Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy Report for 2023–2024
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- Introduction to the 2023 to 2024 Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy Report
- Commitments for Library and Archives Canada
- Integrating Sustainable Development
Introduction to the 2023 to 2024 Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy Report
The 2022 to 2026 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS) presents the Government of Canada’s sustainable development goals and targets, as required by the Federal Sustainable Development Act. This is the first FSDS to be framed using the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations 2030 Agenda and provides a balanced view of the environmental, social, and economic dimensions of sustainable development.
In keeping with the purpose of the Act, to make decision-making related to sustainable development more transparent and accountable to Parliament, Library and Archives Canada (LAC) supports the goals laid out in the FSDS through the activities described in LAC’s 2023 to 2027 Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy (DSDS). This Report provides a report on progress related to LAC’s DSDS in the fiscal year 2023 to 2024.
The Federal Sustainable Development Act also sets out 7 principles that must be considered in the development of the FSDS as well as DSDSs. These basic principles have been considered and incorporated in LAC’s DSDS and 2023 to 2024 DSDS Report.
To promote coordinated action on sustainable development across the Government of Canada, BAC’s departmental strategy reports on Canada’s progress towards implementing the 2030 Agenda and advancing the SDGs, supported by the Global Indicator Framework (GIF) and Canadian Indicator Framework (CIF) targets and indicators. The Report also now captures progress on SDG initiatives that fall outside the scope of the FSDS.
Commitments for Library and Archives Canada
Goal 10: Advance reconciliation with Indigenous peoples and take action on inequality
FSDS Context:
Advancing reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples while preserving, digitizing and giving access to its collections relating to Indigenous Peoples is an integral part of LAC’s Vision 2030. The initiatives put in place in recent years, in collaboration with Indigenous partners, are intended to contribute to preserve Indigenous cultural content, and reduce certain barriers to accessing historical documents.
The Listen, Hear Our Voices program supports Indigenous governments and non-profit organizations in protecting and preserving their existing documentary heritage, and in acquiring the skills and resources to complete this work. The We Are Here: Sharing Stories initiative aims to digitize and enhance access to the content of LAC’s Indigenous collections through various online tools, as well as enhanced and reparative description. Additional digitization initiatives contribute to the healing process for communities and survivors of the federal Indian Residential and Day School systems. While documents pertaining to residential schools have already been digitized, the current initiative concentrates on digitizing and creating culturally appropriate descriptions of millions of pages of documents pertaining to day schools. These initiatives can also help non-Indigenous people better understand Indigenous cultures and their past and make LAC collections more inclusive and representative of Canadian society.
LAC’s initiatives respond to specific responsibilities in accordance with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action 69, linked to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the United Nations Joinet-Orentlicher principles.
Target theme: Advancing reconciliation with First Nations, Inuit, and the Métis communities
Target: Between 2023 and 2026, and every year on an ongoing basis, develop and table annual progress reports on implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada)
| Implementation strategy | Departmental action | Performance indicator starting point target | How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGS | Results achieved |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act |
Departmental Action 1: Program: |
Performance indicator 1.1: Starting point: 7 in 2019-2020 Target: 2 different trainings (or awareness sessions) by March 31, 2024. |
Public servants are in a unique position to help build respectful relationships with Indigenous Peoples in Canada. This action encourages public servants to increase their cultural competencies and awareness of issues related to First Nations, Inuit and Métis Nation in Canada, as well as their knowledge of the UN Declaration. This action contributes to the development of necessary cultural competencies and knowledge to implement the UN Declaration. Relevant targets or ambitions: GIF Target: 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies and action in this regard. |
Performance indicator result 1.1: |
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Performance indicator 1.2: Starting point: Not available. The new Indigenous cultural awareness plan begins in 2023-2024. Target: 250 by March 31,2024. |
Performance indicator result 1.2: |
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Departmental Action 2: Program: |
Performance indicator 2: Starting Point: 2 meetings in 2021-2022 Target: 3 meetings annually. |
LAC, in consultation and collaboration with Indigenous Peoples, takes the necessary steps to ensure that its policies, programs, initiatives and processes are aligned with the Declaration. LAC’s Indigenous Advisory Circle, created in 2018, comprises First Nations, Inuit and Métis Nation from across the country who have expertise in archives, libraries and other heritage institutions. The members come from national, regional and community-based organizations. They advise on the various cultural perspectives of Indigenous Peoples. Relevant targets or ambitions: GIF Target: 10.3 Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies, and action in this regard. |
