Sustainable development strategy 2023 to 2027

Table of contents

• Introduction to our strategy
• Vision for sustainable development
• Input from Canadians
• Our sustainable development commitments
• Integrating sustainable development

Introduction to our strategy

We are pleased to present the Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying’s sustainable development strategy for 2023 to 2027

The 2022 to 2026 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy presents the Government of Canada’s sustainable development goals and targets, as required by the Federal Sustainable Development Act.

As developed by Environment and Climate Change Canada, it is the first federal strategy to be framed using the 17 sustainable development goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda and it aims to provide a balanced view of the environmental, social and economic dimensions of sustainable development.

In keeping with the purpose of the Federal Sustainable Development Act, to make decision making related to sustainable development more transparent and accountable to Parliament, we support goals laid out in the federal strategy through the activities described in this strategy.

The Federal Sustainable Development Act also sets out 7 principles that must be considered in the development of the federal strategy as well as the sustainable development strategies of designated federal entities. These basic principles have been considered and incorporated into this strategy.

Vision for sustainable development

Our sustainable development vision focuses on actions within our reach and directly in line with our commitments under goals 10, 12 and 13 of the federal strategy.

Taking into account the nature of our operations and resourcing levels, this strategy is centred on effective actions that we can achieve alongside our regulatory mandate as set by the Lobbying Act.

Effective:
Where within our direct control or appropriate influence, we maintain and implement practices that reduce the environmental impact of our operations. This results in sustainable practices that integrate environmental and economic factors in our operational decisions.

Achievable:
Our 2023 to 2027 sustainability commitments are based on straightforward objectives and operational practices that we can implement, accomplish and measure in ways that do not compromise our regulatory independence and neutrality.

Input from Canadians

As required by the Federal Sustainable Development Act, we have considered input on the draft 2022 2026 federal strategy made during the public consultation held from March 11 to July 9, 2022.

During that public consultation, more than 700 comments were received from a broad range of stakeholders, including governments, Indigenous organizations, non-governmental organizations, academics, businesses, and individual Canadians in different age groups and of various backgrounds.

The draft federal strategy was also shared with the appropriate committee of each House of Parliament, the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, and the Sustainable Development Advisory Council for their review and comment.

Please find more information on the federal strategy public consultation and its results in Environment and Climate Change Canada’s consultation report.

What was heard

Across the submissions received by Environment and Climate Change Canada, we identified the following sustainable development priorities and issues as particularly pertinent to our strategy:

• the integration of Indigenous knowledge into decision-making and program/policy development
• the view that government procurement actions and targets need to be strengthened
• the need for federal leadership on emission reductions and climate resilience
• the importance of outcome-based targets as well as the need for simplified progress tracking and reporting

What we did

We took the above-mentioned priorities and issues into consideration in this strategy, as follows:

• our goal 10 commitment supports transparency in lobbying that relates to Indigenous interests within the existing parameters of the federal lobbying registration framework
• our goal 12 and 13 commitments implement greening government objectives and plans, in keeping with the nature of our regulatory mandate, operations and available resourcing

Our sustainable development commitments

We contribute to the federal strategy’s efforts to support responsible corporate consumption and act on climate change.

In keeping with our regulatory mandate, small scale of operations and limited resourcing, our sustainability commitments are within our direct control or appropriate influence and mainly relate to how we fulfill internal services.

To safeguard regulatory neutrality, our sustainability commitments largely avoid overlap with our legislated mandate to regulate private sector lobbying of federal officials under the Lobbying Act.

Goal 10: Advance reconciliation with Indigenous peoples and take action on inequality

Context in relation to the federal strategy

The Government of Canada has committed to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, in consultation and cooperation with First Nations, Inuit and Métis to develop an Action Plan to achieve the objectives of the UN Declaration, and to identify measures needed to ensure federal laws are consistent with the UN Declaration.

As an arms-length federal organization that supports an independent agent of Parliament, we administer the Lobbying Act as enacted by Parliament.

Of note, the Lobbying Act and its regulations have long required registrants to disclose federally regulated lobbying communications related to Indigenous interests, by using the “Aboriginal Affairs” subject matter category (prescribed by regulation) when filing information in the Registry of Lobbyists. Registrants are also required to identify and describe any related legislation, regulation, policy/program, etc. connected to their lobbying communications.

As applicable, the Commissioner of Lobbying will support Parliament and any of its designated bodies in any review of the Lobbying Act for consistency with the UN Declaration and the development of possible legislative measures.

While the Lobbying Act does not apply to an individual (or their staff) acting in an official capacity as a member or as an employee of an Indigenous government with jurisdiction or authority under a federally recognized self-government agreement, the communications of consultant and in-house lobbyists that pertain to Indigenous interests are subject to registration in the Registry of Lobbyists.

As a result, information about lobbying of interest to Indigenous Peoples and communities exists in the Registry of Lobbyists. This information may help inform the respect of and exercising of Indigenous interests and rights in accordance with the UN Declaration.

Federal target theme

Advancing reconciliation with First Nations, Inuit, and the Métis communities.

Federal 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 (responsibility of the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada).

Goal 12: Reduce waste and transition to zero-emission vehicles

Context in relation to the federal strategy

In accordance with the federal strategy, our Goal 12 action focuses on green procurement. Our practices prioritize sustainability when we purchase goods and services.

In keeping with our status as a micro-organization of approximately 30 employees and our limited financial resourcing, we operate from an office facility in Ottawa leased and managed by Public Services and Procurement Canada. We do not operate major facilities, have vehicles or produce significant volumes of operational waste.

For these reasons, this section of our strategy does not include distinct actions related to vehicle fleet management or waste reduction. Measures such as reducing waste are within the scope of our Greening Government Strategy implementation (see Goal 13).

Federal target theme

Federal leadership on responsible consumption.

Federal 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.

Goal 13: Take action on climate change and its impacts

Context in relation to the federal strategy

In accordance with the federal strategy, our Goal 13 actions focus on greening government measures and reducing risks to operations posed by climate change.

In keeping with our status as a micro-organization of approximately 30 employees and our limited financial resourcing, we operate from an office facility in Ottawa leased and managed by Public Services and Procurement Canada. We do not operate major facilities, have vehicles or produce significant volumes of operational waste.

For these reasons, this section of our strategy does not include distinct actions in areas such as fleet management, real property or waste diversion. Nonetheless, our operations adhere to the spirit of the federal goal that government operations be net-zero by 2050 – to the largest extent through our relationships with other federal partners that manage our office lease and who provide our information technology systems.

Our action related to green procurement within the scope of Greening Government Strategy implementation is outlined separately at Goal 12 of this strategy.

Federal target theme

Federal leadership on greenhouse gas emissions reductions and climate resilience

Federal target

The Government of Canada will transition to net-zero carbon operations for facilities and conventional fleets by 2050

Integrating sustainable development

We consider and adopt, whenever possible, best practices identified in impact assessments completed by other federal organizations in relation to corporate policies, procedures, and decision making.