Performance Report on Sustainable Development April 1, 2008 to March 31, 2009

1.0 Introduction

1.1 Purpose and Structure of the Report

The purpose of this report is to provide stakeholders with information on the Agency's performance in implementing its 2007-2010 Sustainable Development (SD) Strategy. This report covers the period from April 1, 2008 to March 31, 2009—the second full year of implementing the Agency's fourth SD strategy.

The report provides background information on the context for the CRA SD strategy. It examines the legal requirement for the Agency's SD program and outlines the Agency's strategic approach to SD. It continues with a briefing on the Agency's compliance with applicable legislation and regulations. This is followed by highlights of results achieved against the goals of the SD National Action Plan and Environmental Management Programs (EMPs).

It also outlines other dimensions of SD performance, such as the CRA contribution to Government-wide SD priorities, SD program costs and benefits, and results of SD program assessment.

1.2 Background

The term "sustainable development" attained global prominence with the publication of Our Common Future by the United Nation's World Commission on Environment and Development in 1987. The document defined sustainable development as:

"Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of present generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."

Sustainable development calls for an approach to decision making that balances the needs of the environment, society and the economy. The approach also recognizes the importance of environmental protection in sustaining both society and the economy. Some have likened sustainable development to living off nature's interest, while leaving the principal intact for future generations.

From 1995 to June 2008, the Auditor General Act required certain departments and agencies to table sustainable development strategies and to update them at least every three years. The Act also empowered the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development (CESD) to audit and report on the extent to which departments meet their SD commitments.

In June 2008, the mandate for departments and agencies to table SD strategies was superseded by the Federal Sustainable Development Act. Until the tabling of a Federal SD Strategy by June 2010, departments and agencies will continue to pursue the commitments in their current SD strategies, while preparing to align to the requirements of the new Act.

1.3 Sustainable Development at the CRA

With a workforce of approximately 40,000 employees, working in over 135 facilities across Canada, the CRA has a large operational footprint. Managing the environmental impacts of our operations is therefore a key focus of our SD Strategy. By optimizing the delivery of our services; the CRA protects the environment, conserves natural resources, and reduces operating costs.

To move us towards achieving our SD vision, the SD Strategy for 2007-2010 contains 4 goals that are articulated in a National SD Action Plan. They are:

1. Reduce the effects of our operations on land, air and water;
2. Demonstrate sustainable service delivery of tax and benefit programs;
3. All employees apply sustainable development in their jobs; and,
4. Use modern systems that support and maintain sustainable development.

The 4 SD goals are further divided into 9 objectives, which themselves are supported by 16 targets. The targets are then supported by 65 activities that are included in the National SD Action Plan for 2007-2010. Goal 1 is supported by 29 activities, goal 2 has 14 activities, goal 3 has 13 activities, and the remaining 9 activities support goal 4.

The strategy is organized into a hierarchical structure of six levels:

• Vision
• Strategy
• 4 Goals
• 9 Objectives
• 16 Targets
• 65 Activities

To address environmental protection (i.e., goal 1) we developed an Environmental Management System (EMS) that is modeled after the ISO 14001 EMS standard, and consists of distinct Environmental Programs (EMPs) for the identified significant environmental issues of the CRA. The nine EMPs are energy conservation, fleet, hazardous waste, halocarbons, outside emissions, paper, procurement, solid waste, and storage tanks. The EMPs are detailed operational plans that support the objectives of goal 1 of the SD strategy. Both the National SD Action Plan and EMPs are updated annually to reflect new priorities and opportunities.

The main business of the CRA is to deliver tax and benefit programs on behalf of Canadians. Therefore goal 2 of our SD strategy is dedicated to pursuing more sustainable delivery of those programs.

People and processes are also key considerations in our SD strategy because they are vital partners and agents of change in any organization. Goal 3 is seeks to engage CRA management and employees in the practices of SD. Goal 4 is dedicated to developing and improving the necessary infrastructure (e.g., tools, systems) for supporting implementation of the SD program.

See Appendix A for information on the CRA governance structure for sustainable development.

Date modified:

2010-04-12