2023-24 Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy Report
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- Introduction to the 2023 to 2024 Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy Report
- Commitments for the Military Grievances External Review Committee
- 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 Military Grievance External Review Committee (the Committee) supports the goals laid out in the FSDS through the activities described in the Committee’s 2023 to 2027 Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy (DSDS). This Report provides a report on progress related to the Committee’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 Committee’s DSDS and 2023 to 2024 DSDS Report.
To promote coordinated action on sustainable development across the Government of Canada, the Committee’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 Military Grievances External Review Committee
Goal 10: Advance reconcilation with Indigenous Peoples and take action on inequality
FSDS Context:
This Goal’s focus on taking action on inequality and advancing reconciliation with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities draws inspiration from SDG Global Indicator Framework targets:
- 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status
- 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
Social, economic, and environmental inequalities persist in Canada. These inequalities disproportionately affect people with multiple intersecting identity factors such as gender identity and expression, race and ethnicity, faith community, Indigeneity, disability, sexual orientation, and low socioeconomic status.
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 |
Ensure all Committee employees complete cultural competency training on advancing reconciliation with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples and/or training on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Program: Internal Services |
Performance Indicator: Percentage of staff who have completed mandatory and/or optional Indigenous cultural competency training. Some examples of courses include:
Starting point: Percentage of staff trained [0% in 2023-24] Target: *Mandatory |
Public servants are in a unique position to help build respectful relationships with Indigenous Peoples in Canada. This action encourages Committee 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. 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: A completion rate of 75% of employees have completed mandatory or optional Indigenous Peoples cultural competency training. Notes: Incorporated in two all-staff meetings, there has been an agenda item that seeks to educate and sensitize staff on Indigenous Peoples and their rituals. To commemorate Truth and Reconciliation in September 2023, there was a workshop organized for all employees to learn more about Indigenous culture. |
Initiatives advancing Canada’s implementation of SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities
The following initiatives demonstrate how the Committee’s 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 |
|---|---|---|
In the spirit of economic reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, the Government of Canada has established a mandatory minimum target of at least 5% of the value of federal contracts to be awarded to businesses owned and led by Indigenous Peoples. As per the established schedule prescribed by Indigenous Services Canada, the Committee is part of Phase 3, where it is required to meet the mandatory minimum target of 5% of its total contracts to Indigenous businesses annually by 2024-2025. Although the Committee is not required to meet the 5% for another two years, the organization is committed to helping the Indigenous community and has already adjusted its internal processes and procurement plan. Targets have been set within the organization at 3%, 4% and 5% for fiscal year 2022-2023, 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 respectively. |
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 |
In 2022-2023, 5.36% of Committee’s contracts were awarded to businesses owned and led by Indigenous Peoples. In 2023-2024: 14.15% of Committee’s contracts were awarded to businesses owned and led by Indigenous Peoples. Considering the organization’s target was 3 and 4 % respectively, the Committee is proud of going beyond its planned targets. |
Goal 12: Reduce waste and transition to zero-emission vehicles
FSDS Context:
This Goal’s focus on reducing waste and transitioning to zero-emission vehicles directly supports SDG Global Indicator Framework targets:
- 12.3: By 2030, halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses
- 12.4: By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment
- 12.5: By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse.
- 12.7: Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national policies and priorities
By transitioning to a cleaner and more circular economy that prioritizes reducing consumption and waste generation, reusing the resources already extracted, and finding processes and technologies that take a holistic systems-based approach to minimizing waste throughout the economy, we can help reduce negative impacts on the environment. Doing this also improves resilience to resource shortages, rising or volatile prices, and supply chain interruptions.
