ARCHIVED - Human Resources and Social Development Canada

HRSDC's Sustainable Development Strategy (SDS) was tabled in Parliament on December 20, 2006. The strategy has a two-pronged approach: it focuses on the application of a sustainable development lens while developing policies and programs through a select number of Signature Projects and Greening Operations initiatives associated with day-to-day operations. Over the course of the Strategy, key departmental priorities are:

• decreasing building energy use;
• reducing vehicle emissions;
• expanding green procurement;
• increasing green processing in the delivery of programs and services;
• improving collaboration with communities for sustainability; and
• developing Signature Projects as examples of the Department's approach to sustainable development in policy making and program design.

The departmental Green Operations will involve twenty-four activities such as infrastructure energy saving initiatives, energy conserving lighting, decreasing office equipment energy use, recycling, fleet optimization, eco-driving or carpooling, green hotel usage, green procurement, e-waste management and simplification of program delivery document requirements.

HRSDC 's longer term approach for this SDS is to select a focused number of meaningful projects to advance sustainable development knowledge from the policy and program design perspective. These Signature Projects will demonstrate that the Department is stretching beyond business as usual by representing a broader approach to review programs and identify areas where all three sustainable development areas - economic, environmental and social - are addressed. This will occur through the application of a sustainable development lens to policy and program development, requiring a greater investment of funds, time, and participation stretching beyond a three-year period. HRSDC will undertake Signature Projects in the following three areas:

• People: Supporting initiatives that help Canadians invest in themselves, by providing access to learning, income security, and supporting efficient and inclusive labour markets to improve the sustainability of communities.
• Partnerships: Leveraging knowledge and people to develop partnerships and identify new opportunities to encourage sustainable employment in particular as it relates to the environment.
• Knowledge: Generating a social and economic indicators information base to ensure that current Canadian social, environmental and economic factors inform decision-making.

HRSDC has determined that the best way to ensure probity and accountability for the outcomes identified in Greening Operations and Signature Projects is to strengthen the development, management and monitoring of proposed activities, and to ensure that staff are trained to incorporate sustainable development measures into their day-to-day work. Over and above these activities, in 2008-2009, the Department will be focusing on reducing its environmental impact through more efficient and environmentally-friendly processing of service offerings and increasing awareness of promoting the role of staff in undertaking sustainable development initiatives.

The following provides an overview of the planned SDS activities and their expected results for 2008-2009 as per governmental and departmental goals:

Departmental SDS Vision: Advancing sustainable development by supporting a strong, inclusive labour market and society, and by being an example of sustainability in the provision of GC services to Canadians in a manner that reduces the impact on the environment.

SDS Departmental Goals: Building Energy

Federal SD Goal(s), including GGO goals:

Goal 3: Reduce greenhouse gas emissions

3.2.1 Support for clean technologies is provided (such as building, transportation, and industrial processes)

Goal 5: Sustainable Development and Use of Natural Resources

5.2.1 Sustainable consumption and production of natural resources is promoted

Expected Results 2008-2009	Supporting Performance Measure(s)	Achieved SDS Departmental Results for 2008-2009
Reduced energy use for buildings Increased volume and types of materials recycled Increased number of shared office properties with different levels of government	Infrastructure Energy Saving Initiative	Since April 1, 2007, 44% of refits and fit-ups for both offices and Service Canada Centres include building control systems.
	Energy Conserving Lighting Initiative	Since April 1, 2007, 46% of refits and fit-ups for both offices and Service Canada Centres include energy efficient lighting.
	Decreasing Office Equipment Energy Use	Currently identifying relevant data requirements and need to establish baseline and evaluate energy usage of digital copier fleet.
	Recycling Initiative	Since April 1, 2007, 72% of refits and fit-ups for offices include recycling centres that accept plastics.
	Extra/Intra-jurisdictional Offices Sharing Initiative	Since April 1, 2007, 49% of refits and fit-ups of Service Canada Centres share office elements will other levels of government.

