2013-2014
Departmental Performance Report
Supplementary Information Table
Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy

Greening Government Operations (GGO)

Green Procurement Reporting for Departments and Agencies not bound by the Federal Sustainable Development Act.

Departments and agencies bound by the Policy on Green Procurement but not by the Federal Sustainable Development Act must complete mandatory reporting on meeting the requirements of Section 7 of the Policy on Green Procurement using this section.

4. Theme IV: Implementation Strategies

Infrastructure Canada is committed to addressing the Policy on Green Procurement. As such, in meeting the policy requirements, it will continue to incorporate environmental considerations in its decision-making processes for all procurement. Listed below are Infrastructure Canada's green procurement targets.

Green Procurement Targets

As of April 1, 2011, each department will establish at least three SMART green procurement targets to reduce environmental impacts. (Target 8.10 from the 2010 to 2013 FSDSi).

1. On an annual basis, 100% of all procurement decisions related to computers and related equipment, printers and photocopiers will consider green procurement principles.
Performance Measure Performance Status
Target Status Achieved
Percentage of procurement decisions with regards to computers and related equipment, printers and photocopiers that take into account green procurement principles, considerations and objectives of the Policy on Green Procurement. 100%
Progress against performance measure in the given fiscal year 2013-2014. 100%

Strategies and/or Comments

  1. As in previous years, Infrastructure Canada ensured that all procurement decisions related to computers and related equipment, printers and photocopiers considered green procurement principles.
  2. The Department continued to purchase and/or lease energy-efficient computers and related electronic equipment from companies with environmental programs that have recycled content and recycling programs.
  3. The Department continued to use multi-function photocopiers and printer machines to reduce energy consumption, continued to use recycled toner cartridges, and continued to implement the policy on standard shared printers versus personal printers, and ensured that default settings on printers and photocopiers are set to print on double-sided and black and white.
  4. The Department continued to recycle and ensure that defective goods and end-of-life telecommunications devices (blackberries, cell phones and related accessories) are sent to vendors for recycling.
2. On an annual basis, 100% of all procurement decisions related to furniture, office supplies and goods will consider green procurement principles.
Performance Measure Performance Status
Target Status Completed
Percentage of procurement decisions with regards to furniture, office supplies and goods that take into account green procurement principles, considerations and objectives of the Policy on Green Procurement. 100%
Progress against performance measure in the given fiscal year. 100%

Strategies/Comments

  1. Infrastructure Canada continued to procure office supplies and goods taking into account green procurement principles and objectives, such as continuing to use recycled paper (30 percent recycled or higher) instead of regular paper.
  2. The Department continued to ensure that business cards were printed on recycled paper and used the Eco Logo symbol.
  3. The Department continued to use office furniture and furnishing products that met or exceeded environmental norms established by Public Works and Government Services Canada, and continued to re-use and recycle furniture and office furnishings.
  4. The Department continued to plan its procurement activities using green goods and services where available.
3. On an annual basis, 100% of procurement decisions with regards to meetings and travel arrangements will consider green procurement principles.
Performance Measure Performance Status
Target Status Completed
Percentage of procurement decisions with regards to meetings and travel arrangements that consider green procurement principles. (Baseline Year: 2011-2012). 100%
Progress against performance measure in the given fiscal year 2013-2014. 100%

Strategies/Comments

  1. Infrastructure Canada continued to use government travel services to encourage employees to use sustainable methods of transportation and to select green hotels, and promoted the use of video and teleconferences as an alternative to travel.
  2. The Department promoted green meetings within the Department, and encouraged the reduction of items such as paper cups and disposable dishes that go into landfills. Employees involved in meetings, travel and conference arrangements were encouraged to purchase goods and services from companies that offer green catering methods, and foster green procurement principles.
  3. For commuting to and from work at its location in the National Capital Region, Infrastructure Canada continued to encourage staff to participate in the EcoPass Public Transit Program (until the program was discontinued in 2013), and continued to encourage staff to use green modes of transportation such as cycling and walking to work if possible.
4. By March 31, 2014, 100% of all contracting service transactions will incorporate green procurement information.
Performance Measure Performance Status
Target Status Completed
Percentage of contracting services transactions that include green procurement information, i.e. that meet green procurement principles, considerations and objectives of the Policy on Green Procurement. 75%
Progress against performance measure in the given fiscal year. 75%

Strategies/Comments

  1. Infrastructure Canada continued to include standard, generic environmental clauses in the terms and conditions of its service contracts. For example, final reports are printed double-sided on recycled paper, in keeping with the principles of the greening government operations initiative.
  2. Since 2008-2009, the Department has been working with the Client Engagement Sector, Public Works and Government Services Canada, to analyze its spending patterns and to identify opportunities for improvement in its procurement practices.
  3. Since 2009-2010, Infrastructure Canada's Contracting and Procurement Unit has continued to update the departmental contracting systems to identify, track and capture green procurement information. This task was completed, and as of 2011-2012 the department is able to report on the number of contracting services transactions that include green procurement information.
  4. In 2013-2014 and beyond, the Department will continue to look for additional ways to include environmental considerations into procurement of contracting services practices.

