Gender-based analysis plus: general information — Departmental Plan 2020-21

On this page

• List of acronyms
• Governance
• Human resources
• Planned initiatives
• Reporting capacity and data

List of acronyms

ADM

Assistant Deputy Ministers

ARAP

Anti-Racism Action Program

BCAH

Building Communities through Arts and Heritage

BCCM

Broadcasting, Copyright and Creative Marketplace

BTLR

Broadcasting and Telecommunications Legislative Review

CACL

Canadian Association for Community Living

CHF

Canada History Fund

CMF

Canada Media Fund’s

CSMARI

Community Support, Multiculturalism, and Anti-Racism Initiatives Program

DCI

Digital Citizen Initiative

FTE

Full-Time Equivalent

GBA+

Gender-based Analysis plus

GRF

Gender Results Framework

LGBTQ2+

lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and two-spirited

PCH

Canadian Heritage

Governance

To ensure that Gender-based Analysis plus (GBA+) is integrated in the Department’s decision-making processes, the Department created a GBA+ Responsibility Centre, located within Strategic Policy and International Affairs, and has established a Community of Practice, active with representation from every branch, region and corporate service area, for the past four fiscal years.

• Accountability. The Department’s Senior Management and Governance Committees review progress and assess the extent to which GBA+ is included in decision-making within the Department.
• A GBA+ Action Plan is currently under development to assess strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities with respect to GBA+ implementation, and to support the Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth on two mandate commitments related to working with colleagues to advance GBA+ in Budgets and Cabinet decision-making with a particular focus on diversity, as well as a third mandate commitment related to supporting the Prime Minister in demonstrating gender parity and diversity in appointments.
• Departmental decision-making processes. With support from the accountability and coordination mechanisms described above, each branch is responsible for implementing GBA+ within their area of responsibility. At this time detail on only one such branch-level process has been made available for 2020-21. Other branches may report on this at a later date.
• Sport Canada has a Policy (Actively Engaged: A Policy on Sport for Women and Girls) which focuses on gender equity in sport and also addresses the goals of a strategy or framework through the following mechanisms:
• Sport Canada has an internal working-level group dedicated to GBA+ which is tasked with reviewing all Cabinet documents and policies with a gender lens.
• Sport Canada also has a Gender Equity Secretariat in the Policy and Planning Division responsible for policy and initiatives related to GBA+.
• The Director of Policy and Planning for Sport Canada is responsible for raising GBA+ at senior management committees.

Human resources

The Department has the following human resources dedicated to GBA+ implementation:

• 1 ADM Champion;
• 3 FTEs as follows: 1 Gender Focal Point and 1 additional FTE working in the GBA+ Responsibility Centre on an ongoing basis; B-base salary from Budget 2019 funding also provides for one FTE through to the end of FY 2020-21; and
• 44 branch, region and corporate representatives on the GBA+ Community of Practice

Furthermore, a total of 7.06 FTEs have been dedicated within the following specific teams:

• 0.2 FTE within the Community Building Branch;
• 0.1 FTE for Heritage Policy & Programs Branch;
• The Official Languages Branch has two people who together represent a contribution of 0.35 FTEs to GBA+;
• 0.25 of an FTE in the Broadcasting, Copyright and Creative Marketplace (BCCM) Branch;
• 2 FTEs within the Employment Equity, Inclusion and Official Languages team in the Human Resources and Workplace Management Branch;
• 1.16 FTE within Policy Research Group;
• There are 2.5 FTEs in Sport Canada’s Gender Equity Secretariat; and
• 0.5 FTE within the LGBTQ2+ Secretariat

Planned initiatives

Canadian Heritage has 20 major initiatives where GBA+ will be applied and monitored in 2020-21. These include:

1. Implementation of the Guiding Principles on the Collection and Display of Sex and Gender Information

The Department will implement the Guiding Principles on the Collection and Display of Sex and Gender Information it developed in FY 2019/20 by delivering training to all branches on sex and gender information practices, with a priority given to those whose past practice has not been aligned with Treasury Board’s Policy Direction to Modernize the Government of Canada’s Sex and Gender Information Practices.