SDS Departmental Goals: Vehicle Emissions

Federal SD Goal(s), including GGO goals:

Goal 3: Reduce greenhouse gas emissions

3.3.1 Emissions are reduced

Expected Results 2008-2009	Supporting Performance Measure(s)	Achieved SDS Departmental Results for 2008-2009
Reduced vehicle fleet GHG emissions Increased carpooling with other government departments and jurisdictions Increased sustainable vehicle procurement by fleet management staff Increased sustainable vehicle usage awareness among staff	Fleet Optimization Initiative	Since April 1, 2007, GHG emissions from Departmental fleet have decreased by 9.5% (diverted 130 kilo tonnes of GHGs)
	Extra/Intra-jurisdictional Carpooling Initiative	It has been determined that this initiative is not feasible. The rationale as to why this is not feasible will be prepared and submitted to the Strategic Business Planning (SBP) Branch who is responsible for HRSDC �s Sustainable Development Strategy (SDS).
	Conducting Training Sessions with Fleet Management	This commitment needs to be re-evaluated given that fleet management has been centralized after the commitment was established.
	Employees Eco-driving Initiative	Once Procurement awards contract for training, an on-line training tool will be created and will focus on vehicle maintenance, alternative fuel usage and reduction of GHGs. This training will be provided to approximately 3,000 employees across the country driving fleet vehicles.

SDS Departmental Goals: Green Procurement

Federal SD Goal(s), including GGO goals:

Goal 5: Sustainable Development and Use of Natural Resources

5.3.1 Environmentally sustainable use of natural resources is promoted

Expected Results 2008-2009	Supporting Performance Measure(s)	Achieved SDS Departmental Results for 2008-2009
Increased departmental usage of certified sustainable accommodations Increased purchase of green items Increased green procurement awareness among procurement staff Redirection of E-Waste to recycling depots Reduced acquisition of paper materials by moving to online directories	Green Hotel Usage Initiative	Sessions are being provided to inform participants that employees are encouraged to use Green Leaf Hotels. HRSDC Travel Framework contains Environmental Ratings for Hotels based on PWGSC 2009 Accommodation and Car Rental Guide.
	Sustainable Procurement Initiative	From a process perspective, awareness is provided on green procurement by encouraging the purchase of green goods and services (where feasible) and promoting the use of acquisition cards thereby reducing paper.
	Conducting Training Sessions with Administrative Assistants	Functional specialists receive training through courses offered by the School of Public Service, and managers and administrative staff receive information through departmental awareness sessions.
	E-Waste Initiative	Once PWGSC �s e-Waste Policy takes effect (Fall 2009), Departments will be able to send e-Waste not destined for reuse to supplier. This will ensure e-Waste is disposed of in an environmentally responsible manner.
	Regional Offices Phonebook Reduction Initiative	Reduction initiative has resulted in a substantial number of phonebooks being distributed in the Regions, from a high of 398 in the NHQ to a low of only 50 in Nova Scotia.

SDS Departmental Goals: Green Processing

Federal SD Goal(s), including GGO goals:

Goal 5: Sustainable Development and Use of Natural Resources

5.3.1 Environmentally sustainable use of natural resources is promoted

Expected Results 2008-2009	Supporting Performance Measure(s)	Achieved SDS Departmental Results for 2008-2009
Decreased use of paper and energy to process service offerings Decreased service delivery processing requirements and paper usage Reduced quantity of paper printed within the Department	Processing Automation Initiative	Service Canada has been placing increasing number of service on-line as the part of the Process Automation Initiative. Please see the statistics below for the Simplification of Program Delivery Documents:
	Simplification of Program Delivery Document Requirements	98.6% of initial of EI applications and 90,3% of renewal applications received via internet. (Target 95%) 49.4% of Record of Employment received via internet (Target 35%) 99.6% of EI claimant reports received via internet/telephone (Target 50%) 85.9% of CPP, 88.5% of OAS and 79.7% of EI benefits paid via direct deposit (Target 85% for each) 22.6% of CPP basic on-line retirement applications (Target 20%)
	Paper Reduction Initiative	Electronic Record of Employment submission through the Web has increased by almost 600% in the past 3 years, and employees can now view their electronic Record of Employment online, which eliminates the need to print a copy.

SDS Departmental Goals: Collaboration with Communities

Federal SD Goal(s), including GGO goals:

Goal 4: Sustainable Communities

4.1.1 Communities are well positioned to advance sustainable social development

4.3.2 Risks to human and ecosystem health from harmful substances are reduced (including cleanup of federal contaminated sites)

