2015–16 Report on Plans and Priorities - 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, the Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) 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.

7.4.1 ESDC will implement electronic tools, including Online Services and Direct Deposit Services to reduce the paper burden of their client services.

-Online services: Percentage of applications and transactions performed through online services

-Direct Deposit: Percentage of payments and transactions performed through direct deposit)

In an effort to reduce the volume of printing and encourage Canadians to go online to get the information they need, ESDC and Service Canada launched the Smart Publishing initiative in 2010. Massive printing of numerous publications was reviewed with regard to audience needs and targets for reduction or elimination were identified.

In 2010–11, Service Canada’s overall printing cost was $725,805. An extensive review with all interested parties of over 100 publications on key foundational programs allowed streamlining of the content and reduction of the number of publications printed in the following years. As such, in 2011–12 , 26 publications were printed for a total cost of $432,703; in 2012–13, 14 publications were printed for a total cost of $369,852, in 2013–14, 8 publications were printed for a total cost of $103,000; and in 2014–15, 4 publications were printed for a total cost of $40,763. Throughout the process, Service Canada regularly monitored the situation to ensure that reducing printing did not affect service delivery and that Canadians who needed printed publications still had access to them.

Through the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), ESDC ensures that its decision-making processes consider important environmental impacts including any impacts on the goals and targets of the FSDS. A SEA for policy, plan or program proposals includes an analysis of the impacts of the proposal on the environment, including on the FSDS goals and targets. The first step of the SEA process, called the preliminary scan, serves to identify the potential for important environmental effects, either positive or negative. If the preliminary scan reveals the potential for important environmental effects then a detailed analysis is undertaken. ESDC ensures that all proposals developed for the Minister or Cabinet undergoes the preliminary scan to ensure that a detailed analysis is undertaken when appropriate.

ESDC will continue to ensure that its decision-making process includes consideration of the FSDS goals and targets through the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) process. A 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 ESDC'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 processes.