Publication

Implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act

Ensure all employees complete cultural competency training on advancing reconciliation with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples and/or training on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Program: Internal Services

Performance Indicator: Percentage of staff who have completed mandatory Indigenous cultural competency training.

Starting point: In 2023-24, 2% of staff completed the training

Target: 100% by March 31, 2025

Public servants are in a unique position to help build respectful relationships with Indigenous Peoples in Canada. This action encourages 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. This action contributes to the development of necessary cultural competency knowledge and skills to implement the UN Declaration.

*Mandatory

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: 60% in 2024-25

Notes: In 2024–25, 60% of staff completed mandatory Indigenous cultural competency training, a significant increase from 2% in 2023–24. This progress reflects sustained internal efforts to promote awareness of the historical and contemporary experiences of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples, and to build employee capacity to support reconciliation in their work.

CICS offered a range of training options to support reconciliation and equity learning, including the mandatory course The Uncomfortable Truth: A Brief History of the Relationship Between Indigenous Peoples and the Government of Canada, as well as Turtle Island: A Journey Towards Truth and Reconciliation—an Indigenous-developed, Elder-reviewed workshop delivered virtually in both official languages. In addition, CICS encouraged uptake of new Canada School of Public Service foundational courses on addressing antisemitism (INC135) and Islamophobia (INC136) in the workplace. These self-paced learning products were co-developed with community and government partners to equip public servants with the tools to recognize and address systemic racism, promote allyship, and foster inclusive, respectful work environments.

These efforts contribute directly to Canada’s implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, and align with SDG Target 10.3, which calls for reducing inequalities and eliminating discriminatory practices.

By prioritizing this training, CICS is helping to ensure that its workforce is better equipped to foster respectful relationships with Indigenous Peoples and contribute meaningfully to reconciliation initiatives in the federal public service.

In the spirit of economic reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, the Government of Canada has established a mandatory minimum target of at least 5% of the value of federal contracts to be awarded to businesses owned and led by Indigenous peoples.

As per the established schedule prescribed by Indigenous Services Canada, the CICS is part of the Phase 3, where it is required to meet the mandatory minimum target of 5% of its total contracts to Indigenous businesses annually by 2024-25.

Although the agency is not required to meet the 5% for another year, the organization is committed to helping the Indigenous community and has already adjusted its internal processes and procurement plan. Targets have been set within the organization at 5% for fiscal year 2022-23, 2023-24 and 2024-25 respectively.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

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

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

In 2024-25, CICS organized and held 2 Diversity and Inclusion sessions for employees, reinforcing the principles of Leaving No One Behind by fostering a workplace that values diverse perspectives and ensures equitable opportunities for learning and growth. These sessions helped increase awareness of systemic barriers and encouraged discussions on how CICS can further integrate inclusive practices into its operations.

In 2024–25, the Secretariat advanced economic reconciliation and workplace inclusion. CICS exceeded its target, awarding 7.76% of total contract expenditures to Indigenous businesses.

By prioritizing both workplace inclusion and economic reconciliation, CICS continues to align its efforts with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly Goal 10 (Reduced Inequalities). Moving forward, CICS remains committed to sustaining these efforts and further embedding reconciliation and inclusion into its policies, practices, and procurement strategies.

Strengthen green procurement criteria

Ensure all procurement and materiel management specialists at the CICS are trained in green procurement.

Program: Internal Services

Performance Indicator: Percentage of procurement and materiel management specialists trained in green procurement.

Starting point: In 2023-24, 67% of procurement and materiel management specialists trained in green procurement.

Target: 100% annually

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 2024-25

Notes: By the end of 2024–25, 100% of procurement and materiel management specialists at CICS had completed green procurement training, achieving the departmental target. This ensures that environmental considerations are embedded in the agency’s purchasing decisions and supports the broader Government of Canada goal to reach net-zero emissions procurement by 2050.

This outcome contributes to the Sustainable Development Goal 12.7, promoting sustainable public procurement practices aligned with national priorities. It also supports CIF Ambition 12, which encourages Canadians to consume in a sustainable manner. As CICS continues to integrate green procurement practices, it helps incentivize suppliers to reduce the environmental impact of their goods and services, reinforcing a more circular, low-waste economy.

