2023 to 2024 Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy Report
International Standard Serial Number: 2818-5439
Canadian Grain Commission
Alternate format
2023 to 2024 Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy Report
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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 Canadian Grain Commission supports the goals laid out in the FSDS through the activities described in the Canadian Grain Commission's 2023 to 2027 Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy (DSDS). This Report provides a report on progress related to Canadian Grain Commission'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 Canadian Grain Commission's DSDS and 2023 to 2024 DSDS Report.
To promote coordinated action on sustainable development across the Government of Canada, the Canadian Grain Commission'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.
Canadian Grain Commission’s Commitments
Goal 10: Advance reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples and take action on inequality
FSDS Context
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. Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples is essential to addressing social, economic and environmental inequalities and achieving substantive equality. Each of us has a duty to further this work, both collectively and as individuals.
The Canadian Grain Commission is integrating anti-racism, equity, diversity and inclusion principles into its recruitment and promotion practices. The Canadian Grain Commission established a National Employment Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee (NEEDIC) to lead work on advancing employment equity in our organization. The committee is engaging with management and staff on providing training and education through its Diversity and Inclusion Speakers Series while developing the Diversity and Inclusion Calendar. In 2022, the Canadian Grain Commission developed an Accessibility Plan in consultation with staff and the NEEDIC.
With the help of these initiatives, we aim to close the representation gap of all designated groups. As achieving reconciliation goes beyond closing these gaps, the Canadian Grain Commission is participating in the Indigenous Career Navigator Program—an interdepartmental program initiated following the Clerks Call to Action and in response to the Many Voices, One Mind: A Pathway to Reconciliation Action Plan. The program provides advice and guidance to Indigenous employees on their career path.
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 | Implement Indigenous Procurement Renewal and the Procurement Strategy for Indigenous Business (PSIB). Program: Internal services |
Performance indicator: Percentage of the total value of procurement contracts that are held by Indigenous businesses. Starting point: new program Target: 5% annually |
PSIB supports the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s calls to action as well as advances Goal 8, decent work and economic growth for the Indigenous community. Thus, it also contributes to reducing inequality (Goal 10). Relevant targets or ambitions: CIF Ambition/Target: Canadians have access to quality jobs and Canadians contribute to and benefit from sustainable economic growth. CIF Indicator: Gross domestic product per capita |
Indicator result: 9.5% in fiscal year 2023-24. |
| Implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act | Continue to promote and provide Indigenous cultural competency training and/or training on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act through speaker series events or the Indigenous Learning products by the Canada School of Public Service. Program: Internal services |
Performance indicator: Percentage of employees that attend one or more Canada School of Public Service reconciliation related courses or speaker series events each year. Starting point: new program Target: 25% by March 31, 2024 |
Public servants are in a unique position to help build respectful relationships and partnerships with Indigenous Peoples in Canada. This action encourages public service 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. 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: 25.6% in fiscal year 2023-24. Notes: Not included in the indicator result, is Canadian Grain Commission employee participation in virtual lunch and learns hosted by the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation between September 25-29, 2023. Records to confirm these numbers are not available. |
Initiatives advancing Canada’s implementation of SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities
SDG 10—reduced inequalities is integral in ensuring that no one is left behind. It addresses not only inequalities in income but also those related to representation and development assistance. The following initiatives demonstrate how Canadian Grain Commission 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 |
|---|---|---|
| The National Employment Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee is engaging with management and staff on providing training and education through its Diversity and Inclusion Speakers Series while developing the Diversity and Inclusion Calendar. Human Resources, in collaboration with the committee, is leading a self-ID campaign and launching an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion data dashboard. |
The Diversity and Inclusion Speakers Series increases the ability of staff at the Canadian Grain Commission to effectively interact, work, and develop meaningful relationships with people of various cultural backgrounds, which contributes to advancing government-wide Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion work, and creates a more inclusive workplace. The improved collection, analysis, publication, and availability of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion data will further support inclusion and education efforts on reducing inequality and ensuring employment equity. Both initiatives contribute to: CIF Ambition: Canadians live free of discrimination and inequality. GIF Target: 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. |
The Canadian Grain Commission's National Employment Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee has developed a strategy for the 2024-25 fiscal year that highlights priorities related to the education, awareness and promotion of equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility. The identified priorities include a quarterly newsletter, quarterly speaker series events, improved orientation material, maintenance of the electronic diversity calendar of commemorative dates and events and regular All-Staff messages. The Canadian Grain Commission will roll out the self-ID campaign to coincide with the release of the digital and modernized Self-ID form from TBS. The Self-ID form helps the government and organizations measure the diversity of the federal public service and determine whether we are representative of the population we serve. |
Goal 12: Reduce waste and transition to zero-emission vehicles
FSDS Context
Canada is party to legally binding international agreements that prevent waste and litter, control the transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and other wastes, and ensure such wastes are disposed of in an environmentally sound way. Goal 12 is about ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns. Its focus directly supports SDG Global Indicator Framework targets in reducing food waste, achieving the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes, and promoting sustainable public procurement practices.
