2020-21 Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy Report
This report on progress supports the commitment in the Federal Sustainable Development Act (FSDA) to make sustainable development decision-making more transparent and accountable to Parliament. It also contributes to an integrated, whole‑of‑government view of activities supporting environmental sustainability.
The departmental information reported accounts for information previously prepared in accordance with Public Safety’s 2020 to 2023 Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy.
Introduction to the Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy
The 2019 to 2022 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS) presents the Government of Canada’s sustainable development goals and targets, as required by the Federal Sustainable Development Act. In keeping with the purpose of the Act, to provide the legal framework for developing and implementing a Federal Sustainable Development Strategy that will make sustainable development decision-making more transparent and accountable to Parliament, Public Safety has developed this report to demonstrate progress in implementing its Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy.
Sustainable development in Public Safety
Public Safety’s 2020 to 2023 Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy describes the department’s actions in support of achieving Greening Government, Effective Action on Climate Change, and Safe and Healthy Communities. This report presents available results for the departmental actions pertinent to these goals. Previous years’ reports are posted on Public Safety’s website.
Departmental performance by FSDS goal
The following tables provide performance information on departmental actions in support of the FSDS goals listed in section 2.
Context: Greening Government
In order to support the Greening Government goal, PS is committed to maintaining its effort to improve its operations, usages, procurement, and engagement in a green manner. As for the reduction of GHG emissions, PS will continue to work closely with its partners on reducing its space utilization and for renewing its fleet by purchasing zero-emission or hybrid vehicles. In addition, PS is working to modernize its environment in order to use space more efficiently and effectively. In 2020-2021 PS completed its new ‘Innovation Lab’ space in the NCR for employees to test the new GCworkplace model that we are moving towards. Additionally the new Facility for the Government Operations Center (GOC), which is scheduled to be completed in the spring-summer of 2023, will be equipped with leading edge green technology. The Procurement Unit is committed to continue to demonstrate leadership and engagement in establishing Green Procurement as a priority in their performance evaluations. With respect to Information Technology, in 2020-2021 the Department has worked to actively reduce the usage of paper, promote green meetings by improving video and teleconferencing capabilities, and introduced e-signatures. Following the Covid-19 pandemic and the eventual return to the physical office space, PS will also increase communications to its employees to raise awareness on sustainable best practices to contribute to a reduction in GHG emissions by promoting sustainable travel practices and encouraging teleworking and create a Green Committee. This goal captures commitments from the Greening Government Strategy, as well as reporting requirements under the Policy on Green Procurement.
Greening Government: The Government of Canada will transition to low-carbon, climate-resilient and green operations
| FSDS target(s) | FSDS contributing action(s) | Corresponding departmental action(s) | Starting point(s) Performance indicator(s) Target(s) |
Results achieved | Contribution by each departmental result to the FSDS goal and target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Reduce GHG emissions from federal government facilities and fleets by 40% by 2030 (with an aspiration to achieve this target by 2025) and 80% below 2005 levels by 2050 (with an aspiration to be carbon neutral). |
Fleet management will be optimized including by applying telematics to collect and analyze vehicle usage data on vehicles scheduled to be replaced. |
100% of new light-duty unmodified administrative fleet vehicle purchases will be zero-emission vehicles or hybrids. All new executive vehicle purchases will be zero-emission vehicles or hybrids. Promote behaviour change – e.g. anti-idling engagement. |
Performance indicator: Number of hybrid vehicles. Starting point: Fiscal year 2019-20 = 1. Target: By 2023, 100% of fleet will be composed of hybrid vehicles. Performance indicator: Percentage of drivers (of fleet vehicles) to sign the agreements. Starting point: Fiscal year 2019-20 = 0. Target: By 2023, [100% of fleet vehicle drivers sign the agreement. |
2 hybrid vehicles in fleet. 1 non-hybrid vehicle remains. In 2020, PS purchased a new hybrid vehicle for the Minister, replacing the previous non-hybrid model. PS aims to achieve replacing the remaining non-hybrid vehicle on its fleet by 2023 to meet the target of 100% of fleet vehicles being comprised of hybrid models. PS continues to work with fleet drivers to educate on anti-idling. PS will meet the target by 2023. |
Educating fleet drivers on the environmental costs of idling will encourage anti-idling behaviour and thereby lower GHG emissions from PS’ fleet. By signing the agreement, drivers will formalize their commitment to reducing PS’ GHG emissions through anti-idling. SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) SDG 13 (Climate Action). |
