2023 to 2027 Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy
2023 to 2027 Departmental Sustainable Developement Strategy
Public Service Commission of Canada
Aussi disponible en français sous le titre : Stratégie ministérielle de développement durable (SMDD) 2023-2027
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© His Majesty the King in Right of Canada, as represented by the President of the Public Service Commission of Canada, 2023.
Cat. No. SC12-3E-PDF (Electronic PDF, English)
ISSN 2817-5891
Photos: © Environment and Climate Change Canada
Section 1: Introduction to the Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy
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, the Public Service Commission of Canada supports the goals laid out in the FSDS through the activities described in this Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy (DSDS).
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 the Public Service Commission of Canada DSDS.
To promote coordinated action on sustainable development across the Government of Canada, this departmental strategy integrates efforts to advance Canada’s implementation of the 2030 Agenda National Strategy, supported by the Global Indicator Framework (GIF) and Canadian Indicator Framework (CIF) targets and indicators. The strategy also now captures SDG initiatives that fall outside the scope of the FSDS to inform the development of the Canada’s Annual Report on the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs.
Section 2: The Public Service Commission of Canada’s Sustainable Development Vision
The 2023 to 2027 Sustainable Development Strategy (DSDS) supports the principles for the 2022 to 2026 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS) and Canada’s vision of securing the continuous improvement of our economic, social, and environmental health. It addresses today’s challenges, while focusing on activities that improve quality of life for future generations.
Our planned activities under our public service hiring and non-partisanship core responsibility support Canada’s efforts to address the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its sustainable development goals. Our initiatives to reduce barriers for Canadians and help Indigenous Peoples access public service jobs will ensure that federal public service hiring reflects Canada’s diversity while contributing to intergenerational equity.
We will demonstrate leadership on sustainable development by striving to:
- integrate economic, social, and environmental considerations into the department’s decision-making related to
- policies
- services
- operations
- audits and evaluations
- adopt practices that reduce our environmental footprint and reflect sustainable development principles in our operations
- use technologies strategically in the transformation of services and operations to reduce the environmental impact while supporting economic development
- foster a workforce and culture that is committed to sustainable development
Section 3: Listening to Canadians
As required by the Federal Sustainable Development Act, the Public Service Commission of Canada has taken into account comments on the draft 2022-2026 FSDS made during the public consultation held from March 11 to July 9, 2022. During the public consultation, more than 700 comments were received from a broad range of stakeholders, including governments, Indigenous organizations, non-governmental organizations, academics, businesses, and individual Canadians in different age groups and of various backgrounds. The draft FSDS was also shared with the appropriate committee of each House of Parliament, the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, and the Sustainable Development Advisory Council for their review and comment.
What We Heard
Across the submissions received, the Public Service Commission of Canada identified sustainable development priorities and issues that affect us. Under the Federal Environmental Perspective on SDG 10 (Reduced inequalities), reconciliation and respect for Indigenous rights were strong themes, including the importance of consultation with Indigenous peoples. Under SDG 12 (Responsible consumption and production), Canadians also wanted to see procurement policies. For example, urging Canada to work with all domestic jurisdictions and stakeholders to establish national standards for minimum recycled content in products or producer reporting requirements consistent with Extended Producer Responsibility. This includes strengthening content on green procurement, including through a green procurement target.
What We Did
The Public Service Commission of Canada took the above-mentioned key priorities and issues into consideration in this DSDS.
In our efforts to advance reconciliation with Indigenous peoples and take action to reduce inequality, we engaged with Indigenous groups and job seekers in respect of the reconciliation principles. A key aspect of this was developing and delivering outreach strategies and promotional activities for Indigenous job seekers to encourage self-declaration and partnerships with Pilimmaksaivik. We continued to support inclusive recruitment through our recruitment programs. For example, through the Indigenous Student Employment Opportunity, we provided advice, guidance and support to students and hiring managers as well as managing and promoting the Indigenous Career Pathways program. To create a public service that reflects Canada’s diversity, we worked with departments and agencies to implement the most recent amendments to the Public Service Employment Act. These changes aim to address biases and barriers that disadvantage equity-seeking groups in the hiring process. We supported managers and human resource professionals by providing resources and instructional sessions to help them identify and mitigate or eliminate biases and barriers disadvantaging equity-seeking groups in their evaluation tools for staffing. In addition to this, we laid the foundation to exercise our expanded authorities to investigate allegations of error, omission or improper conduct that result from biases or barriers that disadvantage equity-seeking groups.
In addition to our advancements in reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, we have also made progress on environmental issues. We continued to promote reduced paper usage by encouraging green printing practices in the workplace as it relates to responsible consumption and production, while transitioning to a low-carbon economy by taking environmental considerations into account in purchasing decisions. As such, in 2022−23 we eliminated 50% of our printers within the organisation and were one of the early adopters of replacing our desk telephones by Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) softphones via the Microsoft TEAMS application. We also supported green procurement criteria by following the guidance, tools and training for public service employees and will continue to do so.
Please find more information on the FSDS public consultation and its results in the FSDS Consultation Report.
Section 4: The Public Service Commission of Canada’s Commitments
Goal 10: Advance Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples and Take Action on Inequality
FSDS Context: Through policy direction and guidance, the PSC supports departments and agencies in the hiring of qualified individuals into and within the public service. By doing so, we help shape a workforce that reflects Canada’s diversity. The PSC delivers recruitment programs and assessment services supporting the strategic recruitment priorities of the Government of Canada and the renewal of the public service. This is accomplished by leveraging modern tools to reduce barriers for Canadians accessing public service jobs. We also oversee public service hiring, ensuring the integrity of the hiring process.