The Canadian Grain Commission reduces waste through selling surplus grain samples, equipment, furniture, and material through GC Surplus. We have replaced fluorescent grain grading lights with LED lights. Further, we strive to reuse plastic inspection bags until the end of their life. The Canadian Grain Commission has started pilot programs to reduce waste including recycling non-hazardous gloves and replacing environmentally hazardous solvents using a “Green Chemistry” approach. Goals of the pilots include raising awareness of reducing waste and inspiring actions in other parts of the organization and government.
Target theme: Federal Leadership on Responsible Consumption
Target: By 2030, the Government of Canada will divert from landfill at least 75% by weight of non-hazardous operational waste (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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximize diversion of waste from landfill | Action 1: Implement non-hazardous gloves recycling (pilot program). Program: Internal Services |
Action 1: Performance indicator: weight of material diverted. Starting point: new program Target: 15 kg per annually |
Actions that reduce the generation of construction and demolition waste will help to reduce Scope 3 emissions for the production, transport and disposal of material. Diverting waste from landfill reduces landfill gas and transport hauling emissions. Material recovery via recycling reduces emissions for the extraction and production of virgin materials. Relevant targets or ambitions: CIF Ambition: 12 Canadians consume in a sustainable manner. CIF Indicator: 12.3.1 Total waste diversion per capita. GIF Target: 12.5 By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse. |
Action 1 Indicator result: 50kg of gloves were recycled in fiscal year 2023-24. Notes: In 2023-24, the Grain Research Laboratory implemented a pilot project for recycling of nitrile, latex, and vinyl gloves by contracting with a commercial PPE recycling provider. The purpose of the pilot was to assess the feasibility and cost. Two Grain Research Laboratory program areas participated in the pilot. The program will be expanded to all eight program areas in 2024-25. |
| Maximize diversion of waste from landfill | Action 2: Divert grain sample disposal from landfills to repurposing for lab testing, feed and compost. Program: Internal Services |
Action 2 Performance indicator: reduction of grain sample disposal to landfill. Starting point: new program Target: 80% of total grain samples annually |
Action 2 Indicator result: Not possible to calculate the percentage. Notes: In each of its operating regions, the Canadian Grain Commission has contracts with producers and feed companies that purchase surplus grain samples for livestock feed. In fiscal year 2023-24, 10,334 kg of grain was diverted to animal feed. An additional 1,200 kg was locally composted. The Canadian Grain Commission does not track the total weight of grain samples received. |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transform the federal light-duty fleet | Replace conventional vehicles with hybrid or zero emission vehicles. Program: Internal Services |
Performance indicator: Percentage of new vehicle purchases that are zero emission vehicles or hybridFootnote 1 Starting point: new program Target: 50% of new purchases |
Purchasing zero emission vehicles reduces greenhouse gas emissions from conventional fleet operations. Relevant targets or ambitions: CIF Ambition: 12.1 Canadians consume in a sustainable manner. CIF Indicator: 12.1.1 Proportion of new light duty vehicle registrations that are zero-emission vehicles. GIF Target: 12.1 Implement the 10-year framework of programmes on sustainable consumption and production, all countries taking action, with developed countries taking the lead, taking into account the development and capabilities of developing countries. |
Indicator result: Not applicable in fiscal year 2023-24. Notes: The Canadian Grain Commission did not purchase any vehicles in fiscal year 2023-24. The indicator and target are only applicable in years where new vehicle purchases are made. |
| Strengthen green procurement criteria | Ensure all Procurement, Contracting and Materiel Management staff, as well as all acquisition card holders are well-versed with the criteria and are taking C215 Green Procurement course or equivalent. Program: Internal Services |
Performance indicator: Percentage of SMEs who have completed training in green procurement. Starting point: In 2022-23, 90% of procurement and materiel management specialists trained in green procurement Target: 100% by March 31, 2024 |
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: 100% in fiscal year 2023-24. |
Initiatives advancing Canada’s implementation of SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production
SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production aims to decoupling economic growth from environmental degradation and harms to human health and increasing resource efficiency. The following initiatives demonstrate how Canadian Grain Commission 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 |
|---|---|---|
| The Canadian Grain Commission Grain Research Laboratory is piloting green chemistry methods to reduce the use of hazardous solvents. In addition, it is participating in collaborative research projects to study how changing agricultural practices are affecting grain quality. | The Grain Research Laboratory must use chemicals to meet the social and economic goals of Canada and of the world community. The Grain Research Laboratory’s experimentation and assessment of green chemistry methods is one step towards addressing waste reduction. It contributes to Global Indicator Framework 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. In addition, this initiative also contributes to achieving Goal 3 Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. | The Grain Research Laboratory has implemented green chemistry approaches to reduce solvent usage including adopting multi-analyte methods and solid phase extraction. By employing multi-analyte methods, laboratories can simultaneously analyze multiple compounds in a single experiment, thereby reducing resource consumption and waste generation. Solid phase extraction further enhances sustainability by enabling the efficient extraction and purification of target compounds from complex matrices, minimizing solvent usage and waste. Together, these approaches not only streamline analytical processes but also contribute to the reduction of environmental impact, aligning the laboratory's operations with the department's sustainability goals. |
| The Canadian Grain Commission’s procurement team will pursue options for compost services and single-use plastic collection boxes to further reduce waste. | Diverting organic waste and plastic waste contribute to the GIF Target 12.5. By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse. In addition, the single-use plastic collection contributes to Canada’s commitment on zero plastic waste by 2030 and Ocean Plastics Charter. | A committee will be convened to further investigate future opportunities and compost service options in the upcoming fiscal year. |
| The Canadian Grain Commission reduces waste of surplus equipment, furniture, and material by selling it through GC Surplus. | Reducing operational waste contributes to: GIF Target: 12.5. By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse. CIF Ambition: 12.3 Canadians consume in a sustainable manner. |
The Canadian Grain Commission continues to utilize GC Surplus to sell equipment, furniture and material that has been declared surplus. |
Goal 13: Take action on climate change and its impacts
FSDS Context
Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time. Canadians are seeing more extreme temperatures and precipitation as well as more frequent and severe wildfires, heatwaves, droughts and flooding. Climate change is not only one of the top threats of global biodiversity but also puts agricultural production and food security at risk.
The Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change identifies collaborative federal, provincial and territorial actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enable sustainable economic growth. Actions related to agriculture under the Pan-Canadian Framework include increasing stored carbon, generating bioenergy and bioproducts, and advancing innovation. The Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act enshrines in legislation the Government of Canada’s commitment to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and highlights the need to reduce absolute green house gas emissions across all economic sectors, including agriculture. The Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership focuses on strengthening the competitiveness, innovation, and resiliency of the agriculture, agri-food and agri-based products sector. The Canadian Grain Commission recognizes the importance of collaboration and innovation and is committed to supporting the government and the grain sector in improving environmental performance.
In addition to ensuring Canadian grain is dependable and safe, the Canadian Grain Commission is seeking opportunities within its programs to support the whole-of-government effort to reduce emissions and take action on climate change. The Canadian Grain Commission is committed to becoming a leader on greening government by transitioning to climate resilient operations and taking action through tracking progress and planning proactively.
