Public Services and Procurement Canada
Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy: 2017 to 2020

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Learn about the 2017 to 2020 Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy (DSDS) for Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC). This departmental strategy provides information on commitments and performance expectations made in response to the most recent Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS).

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Section 1: Context for the departmental Sustainable Development Strategy

The 2016 to 2019 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS) presents the Government of Canada's sustainable development goals and targets, as required by the Federal Sustainable Development Act. In keeping with the objectives of the act to integrate environmental, social and economic considerations into decision-making, and make such decisions more transparent and accountable to Parliament, Public Services and Procurement Canada supports reaching goals laid out in the FSDS through the activities described in this Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy.

Section 2: Sustainable Development in Public Services and Procurement Canada

PSPC is a common service organization that provides government departments, boards and agencies with the following support services:

Under the Acquisitions Program, PSPC manages approximately $18 billion of procurements on behalf of other federal departments and agencies, of which approximately 40% goes to Canadian small and medium enterprises. It also provides leadership in green procurement and oversees the implementation of the Defence Procurement Strategy.

Build in Canada Innovation Program

The Build in Canada Innovation Program (BCIP) helps get late-stage Canadian research and development innovations into the marketplace by buying and testing them within the federal government. The BCIP defines clean technology innovations as those which involve alternative energy, energy and material efficiency, as well as greenhouse gas (GHG) capture and avoidance technologies. Since inception, 83 clean technology innovation proposals have been accepted into the program. Amongst these proposals, 58 have completed testing or are currently being tested by federal departments or agencies. The Sunlighting System and the River Turbine are 2 clean technology innovations profiled under the image below.

Example of clean technology innovations tested by the Build in Canada Innovation Program

Build in Canada Innovation Program - Text version below the image
Image description

This image is made up of 3 objects within a rectangle. The large central object is a lightbulb with rays of white light spreading across the blue background. There are 2 smaller square objects placed in the lower foreground corners of the rectangle. The orange object in the left corner shows 2 ceiling lighting fixtures projecting beams of light down on 5 workers standing in a hall. The object in the lower right corner is a cylindrical image of a turbine. On the bottom left of the image is the Government of Canada signature and on the bottom right is the Canada wordmark.

The Sunlighting System innovation, tested by Global Affairs Canada at the Canadian Embassy in Berlin, uses state-of-the-art optics designed to capture and bend sunlight. This technology was able to brighten the notoriously dark Timber Hall at the embassy. The innovation doubled the amount of natural light that entered the space and redirected light to previously inaccessible interiors of the building. In 2015, Global Affairs Canada won the Real Property Institute of Canada's (RPIC) Best Practices Environmental Sustainability group award.

Idénergie Inc.'s innovation, the River Turbine, was tested by Parks Canada in Banff and Jasper National Parks. The innovation is the only in-river technology capable of supplying residents with electricity using a slow-flowing, shallow stream. The innovation was successfully tested and was able to power basic visitor services at a campground and help eliminate gas and diesel generator use at 2 off-grid hostels in the mountain parks.

Accommodation Management and Real Property Services Program

Under the Accommodation Management and Real Property Services Program, PSPC provides federal departments and agencies with affordable office and common use accommodation. The department acts as a steward for various public works such as buildings, bridges and dams, national treasures such as the Parliamentary Precinct, and other heritage assets across Canada. PSPC also provides other federal departments and agencies with real property services, including the remediation of contaminated sites.

Specialized Programs and Services Program

Through the Specialized Programs and Services Program, PSPC's Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB) supports strong standardization to safeguard Canadian economic, health, safety and environmental interests. The CGSB continues to expand strategic partnerships with federal government clients and other public-sector organizations to disseminate common standards and verification processes.

Office of Greening Government Operations

The Office of Greening Government Operations was transferred from Specialized Programs and Services at PSPC to the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat in 2016. While PSPC no longer leads the greening of federal government operations, the department continues to make strong contributions to the following 3 new FSDS 2016 to 2019 goal areas:

Low-carbon government

PSPC is identifying a wide range of measures to reduce energy consumption, improve energy efficiency and reduce GHG emissions from buildings and fleet. These measures include the modernization of central heating and cooling plants, LED lighting replacement and Smart Buildings automation. Vehicle replacement planning for the departmental fleet now prioritizes alternative fuel purchases where operational requirements permit. Through testing clean technology innovations, green procurement and GHG emission reduction efforts, PSPC is leveraging the purchasing power of the federal government to help transform the economy, society and the environment.