Our administrative fleet will be comprised of at least 80% zero-emission vehicles by 2030. |
Fleet management will be optimized including by applying telematics to collect and analyze vehicle usage data on vehicles scheduled to be replaced. |
75% of new light-duty unmodified administrative fleet vehicle purchases will be zero-emission vehicles or hybrids. All new executive vehicle purchases will be zero-emission vehicles or hybrids. Promote behaviour change – e.g. anti-idling engagement. |
Performance Indicator: Number of vehicles in fleet. Starting point: Fiscal year 2019-20 = 4 vehicles. Target: reduce fleet by 1 vehicle – 25%. Performance Indicator: Number of hybrid vehicles. Starting point: Fiscal year 2019-20 = 1 vehicle – 25% of fleet. Target: minimum of 2 hybrid vehicles within fleet – 50% by 2021. Performance Indicator: Number of administrative vehicles that are zero-emission vehicles or hybrids. Starting point: Fiscal year 2019-20 = 2 vehicles – 50% of fleet. Target: 100% by 2023. Performance Indicator: Number of executive vehicles that are zero-emission vehicles or hybrids. Starting point: Fiscal year 2019-20 = 2 vehicles – 50% of fleet. Target: 100% by 2021. |
3 vehicles (total) in PS’ fleet as of 2020-21. PS met the target of reducing its fleet by 25%/1 vehicle in 2020-21. 2 hybrid vehicles as of 2020-21. PS met the target of increasing the number of hybrid vehicles from 1 to 2 in 20/21. 1 administrative vehicles are zero-emission or hybrid as of 2020-21. PS will meet the target by 2023. 2 executive vehicles are zero-emission or hybrid as of 2020-21. PS has met this target as all executive vehicles are zero-emissions/hybrids. |
As conventional vehicles are replaced over their lifetimes with zero-emission or hybrid vehicles and the size of the fleet is reduced, a greater proportion of the fleet will be zero emission or hybrid. SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) SDG 13 (Climate Action). |
Actions supporting the Goal: Greening Government. |
Departments will use environmental criteria to reduce the environmental impact and ensure best value in government procurement decisions. |
Reduce the intake of paper proposals from supplier community by establishing an e biding in competitive processes. |
Starting Point: Data unavailable. Performance Indicator: Percentage of competitive procurement files that use e bidding. Target: 25% in 2020 50% in 2021 90% in 2022. |
100% of competitive procurement files used e bidding in 2020-21. This is due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the introduction of e-signatures and PS employees working remotely. |
E-bidding and optimization of existing technology will reduce paper consumption and real property footprint contributing to a reduction of GHG emissions. SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). |
Incorporate environmental considerations into the development of procurement instruments or requests for proposals and contracts. |
Starting point: no environmental specific evaluation criteria Performance Indicator: % of solicitations estimated over $500K that include at least 1 environmental consideration criteria. Target: 2020 – 30% of solicitations exceeding $500K Target: 2021 – 50% of solicitations exceeding $500K Target: 2022 – 75% of solicitations exceeding $500K Target: 2023 – 100% of solicitations exceeding $500K. |
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, all effort was used for the e-binding and e-signature, therefore this target has been deferred to 2021-22. |
Incorporating environmental consideration evaluation criteria will reduce the environmental impact of the product or service being purchased in large procurements contributing to reduced GHG emissions. SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). |
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Incorporate environmental considerations into the procurement of goods and services using existing standing offers and supply arrangements. |
Starting Point: 90%. Performance indicator: % of procurements against standing offers and supply arrangements that have a green indicator status. Target: 2021 – maintain 90% Target: 2023 – 95%. |
PS has maintained 90% of procurements against standing offers and supply arrangements that have a green indicator status. PS met its target for 2021 and will continue to work towards 95% by 2023. |
By procuring goods and services via existing National Master Standing Offer/Supply Arrangements with green status (environmentally preferable goods and services that have a reduced impact on the health of Canadians and on the environment) PS will help to contribute to lowering GHG emissions. SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). |
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Support for green procurement will be strengthened, including guidance, tools and training for public service employees. |
Develop an initiative that will enable procurement officers to work digitally and not be required to print files. |
Starting Point: No digitization of files. Performance Indicator: Implementation of electronic approval or digital signature technology. Target 2021: All procurement documents not requiring legal signature are saved electronically and not placed on a paper file. Target 2023: Implementation of electronic approval or digital signature initiative allowing procurement officers to save all documents electronically. |