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)
| 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. | Action 1: Continue to reduce electricity consumption by ensuring multifunctional printers are configured to be energy efficient. Program: Internal Services |
Action 1: Performance indicator: Percentage of multifunctional printers that are configured to be energy efficient. Starting point: new program Target: 100% by March 31, 2024 |
The main driver of climate change is the greenhouse effect. This requires swift action outlined in the Greening Government Strategy: A Government of Canada Directive. As one of the largest real property owners in Canada, the ongoing greening of federal Crown-owned assets will support Canada’s 2030 Agenda National Strategy. Relevant targets or ambitions: CIF Ambition/Target: By 2030, reduce Canada's total greenhouse gas emissions by 40 to 45%, relative to 2005 emission levels. By 2050, achieve economy-wide net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. CIF Indicator: 13.1.1 Greenhouse gas emissions. |
Action 1 Indicator result: 100% in fiscal year 2023-24. Notes: As of March 31, 2024 all multifunction printers were replaced with more energy efficient models. Printers were deployed using the most energy efficient profile. |
| Implement the Greening Government Strategy through measures that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve climate resilience, and green the government's overall operations. | Action 2: Continue to reduce printing and paper waste by shifting work processes from paper-based to digital and encouraging digital signatures. Program: Internal Services | Action 2 Performance indicator: Number of services in the cloud. Starting point: As of March 31, 2023, the Canadian Grain Commission had six services available online. Target: Move one paper-based system online per year. |
Action 2 Indicator result: Seven paper-based systems were online in fiscal year 2023-24. Notes: The Licensing Liability Reporting system was launched in November 2023 for all Canadian Grain Commission licensees. |
Target: The Government of Canada will transition to climate resilient operations by 2050 (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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reduce risks posed by climate change to federal assets, services and operations. | Continue to reduce electricity consumption at primary data centre by migrating workloads to the cloudFootnote 2 to build reliable and climate-resilient infrastructure and operations. Program: Internal Services |
Performance indicator: Number of corporate workloads in the cloud. Starting point: As of March 31, 2023, the Canadian Grain Commission had four corporate workloads in the cloudFootnote 3. Target: Move one service to the cloud per year. |
Migrating workload to the cloud reduces the risks of disruption of critical service delivery to Canadians. Relevant targets or ambitions: CIF Ambition/Target: 13.3 Canadians are well-equipped and resilient to face the effects of climate change. CIF Indicator: 13.3.1 Proportion of municipal organizations who factored climate change adaptation into their decision-making process. GIF Targets: 13.1 Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries. 13.3 Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning. |
Indicator result: Five corporate workloads are in the cloud as of fiscal year 2023-24. Notes: Meeting Management System was launched in May 2023. |
Initiatives advancing Canada’s implementation of SDG 13 – Climate Action
One of the biggest challenges in implementing the 2030 Agenda is the low level of awareness and the lack of widespread engagement. The following initiatives demonstrate how Canadian Grain Commission 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Continue to implement standardized and enhanced virtual meeting setup to accommodate more meetings in board rooms and to reduce individual computer usage for meetings. | Sustainable technology implementation enables behavior change and nudges staff towards making better choices. The awareness campaign will raise understanding of the possibilities and create spaces for open and productive dialogue. With the help of the Canadian Grain Commission’s 2023-2027 DSDS, the implementation of sustainable technology and awareness campaign will help staff understand the linkages between the goals and mobilize action on climate change, collectively and individually. This initiative contributes to: CIF Ambition: Canadians consume in a sustainable manner. CIF Indicators: 12.2.1 Proportion of businesses that adopted selected environmental protection activities and management practices. 12.3.1 Total waste diversion per capita. |
The Canadian Grain Commission has upgraded 100% of its board rooms with video conferencing technology that aligns with the technology used throughout the Government of Canada. |
| Implement an awareness campaign on the Canadian Grain Commission's 2023-2027 DSDS and highlight the work in achieving the commitments. The awareness campaign will also function as a platform to welcome suggestions on potential future actions. | To increase awareness of the Canadian Grain Commission's 2023-2027 DSDS, an all-staff bulletin was released when the Canadian Grain Commission's DSDS was tabled in Parliament. When the Canadian Grain Commission's 2023-24 DSDS progress report is tabled, the Canadian Grain Commission plans to issue an all-staff bulletin highlighting accomplishments and asking for suggestions on potential future actions. |
Integrating Sustainable Development
The Canadian Grain Commission 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 the Canadian Grain Commission's assessments are made public when an initiative has undergone a detailed SEA. 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.
The Canadian Grain Commission did not complete any detailed SEAs in 2023-24.