2. GBA+ Funding from Budget 2019

Budget 2019 allocated funding of $1M over two years for GBA+ at Canadian Heritage in order to better integrate gender and diversity considerations in funding allocations for arts and culture programs. The following initiatives are moving forward:

Separate but linked research projects will be carried out to enable better integration of the Gender Results Framework in program design at PCH.

• The Canada Music Fund is carrying out a project to strengthen the program’s capacity to research challenges faced by artists and entrepreneurs of different gender groups and ethnic backgrounds.
• A Smartphone app, in collaboration with StatsCan to capture GBA+ data in the field (e.g., during cultural events, festivals, museum visits, etc.).
• Data harvesting, in collaboration with StatsCan to explore combining national data with PCH recipient data for GBA+ purposes.
• Internal research focused on implementation of results obtained from Statistics Canada research.
• Research initiative with the Canada Arts Presentation Fund to assess data obtained for GBA+ purposes from traditional (i.e., telephone) vs online platform for the Access to Arts and Heritage Survey.

3. LGBTQ Action Plan and programming

In support of key mandate letter commitments for the Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth, priority actions undertaken by the LGBTQ2 Secretariat will include:

• Consulting civil society representatives of LGBTQ2 communities to lay the groundwork for an LGBTQ2 action plan that would guide the work of the federal government on issues important to LGBTQ2 Canadians.

This will contribute to Departmental GBA+ efforts to better understand the ways in which all Canadians are affected by Government policies, programs, and services.

4. Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy

All of the Multiculturalism Branch’s work under the Anti-Racism Strategy listed below is designed to allow for as much intersectional analysis as possible to build a strong foundation for future policy development and coordination. To do this, the Branch’s data and evidence work must consider at least the intersection of race/ethnicity with gender, age and religious affiliation.

5. The Community Support, Multiculturalism, and Anti-Racism Initiatives Program (CSMARI)

The Program has three funding components: Events, Projects and Community Capacity Building.

• The Events component provides funding to community-based events that promote intercultural or interfaith understanding, civic memory and pride or respect for a healthy democracy, as well as celebrations of a community’s history and culture, such as heritage months recognized by Parliament.
• The Projects component provides funding for community development, anti-racism initiatives, and engagement projects that promote diversity and inclusion by encouraging interaction among community groups.
• The Community Capacity Building component provides funding for capacity building projects that will contribute to the recipient's ability to promote diversity and inclusion.

New guidelines were developed aiming to sustain the Program’s continued efforts to support community actions and better support unique local and regional needs.

In these revised guidelines, proposals that combat racism and discrimination directed towards two specific groups: Indigenous Peoples and racialized women and girls are seen as eligible and priority applicants.

53 projects approved under CSMARI are focused or have activities focused towards racialized women & girls.

The expected ultimate outcome is guided by the Strategy’s vision: Improved employment, justice and social outcomes amongst racialized communities, religious minorities and Indigenous Peoples (over a 5 to 10+ year horizon).

6. The Community Support for Black Canadian Youth Initiative

It provides funding for projects that address the unique challenges faced by Black Canadian youth by combating discrimination through awareness raising and/or digital literacy; providing opportunities for Black Canadian youth, and empowering them through the promotion of Black history, culture and identity; and developing leadership skills and civic engagement.

Expected results include increased awareness of issues affecting full participation in society and the economy faced by Black youth; increased capacity within the Black community to address racism and discrimination; and increased sense of belonging and pride among Black youth.

7. The Anti-Racism Action Program (ARAP)

The ARAP is one important means by which the Government of Canada implements Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy.

The ARAP is intended to help address barriers to employment, justice and social participation among Indigenous Peoples, racialized communities and religious minorities.

Initiatives funded under the ARAP are expected to increase the capacity of organizations to focus on systemic barriers to employment, justice and social participation; increase the delivery of resources, programs, campaigns and services which address barriers to employment, justice and social participation; increase participation by Indigenous Peoples, racialized communities and religious minorities in projects which address barriers to employment, justice and social participation; and/or increase the availability and accessibility of data, evidence and community insights regarding the disparities experienced by Indigenous Peoples, racialized communities and religious minorities.