100% of procurement documents not requiring legal signature are saved electronically and not placed on a paper file, as of 2021. PS has also met the 2023 target early due to the introduction of electronic approvals and digital signatures due to the pandemic and the majority of the department remote working. |
Optimization of existing technology will reduce paper use and real property footprint which will help to reduce GHG emissions. SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). |
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Enhance knowledge within the Contracting and Procurement Unit that will assist in the development of evaluation criteria that will reduce environmental impact. |
Starting point: All procurement officers have taken the Green Procurement Course. Performance Indicator: # of officers to participate in at least one training sessions to enhance knowledge. Target 2021 – 75% of officers have taken new Course – Procurement – Reducing environmental impact in purchasing goods and services |
1 officer participated in at least one training session to enhance green procurement knowledge in 2021, as there was only 1 new officer without prior training, representing 100% of the workforce having had training by 20-21. |
Increased knowledge will help to ensure criteria are appropriate in helping to reduce the environmental impact, in turn helping to reduce GHG emissions. SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). |
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Increase training and support on assessing climate change impacts, undertaking climate change risk assessments and developing adaptation actions to public service employees, and facilitate sharing of best practices and lessons learned. |
Encourage employees to adopt sustainable workplace practices and engage them in green initiatives through the Green Committee, education and awareness. |
Starting Point: Data unavailable. Performance Indicator: Engagement through the creation of a Green Committee and green initiatives/activities. Target: Creation of Green Committee by 2023. |
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic the creation of the Green Committee has been postponed. PS aims to meet this target by 2023. |
Through employee engagement and behavioural change towards workplace activities PS endeavors to mobilize employees to support the FSDS targets of waste and energy reduction, contributing to reduction of GHG emissions. SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) SDG 13 (Climate Action). |
Context: Effective Action on Climate Change
PS maintains a supportive role in taking effective action on climate change, by improving emergency management. Natural disasters are a growing threat to the safety and economic stability of Canadian communities. The increasing frequency and severity of disaster events, particularly flooding, wildland fires, and earthquakes, can be attributed to a multitude of factors including Canada’s changing climate, unsustainable development, and increasing urbanization. By contributing to an Emergency Management Strategy for Ensuring Better Disaster Management in Canada, through the publication of the National Risk Profile every two years, PS will help to contribute to improve emergency management in Canada and therefore support the goal of Effective Action on Climate Change.
Effective Action on Climate Change: A low-carbon economy contributes to limiting global average temperature rise to well below two degrees Celsius and supports efforts to limit the increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius
Responsible Minister: Minister of Environment and Climate Change; supported by a whole-of-government approach to implementation.
| FSDS target(s) | FSDS contributing action(s) | Corresponding departmental action(s) | Starting point(s) Performance indicator(s) Target(s) |
Results achieved | Contribution by each departmental result to the FSDS goal and target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
By 2030, reduce Canada’s total GHG emissions by 30%, relative to 2005 emission levels. |
Work with partners on climate change. |
Continue to work closely with PSPC to reduce space utilization. |
Starting point: 36 181 m2 space. Performance Indicator: Reduction of footprint. Target: Reduction of 638 m2. |
PS acquired a new space for our PEI office, and released the previous space. Reducing the footprint by 288.8 m2. PS aims to reduce the additional 349.2m2 by 2023. |
Through working with our partners to develop new and innovative ways to reduce our footprint and work to develop a workplace evolution project to modernize and reduce space footprint PS aims to reduce its overall footprint, helping to reduce GHG emissions FSDS: 9.4 By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes, with all countries taking action in accordance with their respective capabilities. SDG 9 (Industry, innovation and infrastructure) SDG 12 (Responsible consumption and production) SDG 13 (Climate action) SDG 17 (Partnerships for the goals). |
Continue to work closely with PSPC when purchasing new vehicles. |
Starting Point: 25% of vehicles are hybrid or zero emission. Performance Indicator: % of new vehicles purchased using Public Services and Procurement Canada’s Departmental Individual Standing Offer (PSPC DISO) for executive and light-duty vehicles that have a green procurement indicator. Target: 100% by 2023 |