Goal 5: Sustainable Development and Use of Natural Resources

5.3.1 Environmentally sustainable use of natural resources is promoted

Expected Results 2008-2009	Supporting Performance Measure(s)	Achieved SDS Departmental Results for 2008-2009
Increase in awareness and use of electronic Service Canada service offerings Increased number of Service Canada Service Centres designed to enhance service experience Increase the number of grants and contributions applications funded by Service Canada that receive environmental reviews Increase in volunteerism by Departmental staff in their communities Improvement in meeting client needs in the delivery of service offerings Posted and updated sustainable development information in Service Canada Service Centres Increased volume of recycling in Service Canada Service Centres	Promoting Environmentally Friendly Service Delivery Channels Service Canada Centre Design Initiative	Since April 1, 2007, 38% of refits and fit-ups of Service Canada Centres include environmental and sustainable development considerations for design elements.
	Strengthening Environmental Assessment Function	Governance structure established and resources allocated to manage the EA function; service agreement signed with PWGSC for the servicing of EA
	Encouraging Staff Volunteerism in Local Communities	Departmental management encourages staff on a regular basis to take their volunteer day as a way to contribute to their community.
	Building Feedback Process to Policy Departments	A formal policy feedback process is in currently being developed
	Diffusing Sustainable Development Information in Service Canada Service Centres	The sustainable development strategy has been accessed on the Departments website by 1,903 unique visitors.
	Facilitating Recycling in Service Canada Service Centres	Since April 1, 2007, 77% of refits and fit-ups of Service Canada Centers include recycling centers.

SDS Departmental Goals: Signature Projects

Federal SD Goal(s), including GGO goals:

Goal 4: Sustainable Communities

4.1.1 Communities are well positioned to advance sustainable social development

Expected Results 2008-2009	Supporting Performance Measure(s)	Achieved SDSDepartmental Results for 2008-2009
Identification of future HR skills needs for the environmental sector; improved awareness and capacity among educators, practitioners and employers Key indicators available on the well-being of Canadians Strategies developed and training available	Partnerships - Sector Councils: Promote the work with the ECO council to encourage similar work in other sectors	25 new occupational and role model profiles completed; 13 licensed trainers and 378 graduates from the Environmental Monitoring program and one approved trainer for the Environmental Site Assessment Assistant program; eight BEAHR interns being placed through the Career Focus program in 2008-2009 and 106 jobs posted on the BEAHR Job Board since October 2008.
	Knowledge - indicators on the well-being of Canadians; visits to key indicators of well-being webpage	Total of 72 indicators on the website provides a national trend, breakdowns by age, gender and region, and international comparisons where possible; Since April 2008, 300,000 unique site visits, an average of 730 visits per day.
	People - Labour Market and Skills Development	In 2008, 49 of 60 participants (82%) in the Partners Building Futures in New Brunswick initiative completed the pre-employment training. (Target was 80% completion). In 2008, the same initiative resulted in 8 participants becoming registered as apprentices and a total of 18 now working in trades. In 2008, 86% of participants in the British Columbia Reclamation and Prospecting (RAP) Teams completed their training and 70% of participants are now currently employed.

SDS Departmental Goals: Governance for Sustainable Development

Federal SD Goal(s), including GGO goals:

Goal 6: Governance for Sustainable Development

6.1.1 SDS commitments are integrated into the key planning and reporting processes of departments and agencies

6.1.2 Clear and effective governance mechanisms to integrate sustainable development in decision making, e.g., SEA

Expected Results 2008-2009	Supporting Performance Measure(s)	Achieved SDS Departmental Results for 2008-2009
Sustainability initiatives within Department supported by timely and appropriate policies and directives Ensuring that there are defined SD leadership roles and responsibilities within the Department Reporting by the Department on SDS activities in departmental documents including the RPP, DPR and Service Canada Annual Report Recognizing Departmental staff for their sustainable development-related efforts Increase awareness of sustainable development issues among staff Developing a national network of Service Canada staff to support sustainable development activities and assist with monitoring	Developing and Implementing Sustainable Development Policies and Directives	SD Lens developed for inclusion into the Policy Development Guide for use by Dept policy analysts.
	Establishing Organizational Structure dedicated to Sustainable Development	SD Governance Charter developed and signed by all stakeholders
	Integrating SDS into the Departmental Planning and Reporting Cycle	Director General of Corporate Planning taking part in interdepartmental working group to establish guidelines for SD reporting in the RPP/DPR
	Building a Sustainable Development Recognition Program	HRSDC Regions have incorporated Recognition Programs as Part of Environmental Week activities. Numerous employees withing the Department have been formally recognized for doing their part for sustainable development.
	Building Engagement Enablers Establishing SDS Network with Representatives from all Branches and Regions	Sustainable Development network of representatives from across HRSDC Branches and Regions is established and operational.