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, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) supports the implementation of the FSDS through the activities in this supplementary information table.
This Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy presents the results for Theme IV–Shrinking the Environmental Footprint–Beginning with Government.
2. Themes I–III: Department/Agency–led Targets
CIC is not responsible for any targets under Themes I-III of the FSDS.
3. Themes I–III: Implementation Strategies
CIC is not responsible for any targets under Themes I-III of the FSDS.
4. Theme IV: Targets and Implementation Strategies
Goal 6: GHG Emissions and Energy
Target 6.1: GHG Emissions Reduction
The Government of Canada will reduce greenhouse gas emissions from its buildings and fleets by 17% below 2005 levels by 2020.
| Departmental Target | 17% below 2005 levels by 2020. |
|---|---|
| Scope and Context | Departmental GHG emissions in 2005–06 = 0.09 kt. Target is to reduce GHG emissions by 1.7% (0.00153 kt) per fiscal year, beginning in 2010–11, to achieve the target of 17% below 2005 level. |
| Link to Department's Program Alignment Architecture | Sub-Program 5.1.1: Management and Oversight Services |
| Financial Performance Expectations | Fleet reduction reduces the environmental footprint in federal operations and contributes to reducing fuel consumption as well as the number of kilometres driven, resulting in cost savings for CIC, although these are difficult to quantify. |
Performance Measurement
Expected result: Reduce the carbon footprint and energy consumption of federal operations.
| Performance indicator | Performance level achieved |
|---|---|
| Updated GHG reduction implementation plan in place by March 31, 2015. | Achieved by March 31, 2015. |
| GHG emissions (kt CO2 equivalent) in fiscal year 2005–06. | 0.09 kt |
| GHG emissions (kt CO2 equivalent) in fiscal year 2014–15, not accounting for renewable power emission credits, if applicable. | .048 (48 tonnes) |
| Renewable power emission credits applied in fiscal year 2014–15 (kt CO2 equivalent). | N/A |
| Percentage change in GHG emissions from fiscal year 2005–06 to fiscal year 2014–15, inclusive of renewable power emission credits, if applicable. | 47% decrease |
| Adjustments made to base year GHG emissions [indicate if not applicable]. | N/A |
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.
| Scope and Context | Procurement and materiel management specialists will receive green procurement training through the Canada School of Public Service Green Procurement course (C215). Environmental considerations will be incorporated into the performance evaluations of all functional heads of procurement and materiel management. |
|---|---|
| Link to Department's Program Alignment Architecture | Sub-Program 5.1.9: Materiel 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 by March 31, 2015. |
| Number and percentage of specialists in procurement and/or materiel management who have completed the Canada School of Public Service Green Procurement course (C215) or equivalent, in fiscal year 2014–15. | Achieved 84% of target. 20/24 employees have completed course C215. (The number of employees increased from 15 to 25 due to the Passport merger and the development of an integrated team.) |
| Number and percentage of managers and functional heads of procurement and materiel management whose performance evaluation includes support and contribution toward green procurement, in fiscal year 2014–15. | Achieved 100% of target. Four (one director general, one director and two managers). |
Departmental green procurement target
1. Overall fleet fuel efficiency
| Performance indicator | Performance level achieved |
|---|---|
| By March 31, 2017, percentage of vehicles that are purchased that are right sized for operational needs and are the most fuel-efficient vehicle in their class available at the time of purchase and/or are an alternative fuel vehicle. | Two vehicles were purchased in 2014–15. All vehicles are right sized for operational needs and are the most fuel-efficient vehicle in their class as identified by PWGSC in the Motor Vehicle Standing Offer. |
2. Light-duty fleet fuel efficiency
| Performance indicator | Performance level achieved |
|---|---|
Percentage of all new light-duty vehicles purchased between April 1, 2014, and March 31, 2017, with an average rated fuel efficiency of 10 litres per 100 kilometres or less. |
Two vehicles were purchased in 2014–15 with an average rated fuel efficiency of 10 litres per 100 kilometres or less.
N.B.: Vehicles are determined by the PWGSC Motor Vehicle Standing Offer. |
3. Use of recycled paper products
| Performance indicator | Performance level achieved |
|---|---|
| Percentage of copy paper, commercial printing and/or envelope purchases that contain a minimum of 30% recycled content and are certified to a recognized environmental standard to reduce the environmental impact of its production. | Achieved 100% of target for 2014–15 as determined by PWGSC procurement tools. |
| Implementation strategy element or best practice | Performance level achieved |
|---|---|
| 7.2.1.5. Leverage common use procurement instruments where available and feasible. | Achieved. |
| 7.2.2. Incorporate environmental considerations into procurement instruments. | N/A. Applies only to PWGSC |
| Best Practice 7.2.3. Train acquisition cardholders on green procurement. |
Achieved through procurement training sessions. |
| Best Practice 7.2.4. Increase awareness of the Policy on Green Procurement among managers. |
Achieved through inclusion of green procurement practices in performance management agreements. |
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.
| Scope and Context | CIC is continuing to improve or maintain the sustainability of departmental workplace operations. Key elements of the approach will include continuing to address the scope of application and commitments to green meetings, printing unit reduction, paper consumption, and electronic and electrical equipment surpluses. |
|---|---|
| Link to Department's Program Alignment Architecture | Sub-Program 5.1.1: Management and Oversight Services |
Performance Measurement
Expected result: Departmental workplace operations have a reduced environmental impact footprint.
