Performance Report FY 05-06
- Goal No. 1:
- Goal No. 2:
- Goal No. 3:
- Goal No. 4:
- Appendix 1 - Acronyms
Executive Summary
Fiscal Year 2005/2006 was the second year of implementation of Public Works and Government
Services Canada's (PWGSC) third Sustainable Development Strategy (SDS 2003). Its commitments
are built on the three overarching goals of the previous strategy, with an additional goal of
providing leadership in greening government operations. This report summarizes PWGSC's progress
during fiscal year 2005/06 toward those four strategic goals:
- Greening PWGSC's role as a custodian of real property;
- Greening the services provided to other government departments;
- Greening the internal operations of PWGSC; and
- Taking a lead role in greening government operations.
Like previous strategies, SDS 2003 focussed on environmental issues. However, reflecting PWGSC's emphasis on service delivery to colleague departments and agencies, this strategy considered social and economic factors, as well. Through these strategies, PWGSC aims to promote sustainable development and operations in the federal government over the next 10 to 15 years.
A risk assessment related to PWGSC meeting its SDS 2003 commitments by the targeted completion dates indicates that, as of March 31st, 2006:
- 16 targets were either being met or were on track to be met (low risk); and
- three targets were either not being met or were not on track to be met (medium or high risk)
- the target on the Purchase of Electricity from Renewable Resources (PERR) Program was temporarily suspended under Treasury Board's Climate Change Program Review.
Corrective measures have been identified to improve the Department's performance on the targets that were not being met or were not on track to be met.
Below, please find highlights of the progress made by PWGSC toward the strategy's goals during fiscal year 2005/2006.
Goal Number One: To green PWGSC's operations as a planner, custodian, and
provider of facilities and common-use office space to federal departments:
- 100% of PWGSC's new construction and major renovation projects were on track to meet or
exceed the LEED Silver, BREEAM/Green Globes 3 Green Globes, or an equivalent standard for
sustainability—a significant number of these projects are expected to reach the LEED Gold standard or its equivalent;
- PWGSC has completed Federal Building Initiative (FBI) projects in 52 buildings and
completed four FBI projects on behalf of other federal departments. Two other projects are to be completed by 2007. During fiscal year 2005/06, PWGSC began one new FBI project, and there are plans to start one new project in the next fiscal year. Through the projects completed to date, the Government of Canada saves an estimated $6.2 million and 51 kilotonnes-equivalent of CO2 annually.
- BOMA Go Green Plus was adopted by PWGSC to assess the environmental performance of Crown-owned office buildings in its custody;
- PWGSC's inventory of HVAC equipment containing CFCs was reduced by an additional 34%, for a total reduction of 51% since March 31st, 2004;
- PWGSC completed a strategy and guidelines to reduce hazardous materials used in its real property inventory by 25 percent; and
- The average annual water consumption for PWGSC's Crown-owned office buildings was reduced
to 28% below the level reported for fiscal year 1999/2000.
Goal Number Two: To green PWGSC's services provided to other government departments and agencies as a common service agent:
- PWGSC provided 9 outreach sessions on green procurement, bring the total number of
sessions provided since March 31st, 2004 to 23; and
- 242 employees of other government departments participated in green procurement training
offered by PWGSC.
Goal Number Three: To green PWGSC's internal operations:
- All of PWGSC's acquisition cardholders have received green procurement
training—furthermore, employees who do not take the green procurement
course within three months of receiving their card are having their
acquisition card privileges suspended.
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Supporting the Government's Strategic Agenda
In 2005, the Office of Greening Government Operations (OGGO) was established to assist federal government departments and agencies in accelerating the greening of government operations (GGO). To advance this agenda, OGGO worked collaboratively with other federal bodies, particularly Treasury Board Secretariat of Canada and Environment Canada, as well as with six interdepartmental steering groups representing key operational sectors.
Greening of government operations is a fundamental component of the Government of Canada's efforts to protect and conserve the environment. This mandate is well aligned with the sustainable economic policy areas outlined in Canada's Performance 2005, as well as with the Department's The Way Forward initiative. The establishment of OGGO is a key element of The Way Forward priority to green government operations.
PWGSC is committed to reflecting the principles of sustainable development in all aspects of its role as a provider of services to other government departments, as a custodian of real property, and in its own internal operations. The Department is taking steps to help lead the government's sustainable development agenda by undertaking initiatives such as environmentally sound procurement and improving the energy efficiency of buildings. By expanding direct deposits for example, PWGSC saved the government $87 million last year, and reduced paper consumption by an equivalent of 43,700 trees.
