Public Works and Government Services Canada's contribution to the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy

Public Works and Government Services Canada's sustainable development vision

The Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) vision for integrating sustainable development within its mandate is to have the concept of sustainable development reflected in all aspects of PWGSC's role as a provider of services to colleague departments and agencies, as a custodian of real property, and in our own internal operations. PWGSC developed its approach to managing sustainable development in recognizing that the purpose of the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy is to make environmental decision–making more transparent and accountable to Parliament.

Departmental decision-making and sustainable development

PWGSC is subject to Theme IV (Shrinking the Environmental Footprint–Beginning with Government) and to meet these targets, it develops annual commitments which are reflected in the Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy Tables of the Departmental Report on Plans and Priorities (RPP) and Departmental Performance Report (DPR).

The Department's Policy and Planning Committee may review the Departmental Report on Plans and Priorities including the Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy Supplementary Table.

The Audit and Evaluation Committee reviews summary results for the department's sustainable Development commitments presented in Section I of the Departmental Performance Report.

Strategic environmental assessment

Planned highlights and commitments

During 2013-2014, PWGSC considered the environmental effects of initiatives subject to the Cabinet Directive on Environmental Assessment of Policy, Plan and Program Proposals. One Strategic Environmental Assessment preliminary scan was completed. For a second proposal, pertaining to a military acquisition, an original preliminary scan was completed in 2004 and updated in 2013. For a third proposal pertaining to procurement policy a preliminary scan was approved by Cabinet in 2012 and revalidated in 2013. Since it was concluded that none of these three initiatives would generate important environmental effects, neither detailed scans nor public statements were required.

Twenty Treasury Board (TB) submission proposals were submitted by PWGSC for TB approval. Preliminary Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) scan checklists were completed for these initiatives and in 18 of them, determined that these proposals would have no outcomes with important environmental effects. Accordingly, SEAs were not indicated. There was an SEA conducted for the remaining two TB submissions.

The management system for SEAs within PWGSC is described in a departmental Directive. This directive defines the framework under which departmental obligations related to the Cabinet Directive on the Environmental Assessment of Policy, Plan and Program Proposals are to be met. The responsibilities and accountabilities of the DM, sponsoring Branch heads and Regional Directors are outlined, as well as those for the oversight sectors providing important technical advice, compliance monitoring and reporting functions.