2023-2024 Annual Report under the Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act

* Which of the following accurately describes the government institution's activities?

The Canada School of Public Service (the School) was created on April 1, 2004, when the legislative provisions of Part IV of the Public Service Modernization Act came into force. The School is the Government of Canada's common learning provider, offering a wide variety of courses, events, programs, and learning tools that establish a strong learning culture within the public service.

The School is an internal-facing department serving federal public servants by providing learning products and events. The School does not produce or distribute goods or services to the public.

In 2023‒24, approximately 65% of the annual value of the School's purchases of goods and services were conducted using Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) Standing Offers and Supply Arrangements; approximately 10% were purchased through Shared Services Canada (SSC) procurement tools; and approximately 25% were purchased through the School's own procurement authority.

Since November 2021, PSPC implemented anti-forced labour clauses in all goods contracts to ensure that it can terminate contracts where there is credible information that the goods have been produced in whole or in part by forced labour or human trafficking. Additionally, since November 20, 2023, all PSPC Standing Offers and Supply Arrangements for goods that have been issued, amended, or refreshed include anti-forced labour clauses.

As such, all of the School's contracts for goods resulting from the use of these procurement tools include clauses relating to forced labour which set out, among other things, human rights and labour rights requirements. These clauses can be found in the policy notification 150 – Anti-forced labour requirements.

* Indicate steps taken in the previous financial year to prevent and reduce the risk that forced labour or child labour is used at any step of the production of goods produced, purchased or distributed by the government institution.

To prevent and reduce the risk that forced labour or child labour is used at any step of the production of goods purchased or distributed, the School has integrated PSPC's updated General Conditions for goods contracts and Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC)'s Code of Conduct for Procurement in its purchasing activities.

To additionally reduce the risk, the School uses PSPC's Standing Offers and Supply Arrangements tools whenever possible for the acquisition of goods. PSPC supports government institutions in their daily operations by acting as the central purchasing agent for the Government of Canada.

In some circumstances, the School undertakes activities under its own procurement authority, to procure specialized learning products and professional services related to the delivery of the School's mandate.

The School always exercises due diligence in the procurement process to prevent and reduce the risk that forced labour or child labour is used at any step of the supply chain. The School also makes best efforts to acquire goods and services in Canada whenever possible.

* Does the government institution currently have policies and due diligence processes in place related to forced labour and/or child labour?

Effective April 1, 2023, amendments to the Treasury Board Directive on the Management of Procurement require contracting authorities from all departments listed in Schedules I, I.1 and II of the Financial Administration Act (with the exception of the Canada Revenue Agency) and commissions established in accordance with the Inquiries Act and designated as a department for the purposes of the Financial Administration Act to incorporate the Code of Conduct for Procurement ("the Code") into their procurements.

Pursuant to the aforementioned amendments, the School has integrated the Code into its procurements, with a view to safeguarding federal procurement supply chains from forced labour and child labour. Contracts that the School has awarded included the Code through the General Conditions for goods.

The Code requires that vendors, providing goods and services to the Government of Canada and their sub-contractors, comply with all applicable laws and regulations. In addition, the Code requires vendors and their sub-contractors to comply with Canada's prohibition on the importation of goods produced, in whole or in part, by forced or compulsory labour. This includes forced or compulsory child labour and applies to all goods, regardless of their country of origin.

The prohibition on the importation of goods produced wholly or in part by forced labour came into force under the Customs Tariff on July 1, 2020. This amendment implemented a commitment in the Labour Chapter of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) and applies to all imports, regardless of origin.

* Has the government institution identified the parts of its activities and supply chains that carry a risk of forced labour or child labour being used?

In May 2021, a risk analysis of PSPC's supply chains was completed by Rights Lab, of the University of Nottingham (U.K.), to determine which goods were at the highest risk of exposure to human trafficking, forced labour, and child labour. The analysis, and subsequent report, elaborated key strategies for PSPC to leverage public spending power to raise awareness about forced labour in supply chains.

The School is aware of the information on the risk assessment provided by PSPC, and is monitoring related follow-action, including the development of a PSPC Policy on ethical procurement.

* Has the government institution taken any measures to remediate any forced labour or child labour in its activities and supply chains?

Not applicable. The School has not identified any forced labour or child labour in its activities and supply chains.

* Has the government institution taken any measures to remediate the loss of income to the most vulnerable families that results from any measure taken to eliminate the use of forced or child labour in its activities and supply chains?

Not applicable. The School has not identified any loss of income to vulnerable families resulting from measures taken to eliminate the use of forced labour or child labour in our activities and supply chains.

* Does the government institution currently provide training to employees on forced labour and/or child labour?

The School is aware that PSPC is developing awareness-raising guidance materials (including risk mitigation strategies) for suppliers, targeted towards high-risk sectors. The School is monitoring the development of these materials and will leverage these resources upon their publication.

* Does the government institution currently have policies and procedures in place to assess its effectiveness in ensuring that forced labour and child labour are not being used in its activities and supply chains? (Yes or No)

The School abides by the procurement policy as defined in the Treasury Board Directive on the Management of Procurement and is currently developing procedures to assess the effectiveness in ensuring that forced labour and child labour are not being used in its activities and supply chains.