As of April 1, 2011, each department will establish SMART targets for training, employee performance evaluations, and management processes and controls, as they pertain to procurement decision making. (Target 8.11 from the 2010 to 2013 FSDSii).

Training for Select Employees

By March 31, 2014, all Procurement and Material Management staff will have taken training on green procurement.

Performance Measure Performance Status
Target Status Ongoing
Percentage of staff in procurement and material management that will receive training on green procurement. (Baseline year 2011-2012). 60%
Progress against performance measure in the given fiscal year 2013-2014. 60%

Strategies/Comments

Employee performance evaluations for managers and functional heads of procurement and materiel management.

By March 31, 2014, all identified managers and functional heads of procurement and materiel management will have environmental consideration clauses incorporated into their Performance Agreement and Feedback Reports.

Performance Measure Performance Status
Target Status Completed
Percentage of all staff occupying positions in procurement and material management that have incorporated environmental considerations in their Performance Agreement and Feedback Report. (Baseline year: 2011-2012). 100%
Progress against performance measure in the given fiscal year 2013-2014. 100%

Strategies/Comments

  1. Beginning in 2011-2012, environmental considerations/objectives have been incorporated in the Performance Agreement and Feedback Reports for the positions of the Contracting and Procurement Manager, and the Material Management Manager.
  2. And as of 2012-2013, this has also applied to staff occupying the positions of functional heads of procurement and material management.

Management processes and controls.

On an annual basis, 100% of all management processes and controls relating to green procurement will incorporate environmental considerations.

Performance Measure Performance Status
Target Status Completed
Number of Performance Agreement and Feedback Reports of managers and functional heads of procurement and materiel management that incorporate environmental considerations/objectives, relative to total number of Performance Agreement and Feedback Reports of managers and functional heads of procurement and materiel management. 100%
Progress against performance measure in the given fiscal year 2013-2014 100%

Strategies/Comments

  1. In its procurement decision-making processes, Infrastructure Canada implements innovative and up-to-date procurement processes and controls as it strives to find opportunities for improvement in its procurement practices.
  2. When initiating procurement, the Department first considers standing offers from Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC), including those with green procurement clauses. If no standing offers are available for the required goods or services, the Department proceeds with other available procurement mechanisms. The Department uses standing offers that have green procurement considerations.
  3. Since 2008-2009, the Department has been working with the Client Engagement Sector, Public Works and Government Services Canada, to analyze its spending patterns and to identify opportunities for improvement in its procurement practices.
  4. Since 2009-2010, Infrastructure Canada's Contracting and Procurement Unit has continued to update the departmental contracting systems to identify, track and capture green procurement information. This task was completed, and as of 2011-2012 the department is able to report on the number of contracting services transactions that include green procurement information.
  5. In 2013-2014 and beyond, the Department will continue to look for additional ways to include environmental considerations into procurement processes and controls.
5. Additional Departmental/Agency Sustainable Development Activities and Initiatives
Infrastructure Canada's Contribution to the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS):

Infrastructure Canada continues to play an important role in helping to create a more sustainable future for Canadians. The Department's broad range of infrastructure programs supports thousands of projects across Canada that contribute to a cleaner environment in areas such as drinking water, wastewater, clean energy, public transit and brownfield redevelopment. Many of these infrastructure investments support two of the FSDS Themes:

  1. Addressing Climate Change and Air Quality
  2. Maintaining Water Quality and Availability

Beyond providing funding through federal infrastructure programs, Infrastructure Canada's measures support the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy's Theme 4, Shrinking the Environmental Footprint — Beginning with Government. The Department continues to implement measures in green procurement, waste and energy reduction and awareness and promotion. (Details on the Department's green procurement initiatives can be found in the Greening Government Operations (GGO) table above.)

7. Strategic Environmental Assessment

The Cabinet Directive on the Environmental Assessment of Policy, Plan and Program Proposalsiii states that a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is required when the implementation of a proposal submitted to an individual minister or Cabinet for approval may result in important environmental effects, either positive or negative. To ensure that the Cabinet Directive is being met, the Department undertakes a preliminary scan to identify the potential for important environmental effects when preparing a Memorandum to Cabinet and for other policy, plan and program initiatives, as appropriate. Should the potential for significant environmental impacts be identified and/or there is a high level of uncertainty or risk associated with the proposal, a SEA is carried out.

In 2013-2014, no important environmental effects, either positive or negative, were identified through any of the preliminary scans completed. As a result, no SEAs were required.

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