The City of St. John’s is a thriving Canadian city with an area population of almost 170,000 people. The City is the capital of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, and is governed by a City Council under the authority of the Provincial Urban and Rural Planning Act. The various departments involved in promoting economic growth and development are Economic Development and Tourism, Building and Property Management, and Engineering and Planning. The Environmental Initiatives Division falls under the auspices of the Engineering Department. The Division is responsible for providing guidance on environmental issues and for developing and implementing programs and projects that encourage environmental protection and enhancement.