Promote sustainable development training internally to staff in order to increase awareness and understanding of the Government of Canada’s objectives related to sustainable development and greening government.

Invite one guest per year to speak to environmental initiatives and progress within the wider Government of Canada context (i.e., what other organizations are doing, etc.).

Optional training:

• EXecuTALK: The Role of the Executive in the Fight Against Climate Change
• CSPS Virtual Café Series: Climate Change – Where Do We Go From Here?
• Policy Implementation Case Study: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

Invited guests:

As CICS hosts bi-annual all-staff meetings, host guest speakers on the various topics related to sustainable development at least once per year.

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

The CICS remained committed to increasing staff awareness of sustainable development in 2024–25. While a guest speaker was not hosted this fiscal year, efforts continued to explore opportunities for learning and engagement. The Secretariat encouraged staff to leverage existing resources, such as training modules and videos from the Canada School of Public Service, to enhance their understanding of sustainable development and greening government initiatives.

These efforts contribute to Canada’s implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by fostering awareness of responsible consumption and production (SDG 12) within the organization. By integrating sustainable practices into internal learning opportunities, CICS supports the Government of Canada’s commitment to Reconciliation, ensuring that discussions on sustainability include Indigenous perspectives where possible. These initiatives also align with the principle of Leaving No One Behind by promoting inclusive learning that considers accessibility and diverse perspectives.

Moving forward, CICS will seek to incorporate discussions on these topics into future staff meetings and explore alternative ways to foster awareness and knowledge-sharing among employees.

CICS has implemented voluntary recycling bins for pens, personal protective equipment, and batteries at the workplace. All new employees are informed about this initiative and the location of the bins.

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

12.5: By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse.

The recycling bins are being properly used by employees, and CICS has successfully recycled multiple bins of batteries according to agreed international frameworks to reduce impact on the environment.

Implement the Greening Government Strategy through measures that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve climate resilience, and green the government’s overall operations

CICS will adopt clean technology and undertake clean technology demonstration projects

CICS will reduce its travel requirements by using Zoom’s integrated simultaneous interpretation to reduce the travel of interpreters for in-person and hybrid conferences.

Program: Internal Services

Performance indicator:
% of in-person or hybrid conferences that used remote interpretation

Starting point: 95%

Target: 90% annually

Relevant targets or ambitions:

Emissions from air travel are a significant contributor to climate change, so it is crucial that individuals and organizations reduce the frequency and distance of travel via aviation.

CIF Ambition: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

GIF Indicator: 13.2 Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning

GIF Target: 13.2.2 Total greenhouse gas emissions per year

Indicator result: 97.7% in 2024-25

Notes: In 2024–25, 97.7% of in-person or hybrid conferences facilitated by CICS used remote interpretation through Zoom’s integrated simultaneous interpretation feature. This exceeded the 90% target and demonstrated continued success in reducing interpreter travel—a key contributor to aviation-related greenhouse gas emissions.

By maximizing the use of clean technology to reduce the environmental footprint of its operations, CICS supports the Government of Canada’s transition to net-zero carbon operations by 2050. This initiative aligns with SDG Target 13.2, which emphasizes integrating climate measures into planning and operations. It also advances CIF Ambition 13, encouraging urgent climate action.

These results reflect the agency’s commitment to improving operational sustainability and demonstrate how innovation in service delivery can meaningfully contribute to Canada’s climate goals.

The travellers in need of a rental car to get to a conference will be encouraged to opt for a hybrid or electric vehicle when they are available by the car rental companies.

When renting cars, CICS requires large vehicles (typically 7-passenger size) to accommodate conference equipment, luggage, and employees. These larger size vehicles are usually unavailable in hybrid or electric models. As more of these larger vehicles in hybrid and electric models become available to rent, CICS will take advantage and increase usage when possible. CICS has implemented a tracking mechanism to monitor these results.

The travellers in need of accommodation will be encouraged to choose an eco-friendly hotel, provided it is operationally feasible.

CICS has implemented a research component to the travel coordinator role to raise awareness around which hotels are eco-friendly. In 2024-25, 88% of hotels stayed at by employees were classified as eco-friendly and are dedicated to ensuring sustainable practices. Finally, the Secretariat has created a tracking mechanism to monitor these results.