Supplementary Information Tables
Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy
1. Overview of the federal government’s approach to sustainable development
The 2013-16 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS) presents the Government of Canada’s sustainable development activities, as required by the Federal Sustainable Development Act. In keeping with the objectives of the Act to make environmental decision making more transparent and accountable to Parliament, Fisheries and Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard (DFO/CCG) supports the implementation of the FSDS through the activities described in this supplementary information table.
2. Our Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy
This Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy describes DFO/CCG’s actions in support of: Theme I: Addressing Climate Change and Air Quality; Theme III: Protecting Nature and Canadians; and, Theme IV: Shrinking the Environmental Footprint, Beginning with Government. The report for 2016–17 presents a high level overview of results and is the final report under the 2013–16 FSDS. Last year’s report is available on the departmental website.
3. Departmental performance highlights
Theme 1: Addressing Climate Change and Air Quality
Under Theme I, DFO/CCG contributed to the 2013-16 FSDS through 1 implementation strategies for Goal 1: Climate Change.
Implementation Strategies: Performance Summary
As DFO/CCG does not lead on Theme 1 no FSDS goal and target details are included.
Implementation Strategies | Results |
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1.2.8. Through the assessment of risk and the development of science-based knowledge and applied adaptation tools, enable climate change considerations to influence decision-making by the Department and by Canadians at large. |
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Theme III: Protecting Nature and Canadians
Under Theme III, DFO/CCG contributed to the 2013–16 FSDS through 7 implementation strategies for Goal 4: Conserving and Restoring Ecosystems, Wildlife and Habitat, and Protecting Canadians; and, 6 implementation strategies for Goal 5: Biological Resources.
The following table shows the FSDS target led by DFO/CCG, along with the associated FSDS goal, performance indicator and performance results.
FSDS goal | FSDS target | FSDS performance indicator | FSDS performance results |
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Goal 4: Conserving and Restoring Ecosystems, Wildlife and Habitat, and Protecting Canadians. | Target 4.5 Marine Ecosystems: By 2020, 10% of coastal and marine areas are conserved through networks of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures. |
Percentage of total coastal and marine territory conserved in marine protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures. | The pre-existing Federal Provincial and Territorial contribution to the targets was 0.9%. New fisheries closures were announced in September 2016 (0.16%); Anguniaqvia niqiqyuam Marine Protected Area (MPA) announced in November 2016 (0.04%); and, the Hecate Strait and Queen Charlotte Sound Glass Sponge Reefs MPA was announced in February 2017 (0.04%). With these new measures, the percentage of Canada’s ocean protection is 1.14%. |
Goal 5: Biological Resources. | Target 5.1 Sustainable Fisheries: Improve the management and conservation of major stocks. |
Percentage of major fish stocks where the harvest rate is at or below approved levels. | Of the 170 major fish stocks tracked by the Sustainability Survey for Fisheries, 91% have a harvest rate level at or below approved levels (e.g., removal reference, quota, total allowable catch). For more information on this indicator, refer to 5.1 Sustainable Fisheries. |
Target 5.2 Sustainable Aquaculture: By 2020, all aquaculture in Canada is managed under a science-based regime that promotes the sustainable use of aquatic resources (including marine, freshwater, and land based) in ways that conserve biodiversity. |
Aquaculture under a science framework: The extent to which aquaculture is managed under a science-based environmental regulatory framework. |
The entire Canadian aquaculture sector (100%) is managed under the science-based environmental framework of the Fisheries Act and its associated regulations. For more information on this indicator, refer to 5.2 Sustainable Aquaculture. |
Implementation strategies: performance summary
Implementation Strategies | Results |
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4.1.8. Enhance the implementation of the Species at Risk Act (SARA) within DFO/CCG to protect and recover species at risk relative to their respective mandates by preparing recovery strategies, and management and action plans as applicable. |
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4.5.1. Develop a federal-provincial-territorial network of Marine Protected Areas. |
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4.5.2. Adopt integrated management approaches for ocean activities. |
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4.5.4. Undertake research and provide advice to decision makers on marine ecosystems, including impacts of environmental stressors on species at risk and ecological risks associated with specific high-priority ocean activities. |
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4.5.5. Make demonstrable progress in protecting ecologically significant marine areas. |
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4.6.4. Decision makers and legislative authorities have science information and tools to manage aquatic invasive species domestically and internationally. |
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4.8.1. Implement the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan and complete remediation and risk management activities at known high priority federal contaminated sites. |
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5.1.1. Deliver an integrated fisheries program that is credible, science-based, affordable, effective and contributes to sustainable wealth for Canadians. |
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5.1.2. Undertake research to improve understanding of marine ecosystems. |
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5.1.3. Increase knowledge of fisheries resources, their productivity and the ecosystem factors affecting them. |
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5.2.1. Deliver an efficient federal-provincial aquaculture regulatory management regime that is developed consistent with regulatory best practices. |
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5.2.2. Develop and release reporting to Canadians on aquaculture sustainability. |
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5.2.3. Increase the science knowledge base needed to support informed ecosystem-based environmental regulation and decision making, especially that of regulatory-based programs such as Aquaculture Management. |
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Theme IV: Shrinking the Environmental Footprint, Beginning with Government
Under Theme IV, DFO/CCG contributed to the 2013–16 FSDS through 25 implementation strategies for Goal 6: Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions and Energy; Goal 7: Waste and Asset Management; and, Goal 8: Water Management.
