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, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) supports the implementation of the FSDS through the activities identified 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 to III: Department- and Agency-Led Targets

IRCC is not responsible for any targets under Themes I-III of the FSDS.

3. Themes I to III: Implementation Strategies

IRCC is not responsible for any targets under Themes I-III of the FSDS.

4. Theme IV: Targets and Implementation Strategies

Goal 6: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (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 were 0.09 kt. The 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 the 2005 emissions level.

Link to the Organization’s Program

Sub-Program 5.1.1: Management and Oversight Services

Financial Performance Expectations

Reducing IRCC’s fleet of vehicles in turn reduces the Department’s environmental footprint and contributes to lower fuel consumption as well as the number of kilometres driven. This results in cost savings for IRCC, although these are difficult to quantify.

Performance Measurement

Expected result
Reduce the carbon footprint and energy consumption of federal operations.

Performance indicators

Updated GHG reduction implementation plan in place by March 31, 2015.

Performance level achieved

Achieved by March 31, 2016.

Performance indicators

GHG emissions (kt CO2 equivalent) in fiscal year 2005-06.

Performance level achieved

0.09 kt

Performance indicators

GHG emissions (kt CO2 equivalent) in fiscal year 2016-17, not accounting for renewable power emission credits, if applicable.

Performance level achieved

0.054 kt

Performance indicators

Renewable power emission credits applied in fiscal year 2016-17 (kt CO2 equivalent).

Performance level achieved

Not applicable (N/A)

Performance indicators

Percentage change in GHG emissions from fiscal year 2005-06 to fiscal year 2016-17, inclusive of renewable power emission credits, if applicable.

Performance level achieved

40% decrease from baseline year.

Performance indicators

Adjustments made to base year GHG emissions.

Performance level achieved

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 the Organization’s Program

Sub-Program 5.1.9: Materiel Services

Financial Performance Expectations

N/A

Performance Measurement

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

Performance indicators

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

Performance level achieved

Achieved by March 31, 2016.

Performance indicators

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 2015-16.

Performance level achieved

Of 27 employees, 25 (93%) have completed the Green Procurement course (C215). The two remaining employees are new and will complete the course in 2016-17.

Performance indicators

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 2015-16.

Performance level achieved

Achieved by March 31, 2016 (100% of target).

Four managers’ performance agreements included support and contribution toward green procurement in 2015-16 (one director general, one director and two managers).

Departmental green procurement target

1. Overall fleet fuel efficiency

Performance indicators

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.

Performance level achieved

No vehicles were purchased in 2015-16.

2. Light-duty fleet fuel efficiency

Performance indicators

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.

Performance level achieved

No vehicles were purchased in 2015-16.

3. Use of recycled paper products

Performance indicators

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.

Performance level achieved

Achieved (100% of target for 2015-16) when procurement was made using Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) procurement tools.

Implementation strategy element or best practice

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

Performance level achieved

Achieved.

Implementation strategy element or best practice

Best Practice
7.2.3. Train acquisition cardholders on green procurement.

Performance level achieved

Achieved through procurement training sessions.

Implementation strategy element or best practice

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

Performance level achieved

Achieved through inclusion of green procurement in procurement managers’ 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

IRCC 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 the Organization’s Program

Sub-Program 5.1.1: Management and Oversight Services

Performance Measurement

Expected result
Departmental workplace operations have a reduced environmental impact.

Performance indicators

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

Performance level achieved

Achieved by March 31, 2016.

Implementation strategy element or best practice

7.3.1.1. Engage employees in greening government operations practices.

Performance level achieved

Achieved by March 31, 2016, through the FSDS communications plan. Outreach meetings and awareness messages were posted on the IRCC intranet site.

Implementation strategy element or best practice

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

Performance level achieved

Paper usage: Exceeded

For fiscal year 2015-16, IRCC paper consumption was 3.205 sheets per employee (23,070 sheets for 7,198 employees), a reduction of 46.55% in comparison with the baseline fiscal year 2010-11.

Printer ratios: In process

For fiscal year 2015-16, the Department reached a ratio of 4.4 employees per printing device compared to a 2.4:1 ratio for 2014-15.

IRCC is working closely with Shared Services Canada to have procurement tools in place to assist IRCC in further reducing printer ratios.

