Appendix A: Sustainable Development at the Canada Revenue Agency
1.0 Sustainable Development Framework
The CRA sustainable development framework is the response to the various legislative and regulatory requirements, Government of Canada expectations, and other SD requirements. The framework consists of an SD policy, an Environment policy, an SD strategy, National action plan, and an EMS. These major components are supported by other related strategies including learning, communications, recognition and performance measurement and reporting.
The CRA's SD policy is a tool that allows the Agency to articulate its vision of SD in the context of its own mandate. It is used to define our system boundaries within the flexibility allotted by the Government of Canada. The policy is also used to state priorities and requirements, define accountabilities, and demonstrate leadership and commitment.
Our SD strategy lays out the Agency's SD agenda for a three-year period to address environmental efficiency, integrated decision-making for SD, legislation and regulations, and stakeholder expectations. The strategy implements the Agency's SD policy, which is in turn aligned with the Agency's broader mandate and vision, including the strategic objectives to improve operational efficiency.
The SD vision for the Agency is: "To be a globally recognized tax and benefits organization for best practices in sustainable development". Its four supporting goals are to:
- reduce the effects of our operations on land, air and water;
- demonstrate sustainable service delivery of tax and benefit programs;
- have management and employees apply SD in their jobs; and,
- use modern systems that support and maintain SD.
The Agency also maintains a separate Environment Policy, supported by an EMS, which is modeled after the ISO 4001. This separate policy was deemed necessary to systematically and consistently monitor and manage its environmental aspects such as solid and hazardous waste, fleet, paper, procurement, emissions from business travel and employee commuting and energy conservation to effect a positive and enduring change in environmental performance. Other considerations for developing an EMS included the emphasis placed on this best practice by the CESD.
2.0 Accountability Structure
2.1 Sustainable Development Division
The division serves as a center of expertise and coordinates activities relating to the environment and SD at the Agency. It is responsible for developing the Agency's SD strategy as prescribed in the Guide to Green Government. It also plays the major role in implementation, monitoring, measurement and reporting on progress. Other roles include responding to audit requests by the CESD, developing tools and communication materials, and developing and delivering learning programs to employees.
2.2 Sustainable Development Network
The SD network implements the Agency's SD strategy at the local level (i.e., branch and regional). To ensure broad engagement, this network of SD practitioners is made up of representatives, coordinators, and committees of volunteers across all regions and branches in the Agency.
2.3 National Environmental Management System Committee (NEMSC)
The NEMSC approves targets and monitors progress on identified environmental issues of importance to the CRA. Representation on this committee is CRA-wide and function specific.
2.4 Sustainable Development Steering Committee
The Committee guides the direction that sustainable development takes within the Agency and the work of the SD division. It reports to the Agency Management Committee on the implementation of the strategy, and influences senior executives to make Agency operations and service delivery more efficient and environmentally responsible. The Committee is made up of:
- The Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Commissioner of the Finance and Administration Branch;
- Two SD champions at the Assistant Commissioner level; and,
- The Director General of the Strategic Management and Program Support Directorate.
2.5 Board of Management
Section 31(1) of the Canada Revenue Agency Act states that the Board is responsible for overseeing the organization and administration of the Agency and the management of its resources, services, property, personnel and contracts. In terms of SD, the Board has oversight on the scope of the commitments made, and on resource levels. Apart from these linkages and influence, the Board is also in a position to add value by ensuring the SD strategy is suitably aligned with the Agency's mandate and strategic vision by bring to bear their own backgrounds, knowledge of societal expectations, and interpretation of the Agency's mandate.
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