Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy

The Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS) 2013–16 guides 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 presents the planned contributions and expected results for Theme III – Protecting Nature and Canadians.

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. These SEMPs demonstrate how Federal institutions are meeting their responsibilities under the Emergency Management Act to address risks related to their mandates. Due to the 2014 realignment of departmental functions, which included a branch and program redesign, a review of the SEMP assessment methodology has been initiated and will continue in 2015.

In the Economic Action Plan 2014, 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. On January 16, 2015, the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness announced that the NDMP will come into effect on April 1, 2015.

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.

Following review of recommendations, PS created a federal working group to chart the way forward for the federal government concerning the recommendations.

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

• The Department continues to work with federal institutions, providing advice and guidance in the development of 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.  Therefore, the yearly result reflects a portion of the federal government SEMPs. 

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 will 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.

• No SEMP assessments will be conducted in 2015-16.

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.

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

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 31, 2014.

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

Six (6), or 100% of procurement and/or material management specialists will have 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 the given fiscal year.

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.

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

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

Baseline: Percentage of contracts awarded using PWGSC Procurement instruments in 2010-11 = 51%

50% of contracts will be awarded using PWGSC procurement instruments.

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

Percentage of invoices received in electronic format from vendors in 2013 = 60%

(This indicator measured by calendar year.)

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

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

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 do not use PWGSC procurement instruments will incorporate green considerations.

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

Public Safety Canada will seek “Achieved” by leveraging common use procurement instruments, where available and feasible, at least 50% of the time.

7.2.2. Incorporate environmental

considerations into procurement instruments [applies only to PWGSC].

Not applicable.

Best Practice

7.2.3. Train acquisition cardholders on green procurement.

Public Safety Canada will seek “Achieved” by training 100% of its acquisition cardholders on green procurement.

Best Practice

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

Public Safety will seek “Achieved” by increasing managers' awareness of Policy on Green Procurement by using a variety of methods (i.e. awareness raising activities and/or publicity via the departmental intranet).

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

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

Internal Services

Departmental workplace operations have a reduced environmental impact.

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

An approach to maintain or improve the sustainability of the departmental workplace was put in place in 2014-15, and will continue to be implemented over the years.

7.3.1.1. Engage employees in greening government operations practices.

Public Safety Canada will seek “Achieved” by engaging employees through quarterly meetings of the Green Team, and will share greening tips via the departmental intranet and newsletter.

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

Public Safety Canada will seek “Achieved” by integrating environmental considerations into corporate policies and processes, whenever appropriate when reviewing existing corporate policies and processes (in accordance with its refresh cycles), or developing new ones.

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

Public Safety Canada will seek “Achieved” by maintaining the current ratio of printers of 8 to 1, and maintaining the current paper usage level at 6.5M sheets of paper.

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

Public Safety Canada will seek “Achieved” by replacing desktop computers with laptops in order to limit the practice of having two (2) devices when mobility is required, whenever feasible.

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

Public Safety Canada will seek “Achieved” by only using ENERGY STAR approved devices whenever possible.

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

Public Safety Canada will seek “Achieved” by maintaining the current practice of disposing of unused devices, by sending them to Computers for Schools (CFS); and by sending any electronic equipment that is unacceptable to CFS, to a certified recycling facility.

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

Public Safety Canada will seek “Achieved” by reusing or recycling 100% of assets that are in good condition, or by disposing of them in compliance with the Treasury Board Policy on Management of Materiel.

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.

Public Safety Canada will seek “Achieved” by implementing an accommodation plan, which incorporates Workplace 2.0 principles, by March 31, 2015. Public Safety Canada will work with PWGSC to develop the best solution to meet the operational needs of the Department.

7.3.1.10. Maintain or improve sustainable fleet management.

Public Safety Canada will seek “Achieved” by continuing to maintain sustainable fleet management according to the PWGSC acquisition and supply options and the Treasury Board Secretariat Directive on Fleet Management for Executive Vehicles.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

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.