Sustainable food

The Canadian General Standards Board contributes to sustainable fisheries and aquaculture through creating and updating standards for organic aquaculture which promotes sustainable food practices.  

Safe and healthy communities

The department is making a difference in the lives of Canadians by helping them to live in clean, sustainable communities that contribute to their health and well-being. PSPC participates in the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan by assessing and remediating high priority contaminated sites.

Centre for Greening Government

This office within the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat assumed policy development lead for the greening of federal government operations in 2016.

Section 3: Commitments for Public Services and Procurement Canada

The 2016 to 2019 FSDS provides the most recent direction to federal government organizations for their efforts to benefit from the social, economic and environmental advantages of sustainable development. It represents a different approach when compared to previous strategies. In the past, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) and the Office of Greening Government Operations (OGGO) set government-wide themes and government-wide targets as policy direction to departments. Departments were also instructed to set some departmental targets. The 2016 to 2019 FSDS now sets all goal areas, all targets, and most ot the contributing actions. Departments select specific FSDS contributing actions, or optional United Nations goal actions and then develop corresponding departmental actions, starting points, targeted performance levels and performance indicators appropriate for their mandate.

Learn how Public Services and Procurement Canada is committed to the FSDS:

Low-carbon government commitments

Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) is committed to 7 FSDS contributing actions, and one United Nations (UN) goal action that support the low-carbon government goal. All Ministers are responsible for supporting low-carbon government. These 8 contributing actions also support the following FSDS greenhouse gas emissions reduction target.

Federal greenhouse gas emissions reduction target

Reduce GHG emissions from federal government buildings and fleets by 40% below 2005 levels by 2030, with an aspiration to achieve this reduction by 2025.

Federal low-carbon government contributing actions selected

1.1 Support the transition to a low-carbon economy through green procurement
Corresponding Public Services and Procurement Canada departmental actions
  • Integrate environmental considerations into procurement management processes, controls and tools
  • Incorporate environmental considerations into the development of any common-use procurement instruments
  • Ensure decision makers have the necessary training and awareness to support green procurement
  • Ensure key officials include contribution to and support for Government of Canada Policy on Green Procurement objectives in their performance evaluations
Contribution of green procurement actions to low-carbon government
  • Revisions to PSPC Acquisitions Program requisitions forms will mobilize client departments to consider environmental benefits when defining their requirements
  • Including environmental considerations into PSPC common procurement instruments will allow clients to factor environmental impacts into their purchasing decisions
  • Including green procurement objectives in performance evaluations and obtaining the necessary training to support green procurement will support environmentally responsible acquisition of goods and services across government and within PSPC
  • PSPC training and performance evaluation support for green procurement prepares the department for the transition to a low-carbon economy
Starting points
  • 845 (99%) of designated specialists in procurement and materiel management who have completed training on green procurement (fiscal year 2016 to 2017)
  • 88 (66%) of designated managers and functional heads of procurement and materiel whose performance evaluation include support and contribution towards green procurement (fiscal year 2016 to 2017)
Targeted performance levels

By March 31, 2020:

