Departmental Plan 2020-2021 - Supplementary Information Tables

Not applicable: The CRTC does not have a formal GBA+ implementation plan for 2020-21.

The Broadcasting Act is one of the enabling instruments of the CRTC. It requires the CRTC to help ensure that the Canadian broadcasting system:

• Reflects the circumstances and aspirations of Canadians via programming (i.e., on screen) and employment opportunities arising from broadcasting system operations (i.e., behind the camera);
• Serves the needs and interests of Canadians. As set out in the Act, meeting these requires consideration of the following:
  • Equal rights for women
  • Linguistic duality
  • The multicultural and multiracial nature of Canadian society
  • Indigenous Canadians
  • Access to broadcasting content by Canadians with disabilities

• Co-develop a new Indigenous broadcasting policy as part of the Government of Canada’s commitment to advancing reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.
• Review the terms of the CBC/Radio-Canada licences and the Commercial Radio Policy. As part of these reviews, the CRTC will look at whether programming adequately and appropriately reflects the diversity of Canadians, including women, Indigenous groups, ethnic and multicultural groups, official language minority communities, children and youth, Canadians with disabilities, and LGBTQ2 Canadians.
• Complete a proceeding to update the definition of Canadian Programming Expenditures (CPE). This new definition will enable the CRTC to track how these investments contribute to gender equality, diversity and inclusiveness.
• Launch a proceeding to review the regulatory framework for video relay service. This basic telecommunications service enables people with hearing or speech disabilities who use sign language to communicate with voice telephone users.
• Contribute to creating a barrier-free Canada by updating CRTC internal policies, as appropriate, to comply with the Accessible Canada Act (ACA) and by ensuring that the broadcasting and telecommunications regulatory frameworks advance the objectives of the ACA.
• Continue to promote diversity and inclusion via the Inclusion and Diversity Committee, the CRTC Mentoring Program, and other initiatives (such as the new ombuds-service and the internal mini-survey), all with a view to fostering a healthy and respectful work environment.

Women in Communications and Technology (WCT) programs

The CRTC participates in WCT programs that seek to empower women as leaders and contributors to Canada’s digital economy:

• The Dr. Roberta Bondar Career Development Program for Young Women in Science and Technology: This program aims to inspire women engineers, researchers, scientists, computer scientists and electrical engineers to move forward in science and technology fields, and to eventually transition into scientific and management leadership in the Canadian science and technology fields.
• The Jeanne Sauvé Career Development Program: This program is open to women on management track in government communications policy and the communications and technology sectors. Its two-week rotation offers new perspectives, insights and direct access to industry, public policy and regulatory decision makers.

As part of the review of the Indigenous broadcasting policy, the CRTC will commission a report that gives a portrait of the current Indigenous broadcasting environment (including data on social, economic, and financial realities).

The CRTC has also created a new reporting requirement for certain large broadcasters to identify the number of women holding key creative roles in commissioned works.

With the updated CPE definition, the CRTC will track how CPE investments contribute to gender equality, diversity and inclusiveness in Canada (by monitoring metrics related to women in key creative positions and to productions made by and for Indigenous groups, for example).

Although the CRTC is not bound by the Federal Sustainable Development Act and is not required to develop a full departmental sustainable development strategy, the CRTC 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 CRTC 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.

The CRTC continues to implement environmentally conscious strategies and best practices to reduce the carbon footprint of the CRTC. Below are examples of implementation strategies and best practices that are in place.

• Toner cartridges recycled at end of life
• Encourage employees and co-workers to bike, walk or take public transit to work or to telework
• Maximize the use of video and teleconference services for internal and external meetings, including the participation of Canadians in our public hearings
• Turn off computers and other equipment at the end of the work day
• Multifunctional printers are programmed to print, by default, on both sides in order to reduce the volume of paper
• Implement "one device per user" where each employee uses one primary source of technology, such as a laptop or tablet
• Automation and elimination of paper-based processes, including the implementation and promotion of digital note-taking software and techniques, and e-signatures, to further reduce reliance on paper
• Reduce, consolidate and modernize IT infrastructure and server room equipment and processes to maximize efficiencies and reduce power consumption
• Participate in the Computers for Schools program, which provides a second life to computers
• Disposal of furniture and materials (metal and plexiglass) is done through Buyandsell.gc.ca prior to landfill disposal
• Use of a hybrid vehicle

A Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) for policy, plan or program proposals includes an analysis of the impacts of the given proposal on the environment, including on the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS) goals and targets. The results of these SEAs are made public when an initiative is announced. The purpose of the public statement is to demonstrate that when there are environmental effects, including impacts on achieving the FSDS goals and targets, of the approved policy, plan or program that they have been appropriately considered during proposal development and decision making. The CRTC is an administrative tribunal that regulates and supervises Canadian broadcasting, and telecommunications in the public interest, as well as contributes to protecting Canadians from unsolicited communications. Given its mandate, the CRTC does not have plans, programs or policies subject to strategic environmental assessments.

• Integrate environmental considerations into procurement management processes and controls.

• Departmental approach to further implementation of the Policy on Green Procurement in place.

• Ensure that decision-makers have the necessary training and awareness to support green procurement.

• 66.7% of specialists in procurement and/or material management have completed the Canada School of Public Service Procurement course or equivalent.