Forty-two delegates, including elected officials, municipal staff and sponsors from across Canada, toured the country on a schedule established through cooperation with the Ministry of Economic Affairs of the Netherlands Foreign Trade Agency (EVD). The overall level of cooperation and hospitality was among the highest experienced on these yearly Missions and the EVD is to be thanked for its outstanding contribution to the Mission’s success.

The objective of the 2003 Mission was to offer a learning experience to Canadian municipal officials that would demonstrate how the concept of community energy planning supports sustainable community development and generates economic and environmental benefits, both locally and nationally. Through meetings with Dutch officials, delegates had the opportunity to learn how national and local policies, programs, and technologies have been used to create sustainable communities in the Netherlands.