Target theme: Federal Leadership on Responsible Consumption
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Strengthen green procurement criteria |
Ensure all procurement and materiel management specialists at the Committee are trained in green procurement (such as, the Canada School of Public Service’s course Indigenous Considerations in Procurement or an equivalent) within one year of being identified. Program: Internal Services |
Performance Indicator: Percentage of procurement and materiel management specialists trained in green procurement within one year of being identified Starting point: In 2023-24, 0% of procurement and materiel management specialists trained in green procurement Target: 100% of procurement officers and material management specialists receive training within one year of being identified |
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. Relevant targets or ambitions: CIF Ambition: Canadians consume in a sustainable manner CIF Indicator: 12.2.1 Proportion of businesses that adopted selected environmental protection activities and management practices GIF Target: 12.7 Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national policies and priorities: |
Indicator result: 67% of procurement officers and material management specialists are trained in green procurement within one year of being identified Notes: The course “Indigenous Considerations in Procurement,” offered by the Canada School of Public Service, has been added to the mandatory courses for procurement specialists. |
Initiatives advancing Canada’s implementation of SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production
The following initiatives demonstrate how the Committee 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 |
|---|---|---|
Promote sustainable development training internally to staff in order to increase awareness and understanding of the Government of Canada’s objectives related to sustainable development and greening government. Invite one guest per year to speak to environmental initiatives and progress within the wider Government of Canada context (i.e., what other organizations are doing, etc.). Optional training:
Invited guests: Given the Committee has all-staff meeting once a month, it would be ideal and opportune to invite guest speakers on the various topics related to sustainable development at least once per year. |
Relevant targets or ambitions: CIF Ambition: Canadians consume in a sustainable manner CIF Indicator: 12.2.1 Proportion of businesses that adopted selected environmental protection activities and management practices GIF Target: 12.7 Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national policies and priorities |
In an effort to promote sustainable development within the organization and with employees, the following decision and actions were realized in 2023-24:
|
Goal 13: Take action on climate change and its impacts
FSDS Context:
Taking action on climate change by reducing emissions of greenhouse gases and short-lived climate pollutants and building resilience directly supports SDG Global Indicator Framework targets:
- 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries
- 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning
- 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning
The effects of human-caused climate change are being felt across our country. Canadians are seeing more extreme temperatures and precipitation as well as more frequent and severe wildfires, heatwaves, droughts and flooding. Canada is warming at two times the global rate, and this rate is even greater in the Canadian Arctic. Meanwhile, rising sea levels, along with less-visible effects such as increased acidity and reduced levels of oxygen in the oceans, are damaging ecosystems and industries such as fisheries.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Implement the Greening Government Strategy through measures that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve climate resilience, and green the government’s overall operations |
Secure office space in a green building for the upcoming 2028 office move Program: Internal Services |
Performance indicator: Secure a Government-owned office space (net-zero carbon, climate-resilient building where low-carbon and climate resilience are a priority) Starting point: Currently located in a building whose green standards are not up to par with Government of Canada vision and in an office space too large for the organization’s needs Target: Select green office space with significantly reduced office footprint and in a shared space for 2028 |
Relevant targets or ambitions: GIF target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning |
Indicator result: The Committee signed an agreement that will begin in 2024-2025 to release one floor of office space, which will result in a reduction of office footprint of 31%. The Committee’s lease ends in 2028, and we have taken the opportunity to make plans to co-locate with similar organizations for the 2028 future office space. Notes: The Committee depersonalized the workspaces in their current building. As required, the future location will meet the Government of Canada green standards and align with the Government of Canada Office Portfolio Reduction Plan. |
Integrating Sustainable Development
The Committee is a micro administrative tribunal that reviews grievances referred to it by the Canadian Armed Forces. Its ability to address the vast majority of the 17 SDGs of the United Nations 2030 Agenda is extremely limited. However, through education, green procurement and green processes, and advancing reconciliation, the Committee can participate and do its part. The organization is fully committed and fully supports the environmental, social and economic dimensions of sustainable development. Every contribution, however small, makes a difference.
The Committee will continue to ensure that its decision-making process includes consideration of FSDS goals and targets and contribute in any way it can to the Government of Canada’s sustainable development vision.
The Committee did not complete any detailed Strategic Environmental Assessments in 2023-24.
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