Performance indicator result 2: Notes: Agenda items included: Listen, Hear Our Voices updates; We Are Here: Sharing Stories Updates; guidance on engagement; input on "Directive for digital access to sensitive content"; guidance on Elder-in-residence program planning; review of the LAC Indigenous Heritage Action Plan; LAC Day Schools Project update |
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Departmental action 3: Program: |
Performance indicator 3: Extent to which the five-year action plan for Indigenous heritage is updated. Starting point: The action plan was launched in 2019. Target: The action plan will be updated by March 31, 2024. |
LAC's five-year action plan for Indigenous heritage includes 28 actions aimed at recognizing Indigenous rights and increasing access to its collection. Prepared in collaboration with the Indigenous Advisory Circle, this plan represents LAC's response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada's Calls to Action and demonstrates its commitment to implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Relevant targets or ambitions: GIF Target: 10.3 Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies and action in this regard. |
Performance indicator result 3: Notes: LAC has started to review the action plan in consultation with Indigenous partners. |
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Departmental action 4: Program: Acquisition and processing of government records. |
Performance indicator 4.1: Number of pages about Indian Day Schools digitized. Starting point: 8,080 pages digitized in 2022-2023. Target: 6 million pages by March 2025. |
As part of the horizontal initiative: Implementing the Federal Framework to Address the Legacy of Residential Schools, LAC aims to provide access to Government of Canada records about the federal Indian Day School system. Relevant targets or ambitions: |
Performance indicator result 4.1: Notes: |
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Performance indicator 4.2: Percentage of digitized documents about Indian Day Schools described according to a culturally appropriate approach. Starting point: 0% in 2022-2023. The description of digitized documents under the federal initiative begins in 2023-2024. Target: 100% of documents digitized under this initiative by March 2025. |
Performance indicator result 4.2: Notes: In 2023-24, the preparation phase required time for experts to prepare the millions of pages of archival records held in LAC’s collections. LAC aims to describe about 536,000 pages per month going forward to reach March 2025. |
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Departmental action 5: |
Performance indicator 5: Total percentage of contracts with Indigenous businesses. Starting point: Not applicable. Data from 2023-2024 will serve as a starting point. Target: 5% (annual target). |
LAC supports the Government of Canada’s commitment to award contracts to Indigenous businesses each year. It established its target based on historical contracting and availability of Indigenous suppliers in typical contracting areas of the organization. LAC also works closely with Shared Services Canada and Public Services and Procurement Canada to identify opportunities for Indigenous businesses. Relevant targets or ambitions: |
Performance indicator result 5: Notes: LAC exceeded its 5% target mainly by using voluntary set-asides for planned expenditures on office furniture and information technology (IT) equipment and licences. To provide continual opportunities for Indigenous businesses, it is also LAC's standard practice to invite at least one Indigenous supplier to bid on all proposals for professional service requests. |
Goal 12: Reduce waste and transition to zero-emission vehicles
FSDS Context:
As custodian of a real property portfolio, LAC manages its buildings strategically for the benefit of all Canadians. Sustainable development considerations are taken into account and applied. LAC plans the construction and maintenance of its facilities to satisfy requirements for the preservation of collections and greening of practices that contribute to reducing GHG emissions.
In the last few years, LAC has undertaken two major projects for the construction of new facilities. In doing so, it took measures to reduce the environmental impact of associated waste: the new Preservation Storage Facility exceeded the target objective for construction and demolition waste diversion. LAC is working to ensure that the future joint facility with the Ottawa Public Library, Ādisōke, exceeds the new objective of 90% for construction and demolition waste diversion.
LAC also supports efforts to transform the federal government’s vehicle fleet. LAC will replace one of the five vehicles in its light-duty fleet during this DSDS cycle. The new van used to transport collections will be a zero-emission electric vehicle. As for the administrative vehicle, it will be replaced as per the Policy on Green Procurement and based on the purchase of a hybrid or zero-emission vehicle, when it comes to the end of its life cycle. In addition, by facilitating flexible work arrangements such as a hybrid telework and on-site work arrangement, LAC helps reduce emissions from employees’ daily transportation.
For several years now, information and communication technologies (ICT) have become central to work practices, and the use of paper and printing has decreased. In the global context of an ever-growing use of ICT, taking into account its operational needs and Canadians’ expectations, LAC has adopted a responsible approach for purchasing electronic equipment and managing e-waste to mitigate the environmental impact of ICT.
