2023 to 2024 Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy Report
Introduction to the 2023 to 2024 Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy Report
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 Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada (OIC) supports the goals laid out in the FSDS through the activities described in the OIC’s 2023 to 2027 Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy (DSDS). This Report provides a report on progress related to the OIC’s DSDS in the fiscal year 2023 to 2024.
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 OIC’s DSDS and 2023 to 2024 DSDS Report.
To promote coordinated action on sustainable development across the Government of Canada, the OIC’s departmental strategy reports on Canada’s progress towards implementing the 2030 Agenda and advancing the SDGs, supported by the Global Indicator Framework (GIF) and Canadian Indicator Framework (CIF) targets and indicators. The Report also now captures progress on SDG initiatives that fall outside the scope of the FSDS.
Commitments for the Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada
Within its operating context, the Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada (OIC) will make every effort to implement the elements of Sustainable Development Strategy. Taking into account that the OIC has only one mandate and one program that are not directly related to any of the Goals, and that the OIC operates at arm's length from the government reporting directly to Parliament, its commitment scope will be within the Internal Services.
In delivery of the Internal Services, the OIC considers and adopts, best practices identified by other federal organizations in relation to corporate policies, procedures, and decision making.
The OIC is an Agent of Parliament operating under the Access to Information Act, and the Commissioner is solely responsible for monitoring and ensuring compliance with this policy within the OIC.
Goal 10: Advance reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples and take action on inequality
FSDS Context: The OIC is an Agent of Parliament operating under the Access to Information Act.
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 (Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada)
| 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 | Results Achieved |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act | Provide Indigenous cultural competency training and/or training on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Program: Internal Services | Performance indicator: Percentage of the OIC staff who have completed Indigenous cultural competency training. Starting point: Percentage of the OIC staff trained by fiscal year. Target: 100% | This action encourages OIC employees to increase their cultural competency skills and awareness of issues related to First Nations, Inuit and Métis in Canada, and their knowledge of the UN Declaration. This action contributes to the development of necessary cultural competency knowledge and skills to implement the UN Declaration and help build respectful relationships with Indigenous Peoples in Canada. Relevant targets or ambitions: GIF Target - 10.3 Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies and action in this regard | Indicator result: Data will be available in fiscal year 2024-25. Notes: A course on Indigenous cultural competency will be added to the list of mandatory employee training in 2024-25 and results will be reported in the next Report. |
Goal 12: Reduce waste and transition to zero-emission vehicles
FSDS Context: The OIC is an Agent of Parliament operating under the Access to Information Act.
Target theme: Federal Leadership on Responsible Consumption
Target: By 2030, the Government of Canada will divert from landfill at least 75% by weight of non-hazardous operational waste (All Ministers)
| 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 | Results Achieved |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximize diversion of waste from landfill | Promote sustainable practices in corporate management Program: Internal Services | Performance indicator: N/A (ongoing) Starting point: Target: | The OIC promotes sustainable practices and encourage employees to reduce, reuse and recycle paper, computers and other office supplies, and to dispose of goods responsibly and with as small and environmental impact as possible. The OIC will takes environmental considerations into account in the upkeep and renovation of its office space, and work with other tenants in its building on greening activities. Relevant targets or ambitions: CIF Ambition/Target: CIF Indicator: GIF Target: | Indicator result: N/A Notes: Although the OIC is not the custodian of the building, the combined waste diversion rate for all of the tenants in the building was 45.8%. |
Target: By 2030, the Government of Canada will divert from landfill at least 90% by weight of all construction and demolition waste (All Ministers)
| 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 | Results Achieved |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximize diversion of waste from landfill | Program: Internal Services | Performance indicator: N/A Starting point: Target: | The OIC is not the building custodian but it takes environmental considerations into account in the upkeep and renovation of its office space, and works with other tenants in its building on greening activities. Relevant targets or ambitions: CIF Ambition/Target: CIF Indicator: GIF Target: | Indicator result: N/A Notes: The OIC did not undertake any construction or demolition activities in the year. |
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 (All Ministers)
| 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 | Results Achieved |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transform the federal light-duty fleet | Program: Internal Services | Performance indicator: N/A Starting point: Target: | The OIC has no light-duty fleet and has only one ministerial vehicle. Relevant targets or ambitions: CIF Ambition/Target: CIF Indicator: GIF Target: | Indicator result: N/A Notes: No light-duty fleet were purchased in the year. |
