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, the Public Safety Cana supports the implementation of the FSDS through the activities described in this supplementary information table.

This Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy presents the results for Theme I – Addressing Climate Change and Air Quality, Theme II – Maintaining Water Quality and Availability, Theme III – Protecting Nature and Canadians, and Theme IV – Shrinking the Environmental Footprint – Beginning with Government.

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

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

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 is focused on flood mitigation, to better protect Canadians, their homes and communities and help reduce flood-related costs.

Canada remains the only G7 country which does not have a residential flood insurance market. The Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) has identified pre-conditions that should be met to enable the development of a flood insurance market such as flood mapping. Accurate flood maps informs not only the provision of residential flood insurance in Canada but also supports good mitigation practices at the local level by identifying areas of potential flood risk that need to be addressed.

To support the development of residential flood insurance in Canada, PS, with funds from Defence Research and Development Canada, commissioned a study on flood plain mapping in Canada. The report released in June 2014 yielded: an assessment of the current state of flood plain maps in Canada; information on international and national best practices; and a proposed national framework.

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.

• As we are currently reviewing the EM Program, we are unable to report on this indicator.

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

• Advancing the development of the National Disaster Mitigation Program (NDMP) and cyclical reviews of the Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements may help more sustainably manage 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.

• As we are currently reviewing the EM Program, we are unable to report on this indicator.

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.

Achieved - A departmental approach to further the implementation of the Policy on Green Procurement was in place on March 31, 2014.

Number and percentage of procurement and/or materiel management specialists who completed the Canada School of Public Service Green Procurement course (C215) or equivalent, in fiscal year 2015–16.

Achieved - Six (6), or 100% of procurement and/or material management specialists completed the CSPS Green Procurement course in 2015-16.

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 2015–16.

Achieved - The performance evaluations of three (3), or 100% of managers and functional heads of procurement and material management will include support and contribution towards green procurement. 

Departmental green procurement target

By March 31, 2017, 50% of total contracts awarded will be done using Public Service and Procurement Canada (PSPC) established procurement instruments.

Performance indicator

Performance level achieved

Percentage of contracts awarded using PSPC Procurement instruments in 2015-16.

Achieved: 64% of contracts were awarded using PSPC 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 invoices received in electronic format from vendors in 2013 = 60%.

70% of invoices received from vendors will be in electronic format by March 31, 2016.

71 % of invoices received from vendors were in electronic format in 2015. PS continues to encourage vendors to submit invoices electronically, as well as including clauses in the RFP documents.

Departmental green procurement target

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

Performance indicator

Performance level achieved

100% of RFPs issued by Public Safety Canada, and not using PSPC procurement instruments, will incorporate green considerations.

100% of RFPs issued by Public Safety Canada that did not use PSPC procurement instruments incorporated green considerations. The RFP documents include clauses, which refer potential bidders to the PSPC Policy on Green Procurement encouraging them to submit invoices electronically, and to submit their proposals on paper containing recycled material.

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.

7.2.2. Incorporate environmental
considerations into procurement instruments [applies only to PWGSC].

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

Best Practice

Best Practice

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

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 in place by March 31, 2015.

Achieved - An approach to maintain or improve the sustainability of the departmental workplace was put in place in 2014-15.

Implementation strategy element or best practice

Performance level achieved

7.3.1.1. Engage employees in greening government operations practices.

Partially Achieved – Due to the departmental realignment, many of the key Green Team members left the department and efforts to reenergize the team are ongoing. Greening tips continue to be shared on the intranet and InfoTV and employees are encouraged to get engaged and seek more information.

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

Achieved – The Contracting and Procurement Unit has published various documents on the intranet and provided templates/checklist which inform managers on the Green Procurement Policy and encourage them to consider protection of the environment and the conservation of resources in their purchase requests. These include the Acquisition Card Policy, the PS Contracting Guide, the Statement of Work Guide, the Guide to Preparing a Statement of Work and Evaluation Criteria and the Contract Information Record and the Procurement Checklist.

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

Achieved - In 2015-16 Public Safety Canada continued to maintain a printer ratio of  8 to 1, and paper usage level was at 5.41M sheets.

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

Achieved - Public Safety Canada has established a standard practice, whereby laptops are provided to new employees, or to replace end-of-life workstations, thereby reducing the ratio of devices per employee. In 2015-16, Public Safety Canada purchased approximately 400 laptops to be used as standard workstations. The only desktops purchased were made in exceptional cases where technical requirements could not be met in a cost effective way using a portable device, such as geomatics teams, which required more powerful equipment.

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 has established a standard practice to use only ENERGY STAR approved devices, whenever possible.However, all procurement of devices, such as computers and monitors, is now done by Shared Services Canada, which establishes the equipment criteria.

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

Achieved - Public Safety Canada has established a standard practice for disposing of unused devices, by prioritizing the disposal for 1) reuse - Computers for Schools, other departments, other charitable donations, or Crown Assets; or 2) recycle through approved GC or Provincial facilities.

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

Achieved - Public Safety Canada has established a standard practice for reusing, or recycling 100% of assets that are in good condition, by prioritizing each transaction for transfer to other federal organizations, other levels of government, or charitable donation; or by disposing of them as waste in a sustainable manner, or through Crown Assets.

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 space utilization in special purpose buildings.

In Progress – The Public Safety Canada Accommodation Plan, which incorporates Workplace 2.0 principles, is a multi-year/multi-phase project. PS continues to work with PSPC to develop the accommodation plan for the NCA and the Regions, as the lease expires.  PSPC is evaluating the best solution to meet the operational needs of the Department as well as assess the best value for the Crown. The PSPC Investment Analysis Report is soon to be finalized. The implementation and completion target date for the NCA project has been extended to meet the deadline of August 31, 2020.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

5. Additional Departmental Sustainable Development Activities and Initiatives

Not applicable

6. Sustainable Development Management System

Not applicable

7. Strategic Environmental Assessment

PS 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 PS’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.