| Performance indicator | Performance level achieved |
|---|---|
| An approach to maintain or improve the sustainability of departmental workplace operations is in place by March 31, 2015. | Achieved by March 31, 2015. |
| Implementation strategy element or best practice | Performance level achieved |
|---|---|
| 7.3.1.1. Engage employees in greening government operations practices. | Achieved. CIC has undertaken a number of activities to increase awareness of greening government operations practices. |
| 7.3.1.2. Integrate environmental considerations into corporate policies, processes and practices in accordance with departmental refresh cycles. | Achieved. Incorporated into procurement and material management policies, processes and practices. |
| 7.3.1.3. Maintain or improve existing approaches to sustainable workplace practices (i.e., printer ratios, paper usage, and green meetings). | Paper usage: exceeded For fiscal year 2014–15, CIC paper consumption was 4,649 sheets per employee (31,107,500 sheets for 6,691 employees), a reduction of 22.5% in comparison with the baseline fiscal year 2010–11. Printer ratios: on target (50% of target for 2014–15) In 2014–15, the Department achieved several milestones, including:
Green meeting guide: Achieved A communications plan was developed to present awareness messages to employees about sustainable development. It includes information about printing reduction targets and sustainable printing habits, the usage of teleconferences and WebEx sessions as meeting alternatives and information about the printing unit modernization. |
| 7.3.1.4. Minimize the ratio of information technology (IT) assets per employee. | Achieved. Results for 2014–15 include:
|
| 7.3.1.5. Select and operate IT and office equipment in a manner that reduces energy consumption and material usage. | Achieved. All pieces of IT and office equipment are energy efficient (as per PWGSC procurement tool) and reduce material usage where feasible. |
| 7.3.1.6. Dispose of e-waste in an environmentally sound and secure manner. | Achieved. Surplus items were disposed of as per the PWGSC Guideline for the Disposal of Federal Surplus Electronic and Electrical Equipment. All surplus equipment was disposed of with a 100% success rate. Currently, there is no count in terms of disposed Electronic and Electrical Equipment numbers. Processes and tools are in development. |
| 7.3.1.7. Reuse or recycle workplace materiel and assets in an environmentally sound and secure manner. | Achieved. CIC uses GCSurplus to reuse or recycle assets where appropriate and reuses and recycles furniture where feasible. |
| 7.3.1.8. Minimize all non-hazardous solid waste generated, and leverage service offerings to maximize the diversion of waste. | Achieved. PaperSave Program is in place at CIC. Waste recycling system implemented in the majority of CIC buildings. |
| 7.3.1.9. Increase the population density in office buildings, and increase space utilization in special purpose buildings. | Achieved. |
| 7.3.1.10. Maintain or improve sustainable fleet management. | Achieved. Reviewed and disposed of or replaced vehicles as required. Two vehicles were procured. One vehicle was disposed of. One vehicle was recycled within the CIC fleet. |
5. Additional Departmental Sustainable Development Activities and Initiatives
CIC developed a Sustainable Development Communications Plan to leverage the Sustainable Development Champion role in support of meeting its obligations under the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy and the Cabinet Directive on the Environmental Assessment of Policy, Plan and Program Proposals (the Directive). The Communications Plan outlines a year’s worth of sustainable development messages intended for CIC employees to increase awareness of obligations with respect to sustainable development and the progress being made toward achieving departmental goals.
6. Sustainable Development Management System
CIC examines the social and economic impacts and principles of equity for Memoranda to Cabinet and Treasury Board submissions, in addition to environmental impacts as required by the Directive. The objective of this broader view of sustainability is to arrive at integrated decision making that maximizes the potential for departmental policies and programs. This additional analysis is integral to the CIC Sustainable Development Policy Framework, which brings together the principles of sustainable development as stated in the Federal Sustainable Development Act. This Framework effectively links the goals and targets of the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy to the Directive.
CIC’s framework for managing sustainable development facilitates the integration of sustainable development into daily activities. CIC will continue to implement an approach to manage sustainable development based on three pillars:
- Sustainable Development Policy Framework: As mentioned above, the Policy Framework brings together the full suite of relevant sustainable development policy instruments to strengthen the clarity of requirements and to enhance effective monitoring and support so that CIC can better fulfil its sustainable development commitments.
- Policy on Sustainable Development Assessments: This policy clarifies the requirements, roles and responsibilities within CIC to fulfil its obligations under the Federal Sustainable Development Act and the Cabinet Directive.
- Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy: The Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy is used to identify and communicate Departmental commitments expressed in terms of goals, targets and implementation strategies, which determine the sustainable development direction at CIC for a three-year cycle.
7. Strategic Environmental Assessment
During the 2014–15 reporting cycle, CIC considered the environmental effects of initiatives subject to the Directive as part of its decision-making processes. Through the strategic environmental assessment process, departmental proposals were found to have no environmental effects on progress toward the 2013–16 FSDS goals and targets, in any theme. In 2014, CIC had 24 proposals (Memoranda to Cabinet and Treasury Board submissions) go forward to Cabinet and Treasury Board. Through the Strategic Environmental Assessment process, CIC reviewed 22 out of 24 of these proposals, for a 92% compliance rate.
For further information on CIC’s activities to support sustainable development and strategic environmental assessments, please visit the departmental Sustainable Development Web page. For complete information on the FSDS, please visit the Environment Canada Web site.
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