Departmental 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 Department of Canadian Heritage 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 IV – Shrinking the Environmental Footprint – Beginning with Government.

Theme IV: Targets and Implementation Strategies

Goal 7: Waste and Asset Management

Target 7.1: Real Property Environmental Performance

As of April 1, 2014, and pursuant to departmental Real Property Sustainability Frameworks, an industry‑recognized level of high-environmental performance will be achieved in Government of Canada real property projects and operations.

Scope and Context

The Canadian Conservation Institute (CCI) is a Branch within the Department of Canadian Heritage (PCH).  It is located at 1030 Innes Road (Ottawa Ontario). The building is leased on a Triple Net Lease and CCI is responsible for all operations, maintenance and repairs of the entire building envelope and systems. CCI represents approximately 3.5% of Canadian Heritage’s FTEs in the National Capital Region. CCI generates 5 metric tons (MT) per year of waste.

Expected result

An industry-recognized level of high-environmental performance will be achieved in Government of Canada real property projects and operations.

Performance indicatorTargeted performance level

Real Property Sustainability Framework in place to improve the management of energy, waste and water in departmental real property assets by March 31, 2015.

The current framework for the Canadian Conservation Institute (CCI) – dated June 2012 – is presently under revision.
It is expected that the framework will be updated by June 2016.
(CCI is the only program which operates a building not owned and managed by PWGSC).

Total number of existing Crown-owned buildings (over 1000 m2) and new lease or lease renewal projects (over 1000 m2) where the Crown is the major lessee, assessed for environmental performance using an industry-recognized assessment tool, and total associated floor space (m2).

0 Crown-owned building
0 m2

1 new lease or lease renewal project
(1030 Innes Road, Ottawa, Ontario)
5927 m2

The current BOMA BESt Level I assessment will expire in July 2016. The Department will aim for BOMA BESt Level II for the upcoming assessment.

Total number of existing Crown-owned buildings, new construction, build-to-lease projects and major renovations projects achieving an industry‑recognized level of high-environmental performance, and total associated floor space (m2).

0 Crown-owned building
0 m2

0 new construction project
0 m2

0 build-to-lease project
0 m2

0 major renovation project
0 m2

Number of fit-up and refit projects achieving an industry-recognized level of high-environmental performance.

0 fit-up and refit projects
0 m2
(Fit-up or refit projects planned for the Department are managed by PWGSC).

Implementation strategy element or best practiceTargeted performance level

7.1.1.1. [Mandatory] Achieve a level of performance that meets or exceeds the custodian's current commitment(s) to sustainable buildings using industry-recognized assessment and verification tool(s).

Seeking to reach ‘Achieved’ status (BOMA BESt level II) when renewing the assessment in July 2016.

Best Practice
7.1.2. Real property managers and functional heads responsible for new construction, leases or existing building operations will have clauses related to environmental considerations incorporated into their performance evaluations.

Seeking to reach “Achieved” status as defined in the Greening of Government Operations (GGO) implementation guidelines for this target area.

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.

Expected result

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

Performance indicatorTargeted performance level

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

Completed

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 2016–17.

Eleven (11) employees
100% achieved

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 2016–17.

Three (3) employees
100% achieved

Departmental green procurement target

By March 31, 2017, 90% of purchases of audio visual equipment will include criteria to reduce the environmental impact associated with the production, acquisition, use and/or disposal of the equipment.

Performance indicatorTargeted performance level

Audio Visual Equipment

Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) Standing Offers/Supply Arrangements (SO/SA) – AV Equipment is acquired via mandatory PSPC acquisition mechanism which has green procurement clauses embedded within.

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.

Performance indicatorTargeted performance level

Imaging Hardware and consumables

Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) Standing Offers/Supply Arrangements (SO/SA) – Imaging Hardware and consumables are acquired via mandatory PSPC acquisition mechanism which has green procurement clauses embedded within.

Departmental green procurement target

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

Performance indicatorTargeted performance level

Information Technology (IT) Hardware

All IT Hardware falls under a mandatory category acquired via acquisition mechanism and responsibility has now been transferred from Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) to Shared Services Canada (SSC).  All requirements must be vetted via SSC – no departmental delegation.

Implementation strategy element or best practiceTargeted performance level

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

Seeking to reach “Achieved” status, as defined in the Greening of Government Operations (GGO) implementation guidelines for this target area.

Best Practice
7.2.3. Train acquisition cardholders on green procurement.

Seeking to reach “Achieved” status, as defined in the Greening of Government Operations (GGO) implementation guidelines for this target area.

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

Seeking to reach “Achieved” status, as defined in the Greening of Government Operations (GGO) implementation guidelines for this target area.

Best Practice
Incorporate environmental considerations into procurement instruments.

The Department (specifically the Contracting and Materiel Management Directorate - CMMD) has incorporated environmental considerations into the procurement instrument (Contract Data Sheet - CDS) which is populated and approved for all CMMD acquisition.

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.

Expected result

Departmental workplace operations have a reduced environmental impact.

Performance indicatorTargeted performance level

Approach to maintain or improve the sustainability of the departmental workplace in place as of March 31, 2015.

The Department will continue to improve and/or maintain the sustainability of the departmental workplace in line with the FSDS. Key elements of the approach will include continuing to address the scope of application and commitment to green meetings, printing unit reduction, paper consumption, and electronic and electrical equipment surpluses.

Implementation strategy element or best practiceTargeted performance level

7.3.1.1. Engage employees in greening government operations practices.

Seeking to reach “Achieved” status as defined in the Greening of Government Operations (GGO) implementation guidelines for this target area.

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

Seeking to reach “Achieved” status as defined in the Greening of Government Operations (GGO) implementation guidelines for this target area.

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

Seeking to reach “Achieved” status as defined in the Greening of Government Operations (GGO) implementation guidelines for this target area.

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

Seeking to reach “Achieved” status as defined in the Greening of Government Operations (GGO) implementation guidelines for this target area.

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

Seeking to reach “Achieved” status as defined in the Greening of Government Operations (GGO) implementation guidelines for this target area.

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

Seeking to reach “Achieved” status, as defined in the Greening of Government Operations (GGO) implementation guidelines for this target area.

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

Seeking to reach “Achieved” status as defined in the Greening of Government Operations (GGO) implementation guidelines for this target area.

7.3.1.10. Maintain or improve sustainable fleet management.

Seeking to reach “Achieved” status, as defined in the Greening of Government Operations (GGO) implementation guidelines for this target area.

Goal 8: Water Management

Target 8.1: Water Management

As of April 1, 2014, the Government of Canada will take further action to improve water management within its real property portfolio.

Expected result

Water is managed sustainably in Government of Canada real property operations.

Performance indicatorTargeted performance level

Approach to improving water management included in Real Property Sustainability Framework in place by March 31, 2015.

The current framework for the Canadian Conservation Institute (CCI) – dated June 2012 – is presently under revision.
Following the 2015 energy audit, actions have been taken to reduce water loss and improve water management without affecting the services.

Amount and percentage of floor space in buildings over 1000 m2 that includes water metering, in fiscal year 2016–17 (where feasible).

0 m2 existing Crown-owned
0%

0 m2 new Crown and built-to-lease
0%

0 m2 major renovations
0%

5927 m2 leases
100%

Implementation strategy element or best practiceTargeted performance level

8.1.1.1. Conserve potable water.

Seeking to reach “Achieved” status as defined in the Greening of Government Operations (GGO) implementation guidelines for this target area.

Strategic Environmental Assessment

The Department of Canadian Heritage 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 the Department of Canadian Heritage’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.

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