  • 30 revised and new procurement instruments with environmental considerations
  • 90% of designated specialists will receive training in green procurement
  • 90% of designated managers and functional heads will have performance evaluations including support and contribution towards green procurement
Performance indicators
  • Number of new or renewed goods and services procurement instruments (standing offers or supply arrangements) in which environmental considerations are incorporated at fiscal year-end (March 31)
  • Number and percentage of designated specialists in procurement and materiel management who have completed training on green procurement at fiscal year-end (March 31)
  • Number and percentage of designated managers and functional heads of procurement and materiel whose performance evaluation includes support and contribution towards green procurement at fiscal year-end (March 31)
Departmental program in which the action will occur
  • Acquisitions and Materiel Management
1.2 Modernize our fleet
Corresponding Public Services and Procurement Canada departmental actions
  • PSPC will strive to purchase the most fuel efficient on-road vehicles for each vehicle class type available in the standing offer agreement. Priority will be given to electric and hybrid gas-electric vehicles that can meet operational requirements
  • PSPC will strive to purchase medium sized trucks running on clean diesel when available in the standing offer agreement, which can meet operational requirements
  • Vehicles will be acquired having the lowest GHG emission ratings in their class, whenever operational requirements permit
Contribution of fleet modernization actions to low-carbon government
  • Targeted vehicle purchase and replacement (electric vehicles, hybrids) will reduce emissions from fleet operations and contribute to the GHG emissions reduction target
Starting points
  • Percentage of on-road vehicles made up of fuel efficient vehicles in fiscal year 2016 to 2017 (48%)
  • Percentage of medium size trucks running on clean diesel in fiscal year 2016 to 2017 (15%)
Targeted performance levels

By March 31, 2020:

  • 55% of on-road vehicles will be made up of fuel efficient vehicles
  • 20% of medium size trucks will be running on clean diesel
Performance indicators
  • Percentage of fleet made up of fuel efficient vehicles per fiscal year (April 1 to March 31)
  • Percentage of medium size trucks running on clean diesel per fiscal year (April 1 to March 31)
Departmental program in which the action will occur
  • Materiel Management
1.3 Demonstrate innovative technologies
Corresponding Public Services and Procurement Canada departmental actions
  • Support the development of clean technology and its use across the federal government by procuring clean technology innovations for testing or validation by other government departments
  • Lead by example as an early adopter of clean technology innovations
  • Increase the percentage of innovation contracts awarded for clean technology goods and services
  • Increase outreach efforts through the Build in Canada Innovation Program (BCIP) to increase submissions and testing of clean technology innovations
Contribution of demonstrating innovative technologies to low-carbon government
  • Procuring and testing clean technology innovations demonstrate the success of clean technologies to the industry and promote their adoption within the economy
Starting points
  • Number of departments testing BCIP clean technology innovations (7 between April 1, 2016 and March 31, 2017; 12 between April 1, 2015 and March 31, 2016)
  • Number of clean technology innovations tested by PSPC (none between April 1, 2016 and March 31, 2017; 3 between April 1, 2015 and March 31, 2016)
  • Percentage of innovation contracts awarded for clean technology goods and services (23% between April 1, 2016 and March 31, 2017)
Performance indicators
  • Number of departments testing BCIP clean technology innovations per fiscal year (April 1 to March 31)
  • Number of clean technology innovations tested by PSPC per fiscal year (April 1 to March 31)
  • Percentage of innovation contracts awarded for clean technology goods and services per fiscal year (April 1 to March 31)
Departmental program in which the action will occur
  • Acquisitions (Build in Canada Innovation Program)
1.4 Promote sustainable travel practices
Corresponding Pubic Services and Procurement Canada departmental actions
  • Manage the Government of Canada's centralized travel contract through which travel-related GHG emission estimates are monitored and reported
  • Provide government-wide and department-specific information on travel-related GHG emissions to the Center for Greening Government (CGG), and make available up-to-date GHG emission estimates and other travel-related data to client departments
  • By March 31, 2018, analysis of PSPC air travel GHG emissions will support departmental reassessment of the PSPC air travel target
Contribution of sustainable travel promotion to low-carbon government
  • Allows departments to monitor and adapt their business travel, through travel data reporting tools available to each department, to better meet GHG emission reduction targets, and fulfil their mandates
  • Supports the Center for Greening Government, by providing Government of Canada carbon dioxide (CO2) emission estimates, in developing evidence-based business travel policy options
Targeted performance level
  • By March 31, 2021, PSPC will reduce its air travel GHG emissions by 25%, relative to the 2008 to 2009 baseline (under review)
Performance indicators
  • Number of quarterly Government of Canada GHG emissions estimates by mode of business travel submitted to Center for Greening Government per fiscal year (April 1 to March 31)
  • Estimate of GHG emissions (kiloton CO2 equivalents) from PSPC business air travel per fiscal year (April 1 to March 31)
Departmental program in which the action will occur
  • Shared Travel Services of Specialized Programs and Services
1.5 Improve the energy efficiency of our buildings
Corresponding Public Services and Procurement Canada departmental actions