8. Canada History Fund

The CHF supports the creation of learning materials about the history of Canada through contribution agreements with non-governmental organizations and post-secondary education institutions. A number of ongoing projects in 2020-21, which received funding from the CHF, will contribute to meeting GBA+ criteria related to age, gender, ethnocultural groups and official languages. For example:

• CHF is supporting the culmination of the Hearts of Freedom project, led by Carleton University, which will produce a film, book and interviews documenting the experience of South East Asian refugees who came to Canada during the 1970s. Resources developed through the project will be disseminated through networks including museums, provincial ministries of education, school boards and settlement organizations;
• The Canadian Association for Community Living (CACL) will develop accessible learning materials to inform Canadians about the past practice of institutionalization and its impact on communities in Canada; and
• Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami will promote through social media the results of a three-year project that tells the story of the Inuit Nunangat (the Inuit homeland in Canada) from time immemorial (Taimannganit). One hundred videos on a digital interactive map will allow Canadians to learn about legends, histories, and the Inuit relationship with the environment and all living things within it.

9. LGBTQ2+ Pride Festival Reserve

In Budget 2019, the Building Communities through Arts and Heritage (BCAH) received an additional $14 million over two years – 2019-20 and 2020-21 – for its Local Festivals component. The Program has set aside a minimum of $2 million over these two years to help support arts and heritage activities at LGBTQ2+ Pride events across Canada.

BCAH maintains one (1) GBA+ indicator:

1. Indicator: Total amount ($) provided to local groups organizing LGBTQ2+ events, per fiscal year;
2. Target: $1 million/year;
3. Note: This indicator measures the contribution that government funding makes to arts and heritage activities at LGBTQ2+ festivals (e.g., Prides) throughout Canada. Through further analysis, this data can inform on how government investments in these types of events enhance diversity, inclusion and equality; and
4. Expected Result: Canadians have access to local festivals that reflect Canada’s diversity. An amount of $2M will be spent by BCAH over two fiscal years, 2019-20 and 2020-21.

10. Departmental Response to the Broadcasting and Telecommunications Legislative Review (BTLR).

Broadcasting, Copyright and Creative Marketplace Branch will undergo two GBA+ exercises that respond to the outcomes and recommendations of the BTLR process. GBA+ analysis will be included in our response to the review, providing the Department with the opportunity to share its analysis on how changes in the Canadian broadcasting system may affect how men and women of various demographics and linguistic profiles interact and access content that is reflective of their lived experience as Canadians.

GBA+ will look at how changes to the broadcasting system can ensure equal and full participation in the arts and culture sector of the economy, as well as the availability of more representative media. The analysis will also examine how changes to industry, which increasingly relies on high-speed Internet connections, may affect various demographic profiles.

Expected results: The analysis conducted for both the Budget proposal and the Memorandum to Cabinet will highlight areas for further study that the Department may wish to pursue in 2020 and 2021. The results of these further studies will help inform future Departmental recommendations.

Alignment with Gender Results Framework (GRF)

This initiative supports the GRF goal of equal and full participation in the economy. It will address challenges of participation in and access to the arts and culture sector of the economy. It will also address making media more representative, which will necessitate further participation of varying demographics in production.

11. Economic Viability of Creators Study

This initiative is designed to generate data that directly addresses questions about the economic viability of creators, or more broadly who gets to be a creator and under what economic circumstances. As a first foray into this area, the study focuses on writing, visual arts, songwriting, musical performance and directing.

The Creative Marketplace Lab, in collaboration with the Cultural Industries Branch, is experimenting with a new, respondent-driven methodology to capture the full range of creative activity by allowing list-selected participants to invite other creators within their social/professional networks to complete the survey. Through this methodology, the study should capture a broader group of creators, including those that have not typically engaged the Department.

Expected results

Previous engagements with the visual arts industry identified the opacity of the marketplace and the difficulty of collecting data as primary challenges when analyzing the market. The survey questionnaire, which was developed with consideration to generating data on GBA+ cross sections, seeks to generate insights on economic viability that could inform future government initiatives.

Alignment with Gender Results Framework (GRF)

This initiative supports the GRF goal of equal and full participation in the economy. The study is designed to address the economic viability of creators and will look at varying demographics

12. Digital Citizen Initiative

In January 2019, the Government of Canada announced its strategy for approaching democracy from increases in online disinformation and electoral interference. This included the launch of the Digital Citizen Initiative (DCI), which aims to strengthen Canadians’ resilience to online harms. In 2020-21, the DCI will support research activities on the origins, spread, and impact of online disinformation in Canada through the Digital Citizen Contribution Program and a Joint Initiative with the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.

