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j. Sustainable Development at PWGSC

Strategic outcome - The Government of Canada's goal is to become a model of environmental excellence in its own operations. In support of government-wide goal, PWGSC has committed that the principles of sustainable development will be reflected in all aspects of PWGSC's role as a provider of services to other government departments, as a custodian of real property, and in its own internal operations.

Approach - PWGSC tabled its latest Sustainable Development Strategy (SDS) in Parliament in February 2004, in compliance with the Auditor General Act, which requires that SDS updates be completed and tabled in Parliament every three years. PWGSC developed its SDS 2003 based on lessons learned from implementing its first two strategies (SDS 1997 and SDS 2000), on feedback from colleague departments, and on the guidance and expectations set out in "Sustainable Development Strategies — Making a Difference" document published by the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development in the Spring of 2003.

Through SDS 2003, PWGSC endeavours to influence the way in which it: carries out its custodial duties; acquires goods and services; delivers services to its colleague departments and agencies; and conducts its internal operations. This strategy will help guide the department in its contribution toward the goal of promoting and achieving sustainable development in the federal government over the next 10-15 years. Implementation of the SDS2003 commitments will take place over the period FY 2004-2005 to FY 2006-2007 and beyond.

Goals - PWGSC's roles and responsibilities have not changed substantially since the second sustainable development strategy was tabled in February 2001. The commitments in SDS 2003 are updates of the commitments that the department included in its second strategy, SDS 2000. The overarching goals have remained the same:

1. to green PWGSC's operations as a custodian and provider of facilities and common-use office space to federal departments;

2. to green services provided to federal departments and agencies as a common service agent; and

3. to green the department's internal operations.

In addition to the original three goals, SDS 2003 includes a fourth goal:

4. to provide national and international leadership in the greening of government operations.

For more information - For a copy of PWGSC's SDS 2003, and for more specific information concerning planned activities, partnerships and interdepartmental initiatives, please visit the following Web site:
http://www.pwgsc.gc.ca/sd-env/sds2003/strategy/toc-e.html.