Undertake:

  • implementing building automation (Smart Buildings)
  • implementing deep energy or GHG retrofit
  • implementing lighting upgrades (LED lighting)
  • fuel switching
  • modernizing 5 central heating/cooling plants (PSPC's Energy Services Acquisitions Program)
  • optimizing space utilization
Contribution of improved energy efficiency in buildings to low-carbon government
  • PSPC is the second largest contributor to federal government GHG emissions from building operations. Any reduction in PSPC emissions contributes significantly to the FSDS GHG emissions reduction target and the FSDS goal of low-carbon government
Starting points
  • 272.2 kiloton carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent GHG emissions from April 1, 2005 to March 31, 2006 (buildings only)
Targeted performance level
  • PSPC is committing to achieving a real property carbon neutral facilities portfolio by 2030
Performance indicators
  • GHG emissions (kiloton CO2 equivalent) per fiscal year (April 1 to March 31)
  • GHG offsets and renewable power emission credits applied per fiscal year (kiloton CO2 equivalent)
  • Percentage change in GHG emissions from April 1, 2005 to March 31, 2006 to the reporting fiscal year, inclusive of offsets and renewable power emission credits, if applicable
Departmental program in which the action will occur
  • Accommodation Management and Real Property Services
1.6 Improve the energy efficiency of our fleet operations
Corresponding Public Services and Procurement Canada departmental actions

Promote:

  • fuel switching
  • behavior change like anti-idling campaigns, driver training, car sharing initiatives
  • driver training on sustainable behaviours by leveraging National Resources Canada (NRCAN) anti-idling campaign
  • carpooling
Contribution of improved energy efficiency of fleet operations to low-carbon government
  • Adoption of sustainable driving behaviours improves PSPC on-road vehicle fuel efficiency
Starting points
  • GHG emissions from fleet from April 1, 2005 to March 31, 2006: 1.5 kiloton carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalents
  • Average manufacturer-rated fuel consumption (litres per 100 kilometres) for on-road light duty vehicles purchased from April 1, 2016 to March 31, 2017: 8.6

Due to the unique mandate of PSPC related to real estate and construction, PSPC requires heavy duty trucks and equipment which currently have higher fuel consumption rates. These vehicles are excluded from the results.

Performance indicators
  • GHG emissions estimates from on-road vehicles per fiscal year (April 1 to March 31) in kiloton CO2 equivalents
  • On-road light duty vehicle fuel consumption rate produced from Automotive Resources International (ARI) database per fiscal year (April 1 to March 31)
  • Percentage (%) change in GHG emissions from on-road vehicles for fiscal year (April 1 to March 31) relative to the baseline (starting point) 2005 level
Departmental program in which the action will occur
  • Materiel Management
1.7 Understand climate change impacts and build resilience
Corresponding Public Services and Procurement Canada departmental actions
  • Review PSPC policies, programs and climate change modeling to identify areas addressing climate change adaptation and resilience
  • Complete a high-level risk assessment of climate change adaptation and resilience for each branch (major organizational units within the department)
  • Establish initial position for climate change adaptation and resilience
  • Complete a standard or guideline for the integration of climate change adaptation and resilience into PSPC's policies and programs
  • Disseminate the PSPC climate change adaptation and resilience standard or guideline
  • Identify mitigation measures addressing climate change adaptation and resilience
Contribution of climate change adaptation and resilience to low-carbon government
  • A PSPC standard or guideline for integration of climate change adaptation and resilience into policies and programs will help build departmental resilience
Starting points
  • Currently, PSPC has no specific measures addressing climate change adaption and resilience in its policies or programs
Departmental program in which the action will occur
  • Accommodation Management and Real Property Services
1.8 United Nations goal 15 action that supports life on land and low-carbon government
Public Services and Procurement Canada departmental action 1

Manage a national battery recycling program (Call2Recycle) at select federal government facilities. This program diverts toxic heavy metals (lead, cadmium, zinc, mercury and manganese) found in batteries, from landfill waste.

