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HRSDC Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy

Sustainable Development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

"Our Common Future" (Brundtland Report, 1987)

In committing to sustainable development, we demonstrate the importance of maintaining and improving quality of life, both now and in the future, by ensuring that our decisions consider social, economic, and environmental consequences.

Recognizing the need for sustainable development, the Government of Canada implemented the Federal Sustainable Development Act (FSDA) in 2008. In October 2010, the Environment Minister subsequently tabled a Federal Sustainable Development Strategy for Canada (FSDS) (Environment Canada Federal Sustainable Development Strategy for Canada). The FSDS makes environmental decision-making more transparent and accountable to Parliament, with implications for many government departments and agencies, including Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC).

Given its vast operations, our Department will maximize our contribution to sustainable development (SD) by operating in a more environmentally friendly way in order to reduce our ecological footprint. Our SD targets are summarized in the on-line version of the Department’s 2011-12 Report on Plans and Priorities (Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat Report on Plans and Priorities).

These "Greening of Government Operations" targets are consistent for all federal organizations bound by the FSDA as "custodian departments or agencies", and are related to: green buildings; greenhouse gas emissions; electronic waste; printing units; paper consumption; green meetings; and, green procurement.

Each department and agency implicated under the FSDS must develop a sustainable development strategy and vision. Our Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy has been developed based on the following vision:

"The Department will model effective environmental sustainability in the provision of Government of Canada services by applying best practices in its day-to-day operations in order to reduce its ecological footprint."

Given that the FSDS was tabled in late 2010, the 2011-12 fiscal year will be a baseline year for our Department. Efforts will concentrate on developing implementation plans and securing the active engagement and participation of our employees in order to position the Department to meet its obligations with respect to sustainable development. The success of our SD strategy depends on the commitment and active contribution of our employees.

Departmental Decision-making

In the "greening" of departmental operations, HRSDC will ensure that decisions comply with broader Government policies from the Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS) and Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC).

Senior management has a shared responsibility for managing their operations in an environmentally sustainable fashion, ensuring that applicable policies and environmental implications are considered in both individual and committee level decision-making. The Chief Financial Officer and the Chief Information Officer also have additional mandate-specific accountabilities in terms of "Greening of Government Operations" targets associated with activities that they manage.

In addition, our Sustainable Development Champion, Jacques Paquette (Senior ADM, Income Security and Social Development) will ensure that SD becomes part of our departmental culture and way of doing business, and that it remains a priority and topic of discussion throughout the Department. The Champion’s role includes providing leadership, guidance and profile to SD issues and activities relevant to the Department; participating in related initiatives and special events; and, facilitating liaison with departmental employees with respect to SD.

A DG-level committee will also be established to support senior management and the Champion in carrying out their responsibilities with respect to SD. This committee will include representatives from branches that play a leadership role in this area, namely: Chief Financial Officer Branch; Innovation and Information Technology Branch; Public Affairs and Stakeholder Relations; and, Strategic Policy and Research. This committee will provide governance to ensure implementation plans related to FSDS targets are developed and put into place, and that data is available to support effective management and reporting.

Finally, and most importantly, HRSDC employees will play a critical role by ensuring that their day-to-day decisions consider social, economic, and environmental consequences. We will engage our employees at all levels of the Department and continue to draw on their extensive creativity, knowledge and expertise to achieve our FSDS targets and minimize our ecological footprint.

HRSDC Sustainable Development Activities

As indicated above, all departments and agencies implicated under the FSDS must achieve specific "Greening of Government Operations" targets in a number of identified areas. Therefore, the Department will fulfill its responsibilities and minimize our environmental footprint through the following activities:

Green Buildings
HRSDC must reduce the environmental impact of our operations when designing and renovating workplaces. Our success will be demonstrated by achieving the industry-recognized standard for a high level of environmental performance with respect to interior design space (i.e., by achieving elements of LEED CI Silver, Green Globes Fit-Up 3 Globes, or equivalent).

