Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy

1. Overview of the Federal Government's Approach to Sustainable Development

The Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS) 2013–16, presents the Government of Canada's sustainable development activities, as required by the Federal Sustainable Development Act. In keeping with the objectives of the Act to make environmental decision making more transparent and accountable to Parliament, Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada (Public Safety Canada) supports the implementation of the FSDS through the activities in this supplementary information table.
This Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy (DSDS) presents the results for commitments for Theme III – Protecting Nature and Canadians, and Theme IV - Shrinking the Environmental Footprint – Beginning with Government.

2. Themes I to III: Department/Agency–led Targets

FSDS Goal

FSDS Performance Indicator

FSDS Target

FSDS Performance Status

Goal 4:  Conserving and Restoring Ecosystems, Wildlife and Habitat, and Protecting Canadians

Percentage of federal institutions evaluated that have assessed and taken actions in their emergency management plan to address risks related to their area of responsibility

Target 4.7:  Environmental Disasters, Incidents and Emergencies

Public Safety Canada (PS) evaluated eight Strategic Emergency Management Plans (SEMPs) from Federal institutions in 2014-15; 100% of these SEMPS demonstrated that the Department had analyzed key risks and taken actions in their emergency management plans to address risk.

These SEMPs demonstrate how Federal institutions are meeting their responsibilities under the Emergency Management Act to address risks related to their mandates.

In the 2014 Economic Action Plan, the Government of Canada committed to providing $200 million over five years, starting in 2015–16, to develop a National Disaster Mitigation Program (NDMP). The program will be focused on flood mitigation, to better protect Canadians, their homes and communities and help reduce flood-related costs.

The NDMP was launched on April 17, 2015.

3. Themes I to III: Implementation Strategies

4.7.1. Evaluate, validate and/or identify improvements to the Government of Canada's emergency management plans, procedures and protocols.

• In 2014-15, the Department continued to work with federal institutions, providing advice and guidance in the development of Business Continuity Plans (BCP) and Strategic Emergency Management Plans (SEMP). It is important to note that not all institutions’ SEMPs will be analyzed and evaluated in a given fiscal year since it is based on a five-year cycle. Eight SEMPs were evaluated in 2014-15.  

4.7.2. Reinforce the partnerships for national disaster mitigation, while managing the increased costs of disaster recovery.

• With the launch of the NDMP and adjustments to the DFAA payment thresholds, accounting for inflation, these programs will both ensure more sustainable management of disasters and disaster recovery costs in the future.

4.7.3. Analyze and evaluate federal institutions' emergency management plans to assess if the institutions are identifying risks in their area of responsibility and are developing plans to mitigate the identified risks.

• Public Safety Canada evaluated eight SEMPs from Federal institutions in 2014-15.            

4. Theme IV: Implementation Strategies

Goal 7: Waste and Asset Management

Target 7.2: Green Procurement

As of April 1, 2014, the Government of Canada will continue to take action to embed environmental considerations into public procurement, in accordance with the federal Policy on Green Procurement.

Link to Department's Program Alignment Architecture

Internal Services

Performance Measurement

Expected result

Environmentally responsible acquisition, use and disposal of goods and services.

Performance indicator

Performance level achieved

Departmental approach to further the implementation of the Policy on Green Procurement in place as of April 1, 2014.

A departmental approach to further the implementation of the Policy on Green Procurement was in place on March 5, 2014.   

Number and percentage of procurement and/or materiel management specialists who completed the Canada School of Public Service (CSPS) Green Procurement course (C215) or equivalent, in fiscal year 2014-15.

Six employees, or 100%, of procurement and/or materiel management specialists completed the CSPS Green Procurement course in 2014-15.

Number and percentage of managers and functional heads of procurement and materiel whose performance evaluation includes support and contribution toward green procurement, in fiscal year 2014-15.

The performance evaluations of 2, or 100%, of managers and functional heads of procurement and materiel management included support and contribution towards green procurement in 2014-15.

Departmental green procurement target

By March 31, 2017, 50% of total contracts awarded will be done using Public Works and Government Services Canada’s (PWGSC) established procurement instruments.

Performance indicator

Performance level achieved

Percentage of contracts awarded using PWGSC procurement instruments in 2014-15.
Baseline: Percentage of contracts awarded using PWGSC procurement instruments in 2010-11 = 51%

In 2014-15, 65% of contracts were awarded using PWGSC procurement instruments.

Departmental green procurement target

In an effort to reduce paper usage, encourage vendors to submit invoices in electronic format.

Performance indicator

Performance level achieved

Percentage of vendors notified to submit electronic invoices.

In 2014-15, 100% of vendors were notified to submit electronic invoices.