Starting points 1
  • 122,855.29 kilograms of batteries recycled through Call2Recycle for fiscal year (April 1, 2016 to March 31, 2017)
Performance indicator 1
  • Kilograms of batteries recycled, per fiscal year (April 1 to March 31)
Departmental program in which the action will occur 1
  • GC Surplus of Specialized Programs and Services
Public Services and Procurement Canada departmental action 2

Manage a paper recycling program in the National Capital Region (PaperSave) at select federal government facilities. This program diverts waste paper from landfill waste.

Starting points 2
  • 5732.2 metric tonnes of paper recycled through PaperSave for fiscal year (April 1, 2016 to March 31, 2017)
Performance indicator 2
  • Metric tonnes of paper recycled through PaperSave, per fiscal year (April 1 to March 31)
Departmental program in which the action will occur 2
  • GC Surplus of Specialized Programs and Services

Sustainable food commitments

Public Services and Procurement Canada is committed to 1 FSDS contributing action that supports the sustainable food goal. The sustainable food goal strives for innovation and ingenuity which contribute to a world-leading agricultural sector and food economy for the benefit of all Canadians.

While Ministers of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Health, and Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard are the 3 identified as responsible for sustainable food, PSPC has identified a program which provides indirect support for the FSDS sustainable food goal and the following FSDS target.

Federal sustainable food target

By 2020, all aquaculture in Canada is managed under a science-based regime that promotes the sustainable use of aquatic resources in ways that conserve biodiversity.

Federal sustainable food contributing action selected

2.1 Increase knowledge of sustainable agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture
Corresponding Public Services and Procurement Canada departmental actions
Contribution of revised national standards for organic production to sustainable food
Starting points
Targeted performance level
Departmental programs in which the action will occur

Safe and healthy communities commitments

The FSDS goal for safe and healthy communities is for all Canadians to live in clean, sustainable communities that contribute to their health and well-being. 2 ministers responsible for work leading to this goal are the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and the Minister of Health. PSPC has identified a program which indirectly supports this FSDS goal and the following FSDS target or milestone. Therefore PSPC has selected 2 of the FSDS contributing actions supporting safe and healthy communities.

Federal contaminated site remediation target (milestone)

By the 2019 to 2020 fiscal year (starting on April 1, 2019), remediate 599 of the highest-priority sites under the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan.

Federal safe and healthy communities contributing actions selected

3.1 Contaminated sites remediation leadership and 3.2 Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan
Corresponding Public Services and Procurement Canada departmental actions
Contribution of contaminated site remediation to safe and healthy communities
Starting points
Targeted performance level

Between April 1, 2017 and March 31, 2020:

Performance indicators
Departmental program in which the action will occur

Section 4: Integrating sustainable development

During the 2016 to 2017 reporting cycle, Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) considered the environmental effects of initiatives subject to the Cabinet Directive on the Environmental Assessment of Policy, Plan and Program Proposals, as part of its decision-making processes. The department conducted 3 strategic environmental assessments (SEAs) as preliminary scans on submissions to Cabinet and 3 SEAs as preliminary scans on Treasury Board submissions. It was concluded that, in respect to PSPC's authorities and accountabilities, none of these initiatives would generate important environmental effects and, therefore, neither detailed scans nor public statements were required.

In 2016, Public Service and Procurement Canada (PSPC) was audited by the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development (CESD). The audit report concluded that the Cabinet Directive on the Environmental Assessment of Policy, Plan and Program Proposals was not applied to most policy, plan and program proposals. In order to address the findings in the audit, PSPC is implementing a management action plan to integrate sustainable development into its internal policy and operational processes by reviewing the Directive on Strategic Environmental Assessment. PSPC is also working on a tool kit to facilitate the implementation of strategic environmental assessments into future memoranda to Cabinet to support branch leads in conducting environmental assessments. Both the directive and tool kit will be presented to senior management in November 2017, so that SEA becomes integrated and sustained through the development and implementation of PSPC policies and programs.

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