VAC exists to assist and help those whose courageous efforts give us a legacy and contributed to our growth as a nation. The Department works to provide a high standard of services and benefits to Canada’s Veterans and their families. Sustainable development is pursued within the context of this mandate.
At VAC, sustainable development means managing our programs, services and operations in a way that is environmentally, economically and socially responsible. It is also about encouraging employees to consider and apply the principles of sustainable development in their work.
Along with our vision of providing exemplary service which honors the sacrifices and achievements of our Veterans and clients, VAC is continuously finding ways to integrate sustainable development into our operations. The Department has made a lot of progress in this regard by making information and services available online, and plans to continue those efforts. VAC is also looking at ways to continue decreasing the amount of paperwork required from Veterans and their families, especially in a pandemic operating environment.
More specifically, VAC’s DSDS is aligned with the FSDS goal of greening government. While this DSDS focuses on greening VAC’s operations, the Department also undertakes a number of other initiatives that contribute to sustainable development more broadly. VAC delivers programs and services (e.g., Disability Benefits, Career Transition Services, Education and Training Benefit, Caregiver Recognition Benefit, Health Care Programs, Veterans Emergency Fund, Veteran and Family Well-Being Fund) that contribute directly to well-being of Veterans and their families, along with organizations that want to create new and innovative ways to improve the well-being of Canadian Veterans and their families.
It is also important to note that the Department’s DSDS is one of the ways in which VAC contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. In 2015, Canada and all United Nations member states adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the goal of which is to leave no one behind by eradicating poverty, protecting the planet and ensuring prosperity. It includes 17 sustainable development goals to address social, economic, and environmental challenges. VAC, like other departments and agencies, contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through its DSDS.
FSDS Goal: Greening Government
Greening government operations and moving towards a low-carbon government is important to achieving Canada’s sustainable development goals. VAC is committed to greening our own operations through a number of measures to support the Government of Canada’s target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from federal operations by 40% by 2030 from 2005 levels, by 80% by 2050 with an aspiration to be carbon neutral. These measures include:
- Incorporating environmental criteria into our procurement process
- Encouraging sustainable business travel and reducing emissions from fleet vehicles
- In cooperation with Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC), VAC will continue to implement GCWorkplace as leases expire or are renewed, including using initiatives to ensure that space is used effectively and greenhouse gases are minimized.
- Promoting green meetings
- Reducing the demand for energy or switching to low carbon sources of energy
- Continuing to implement digital government and reduce the reliance on paper
- Engaging with employees to promote more sustainable behaviours
- The current pandemic operating environment presents an additional opportunity to examine ways to foster greater flexibility in where and how employees work in order to facilitate productivity and improve workplace health and well-being all the while delivering programs and services to Veterans and their families. Increased flexibility may also contribute to reduced greenhouse gas emissions related to commuting.
- Continuing to collaborate with VAC’s Youth Network to identify and implement new and innovative ways to recycle and contribute to sustainable development as a whole. This includes leveraging best practices, and connecting with community partners and local governments.
These initiatives are described in greater detail in Section 3.