Table of Contents
- Introduction to the Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy
- Commitments for the Office of the Secretary to the Governor General (OSGG)
- Integrating Sustainable Development
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 Secretary to the Governor General (OSGG) supports the goals laid out in the FSDS through the activities described in the Office of the Secretary to the Governor General’s 2023 to 2027 Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy (DSDS). This Report provides a report on progress related to the Office of the Secretary to the Governor General’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 Office of the Secretary to the Governor General’s DSDS and 2023 to 2024 DSDS Report.
To promote coordinated action on sustainable development across the Government of Canada, the Office of the Secretary to the Governor General’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 Secretary to the Governor General (OSGG)
GOAL 10: ADVANCE RECONCILIATION WITH INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND TAKE ACTION ON INEQUALITY
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: UN Declaration Act Implementation Secretariat |
Performance Indicator: Percentage of staff who have completed Indigenous cultural competency training (internal or external) |
Public servants are in a unique position to help build respectful relationships with Indigenous Peoples in Canada. This action encourages public service 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. |
Indicator result:
72% of the staff had completed Indigenous cultural training as at March 31, 2024. |
Initiatives advancing Canada’s implementation of SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities
The following initiatives demonstrate how the Office of the Secretary to the Governor General programming supports the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs, supplementing the information outlined above.
PLANNED INITIATIVES |
ASSOCIATED DOMESTICS TARGETS OR AMBITIONS AND/OR GLOBAL TARGETS |
RESULTS ACHIEVED |
The OSGG provides learning opportunities on Indigenous cultures and experiences.
The OSGG has set a target of having 100% of its employees complete these training courses by September 30, 2024. All new employees will receive training within one year of being hired. |
These OSGG initiatives contribute to advancing: |
Indicator result:
71% of the staff had completed the CSPS course, Reflecting on Cultural Bias: Indigenous Perspectives (IRA101), as at March 31, 2024. 74% of the staff had completed the CSPS course, The Uncomfortable Truth: A Brief History of the Relationship Between Indigenous Peoples and the Government of Canada (IRA102), as at March 31, 2024. Consequently, overall, 72% of the staff had completed Indigenous cultural training as at March 31, 2024. To continue to promote and commemorate National Indigenous Peoples Day, OSGG launched an Indigenous art installation called Learning and Healing Through Art. |
In response to the Federal 2SLGBTQI+ Action Plan and through its internal Employment, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee (EEDI), the OSGG will provide training on 2SLGBTQI+ to raise awareness and improve understanding of the community and the issues it faces. The OSGG has set a target of having 100% of its employees complete these training courses by September 30, 2024. All new employees will receive training within one year of being hired.
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These OSGG initiatives contribute to advancing: |
Indicator result:
30% of the staff had completed the CSPS course, Positive Space Initiatives: 2SLGBTQI+ Awareness (INC111), as at March 31, 2024 0% of the staff had completed the CSPS course, Positive Space Initiatives: Becoming an Ambassador for 2SLGBTQI+ Inclusion (INC112), as at March 31, 2024. An error occurred in the 2023–27 DSDS; this course should not have been identified as a requirement for all employees and will be removed from the planned initiatives through the DSDS updates process. |
Implementation of the OSGG’s Accessibility |
These OSGG initiatives contribute to advancing: |
Indicator result:
The OSGG has produced internal guidelines for creating accessible documents. Procurement officers have now been trained on the Accessible Canada Act and on accessible procurement. Visitor Services has started using a visitor experience survey following guided tours of the residences that allows visitors to provide feedback on the accessibility of visits and the website. The OSGG continues to progress on its departmental Accessibility Plan, including annual employee feedback on actions taken to meet goals. |
The OSGG continues to consult and collaborate with Indigenous-focused federal departments on the delivery of its programs. |
These OSGG initiatives contribute to advancing: |
Indicator result:
Ahead of any official visits or travel for the Governor General and OSGG, consultations take place with relevant Indigenous groups and communities. Indigenous advisors within the OSGG further ensure that any activities or ceremonies are reflective and inclusive of Indigenous Peoples of Canada, including discussions with CIRNAC and ISC where appropriate, and leveraging existing relationships and partnerships. As a result of this collaboration, during the reporting period ending March 31, 2024, the Governor General participated in 45 separate activities, in 6 different provinces or territories, focused on Indigenous peoples and reconciliation. |
In response to the Call to Action on Anti-Racism, Equity, and Inclusion in the Federal Public Service, the OSGG is committed to recruiting candidates from Indigenous, black and other marginalized communities for its guide-interpreters program. Under the Federal Student Work Experience Program (FSWEP), the OSGG is committed to recruiting from the Indigenous Students’ Inventory for its guide-interpreters program. The OSGG will tailor its marketing to focus on Indigenous student groups at universities and other marginalized groups.