100% of new PS vehicles purchased using PSPC’s DICO for executive and light-duty vehicles have a green procurement indicator PS continues to meet this target as all new vehicles purchased will be purchased using PSPC’s DISO for executive and light-duty vehicles that have a green procurement indicator. This target will be met by 2023. |
As vehicles are replaced over their lifetimes with zero-emission or hybrid vehicles, the department will reduce its GHG emissions. SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) SDG 13 (Climate Action). |
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Take a leading role in international agreements and initiatives on climate change. |
Incorporate environmental considerations into the development of procurement instruments or request for proposals and contracts subject to trade agreements. Ensure procurement officers, managers and functional heads of procurement and material include contribution to and support for the Government of Canada Policy on Green Procurement objectives in their performance evaluations. |
Starting point: N/A Performance indicator: Request for Proposals (RFPs) subject to trade agreements include reminders to vendors to refrain from printing the RFP and associated solicitation documents. Target: 100% of RFPs. Starting point: Data unavailable. Performance indicator: Percentage of contracting Officers, Director and Director General of Corporate Services have DSDS related procurement objectives included in their annual Performance Management Assessments (PMAs). Target: 100% of Corporate Services Directorate (CSD) functional authorities have DSDS related procurement objectives included in their annual PMA. |
100% of RFPs subject to trade agreements include reminders to vendors to refrain from printing the RFP and associated solicitation documents. This target has been met. PS has also met the target of 100% of Corporate Services Directorate (CSD) functional authorities have DSDS related procurement objectives included in their annual PMA. |
FSDS: Continue to demonstrate a strong commitment to international leadership on clean growth and climate change. SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) SDG 13 (Climate Action). |
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Actions supporting the goal: Effective action on climate change. |
Effective Action on Climate Change Demonstrate innovative technologiesFootnote1. |
Maintain or improve existing approaches to sustainable workplace practices (printer ratios, paper usage, green meetings). Reduce printing units which will help reduce GHG emissions. Reduce paper consumption which will reduce the need to purchase paper, thus reducing GHG emissions produced during manufacturing and transportation of paper. Maintain a power management standard for multifunctional printers. Incorporate environmental considerations into purchasing decisions which will help reduce GHG emissions (recycled paper content) Continue to improve video and teleconferencing capabilities, thereby reducing the need to commute and travel for in-person meetings and paper usage. Promoting the use of the department’s upgraded video and teleconferencing facilities. Work with SSC to increase network bandwidth and improve Wi-Fi in all NCR buildings. Dispose of waste in an environmentally sound and secure manner. Dispose of waste such as electronics in an environmentally sound manner which will reduce their presence in landfills where it can produce higher GHGs Reuse or recycle workplace material and assets in an environmentally sound and secure manner (toner cartridges). Maintain the ratio of IT assets per employee by implementing a One Device Policy with very limited exceptions. |
Starting point: Printer ratio of 9 to 1 in 2018-19. Performance indicator: Reduction in the ratio of printers to employees. Target: Printer ratio of 10 to 1. Starting point: Total number of paper usage in 2018-19 (4,675,000). Performance indicator: Reduce paper consumption level. Target: Reduction of 233,750 pages (5% reduction). Starting point: 100% of multifunctional. printers are power managed. Performance indicator: Percentage of multifunctional printers that are power managed. Target: 100%. Starting point: Percentage of recycled paper purchased containing a minimum of 30% recycled content in 2018-19 (100%) Performance indicator: Percentage of copy paper and envelopes purchased will contain a minimum of 30% recycled content. Target: 100%. Starting point: Number of boardrooms in 2018-19 with improved audiovisual equipment (6). Performance indicator: Number of boardrooms with improved audiovisual equipment. Target: 3 additional boardrooms with updated audiovisual equipment (total of 9). Starting point: Number of communiques sent to staff in 2019-20 promoting the use of the department’s video and teleconferencing facilities (0). Performance indicator: Number of communique(s) sent to PS staff promoting the use of the department’s video and teleconferencing facilities. Target: 1 communique. Starting point: 30mbps per regional site in 2019-20 (bandwidth) & Wi-Fi legacy. Performance indicator: Percentage of sites with upgraded network bandwidth and improve Wi-Fi in all National Capital Region buildings. Target: 100% of sites upgraded to Shared Services Canada/Microsoft recommended bandwidth & migration to GC Wi-Fi in all National Capital Region buildings. Starting Point: 100% of e-waste disposed. Performance Indicator: Percent of e-waste disposed environmentally in 2018-19. Target: 100% of e-waste disposed environmentally by 2023. Starting Point: Device ratio of 1.5 devices per employee in 2019-20Footnote2. Performance Indicator: Ratio of devices per employee. Target: Device ratio of 1.1 devices per employee in 2023. |