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
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act |
Increase Indigenous employment in the federal public service by implementing recruitment initiatives stemming from the strategy: Many Voices One Mind: a Pathway to Reconciliation which support the Public Service Employment Act changes as well as the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act. Program: Recruitment and Assessment Services |
Performance indicator: Percentage of employees who self-identified as Indigenous people Starting point: 4.0% Target: At least 3.8% Performance indicator: Percentage of executive appointees who self-identified as Indigenous people Starting point: 3.7% Target: At least 5.2% Performance indicator: Percentage of applicants who self-declared as Indigenous people Starting point: 3.2% Target: At least 4,0% |
The Many Voices One Mind: A Pathway to Reconciliation, guided by the spirit of the UN Declaration is a whole-of-government strategy for reducing and removing barriers to public service employment encountered by Indigenous Peoples. The Government of Canada will continue its efforts under the Call to Action on Anti-Racism, Equity, and Inclusion to appoint, sponsor, support, and recruit Indigenous employees and candidates to leadership roles in the federal public service.
Relevant targets or ambitions: |
Implement the requirements of the Procurement Strategy for Indigenous Businesses |
Implement the mandatory procedures for contracts awarded to Indigenous businesses, as per Appendix E of the Directive on the Management of Procurement Program: Procurement, Internal Services |
Performance indicator: Percentage of total value of contracts awarded to Indigenous businesses. Starting point: 1.31% Target: At least 5.0%
|
We will use available resources to meet this target by 2025 by following the mandatory and voluntary procedures for contracts awarded to Indigenous businesses, as per Appendix E of the Directive on the Management of Procurement. We will do this by:
Relevant targets or ambitions: |
Goal 12: Reduce Waste and Transition to Zero-emission Vehicles
FSDS Context: The PSC complies with the Greening Government Strategy which outlines specific measures to ensure responsible consumption for our operations. Environmental impacts are considered and incorporated into our procurement of goods and services.
Target theme: Federal Leadership on Responsible Consumption
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
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Strengthen green procurement criteria Develop criteria that address greenhouse gas emissions reduction for goods and services that have a high environmental impact; ensure the criteria are included in procurements; and support green procurement, including guidance, tools and training for public service employees. [Ref. Explore our 17 goals] |
Procurement Specialists will provide advice and recommendations on procurement strategies including environmental considerations such as GHG emissions reduction, clean technology and elimination of unnecessary single-use plastics. [Ref. 4.3.4.7] Program: Procurement, Internal Services |
Performance indicator: Percentage of purchased basic office supplies considered certified to a recognized environmental standard. Starting point: 45% Target: At least 50% |
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. |
|
Ensure all procurement specialists are trained in green procurement (such as, the Canada School of Public Service course on green procurement, or equivalent) within one year of being identified. Program: Procurement, Internal Services
|
Performance Indicator: Percentage of procurement specialists trained in green procurement within one year of being identified. Starting point: In 2022-23, 100% of procurement specialists trained in green procurement. Target: 100% of procurement specialists receive training within one year of being identified. |
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 Indicator:12.2.1Proportion of businesses that adopted selected environmental protection activities and management practices. Global Indicator Framework (GIF) Target:12.7 Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national policies and priorities. |
Goal 13: Take Action on Climate Change and its Impacts
FSDS Context: The PSC is taking action to reduce climate risks to our assets, services and operations. By consuming more modern and energy efficient products, we are helping to mitigate risks due to changing climate. Increasing technology development and adoption also include actions to advance climate change adaptation and build resilience to climate impacts.
Target theme: Federal Leadership on Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reductions and Climate Resilience
Target: The Government of Canada will transition to climate resilient operations by 2050
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Implement the Greening Government Strategy through measures that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve climate resilience, and green the government’s overall operations |
Reduce energy consuming servers and other devices.
Program: Information Technology, Internal Services
|
Performance indicator: Number of energy-consuming servers decommissioned by 2027. Starting point: 281 Target: At least 84 Performance indicator: Number of towers and personal examination computers replaced with low consumption devices such as Zero or Thin by 2027. Starting point: 276 Target: At least 260 Performance indicator: Number of test room monitors replaced with modern, high efficiency models by 2027. Starting point: 276 Target: At least 240
|
These indicators measure to what extent the PSC contributes to achieving the collective efforts outlined in the 2023-27 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS). The objective is to reduce, consolidate and modernize PSC systems and servers. This will help reduce our energy footprint and contribution to greenhouse gas emissions.
Relevant targets or ambitions: CIF Indicator: 13.1.1 Greenhouse gas emissions. Global Indicator Framework (GIF) Target: 13.2.2 Total greenhouse gas emissions per year. |
Section 5: Integrating Sustainable Development
The Public Service Commission of Canada will continue to ensure that its decision-making process includes consideration of FSDS goals and targets through its Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) process. A SEA for a policy, plan or program proposal includes an analysis of the impacts of the given proposal on the environment, including on relevant FSDS goals and targets.
Public statements on the results of the Public Service Commission of Canada’s assessments are made public when an initiative that has undergone a detailed SEA (see here). 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 considered during proposal development and decision making.
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