Departmental green procurement target

Incorporate green considerations into Departmental Request for Proposals (RFP) for goods and services.

Performance indicator

Performance level achieved

RFPs issued by Public Safety Canada, and not using PWGSC procurement instruments, will incorporate green considerations.

100% of RFPs issued by Public Safety Canada that did not use PWGSC procurement instruments incorporated green considerations in 2014-15.

Implementation strategy element or best practice

Performance level achieved

7.2.1.5. Leverage common use procurement instruments where available and feasible.

Achieved – Public Safety Canada leveraged common use of procurement instruments, where available and feasible.

Best Practice
7.2.3. Train acquisition cardholders on green procurement.

Achieved – In 2014-15, Public Safety Canada trained 100% of its acquisition cardholders on green procurement.

Best Practice
7.2.4. Increase awareness of the Policy on Green Procurement among managers.

Achieved – In 2014-15, Public Safety increased managers' awareness of Policy on Green Procurement by using a variety of methods (i.e. awareness raising activities, communications, etc.).

Target 7.3: Sustainable Workplace Operations

As of April 1, 2015, the Government of Canada will update and adopt policies and practices to improve the sustainability of its workplace operations.

Link to Department's Program Alignment Architecture

Internal Services

Performance Measurement

Expected result

Departmental workplace operations have a reduced environmental impact.

Performance indicator

Performance level achieved

An approach to maintain or improve the sustainability of the departmental workplace is in place by March 31, 2015.

An approach to maintain the sustainability of the departmental workplace was put in place on March 5, 2014.

Implementation strategy element or best practice

Performance level achieved

7.3.1.1. Engage employees in greening government operations practices.

Achieved - Public Safety Canada engaged employees through meetings of the Green Team, and shared greening tips via the departmental intranet and newsletter in 2014-15.

7.3.1.2. Integrate environmental considerations into corporate policies, processes and practices in accordance with departmental refresh cycles.

Achieved – In 2014-15, Public Safety Canada  integrated  environmental considerations into corporate policies and processes, whenever appropriate when reviewing its existing corporate policies and processes (in accordance with its refresh cycles), or developed new ones.

7.3.1.3. Maintain or improve existing approaches to sustainable workplace practices (i.e., printer ratios, paper usage, and green meetings).

Achieved - Public Safety Canada maintained the current ratio of printers of 8 to 1, and maintained the current paper usage level at 6.46M sheets of paper in 2014-15.

7.3.1.4. Minimize the ratio of information technology (IT) assets per employee.

Achieved - Public Safety Canada, whenever feasible, replaced desktop computers with laptops in order to limit the practice of having two (2) devices when mobility was required in 2014-15.

7.3.1.5. Select and operate IT and office equipment in a manner that reduces energy consumption and material usage.

Achieved - Public Safety Canada used Energy Star approved devices whenever possible in 2014-15.

7.3.1.6. Dispose of e-waste in an environmentally sound and secure manner.

Achieved – In 2014-15, Public Safety Canada maintained the current practice of sending its electronic equipment to a certified recycling facility, when disposing of unused devices, unless the equipment was acceptable for Computers for Schools.

7.3.1.7. Reuse or recycle workplace materiel and assets in an environmentally sound and secure manner.

Achieved - Public Safety Canada reused or recycled 100% of its assets that were in good condition, or disposed of them in compliance with the Treasury Board Policy on Management of Materiel in 2014-15.

7.3.1.8. Minimize all non-hazardous solid waste generated, and leverage service offerings to maximize the diversion of waste.

Not applicable: Public Safety Canada offices are located in leased buildings and it is the responsibility of PWGSC to collaborate with landlords to achieve this activity.

7.3.1.9. Increase the population density in office buildings, and increase space utilization in special purpose buildings.

In 2014-15, Public Safety Canada worked with PWGSC on an accommodation plan to develop the best solution to meet the operational needs of the Department.  Public Safety Canada will continue to work with PWGSC towards a sustainable solution by 2018. 

7.3.1.10. Maintain or improve sustainable fleet management.

Achieved – In 2014-15, Public Safety Canada continued to maintain its sustainable fleet management according to the PWGSC acquisition and supply options and the Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS) Directive on Fleet Management for Executive Vehicles.

5. Additional Departmental Sustainable Development Activities and Initiatives

Not applicable

6. Sustainable Development Management System

Not applicable

7. Strategic Environmental Assessment

Public Safety Canada will continue to ensure that its decision-making process includes consideration of the FSDS goals and targets through the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) process. An SEA for policy, plan or program proposals includes an analysis of the impacts of the given proposal on the environment, including on the FSDS goals and targets. The results of Public Safety Canada's detailed assessment are made public when an initiative is announced. 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 appropriately considered during proposal development and decision making.