| Strengthen green procurement criteria | Ensure material management and procurement specialists have the necessary training and awareness to support green procurement. Program: Internal Services | Performance indicator: Percentage of specialists in procurement and materiel management who have completed training on green procurement (target: 100%) Starting point: 100% of procurement specialists have received the training. Target: 100% of procurement specialists have received the training. | The Canadian Human Rights Commission provides contracting services to several small government departments, including the OIC, and as such enables streamlined procurement efforts and unified results. Relevant targets or ambitions: CIF Ambition/Target: CIF Indicator: GIF Target: | Indicator result: 100% in 2023-24 Notes: All procurement specialists have received green procurement training. |
Implementation strategies supporting the goal
This section is for implementation strategies that support the goal “Reduce waste and transition to zero-emission vehicles” but not a specific FSDS target
| 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 | Results Achieved |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other | Program: Internal Services | Performance indicator: N/A Starting point: Target: | The OIC promotes sustainable travel practices (for both commuting and business travel), and the ministerial vehicle is hybrid. Relevant targets or ambitions: CIF Ambition/Target: CIF Indicator: GIF Target: | Indicator result: N/A Notes: The OIC has taken steps to minimize travel outside the National Capital Region. Travel is limited to events where in-person attendance is required to support the mandate of the OIC. |
Goal 13: Take action on climate change and its impacts
FSDS Context:
The OIC is an Agent of Parliament operating under the Access to Information Act.
Target theme: Federal Leadership on Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reductions and Climate Resilience
Target: The Government of Canada will transition to net-zero carbon operations for facilities and conventional fleets by 2050 (All Ministers)
| 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 | Results Achieved |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Implement the Greening Government Strategy through measures that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve climate resilience, and green the government’s overall operations | Promote sustainable practices in corporate management. Program: Internal Services | Performance indicator: N/A Starting point: Target: | The OIC promotes sustainable travel practices (for both commuting and business travel), and encourages employees to reduce, reuse and recycle paper, computers and other office supplies, and to dispose of goods responsibly and with as small and environmental impact as possible. The OIC will take environmental considerations into account in the upkeep and renovation of its Workplace office space, and work with other tenants in its building on greening activities (post pandemic). Relevant targets or ambitions: CIF Ambition/Target: CIF Indicator: GIF Target: | Indicator result: N/A Notes: The OIC is evaluating options for going forward. |
| Modernize through net-zero carbon buildings | Program: Internal Services | Performance indicator: N/A Starting point: Target: | The OIC is not playing the custodian role for its building. However, the OIC takes environmental considerations into account in the upkeep and renovation of its office space, and works with other tenants in its building on greening activities. Relevant targets or ambitions: CIF Ambition/Target: CIF Indicator: GIF Target: | Indicator result: N/A Notes: No significant renovations were completed in the year. |
| Apply a greenhouse gas reduction life-cycle cost analysis for major building retrofits | Program: Internal Services | Performance indicator: N/A Starting point: Target: | The OIC takes environmental considerations into account in the upkeep and renovation of its office space, and works with other tenants in its building on greening activities. Relevant targets or ambitions: CIF Ambition/Target: CIF Indicator: GIF Target: | Indicator result: N/A Notes: No significant renovations were completed in the year |
Target: The Government of Canada will transition to climate resilient operations by 2050 (All Ministers)
| 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 | Results Achieved |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reduce risks posed by climate change to federal assets, services and operations | Program: N/A | Performance indicator: Starting point: Target: | Relevant targets or ambitions: CIF Ambition/Target: CIF Indicator: GIF Target: | Indicator result: N/A Notes: |
Implementation strategies supporting the goal
This section is for implementation strategies that support the goal “Take action on climate change and its impacts” but not a specific FSDS target
| 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 | Results Achieved |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other | Program: N/A | Performance indicator: Starting point: Target: | Relevant targets or ambitions: CIF Ambition/Target: CIF Indicator: GIF Target: | Indicator result: N/A Notes: |
Integrating Sustainable Development
The Office of the Information Commissioner will continue to ensure that its decision-making process includes consideration of FSDS goals and targets through its Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) process. An 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 OIC’s assessments are made public when an initiative 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.
The OIC did not complete any detailed SEAs in 2023-24.