canadian Government claims it is moving towards web-based consultation.

"The web-based consultation system that this government is implementing is just one tool in the consultation tool kit and should not replace face-to-face and other important forms of dialogue," said Kolmel.