Target theme: Federal Leadership on Responsible Consumption
Target: By 2030, the Government of Canada will divert from landfill at least 75% by weight of non-hazardous operational waste (All Ministers)
| Implementation strategy | Departmental action | Performance indicator starting point target | How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGS | Results achieved |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximize diversion of waste from landfill |
Departmental action 1: Complete waste audits for large buildings and report annual rate of diversion of non-hazardous operational waste from a landfill. Program: Internal Services. |
Performance indicator 1: Starting point: Target: |
Reducing the production of non-hazardous operational waste will help reduce scope 3 emissions related to the production, transport and disposal of material. Diverting waste from landfills reduces GHG emissions and emissions from transport. Recovering materials through recycling reduces emissions from the extraction and production of virgin materials. Relevant targets or ambitions: CIF Indicator 12.3.1 Total waste diversion per capita. GIF Target 12.5 By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse. |
Performance indicator result 1: |
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Departmental action 2: Extend the useful life of electronic equipment and diverting e-waste to landfills. Program: Internal Services. |
Performance indicator 2: Starting point: 100% in 2022-2023. 90% of equipment was donated. 10% of equipment (batteries, power supplies, etc.) was given to certified recyclers). Target: 100% (annually). |
Maximizing the reuse of electronic devices and using provincial recycling programs, when available, help divert waste from landfills and therefore reduce GHG emissions generated by landfill waste and by the extraction of raw materials and production of new electronic devices. Relevant targets or ambitions: CIF Indicator 12.3.1 Total waste diversion per capita. GIF Target 12.5 By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse. |
Performance indicator result 2: Notes: 1% of equipment was given to La Relance through Public Services and Procurement Canada. |
Target: By 2030, the Government of Canada will divert from landfill at least 90% by weight of all construction and demolition waste (All Ministers)
| Implementation strategy | Departmental action | Performance indicator Starting point Target |
How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGS | Results achieved |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximize diversion of waste from landfill |
Departmental action 3: Complete waste audits for large buildings and report the annual rate of diversion of all construction and demolition waste from landfills. Program: Internal Services |
Performance indicator 3: Starting point: Target: |
Reducing the production of construction and demolition waste will help reduce scope 3 emissions relating to the production, transport and disposal of material. Diverting waste from landfills reduces GHG emissions and emissions from transport. Recovering materials through recycling reduces emissions from the extraction and production of virgin materials. Relevant targets or ambitions: CIF Ambition 12: Canadian consume in a sustainable manner CIF Indicator 12.3.1: Total waste diversion per capita GIF Target 12.5: By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse |
Performance indicator result 3: Notes: |
Target: The Government of Canada’s procurement of goods and services will be net-zero emissions by 2050, to aid the transition to a net-zero, circular economy (All Ministers)
| Implementation strategy | Departmental action | Performance indicator Starting point Target |
How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGS | Results achieved |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transform the federal light-duty fleet |
Departmental action 4: Program: Internal Services. |
Performance indicator 4: Starting point: Target: |
Purchasing zero-emission or hybrid vehicles reduces GHG emissions from conventional fleet operations. This enhances sustainable consumption. Relevant targets or ambitions: CIF Ambition 12 Canadians consume in a sustainable manner. CIF Indicator 12.1.1 Proportion of new light duty vehicle registrations that are zero-emission vehicles. GIF Target 12.1 Implement the 10-year framework of programs on sustainable consumption and production, all countries taking action, with developed countries taking the lead, taking into account the development and capabilities of developing countries. |
Performance indicator result 4: Notes: |
| Strengthen green procurement criteria |
Departmental action 5: Program: Internal Services. |
Performance indicator 5: Starting point: Target: |
Green procurement incorporates environmental considerations into purchasing decisions and is expected to motivate suppliers to reduce the environmental impact of the goods and services they deliver, and their supply chains. Relevant targets or ambitions: CIF Ambition 12 Canadians consume in a sustainable manner. CIF Indicator 12.2.1 Percentage of businesses that adopted environmental protection activities and management practices. GIF Target 12.7 Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national policies and priorities. |
Performance indicator result 5: Notes: |
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Departmental action 6: Program: Internal Services. |
Performance indicator 6: Starting point: Target: |
A responsible and sustainable procurement framework will support the maintenance of integrated procurement and material management practices where considerations related to sustainable development will be decisive. This framework will guide decisions and processes to reduce the environmental impact of goods and services. Relevant targets or ambitions: CIF Ambition 12: Canadians consume in a sustainable manner. CIF Indicator 12.2.1 Proportion of businesses that adopted selected environmental protection activities and management practices. GIF Target 12.7 Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national policies and priorities. |
Performance indicator result 6: Notes: |
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Goal 13: Take action on climate change and its impacts
FSDS Context:
As custodian of its real property portfolio, LAC advances a whole-building design approach to achieve sustainability and reduce the environmental footprint. The new Preservation Storage Facility, opened in 2022, was the first Government of Canada building to meet Greening Government Strategy requirements. Just like that new building, the Ādisōke facility seeks to be “net-zero carbon” and receive Gold certification from the LEED® Green Building Rating System. The construction materials being used are more environmentally friendly and sourced locally. For example, the concrete mix contains a higher proportion of recycled materials and stone, which requires less energy to produce.