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These OSGG initiatives contribute to advancing: |
Indicator result:
The OSGG continues prioritizing the recruitment of members of one or more of the employment equity groups (Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible minorities and women). Under the Federal Student Work Experience Program (FSWEP), the OSGG was not successful in recruiting from the Indigenous Students’ Inventory for its guide-interpreters program but continues to leverage it. The OSGG continues to promote its guide-interpreters program at Rideau Hall and the Citadelle with specific proactive outreach to Indigenous communities in post-secondary institutions. |
GOAL 12: REDUCE WASTE AND TRANSITION TO ZERO-EMISSION VEHICLES
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 |
In partnership with its landlords, the National Capital Commission (NCC) and Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC), the OSGG will complete waste audits for Rideau Hall, and its other locations, on a biennial basis, commencing in 2024. |
Performance Indicator: Percentage by weight of non-hazardous operational waste diverted from landfill in Crown-owned buildings |
Actions that reduce the generation of non-hazardous operational waste will help to reduce Scope 3 emissions for the production, transport and disposal of material. Diverting waste from landfill reduces landfill gas and transport hauling emissions. Material recovery via recycling reduces emissions for the extraction and production of virgin materials. |
Indicator result: PSPC is doing a waste audit at LaSalle Academy, where the Chancellery of Honours is located, as part of its regular business. The OSGG is exploring the opportunity to get detailed percentage by weight of non-hazardous operational waste diverted from landfill for this location. |
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 |
The conventional light duty fleet will comprise only zero-emission vehicles (ZEV). |
Performance Indicator: Percentage of OSGG’s total conventional fleet that is ZEV |
Purchasing zero emission vehicles reduces greenhouse gas emissions from conventional fleet operations. This enhances sustainable consumption. |
Indicator result:
100% of OSGG light duty fleet vehicles are plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV) as at March 31, 2024. |
Strengthen green procurement criteria |
Ensure all procurement and materiel management specialists are trained in green procurement (such as, the Canada School of Public Service course on green procurement, or equivalent) |
Performance Indicator: Percentage of procurement and materiel management specialists trained in green procurement |
Green procurement incorporates environmental considerations into purchasing decisions and is expected to motivate suppliers to reduce the environmental impact of the goods and services they deliver, and their supply chains. |
Indicator result: 100% of procurement and materiel management specialists completed the CSPS course, Green Procurement (COR405), as at March 31, 2024. Notes: New employees will be required to complete the course within one year of their hiring date. |
Initiatives advancing Canada’s implementation of SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production
The following initiatives demonstrate how Office of the Secretary to the Governor General programming supports the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs, supplementing the information outlined above.
PLANNED INITIATIVES |
ASSOCIATED DOMESTICS TARGETS OR AMBITIONS AND/OR GLOBAL TARGETS |
RESULTS ACHIEVED |
The OSGG will ensure that its printed products use sustainably recycled and eco-friendlypaper, when possible, and will endeavour to minimize the number of printed products.
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These OSGG initiatives contribute to advancing: |
The OSGG changed the format of printed programs that are distributed at honours presentation ceremonies at the official residences. Removing citations from the programs and only providing the names of recipients has allowed a reduction in the number of pages printed by more than 90%. For example, for the Order of Canada investiture ceremonies, the printed program has been reduced from 13 pages to a single page, representing a reduction of 93%. The same practice is now being used across other honours programs. The OSGG has additionally stopped producing printed programs for honours ceremonies that are not directly managed by the Chancellery of Honours, further reducing the amount of printed products. For the first time in the history of the Canadian Honours System, the production of certificates was excluded from the framework of a program at the planning stage. Applied to the King Charles III Coronation Medal program, this initiative results in the saving of 30 000 certificates and “stay flat” envelopes. A second phase is being planned to consider alternate certificate delivery methods for medal programs where regulations prescribe that a certificate of award be issued. When printing commemorative products, the Events Team has revised its practice; where previously they would print extra products for distribution, they now only print the required number. Printed training manuals for guides have not been phased out yet, but the OSGG is working on securing hardware required to transition the materials to an electronic format. |
The OSGG will continue its digitization initiative for archived physical records. |
These OSGG initiatives contribute to advancing: |
As at March 31, 2024, 50 boxes of archived physical records have been digitized (2%). Work will continue in this regard. By adopting an electronic records management system, the OSGG was able to avoid the creation of 166,381 physical records. |
The OSGG will promote green principles in the procurement of all its goods and Services. |
These OSGG initiatives contribute to advancing: |
Through green procurement practice, the OSGG adopted the use of recycled paper for printers and communication products. For internal food services, the OSGG transitioned to compostable utensils and service vessels, and is also phasing out plastic water bottles. |