FSDS goal | FSDS target | FSDS performance indicator | FSDS performance results |
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Goal 6: Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions and Energy: Reduce the carbon footprint and energy consumption of federal operations. |
Target 6.1 GHG emissions reduction: The Government of Canada will reduce greenhouse gas emissions from its buildings and fleets by 17% below 2005 levels by 2020. |
Departmental GHG emission reductions from building and fleets relative to fiscal year 2005–06, expressed as a percentage. | Overall, DFO/CCG achieved a 24.6% reduction in emissions relative to the FY 2005-06 baseline. Specifically, DFO/CCG’s 58 tracked facilities achieved a reduction of 21.6% relative to 2005-06, and DFO/CCG vehicle fleet achieved a reduction of 35.2% relative to 2005-06. *Figures for Facilities are calculated using the Fixed Emissions Factor approach for electricity generation. |
Goal 7: Waste and Asset Management: Reduce waste generated, and minimize the environmental impacts of assets throughout their life cycle. |
Target 7.1 Real Property Environmental Performance: As of April 1, 2014, and pursuant to departmental Real Property Sustainability Frameworks, an industry recognized level of high environmental performance will be achieved in Government of Canada real property projects and operations. |
Total number of existing Crown-owned buildings (over 1000 m2) and new lease or lease renewal projects (over 1000 m2) where the Crown is the major lessee, assessed for environmental performance using an industry-recognized assessment tool, and associated floor space (m2).
Total number of existing Crown-owned buildings, new construction, build-to-lease projects, major renovations projects, achieving an industry-recognized level of high environmental performance, and associated floor space (m2) Number of fit-up and refit projects achieving an industry-recognized level of high environmental performance |
In FY 2016-17, six existing Crown-owned buildings (located at the Pacific Biological Station, Saint Andrews Biological Station, and the Freshwater Institute) amounting to 37,190 m2 of floor space were assessed for environmental performance using the Builders Owners Management Association (BOMA) Building Environmental Standards (BEST) assessment program. DFO/CCG had no new lease or lease renewal projects targeted under this indicator in FY 16-17.
DFO/CCG had no fit-up or refit projects targeted under this indicator in FY 2016-17. |
Target 7.2: Green Procurement: As of April 1, 2014, the Government of Canada will continue to take action to embed environmental considerations into public procurement, in accordance with the federal Policy on Green Procurement. |
Departmental approach to further the implementation of the Policy on Green Procurement in place. Number and percentage of specialists in procurement and/or material management who have completed the Canada School of Public Service Procurement course or equivalent, in the given fiscal year. Number and percentage of managers and functional heads of procurement and materiel whose performance evaluation includes support and contribution toward green procurement, in the given fiscal year. |
Implemented
2 (of 3) (66%).
5 (100%). |
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Target 7.3: Sustainable Workplace Operations: As of April 1, 2015, the Government of Canada will update and adopt policies and practices to improve the sustainability of its workplace operations. |
Existence of departmental approach to maintain or improve the sustainability of workplace policies and practices. | DFO/CCG’s Sustainable Workplace Approach was approved in April 2015. | |
Goal 8: Water Management | Target 8.1: Water Management: As of April 1, 2014, the Government of Canada will take further action to improve water management within its real property portfolio | Existence of an approach to improving water management in departmental Real Property Sustainability Framework.
Amount and percentage of floor space of new Crown-owned construction and major renovation projects that includes water metering, in the given fiscal year. |
DFO/CCG’s Real Property Sustainability Framework was approved in March 2015. This Framework includes DFO/CCG’s approach to improving water management. DFO/CCG has drafted an operational directive which standardizes the Department's approach to water conservation within its custodial facilities. Included in this directive are standards regarding water metering requirements for new construction. DFO/CCG had no new construction or major renovation projects targeted under this indicator in FY 16-17. |
Implementation Strategies: Performance Summary
- Due to the high emissions factors for electricity in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, Maritimes and Gulf regional facilities accounted for 73% of total greenhouse gas emissions from facilities. As a result, it is necessary energy consumption in these two regions is managed effectively and investments are made to increase the efficiency of these facilities. Moving forward, DFO/CCG has plans in place to hire a dedicated energy manager to assist with ongoing energy management in these regions. It should be noted that DFO/CCG’s 2 largest facilities in terms of size, the Bedford Institute of Oceanography, and the Canadian Coast Guard College, are located in Nova Scotia.
- The reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from DFO/CCG’s vehicle fleet is the result of continued departmental initiatives aimed at right-sizing DFO/CCG’s vehicle fleet relative to its operational requirements.
- DFO/CCG has been undertaking environmental performance assessments of its existing buildings using the BOMA BEST program since 2012. Since that time, 14 facilities have been assessed and achieved a minimum of BOMA BEST Level 1 certification, which means that these facilities have met or exceeded industry best practices in the categories of energy, water, waste, emissions and effluents, indoor environment and environmental management systems. BOMA has recently released version 3.0 of their assessment program. The requirements of version 3.0 of the program are more stringent compared to version 2.0 and therefore will require additional resource requirements as well as additional delineation of roles and responsibilities. DFO/CCG is currently piloting the new program at the Bedford Institute of Oceanography, and the Institute of Ocean Sciences.
4. Report on Strategic Environmental Assessment
During the 2016–17 reporting cycle, DFO/CCG considered the environmental effects of initiatives subject to the Cabinet Directive on the Environmental Assessment of Policy, Plan and Program Proposals, as part of its decision-making processes. Through the Strategic Environmental Assessment process, departmental proposals were found to have positive effects on progress toward the 2013–16 FSDS goals and targets in Theme I: Addressing Climate Change and Air Quality, Theme III: Protecting Nature and Canadians, and Theme IV: Shrinking the Environmental Footprint, Beginning with Government.
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