Accessibility Standards Canada: 2021 to 2022 Departmental Plan - Departmental sustainable development strategy

Name of department

Accessibility Standards Canada

Date

February 2021

Context

At the time of writing, Accessibility Standards Canada does not have to follow the Federal Sustainable Development Act. It also does not have to prepare a full departmental sustainable development strategy. However, it respects the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS). It does this by following the Policy on Green Procurement.

(“Green” means reducing the impact on the environment.)

The Policy on Green Procurement supports the Government of Canada’s effort to reduce its impacts on the environment. Accessibility Standards Canada supports the policy’s objectives and sustainable development. It does this in two ways: 

• by making sure its decisions to purchase goods and services help to reduce impacts on the environment; and
• through the actions described in the 2019 to 2022 “Greening Government” goal.

Integrating sustainable development

Accessibility Standards Canada is a small departmental corporation. It does not have major real property, fleets or procurement. However, the organization will:

• consider how its plans, policies and procedures could impact the environment; and
• make sure that the decisions it makes consider the goals and targets of the FSDS.

The organization will encourage employees to use low-carbon forms of transit. It will also support flexible work arrangements, such as remote work, by:

• allowing remote computing telecommunications; and
• supporting information technology (IT) solutions.

These measures could help to reduce emissions.

Commitments

Greening Government

FSDS target	FSDS contributing actions	Corresponding departmental actions	Contribution by each departmental action to the FSDS goal and target	Starting points Performance indicators Targets	Program in which the departmental actions will occur
Actions supporting the Greening Government goal and the Policy on Green Procurement	Departments will use environmental criteria to reduce impacts on the environment and to ensure best value in government procurement decisions.	We will continue to make sure that we have sustainable workplace practices (for example low printer ratios, paper usage and green meetings). We will choose and operate IT and office equipment that use less energy and material. We will use PSPC (Public Services and Procurement Canada) tools with green measures when purchasing goods (for example, furniture).	We will directly contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 12 by: encouraging suppliers to reduce the impact of their goods, services and supply chains on the environment; and encouraging employees to reduce the impact of their daily activities on the environment.	When green procurement tools are available, 80% of contracts for a commodity we purchase will use these tools. We will use as little paper as possible. We will use recycled paper and material when available.	Internal services
Actions supporting the Greening Government goal and the Policy on Green Procurement	Departments will better support green procurement. They will do this by giving employees advice, tools and training on how to do this.	We will ensure that procurement specialists and support staff will take the following training within a year of starting their job: Green Procurement course given by the Canada School of Public Service We will give managers information and advice on how to support green procurement.	We will directly contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 12 (Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns).	If we hire a procurement specialist, that person has to take green procurement training within the first year of starting the job.	Internal services