GOAL 13: TAKE ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND ITS IMPACTS
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 |
Ensure all relevant employees are trained on assessing climate change impacts, undertaking climate change risk assessments, and developing adaptation actions within one year of being identified |
Performance Indicator: Percentage of relevant employees trained on assessing climate change impacts, undertaking climate change risk assessments, and developing adaptation actions within one year of being identified |
Trained staff can identify risk to critical program delivery, and develop responses to increase the resilience of operations to impacts of climate change. |
Indicator result: 0% of relevant employees completed training on assessing climate change impacts, undertaking climate change risk assessments and developing adaptation actions. Notes: In 2024–25, the Office plans to assess which employees should be trained on this specific topic, based on job functions. |
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 |
Assess the risk of climate change impacts at mission critical assets and where there are moderate to high risks, develop plans to reduce the risk |
Performance Indicator: Percentage of mission critical assets where the risk of climate change impacts is assessed |
By assessing the risks of climate change impacts at mission critical assets, and developing plans to reduce the risks, the risk of disruption of critical service delivery to Canadians is reduced. |
Indicator result: 0% of mission critical assets where the risk of climate change impacts has been assessed as at March 31, 2024. Notes: This action has not started yet; however, the OSGG will assess mission critical assets as part of the OSGG’s Business Continuity Plan and update its Materiel Management Framework accordingly. |
Initiatives advancing Canada’s implementation of SDG 13 – Climate Action
The following initiatives demonstrate how the Office of the Secretary to the Governor General programming supports the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs, supplementing the information outlined above.
PLANNED INITIATIVES |
ASSOCIATED DOMESTICS TARGETS OR AMBITIONS AND/OR GLOBAL TARGETS |
RESULTS ACHIEVED |
The OSGG is committed to transforming its printed products to digital products which will reduce waste and reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions related to the distribution of these products. |
These OSGG initiatives contribute to advancing: |
The OSGG changed the format of printed programs that are distributed at honours presentation ceremonies at the official residences. Removing citations in the programs and providing only the names of recipients has allowed a reduction in the number of pages printed by more than 90%. For example, for the Order of Canada investiture ceremonies, the printed program has been reduced from 13 pages to a single page, representing a reduction of 93%. The same practice is now being used across other honours programs. The OSGG has additionally stopped producing printed programs for honours ceremonies that are not directly managed by the Chancellery of Honours, further reducing the amount of printed products. For the first time in the history of the Canadian Honours System, the production of certificates was excluded from the framework of a program at the planning stage. Applied to the King Charles III Coronation Medal program, this initiative results in the saving of 30 000 certificates and “stay flat” envelopes. A second phase is being planned to consider alternate certificate delivery methods for medal programs where regulations prescribe that a certificate of award be issued. |
The OSGG will continue to migrate its IT infrastructure to a cloud environment. |
These OSGG initiatives contribute to advancing: |
The OSGG has successfully migrated its backups to the cloud and is in the process of working with Shared Services Canada to migrate its email services to the cloud. |
The OSGG will promote training to all of its relevant employees on assessing climate change impacts, undertaking climate change risk assessments, and developing adaptation actions. The OSGG has set a target of having 100% of its relevant employees complete these training courses by 2026. All new employees will receive training within one year of being identified.
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These OSGG initiatives contribute to advancing: |
0% of relevant employees trained on assessing climate change impacts, undertaking climate change risk assessments and developing adaptation actions. In 2024–25, the OSGG plans to assess which employees should be trained on this initiative, based on job functions. |
The OSGG will continue to incorporate climate change considerations in the delivery of its operations. |
These OSGG initiatives contribute to advancing: |
Through green procurement practices, the OSGG adopted the use of recycled paper for printers and communication products. For internal food services, the OSGG transitioned to 100% compostable utensils and service vessels. The Office is also phasing out the use and availability of plastic water bottles. A key priority for the mandate of the current governor general is the preservation and stewardship of nature and the environment. Efforts are ongoing to raise public awareness of the importance of stewardship of our natural environment and the impact of climate change on the mental health of Canadians, particularly youth. Program design and delivery is being reviewed to look at ways to integrate climate friendly business practices and transitioning from print to electronic publications and products. |
Integrating Sustainable Development
The Office of the Secretary to the Governor General (OSGG) 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 Office of the Secretary to the Governor General’s (OSGG) 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 Office of the Secretary to the Governor General (OSGG) did not complete any detailed SEAs in 2023-24.
© His Majesty the King in Right of Canada, as represented by the Office of the Secretary to the Governor General
Catalogue Number SO1-6E-PDF
ISSN 2818-8217