Department Sustainable Development Strategy

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 Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency 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 I – Addressing Climate Change and Air Quality and for Theme IV – Shrinking the Environmental Footprint – Beginning with Government.

Themes I to III: Implementation Strategies

Coordinated by the Atlantic Canada Energy Office, the Atlantic Energy Gateway (AEG) initiative aims to facilitate development of the Atlantic renewable energy sector, by fostering collaboration, common understanding and communication among governments and between governments and the private sector, and to maximize and expedite the development of clean and renewable energy resources in the region. The AEG supports Theme I – Addressing Climate Change and Air Quality.

The AEG process was initiated by the Government of Canada with the objective of enhancing regional co-operation toward the development of Atlantic Canada’s clean energy resources. Managed by ACOA and Natural Resources Canada, with the Atlantic Provinces and regional utilities, research done under the AEG found significant potential benefits from regional collaboration in this sector, including cost efficiencies, greater diversity in clean and renewable energy supplies, enhanced stability for ratepayers and much lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Atlantic Canada. Over the study period (2015 to 2040), regional GHG emissions could fall by 37 percent, to 7.8 megatons annually.

A significant degree of collaboration with the four Atlantic Provinces and other federal departments, principally Natural Resources Canada, is required to coordinate policy discussions and study work under the AEG initiative. In this respect, the AEG speaks to the Advocacy (1.3.2) and Coordination (1.3.3) components of the Agency’s program alignment architecture.

The AEG seeks to achieve its objective by working in two broad areas:

• System Planning and Operations Modelling – examines the costs, benefits and mechanics of greater systems integration in the Atlantic region by studying various scenarios for resource development and operations, modelling transmission planning and exploring options for system and market operations.
• Regulatory and Economic Development – examines various issues related to the development of the Atlantic region’s clean energy industry, including regulatory and land-use planning, market development challenges and opportunities, supply chain development opportunities, and best practices in innovation and commercialization of research. 

Theme IV: Targets and Implementation Strategies

Goal 7: Waste and Asset Management

Target 7.2: Green Procurement

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

Scope of target for acquisition cardholders — All new cardholders will be required to take a recognized training course before receiving a card.

Recognized training course — For acquisition cardholders, this will be achieved by means of an online course offered through the Government of Canada’s training website.

Key consideration — Exclusions may include positions that are vacant.
Performance Measurement

Expected result – Environmentally responsible acquisition, use and disposal of goods and services.

Departmental green procurement target: By March 31, 2017, 95% of copy paper, commercial printing, and/or envelope purchases will contain a minimum of 30% recycled content and be certified to a recognized environmental standard to reduce the environmental impact of its production.

Departmental green procurement target: By March 31, 2017, 90% of purchases of imaging hardware will include criteria to reduce the environmental impact associated with the production, acquisition, use and/or disposal of the equipment.

Departmental green procurement target: By March 31, 2017, 90% of toner cartridges are recycled at end of life.

Target 7.3: Sustainable Workplace Operations

As of April 1, 2015, the Government of Canada will have updated and adopted policies and practices to improve the sustainability of its workplace operations.
Performance Measurement

Expected result – Departmental workplace operations have a reduced environmental impact.

Additional Departmental Sustainable Development Activities and Initiatives

In Atlantic Canada, ACOA is also helping to develop more competitive, resource-efficient and sustainable businesses and communities through its funding programs.

Sustainable Development Management System

ACOA is a participant in the FSDS. The FSDS represents a major step forward for the Government of Canada by including environmental sustainability and strategic environmental assessment as an integral part of its decision-making processes. ACOA is implicated under Theme I, Addressing Climate Change and Air Quality, and under Theme IV, Shrinking the Environmental Footprint – Beginning with Government.

ACOA will set an example in its internal operations by:

• pursuing best practices in environmental management and pollution prevention, including recycling and waste reduction. This will be achieved through the Greening of Government Operations targets as defined in Theme IV and through the use of existing Public Services and Procurement Canada standing offers;
• participating in the following sustainable development interdepartmental working groups: FSDS Associate Deputy Minister Committee and FSDS Director General Committee;
• educating ACOA staff on environmental issues and concerns, and providing them with the resources needed to carry out the Agency’s sustainable development agenda; and
• setting measurable targets, reporting ACOA’s progress and reviewing the Agency’s contributions to the FSDS on an annual basis through the Main Estimates process. 

Strategic Environmental Assessment

ACOA will continue to ensure that its decision-making process includes consideration of 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 FSDS goals and targets.

Public statements on the results of ACOA’s detailed assessment will be 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 considered during proposal development and decision making.