Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy 2023 to 2027

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 RCMP External Review Committee supports the goals laid out in the FSDS through the activities described in this Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy (DSDS).

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 RCMP External Review Committee’s DSDS.

In order to promote coordinated action on sustainable development across the Government of Canada, this departmental strategy integrates efforts to advance Canada’s implementation of the 2030 Agenda National Strategy, supported by the Global Indicator Framework (GIF) and Canadian Indicator Framework (CIF) targets and indicators. The strategy also now captures SDG initiatives that fall outside the scope of the FSDS to inform the development of the Canada’s Annual Report on the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs.

Under the Federal Sustainable Development Act, the ERC is responsible for preparing its own Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy (DSDS) that aligns with the FSDS and for reporting annually on progress made towards achieving its goals. The 2023-2027 DSDS sets out what ERC will do to support federal sustainable development objectives and will ensure that parliamentarians and Canadians can track the results being achieved.

In accordance with the 2022-2026 FSDS, ERC is responsible to contribute to Goal 10: Advance Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples and to Take Action on Inequality, to Goal 12: Reduce Waste and Transition to Zero-Emission Vehicles and to Goal 13: Take Action on Climate Change and its Impacts. The ERC will support these FSDS goals through the activities described in this DSDS.

Specifically, in alignment with the 2022-2026 FSDS, the ERC has committed to contributing to three key sustainability goals:

Goal 10: Advance Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples and Take Action on Inequality:

    The ERC acknowledges its role in advancing reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples and addressing issues of inequality.     To achieve this goal, the ERC will invest in continuous learning and training opportunities for its employees on     inclusion, diversity, equity, and anti-racism. Additionally, the ERC will integrate economic, social, and environmental     considerations into its decision-making processes related to its policies and its operations.

Goal 12: Reduce Waste and Transition to Zero-Emission Vehicles:

    The ERC recognizes the importance of environmental stewardship and sustainability. To support this goal, the ERC     commits to provide training to employees and to continue to adopt green procurement practices that reduce its     environmental footprint and reflect sustainable development principles in all aspects of its operations.

Goal 13: Take Action on Climate Change and its Impacts:

    Climate change is a global challenge, and the ERC is committed to playing its part in addressing it. To achieve this goal,     the ERC will foster a workforce and organizational culture dedicated to climate-resilient operations. This includes     training employees to assess climate change impacts on staff accommodation and develop adaptation actions.

The ERC will strive to advance our sustainability priorities and integrate environmental and sustainable development considerations into our policies, plans and programs.

As required by the Federal Sustainable Development Act, the RCMP External Review Committee has taken into account comments on the draft 2022-2026 FSDS made during the public consultation held from March 11 to July 9, 2022.
During the public consultation, more than 700 comments were received from a broad range of stakeholders, including governments, Indigenous organizations, non-governmental organizations, academics, businesses, and individual Canadians in different age groups and of various backgrounds. The draft FSDS was also shared with the appropriate committee of each House of Parliament, the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, and the Sustainable Development Advisory Council for their review and comment.

What We Heard

Across the submissions received, the RCMP External Review Committee identified sustainable development priorities and issues that affect us.

• Climate Action - many comments centered around the importance of addressing climate change as a top priority.
• The need for a distinctions-based approach and recognizing the unique history and lived experiences of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities.

What We Did

RCMP External Review Committee took the above-mentioned key priorities and issues into consideration in this DSDS.

In response to the public input, the ERC included specific actions and targets to:

• ensure environmental considerations in green procurement decisions by training employees responsible for procurement of goods and services
• ensure that all employees complete training on advancing reconciliation with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples

Please find more information on the FSDS public consultation and its results in the FSDS Consultation Report.

FSDS Context:

The ERC’s Corporate Services plays a pivotal role in overseeing the training and professional development and growth of employees, guided and supported by management. ERC remains committed to consistently assessing training requirements, with a particular emphasis on enhancing cultural awareness, understanding Indigenous history, and advancing the reconciliation process.

Furthermore, the ERC has implemented a Diversity and Inclusion Guide to assist in its efforts related to recruitment and promotion.

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)

FSDS Context:

The ERC operates without a fleet of vehicles and operates within office premises situated in a privately-owned and leased facility. In addition to the specific action outlined for the department below, the ERC, as a tenant, actively engages in and promotes efficient waste management within the building. This entails adhering to recycling instructions and guidance presented through signage and guides to ensure proper waste disposal. Furthermore, in an effort to minimize plastic bottle waste, the ERC has implemented a water filtration system that provides employees with clean and conveniently accessible drinking water.

Over the past three years, ERC has modernized its digital work processes by implementing GCDocs as its information management system and has also significantly reduced its use of paper.

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)

FSDS Context:

Climate change represents a worldwide problem, and the ERC is fully dedicated to contributing to its solution. In order to make progress towards this objective, the ERC will promote a workforce and corporate culture that is focused on ensuring climate resilience in its operations. This involves providing training to employees to evaluate the effects of climate change and formulate strategies for adaptation of its operations.

Furthermore, the ERC will strategically utilize technologies to transform it’s operations, reducing the environmental impact of its activities.

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)

The ERC’s DSDS describes the activities that it has committed to undertake over the next years to ensure that we are doing our part in contributing to the broader sustainable development goals. The ERC will strive to advance our sustainability priorities and integrate environmental and sustainable development considerations into our policies, plans and programs. Additionally, ERC will incorporate climate change-related factors into Business Continuity Plan and Emergency preparedness exercises.

RCMP External Review Committee 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 RCMP External Review Committee’s assessments are made public when an initiative that 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.