With respect to the greening of existing buildings, in 2021-2022, LAC assessed three of its five facilities to identify ways to reduce carbon emissions. These studies offered opportunities for improvement to reach net-zero emissions.
For major building retrofits under its responsibility, LAC will prioritize low carbon and climate resilience. Investment decisions will be informed by an analysis of potential GHG reductions, based on a 40-year life cycle and a shadow carbon cost of $300 per tonne. Ultimately, investment decisions will also be based on climate change risk assessments. In April 2023, LAC began a climate risk and vulnerability assessment for its portfolio.
Target theme: Federal Leadership on Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reductions and Climate Resilience
Target: The Government of Canada will transition to net-zero carbon operations for facilities and conventional fleets by 2050 (All Ministers)
| Implementation strategy | Departmental action | Performance indicator starting point target | How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGS | Results achieved |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modernize through net-zero carbon buildings |
Departmental action 1: Program: Internal Services. |
Performance indicator 1: Starting point: Target: |
Actions seeking to rationalize the portfolio, share facilities, reduce the demand for energy or switch to lower carbon sources of energy will lead to reductions in GHGs from real property operations. Relevant targets or ambitions: CIF Ambition 12 Canadians are well-equipped and resilient to face the effects of climate change. CIF Indicator 13.1.1 GHG emissions. GIF Target 13.2 Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning. |
Performance indicator result 1: Notes: |
| Apply a greenhouse gas reduction life-cycle cost analysis for major building retrofits |
Departmental action 2: Program: Internal Services. |
Performance indicator 2: Starting point: Target: 100% by 2026. |
Actions seeking to rationalize the portfolio, share facilities, reduce the demand for energy or switch to lower carbon sources of energy will lead to reductions in GHGs from real property operations. Relevant targets or ambitions: CIF Ambition 13.1 Canadians reduce their GHG emissions. CIF Target 13.1.1 By 2030, reduce Canada’s total GHG emissions by 40 to 45%, relative to 2005 emission levels. |
Performance indicator result 2: Notes: |
Target: The Government of Canada will transition to climate resilient operations by 2050 (All Ministers)
| Implementation strategy | Departmental action | Performance indicator starting point target | How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGS | Results achieved |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reduce risks posed by climate change to federal assets, services and operations |
Departmental action 3: Program: |
Performance indicator 3: Starting point: Target: |
Assessing the risk of climate change impacts on mission-critical assets and developing plans to reduce such risk decreases the risk of disrupting critical service delivery to Canadians. Relevant targets or ambitions: CIF Ambition 13.3 Canadians are well-equipped and resilient to face the effects of climate change. CIF Indicator 13.3.1 Proportion of municipal organizations that factor climate change adaptation into their decision-making process. GIF Target 13.1 Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries. |
Performance indicator result 3: Notes: |
Integrating Sustainable Development
In addition to the measures LAC is taking to realize the previously stated objectives, we would like to highlight some additional activities that are in keeping with the Government of Canada's efforts to implement its vision of sustainable development.
LAC's mandate supports sustainable development and its cultural objectives in that it preserves and promotes the country's culture and heritage to ensure access for current and future generations. And, conversely, LAC integrates sustainable development into its activities, programs and internal processes. For example, LAC evaluates and re-evaluates the government records and private archives it acquires and already has in its custody to retain only those of historical interest. This contributes to the sustainable use of limited space and better stewardship of public funds.
Other examples illustrate efforts to reduce the carbon footprint of the processes underlying certain services.
As of December 2022, when LAC processes Access to Information and Privacy (ATIP) requests for records held at its Government Records Centre in Winnipeg, it does the work on site, instead of sending the records to its branches in the National Capital Region or elsewhere for scanning and analysis under ATIP legislation. In addition, the expanded use of Government of Canada Secret Infrastructure reduces the need to physically send records to the departments consulted for ATIP requests. Clients also now have more opportunities to submit their requests online and receive a response digitally, reducing the total number of paper requests received and delivered on paper or CD-ROM.
Many activities are held virtually or via a hybrid model: outreach and engagement to raise awareness of the national collections, collaboration with partners, sharing of expertise and knowledge, events such as the information management symposium, the annual meeting with the community of provincial and territorial archivists, etc. These all help mitigate the carbon footprint.
LAC supports the efforts of internal partners by educating employees about sustainable development initiatives and achievements. At in-person organizational events, employees are encouraged to bring their own beverages, cups or containers. The unnecessary use of single-use plastics in LAC operations and at LAC events and meetings is now prohibited.
Lastly, LAC will continue to ensure its decision-making process includes sustainable development considerations. It has no plans to conduct a strategic environmental assessment. However, it will do so should sustainable development factors need to be considered and highlighted as part of its Real Property Portfolio Strategy, a major project, a policy or budget proposal, a memorandum to Cabinet or a Treasury Board submission.
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