Reporting on Green Procurement
Reporting on Green Procurement This supplementary information table supports reporting on green procurement activities in accordance with the Policy on Green Procurement. Context Although the Canadian Intergovernmental Conference Secretariat (CICS) is not bound by the Federal Sustainable Development Act and is not required to develop a full Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy (DSDS), the CICS adheres to the principles of the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS) by complying with the Policy on Green Procurement. The Policy on Green Procurement supports the Government of Canada’s effort to promote environmental stewardship. In keeping with the objectives of the policy, the Canadian Intergovernmental Conference Secretariat supports sustainable development by integrating environmental performance considerations into the procurement decision–making process through the actions described in the 2019 to 2022 FSDS “Greening Government” goal. Commitments Greening Government: The Government of Canada will transition to low-carbon, climate-resilient, and green operations FSDS target(s) FSDS contributing action(s) Corresponding departmental action(s) Starting point(s) Performance indicator(s) Target(s) Results achieved Contribution by each departmental result to the FSDS goal and target Actions supporting the Greening Government goal and the Policy on Green Procurement Departments will use environmental criteria to reduce the environmental impact and ensure best value in government procurement decisions Acquire, use, and dispose of goods and services in an environmentally responsible manner Have management processes and controls in place to integrate environmental considerations in procurement decisions Starting point: In 2020-21, 71% of PSPC procurement instruments such as standing offers and supply arrangements were from vendors offering environmentally optimal solutions. Performance indicator: % of procurement instruments used by the organization that include environmental criteria. Target: 75% Result: In 2021-22, 88.9% of standing offers and supply arrangements through PSPC were from vendors offering environmentally optimal solutions. These actions directly contribute to SDG 12.6 by focusing CICS’ procurement decisions on environmentally optimal suppliers, which is expected to motivate suppliers to reduce GHG emissions associated with their goods, services and supply chains. CICS will integrate environmental considerations in procurement decisions. Starting point: In 2020-21, a review of current internal processes and controls relating to procurement had just begun. Performance indicator: % of internal processes and controls that have been reviewed and updated in order to integrate environmental considerations Target: 75% Result: In 2021-22, the CICS workforce was operating in a remote capacity, including its service delivery to clients. The Agency aimed to reduce its carbon footprint by continuing to encourage flexible work, and by promoting its videoconference platform to reduce the GHGs associated with in-person meetings. Updating internal processes and controls to integrate environmental considerations contributes directly to SDG 12.7 by ensuring both current and future employees will follow the most sustainable consumption and production patterns. Support for green procurement will be strengthened, including guidance, tools and training for public service employees Acquire, use, and dispose of goods and services in an environmentally responsible manner Starting point: CICS will create a green committee. Performance indicator: CICS’ created a green committee. Target: 1 Result: CICS’s green committee met regularly in 2021-22. CICS’ green committee contributed directly […]
by Thomas Walsh
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Operating Context 2021-22
The dramatic effects of COVID-19 continued to impact the Agency throughout 2021-22. With 98% of its meetings in virtual formats, the CICS successfully served its first in-person meetings in a post-pandemic context. While only 2% of meetings were conducted in-person, this learning opportunity provided the Secretariat with vital information about operating in the “new normal”, such as larger rooms to accommodate for social distancing, removal of certain on-site services, and implementation of sanitization procedures, to name a few. Teleconferences saw a striking decrease in 2021-22, with the fewest events since 2012-13, as our clients shifted towards videoconferences. This shift was facilitated by improvements to CICS’ videoconference equipment and tools for clients. The sudden uptake in videoconferencing allowed all federal, provincial, territorial governments to significantly reduce costs and travel time associated with intergovernmental meetings. The Agency’s senior management has also begun assessing its business model and organizational structure to ensure it remains appropriate in this new virtual/hybrid environment. CICS continued to take advantage of the Federal Student Work Experience Program and implemented a career development program for eligible employees. Throughout 2021-22, the Secretariat experienced a high number of planned retirements and departures, but this risk was successfully mitigated through proactive staffing that allowed for overlap of key positions and transfer of corporate knowledge.
by Thomas Walsh
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Departmental Results Report 2021-22
View as: 2021–22Departmental Results Report Canadian Intergovernmental Conference Secretariat The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, P.C., K.C., M.P. Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities ISSN: 2562-7376 Table of contents From the Institutional Head Results at a glance Results: what we achieved Core responsibilities Internal services Spending and human resources Spending Human resources Expenditures by vote Government of Canada spending and activities Financial statements and financial statements highlights Corporate information Raison d’être, mandate and role: who we are and what we do Operating context Reporting framework Supporting information on the program inventory Supplementary information tables Federal tax expenditures Organizational contact information Appendix: definitions From the Institutional Head I am pleased to table the Canadian Intergovernmental Conference Secretariat’s (CICS) 2021-22 Departmental Results Report (DRR). As an impartial agency whose mandate is to provide administrative support and planning services for intergovernmental meetings of First Ministers, Ministers and Deputy Ministers throughout Canada, CICS has been a key player in Canadian intergovernmental machinery for close to half a century. In 2021-22, the continuing impact of the pandemic on our operations resulted in a significant transformation in the way intergovernmental meetings are held. The agency has demonstrated creativity, innovation and flexibility in adapting to the new reality of virtual conferences, telework and a changing environment. Consequently, one of the top priorities for the Secretariat in 2021-22 was to continue to maintain and cultivate strong partnerships with our clients. This was accomplished through productive consultations with Deputy Ministers of Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Service Commissioner representatives from coast to coast to coast. The Secretariat’s ongoing ability to realign and retool in response to the pandemic enabled the organization to broaden its expertise by focussing on adopting new meeting formats and adding to the current technology options, while setting new standards for the future of hybrid meetings. This is how CICS was able to support 147 senior-level intergovernmental meetings in 2021-22 while maintaining a satisfaction rate of 89.7% in our annual survey of conference organizers. André M. McArdle Secretary, Canadian Intergovernmental Conference Secretariat Results at a glance Key results achieved in 2021-22 The videoconferencing platform (secure, user-friendly and with integrated interpretation module) continued to be the platform of choice during the second year of the pandemic and will continue to be used to link remote participants to in-person/hybrid meetings in the future. CICS maintained and expanded its slate of virtual services. This includes online registration of delegates and access to documents; assistance with presentations in screen-share mode; expanded moderator role for CICS conference managers; virtual break-out rooms and other forms of parallel meetings for discussions, communiqué preparation, virtual press conferences, etc. CICS continued to focus on innovation and delivering high-quality, responsive, and cost-effective conference services to federal, provincial, and territorial governments in a primarily virtual environment. The Secretariat made great strides to develop and implement new technologies and processes, with a focus on addressing technical and other challenges related to virtual conferencing with interpretation. As a result of these modernization improvements, CICS was able to maintain the high-quality service […]
by Thomas Walsh
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