Greenhouse Gas Emissions
We will minimize greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by improving fuel efficiency and, where possible, using alternative fuels to power our fleet of vehicles. We will also minimize GHGs by purchasing leadership vehicles (i.e., vehicles that significantly reduce fuel consumption, GHGs or regulated emissions). In addition, increased use of video-conferencing and continued adherence to travel limits will also be areas of focus to reduce GHGs related to transportation.

Electronic Waste
In order to minimize electronic waste, we will follow the TBS Directive on the Disposal of Surplus Materiel and guidance provided in the PWGSC Federal Electronic Waste Strategy in disposing of surplus electronic assets. For example, we will seek opportunities to reuse these assets where possible (e.g., Computers for Schools, Crown Assets Distribution Directorate), and we will otherwise dispose of them using environmentally responsible methods.

Printing Units
The FSDS establishes a target of one printing unit for every 8 employees. Operating fewer printers will reduce consumption of electricity, paper and toner, and will result in a longer-term reduction of electronic waste. The FSDS has established a multi–year phased approach to this target to allow for a migration to multi-function devices (i.e., devices that copy, scan, fax and print) over a two-year period as equipment reaches end-of-life.

Paper Consumption
HRSDC activities consume a significant amount of paper. In 2011-2012, we will analyze our requirements, and establish baseline data and tracking methods, to support achievement of our targets. Reduced paper consumption and associated printer use will have a positive environmental impact, and will save tax dollars. Over time, the Department will optimize paper usage by transitioning from single-user printers to multi-function devices, but employees can make a significant contribution immediately by setting default settings on individual printers, copiers and computers to automatically use two-sided printing and copying where possible, and by avoiding unnecessary printing of documents and emails.

Green Meetings
All gatherings – seminars, committee meetings, conferences, staff meetings – consume energy, produce waste, and result in greenhouse gas emissions. The Department has adopted Environment Canada’s Green Meeting Guide, and will promote this guide to all departmental employees to raise awareness and assist them in minimizing environmental impacts by identifying ways in which they can contribute to sustainable development in carrying out their day-to-day business. For example, the use of bottled water in the senior executive boardrooms has already been discontinued as a way of ‘greening’ executive meetings.

Green Procurement
As a major purchaser of goods and services, the Department continually seeks opportunities to further improve our Green Procurement practices, including:

Communication: The Procurement Portal is HRSDC’s online intranet tool, designed to help employees find the information they need for purchase of goods and services. Employees receive regular information by email and through this procurement intranet site.
Training: Green Procurement is included in training for procurement specialists, managers and administrative support staff. As well, employees are advised of green procurement training offered through the Canada School of Public Service, and are encouraged to attend this training.
Other: The Department continues to explore opportunities to decrease paper-based transactions, improve efficiency and costs associated with low dollar value procurement, and promote effective use of the Acquisition Card and the Procurement Portal.

These activities will position us to meet our obligations under the FSDS in terms of shrinking the Department’s environmental footprint. As well, we will undertake the following actions to further enhance our SD practices:

Strategic Environmental Assessments
Policy makers in the department must consider the environmental impacts of proposed policies and programs, per the Cabinet Directive on the Environmental Assessment of Policy, Plan and Program Proposals. To assist them in fulfilling this responsibility, requirements related to Strategic Environmental Assessments are included in the HRSDC Policy Development Guide and associated training.

Communications
A communications strategy will be developed and implemented to ensure regular communication from the SD Champion. The strategy will include carrying out a number of activities in support of Canadian Environment Week (June 5-11, 2011) under the Champion’s leadership, such as daily green themes and environmental awareness-based activities and events.

Environment Management Services Intranet
Through the Department’s Environmental Management Services intranet page, employees can learn more about how to help reduce our eco-footprint, and they can join the Department’s "Green Network" and become a "Green Volunteer."

Through the active participation and support of departmental employees at all levels of the organization, we can make a significant contribution toward achievement of the Government of Canada’s commitments with respect to federal sustainable development.

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