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Accomplishments
New Policy on Green Procurement - A significant achievement has been the development and approval of a federal green procurement policy. The new Policy on Green Procurement that came into effect on April 1, 2006 is set within the context of achieving value for money and requires that federal departments and agencies embed environmental performance considerations into their procurement decision-making processes. In addition, it requires that individual departments and agencies establish and report on green procurement targets tailored to their mandates, spend patterns and environmental risks.
Governance Structure - In its first year of operation, OGGO,
working with its partners in other government departments and agencies, developed a
revised government-wide governance structure to assist in effective, collaborative
and efficient decision-making in GGO. This governance structure consists of
six inter-departmental committees.
Guidance on Greening Government Operations for Sustainable Development Strategies - Working with the 33 departments and agencies that table sustainable development strategies, OGGO identified environmental priorities and prepared the related guidance document for departments to use in developing their strategies that will be tabled in Parliament in December 2006. The guidance document focuses on building energy, vehicle fleet, and green procurement. The expected result is to generate measurable, government-wide progress in these three key areas.
Service Delivery - In the past year, PWGSC has been providing ongoing environmental services, on a fee-for-service basis, to federal government departments and agencies in meeting environmental regulatory requirements and commitments outlined in sustainable development strategies. These services include training, advice, and operational activities related to such areas as contaminated sites, storage tanks, hazardous materials, ozone depleting substances, air emissions, waste, water and other.
Sustainable Buildings - Working in collaboration, Natural Resources Canada and PWGSC's focused attention on sustainable building related initiatives. In particular, a commitment was made and preparations are underway to implement a system for operating and managing its Crown-owned office buildings in an environmentally sustainable manner (i.e., Building Owners and Managers Association Go Green Plus). Efforts have also been directed towards fulfilling the government's commitment to ensure that as of 2005, the construction of new government office buildings will be funded to meet the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Gold standard.
Federal/Provincial/Territorial Collaboration - Over the past year, OGGO has worked to strengthen collaborative relationships with provinces and territories. Examples include a number of working committees sharing best practices and tools in the areas of green leasing, sustainable building policies and green procurement.
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Background
In accordance with the 1995 amendments to the Auditor General Act, ministers tabled their first sustainable development strategies (SDSs) in Parliament in 1997. Ministers must table updates to their department's SDS at least every three years. The second round of SDSs was tabled in 2001, and the third was tabled in February 2004. PWGSC's current SDS is the Sustainable Development Strategy 2003 (SDS 2003).
Each fall, departmental performance reports (DPRs) tabled in Parliament report on
departmental activities over the previous fiscal year. In PWGSC, the DPR briefly
discusses SDS activities and refers readers to the document you are reading
now—a separate, more detailed account of PWGSC progress toward meeting its
SDS objectives. Please consider this Sustainable Development Performance
Report an appendix to the PWGSC Departmental Performance Report.
Since tabling its first SDS in 1997, PWGSC has been continuously learning and improving. Systems for collecting data have been developed and modified; the earlier SDS targets have been refined so that PWGSC SDS performance could be measured more easily; and adjusted reporting mechanisms so that they align better with existing frameworks.
SDS 2003 included the three goals from SDS 2000 and a new goal related to leadership in greening government operations. The current goals are as follows:
- to green PWGSC's operations as a custodian and provider of facilities and common-use office space to federal departments;
- to green services provided to federal departments and agencies as a common service agent;
- to green the Department's internal operations; and
- to provide national and international leadership in the greening of government operations.
To focus action on innovative ways the federal government can deliver its services in a smarter, faster way and at a reduced cost to Canadians, improving the way the Government of Canada does business, PWGSC is leading a wide-ranging strategy called The Way Forward. The Way Forward is part of the 2005 federal budget and of the government's agenda to improve management and accountability, demonstrate results and show Canadians they are getting value for their money.
The Way Forward embodies sustainable development and will facilitate the implementation of related initiatives, such as green procurement. It will help the Government of Canada buy goods and services in a more co-ordinated way. These efforts will help the government reduce operating costs and facilitate the implementation of programs to help Canada meet its commitment under the Kyoto Protocol to decrease emissions of greenhouse gases.
In April 2005, the Government of Canada created a centre to provide expertise and leadership on greening operations within PWGSC—the Office of Greening Government Operations (OGGO). With the help of Environment Canada and Treasury Board Secretariat, this office is aiming to green government operations by providing advice and guidance to the federal community in areas such as green procurement, green property management, recycling and waste management.
This report examines the long-term objectives associated with each of these goals, looking at specific interim targets, performance highlights, areas of concern, and corrective actions planned. For each long-term objective, the report states the target, describes progress during fiscal year 2005/06, and outlines any corrective or additional measures to be taken.
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