Executive Summary

Environmental Protection Programs (NHQ-EPP) has been preparing and publishing a corporate Sustainable Development Strategy (SDS) every three years since its first edition in 1997. Each strategy had its successes and lessons learned which were used and adapted in subsequent editions. In the last SDS, for the 2012-15 cycle, 18 targets were established of which 16 targets were met or surpassed and two targets were partially achieved.

For this SDS, CSC's sixth edition, we have aimed to maintain a large degree of consistency with goals from previous strategies in order to capitalize on achievements. The commitments/targets are in line with the institutional water and energy conservation plans and the optimized recycling programs established and implemented in the 2012-15 SDS cycle.  In addition, emphasis and priority has been placed on energy saving initiatives in an effort to lower greenhouse gas emissions and to reduce consumption costs.

The approach adopted for SDS 2015-18 is different from those previous in that the commitments are based on specific and realistic targets at the institutional level, rather than being corporately developed and implemented. We believe that each site can contribute in its own way to CSC's environmental sustainability agenda.

The current SDS overarching main goal is “To reduce the ecological impacts of Correctional Service of Canada operations”. In addition, the strategy is subdivided into two goals:

  1. Contribute to the protection of the atmosphere and to reduce gaseous emissions that are responsible for global warming/climate change.
  2. Contribute to the protection of natural habitats and reduce pollution to aquatic ecosystems.

Though CSC is not legally bound by the Federal Sustainable Development Act, the department has agreed to report on the implementation strategy 3.11.1 of the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy 2013-16 - “Federal custodian's complete remediation/risk management activities at federal contaminated sites for which they are responsible in order to reduce human health and ecological risks at higher priority sites”. Each year through the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan (FSCAP) CSC will provide a status report on the contaminated sites located on CSC properties undergoing remediation or those being risk managed.