In 2020-21, the printer ratio was 10.79 to 1. The target has been met. In 2020-21, paper usage was reduced by 58% (1,950,000 pages used). The target has been met. In 2020-21, 100% of multifunctional printers were power managed. Target has been met. Target has been met. In 2020-21, 100% of copy paper and envelopes purchased contained a minimum of 30% recycled content. In 2020-21, one additional boardroom had its audiovisual equipment improved/updated (total of 7). Due to the pandemic ~90% of PS staff were remote working and had no access to the teleconferencing facilities. Although no communiques were sent promoting the use of PS’s video and teleconferencing facilities, 11 communiques were sent to PS staff in 2020-21 promoting the use of PS’s video and/or teleconferencing services. Bandwidth in regional sites have been upgraded to exceed SSC's recommendation (except Yellowknife). PS also had their two main Internet lines upgraded and its GCSRA gateways upgraded and load balanced. With regards to GC Wi-Fi, PS is currently still on the legacy Wi-Fi system. Target has been met. In 2020-21, 100% of e-waste was disposed environmentally. Target has been met. In 2020-21, the device ratio was 1.07 devices per employee. |
FSDS: Lead by example as an early adopter of clean technology innovations. Maintain or improve existing approaches to sustainable workplace practices (printer ratios, paper usage, green meetings) Reduce printing units which will help reduce GHG emissions. SDG12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse. |
Promote sustainable travel practices. |
Encourage sustainable business travel practices or commute to work through messaging and events to reduce GHG emissions. Increase awareness on green travel practices, including telework, which will contribute to a reduction in GHG emissions. |
Performance indicator: Number of messages and events published via InfoTV, InfoBulletin released to encourage green travel practices. Starting point: FY 2019-20 = Data unavailable. Target: minimum of 2 messages per year. |
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, PS employees (~90%) were working remotely and departmental messaging was concentrated on the pandemic and related items. As employees were remote working there was a reduction in GHG emissions due to decreased travel to and from the office. PS concentrates its green messaging on encouraging sustainable business travel, green commuting, and the impact of telework on reduction of GHG emissions. Since the employees were not traveling nor commuting, and all were remote working, the general messaging would not have been impactful. Instead, PS planned an event in 2020/2021 during Government of Canada Workplace Charitable Campaign (GCWCC) to encourage employees to move around (without motorized vehicles) and messages were sent out to employees encouraging participation. PS will continue to meet the target of publishing events and messages concerning green travel practices and will continue to support green commuting by having bike racks available to employees. |
Promote and encourage sustainable travel practices to reduce carbon footprint per employee. FSDS: 13.2 Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning SDG 13 (Climate Action). |
Context: Safe and Healthy Communities
The Department will continue its work such that Canada can effectively mitigate, prepare for, respond to and recover from all-hazards events and will continue to collaborate with provinces, territories and other partners to protect Canadians and their environment. One of the ways in which Public Safety Canada is providing leadership in emergency management is the National Risk Profile (NRP), which supports Strategic Priority #2 of the Emergency Management Strategy for Canada (“Improve understanding of disaster risks”). The NRP is producing a National Strategic Risk Assessment (NSRA) and supporting tools and methodology to advance a disaster-related risk and capability assessment. The NSRA was first informed by twelve Virtual Risk Assessment (VRA) sessions, which examined representative disaster scenarios through the All Hazards Risk Assessment (AHRA) methodology to produce near and long-term disaster risk assessment results. The NSRA will be updated regularly as annual risk and capability assessments are conducted. The whole of society VRA sessions from March and April 2021 had wide-ranging participation from provinces, territories, federal departments and agencies, municipalities, Indigenous communities, non-government organizations, emergency services, private sector representatives, and other subject-matter experts, to produce a picture of risks at the national level. These results are not intended to replace local or regional assessment results, but to inform strategic decisions at the national level. The findings of the VRA sessions are being coupled with the results from the subsequent Virtual Capability Assessments that utilize a Capability Based Planning approach, to identify gaps in addressing these risks at the national level. The results of all sessions will be combined with other scientific data and relevant information to produce a public report on the NRP that will be published by the end of 2022.