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.

Implementation strategy element or best practice

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

Performance level achieved

Achieved.

As of March 31, 2016, there were 4.44 users per printing device compared to 3.86 users the previous year.

Implementation strategy element or best practice

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

Performance level achieved

Achieved.

All IT and office equipment is energy efficient (as per the PSPC procurement tool) and reduce material usage where feasible.

Implementation strategy element or best practice

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

Performance level achieved

Achieved.

Surplus items were disposed of as per the PSPC Electronic and Electrical Equipment protocol. All surplus equipment was disposed of with a success rate of 100%. Currently, there is no count of the amount of disposed Electronic and Electrical Equipment. Tracking tools to support measurement as well as templates and procedures to support operations are being developed and implemented on an ongoing basis.

Implementation strategy element or best practice

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

Performance level achieved

Achieved.

Use of GCSurplus and GCTransfer allows for all assets to be reused or recycled where appropriate. IRCC Accommodations reuses and recycles furniture where feasible.

Implementation strategy element or best practice

7.3.1.8. Minimize all non-hazardous solid waste generated, and leverage service offerings to maximize the diversion of waste.

Performance level achieved

Achieved.

A waste recycling system has been implemented in the majority of IRCC buildings and a paper saver program is in place.

Implementation strategy element or best practice

7.3.1.9. Increase the population density in office buildings, and increase space utilization in special purpose buildings.

Performance level achieved

Achieved.

The Department is implementing the Government of Canada Workplace 2.0 initiative in all newly acquired spaces. All new tenant fit-up projects within existing spaces will be Workplace 2.0-compliant.

Implementation strategy element or best practice

7.3.1.10. Maintain or improve sustainable fleet management.

Performance level achieved

Achieved.

In 2015-16, IRCC reduced its fleet by three vehicles.

5. Additional Departmental Sustainable Development Activities and Initiatives

IRCC revised the Sustainable Development Communications Plan (the Communications Plan) to leverage the Sustainable Development Champion role in support of meeting its obligations under the FSDS and the Cabinet Directive on the Environmental Assessment of Policy, Plan and Program Proposals (the Directive). The Communications Plan outlines a year of sustainable development messages for IRCC employees to increase awareness of their obligations with respect to sustainable development and the progress being made toward achieving departmental goals. The revised Communications Plan clearly identifies the most applicable and easily implemented changes that IRCC employees can make to reduce their environmental footprint. This supports IRCC’s objective to increase employee interest and engagement and to encourage management to review processes in order to comply with the messages provided to staff.

IRCC developed a training presentation to provide its employees with further guidance on the Strategic Environmental Assessment requirements for any Memorandum to Cabinet, Treasury Board Submission or Regulatory Submission. This training presentation was shared broadly.

IRCC collaborated with Environment and Climate Change Canada on a presentation to IRCC employees with the objective of increasing employees’ understanding of the FSDS and the manner in which IRCC contributes to it.

6. Sustainable Development Management System

IRCC’s framework for managing sustainable development facilitates the integration of sustainable development into daily activities. IRCC will continue to implement its sustainable development management system based on three pillars:

  • Sustainable Development Policy Framework: The Policy Framework brings together the full suite of relevant sustainable development policy instruments (including the FSDS and the Directive) to clarify requirements and to enhance effective monitoring and support so that IRCC can better fulfil its sustainable development commitments.
  • Policy on Sustainable Development Assessments: This policy clarifies the requirements, roles and responsibilities within IRCC to fulfil its obligations under the Federal Sustainable Development Act and the 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 IRCC for a three-year cycle.

IRCC will revise the above-noted departmental policy instruments once the 2016-19 FSDS is tabled in Parliament later in 2016.

7. Strategic Environmental Assessment

During the 2015-16 reporting cycle, IRCC considered the environmental effects of initiatives subject to the Directive, as part of its decision-making processes. Through the Strategic Environmental Assessment process, IRCC proposals (Memoranda to Cabinet and submissions to the Treasury Board) were found to have no environmental effects on progress toward the 2013-16 FSDS goals and targets, in any theme. All except two proposals (which were exempt under the shortened Cabinet process per the Directive) were reviewed under the full strategic environmental assessment process.

For further information on IRCC’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 and Climate Change Canada Web page.

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