Pacific Economic Development 2021-22 Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy Report
2022
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Catalogue No.: Iu97-1/2E-PDF
ISSN: 2816-8801
Pacific Economic Development Canada
1300-300 West Georgia St
Vancouver, BC V6B 6B4
© His Majesty the King in Right of Canada, represented by the Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada, 2022
This report on progress supports the commitment in the Federal Sustainable Development Act (FSDA) to make environmental decision-making more transparent and accountable to Parliament. It also contributes to an integrated, whole of government view of activities supporting environmental sustainability.
The departmental information reported accounts for information previously prepared in accordance with Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) 2020–2023 Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy (DSDS).
This report details WD and Pacific Economic Development Canada’s (PacifiCan) departmental actions that support the targets and/or goals of the 2019–2022 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS). For information on the Government of Canada’s overall progress on the targets of the FSDS, please see the FSDS Progress Report, which, per the requirements of the strengthened FSDA, is released at least once in each three-year period.
1. Introduction to the Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy
The 2019 to 2022 (FSDS) presents the Government of Canada’s sustainable development goals and targets, as required by the FSDSA. In keeping with the purpose of the Act, to provide the legal framework for developing and implementing a FSDS that will make sustainable development decision-making more transparent and accountable to Parliament, PacifiCan has developed this report to demonstrate progress in implementing its DSDS.
2. Sustainable development in PacifiCan
On August 5, 2021, the Government of Canada announced the separation of WD into two new regional development agencies for British Columbia and the Prairie provinces.
Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan) is now the new regional economic development agency (RDA) for Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
PacifiCan is now the new RDA for British Columbia.
WD’s 2020 to 2023 Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy describes the departmental actions that support the achievement of the FSDS goals of clean growth and a greener government. PacifiCan has adopted WD’s 2020–2023 DSDS and continues to advance and report on departmental activities that contribute to the Government of Canada’s priorities and commitments under the 2019–2022 FSDS. Given the creation of PacifiCan during the reporting year, this report presents the available results for WD as related to British Columbia, and PacifiCan’s departmental actions pertinent to these goals. Footnote1 Previous years’ reports are posted on WD’s website.
3. Departmental performance by FSDS goal
The following tables provide performance information on departmental actions in support of the FSDS goals of clean growth and a greener government.
Context: Greening Government
The Greening Government goal captures commitments from the Greening Government Strategy and reporting requirements under the Policy on Green Procurement.
In 2021-22, all PacifiCan office environments were sourced and equipped through Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC). The agency has followed PSPC’s leadership on sustainability by using office equipment, suppliers, contractors, and services that they have vetted and deemed to contribute to the Greening Government objectives. The commitments under the Greening Government goal outline the areas where PacifiCan has reduced negative environmental effects associated with the agency’s procurement decisions.
Greening Government: The Government of Canada will transition to low-carbon, climate and green operations
| FSDS target(s) | FSDS contributing action(s) | Corresponding departmental action(s) | Starting point(s) Performance indicator(s) Target(s) |
Results achieved | Contribution by each departmental result to the FSDS goal and target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Actions supporting the Goal: Greening Government | Departments will use environmental criteria to reduce the environmental impact and ensure best value in government procurement decisions. | PacifiCan will include criteria that address carbon reduction, sustainable plastics, and broader environmental benefits into procurements for goods and services that have a high environmental impact. PacifiCan will incorporate environmental considerations into the development of any common-use procurement instruments. |
Starting Point: Inclusion of environmental considerations (e.g. reduce, reuse, or include environmental criteria) in new common-use procurement instruments. |
Result:
|
Including environmental criteria in procurement instruments ensures PacifiCan acquires goods and services from suppliers who meet standards for sustainability and energy efficiency to reduce the environmental impact of departmental operations.
SDG 12 – Target 12.7 |
| Support for green procurement will be strengthened, including guidance, tools and training for public service employees. | PacifiCan will ensure decisions makers, material management, and specialists in procurement have the necessary training and awareness to support green procurement. | Starting Point: Identify procurement guidance needs for staff, including training and tools. Performance indicator: Percentage of specialists in procurement and materiel management who have completed training on green procurement. Target: Trained staff supporting green procurement. |
Result: |
Green procurement incorporates environmental criteria into purchasing decisions. Procurement agents trained to apply environmental criteria can award contracts to suppliers who reduce the waste and GHG emissions associated with their goods, services and supply chains to reduce the overall environmental impact of departmental operations. SDG 12 – Target 12.7 |
Context: Clean Growth
The Clean Growth goal captures commitments from the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change. Departmental actions under Clean Growth also support FSDS targets related to climate action, clean energy, greening government, sustainable food, and building safe and healthy communities.
PacifiCan promotes clean growth and diversification in the economy of British Columbia through strategic investments in clean technology and clean resource projects.
Clean Growth: A growing clean technology industry in Canada contributes to clean growth and the transition to a low-carbon economy
| FSDS targets | FSDS contributing action(s) | Corresponding departmental action(s) | Starting point(s) Performance indicator(s) Target(s) |
Results achieved | Contribution by each departmental result to the FSDS goal and target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Support the Government of Canada’s Mission Innovation pledge to double federal government investments in clean energy research, development and demonstration from 2015 levels of $387 million to $775 million by 2020 | Invest in clean technologies | Continue to support, and make strategic investments in clean technology and clean resources. | Starting point: Statistics Canada Survey of Environmental Goods and Services measures the clean technology sector in Canada and regions. Performance indicator: Annual spending ($) for projects in the priority areas of clean technology and clean resources. Target: Clean technology adoption/adaptation that contributes to the diversification and economic development in British Columbia. |
Result:
|
PacifiCan investments in clean technology and clean resource projects directly contribute to the Mission Innovation target of doubling federal government investment levels. PacifiCan’s investments help companies in the clean technology and clean resource sectors to develop, demonstrate, and/or commercialize new technology to expand, modernize, grow, export, and become more productive. SDG 9 – Target 9.4 SDG 12 – Target 12.2 |
4. Report on integrating sustainable development
During the 2021–22 reporting cycle, PacifiCan had no proposals that required a strategic environmental assessment and no public statements were produced.
Footnotes
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