Safe and Healthy Communities: All Canadians live in clean, sustainable communities that contribute to their health and well-being
Responsible Minister: Minister of Environment and Climate Change; Minister of Health
| FSDS target(s) | FSDS contributing action(s) | Corresponding departmental action(s) | Starting point(s) Performance indicator(s) Target(s) |
Results achieved | Contribution by each departmental result to the FSDS goal and target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Actions supporting the Goal: Safe and Healthy Communities. |
Prevent environmental emergencies or mitigate their impacts. |
The Department continues its work such that Canada can effectively mitigate, prepare for, respond to and recover from all-hazards events. This departmental action includes its support of the Emergency Management Strategy for Canada: Towards a Resilient 2030 (approved by FPT Ministers Responsible for Emergency Management in January 2019) and the intended future development of an Action Plan to facilitate biennial priority setting and reporting. |
Starting point: To be determined, once a baseline is set in 2021 to 2022. Performance indicator: Percentage of CanadiansFootnote3 who have taken measures to respond to risks facing their household. Target: To be determined (based on baseline survey results). Starting point: TBD, once a baseline is set. Performance indicator: Percentage of Canadians who are aware of risks facing their household. Target: TBD once a baseline is set; date to achieve target, March 2021. |
In 2020-21, Public Safety Canada has established baseline data for the following two indicators:
These indicators are linked to the Department’s mandate to exercise leadership in emergency management and is aligned with the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Emergency Management Strategy for Canada: Toward a Resilient 2030 to strengthen Canada's ability to assess risks and to prevent/mitigate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters. These indicators track awareness of Canadians of risks facing their household and immediate area, and action taken to address risks. |
FSDS: Continue to protect habitats and support vulnerable people and sectors. Targeting vulnerable populations and effectively increase risk awareness while paying special attention on supporting robust partnerships within the emergency management community. SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). |
Report on integrating sustainable development
Public Safety Canada is continuing to ensure that its decision-making process includes consideration of FSDS goals and targets through its Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) process. The SEA for a policy, plan or program proposal includes an analysis of the impacts of the given proposal on the environment, including on relevant FSDS goals and targets.
As a first step in the SEA process, Public Safety Canada undertakes a preliminary scan of a policy or program proposal to identify possible environmental effects, including impacts on FSDS goals and targets, and to determine whether a full SEA is warranted. An early assessment also helps the Department identify alternative approaches and recommendations in cases where the environmental effects are important.
In 2020-21, Public Safety Canada conducted a total of [14] preliminary scans and no (0) full SEA assessments. In accordance with the Cabinet Directive on the Environmental Assessment of Policy, Plan and Program Proposals, the Department ensured that the environmental considerations identified through preliminary SEA scans were conducted at the initial stages of each proposal. In each case, the preliminary scans determined there were no meaningful impacts on any of the key areas identified in the SEA template (i.e. natural resources, environment, sustainable and development goals, projects to be subject of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, new technologies with environmental implications, or public concerns). Having concluded there would not be any significant interactions with the environment, none of the proposals in 2020-21 advanced to the full SEA assessment stage.
Public statements on the results of Public Safety Canada’s assessments will be made public when an initiative that has undergone a detailed SEA. The purpose of the public statement is to demonstrate that the environmental effects, including the impacts on achieving the FSDS goals and targets, of the approved policy, plan or program have been considered during proposal development and decision-making.
Footnotes
- 1
In the original form of the DSDS this target was included under the target “Zero-emission vehicles will represent 10% of new light-duty vehicle sales by 2025, 30% by 2030 and 100% by 2040” it has been moved to “Actions supporting the goal: Effective action on climate change”.
- 2
In the 20-23 version of the DSDS this performance indicator was missing, it has been added to support the corresponding departmental action.
- 3
(responding to a baseline survey conducted for advertising campaign on Emergency Preparedness – expected by March 2021)
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