The initial GBA+ analysis done for the DCI found that there is a gap in current information about how disinformation affects different groups in Canada. In order to address that gap, the DCI will use the efforts dedicated to the research component of the DCI to gain a greater understanding of:

1. which groups are more vulnerable to creating disinformation;
2. which groups in Canada are more vulnerable to believing and spreading disinformation;
3. which groups in Canada are more vulnerable to being the subjects of disinformation; and
4. the most effective ways to tailor programs for these groups.

The DCI itself strives for diversity and inclusion for those working on the project, in accordance with the relevant legislation and policy frameworks guiding human resources management within the public service. Finally, for any organization that receives funding, there may also be GBA+ implications with respect to their internal operations (hiring practices, work environment etc.).

Expected Results

We expect that this foundation of research will be built upon to further develop our understanding of disinformation in the context of vulnerable communities, including what segments of the population may be more vulnerable, and the extent to which these trends impact minority communities including but not limited to immigrants, ethnic minorities, the LGBTQ2+ community, and minority language communities. Ultimately, our goal and expected long-term result is that the Government is better equipped to understand and make evidence-based decisions on the best ways to combat online disinformation in Canada. By using this research to identify factors with a GBA+ lens, a part of this ultimate outcome is that the Government will be in a good position to develop solutions to counter the negative effects that online disinformation may have on the different segments of the Canadian populations. To measure this performance, the DCI will monitor the research actively taking place that has to do primarily with the impact of online disinformation on minority and marginalized communities. From here, the amount of initial research that is being built upon can be tracked through the number of citations those initial projects receive in future research. The amount of this kind of research cited in advice to senior management and the Minister will indicate the level at which decisions are being informed by research related to the GBA+ elements of online disinformation.

Alignment with Gender Results Framework (GRF)

This initiative supports the education and skills development goal of the GRF. We expect that the research funded through the DCI will lay some foundational understanding of which sectors of the Canadian population are vulnerable to online disinformation, at the same time as building research capacity among traditionally underrepresented groups in academia.

13. The Canada Media Fund’s (CMF) Gender Balance Initiative

The CMF is a public-private partnership, which provides funding for the creation of television convergent digital content and has introduced a number of concrete initiatives aimed at increasing women’s access to expression and participation in decision-making in the media. The objective of the CMF’s Gender Balance Initiative is to increase the number of women in key creative roles (producer, director, writer) for television and digital media projects that receive funding through the program.

A minimum of 35 percent of all projects funded through the CMF must show gender balance in key creative positions. The CMF has achieved its gender balance targets over the last three years and is now considering how they can build on this momentum. One possibility under consideration for 2020-21, is to focus on other positions like director and writer, as there has been growth for women in producing roles and less change in other positions.

In addition to this, the CMF is placing an emphasis on diversity initiatives in its Sector Development Program for 2020-21.

Expected results

Achieve gender parity on 35 percent of all projects funded through the CMF. Increase training and outreach initiatives for culturally diverse groups.

Alignment with Gender Results Framework (GRF)

This initiative will support the economic participation and prosperity goal and the education and skills development goal of the GRF. The initiative seeks to increase the number of women in key roles in CMF-funded media projects. It will also look to increase training and outreach to diverse groups.

14. Copyright Policy, Legislation & Creative Marketplace Laboratory - Review of the Copyright Act and Examining the Impact of the Digital Shift on Data, Skills & Technology in the Creative Marketplace

In the context of the review of the Copyright Act, the Copyright team is pursuing targeted, creator-centered policy work focused on issues related to creator remuneration and piracy as well as gathering foundational data on the economic viability of creators and experimenting with relevant skills in the creative marketplace.

By routinely using the GBA+ process, the team will deepen its analysis and systematically incorporate diversity considerations into the policy advice it formulates. What will result is work that is cognizant of the diverse groups of women, men and non-binary people and how they may experience policies.

15. Employment Systems Review

The Department is conducting an Employment Systems Review, which is a thorough analysis of practices relating to hiring, retention, promotion, career development, etc. – to identify and remove the barriers affecting the employment equity (EE) designated group members. This is accomplished via the gathering and analysis of qualitative and quantitative data, consequently feeding the departmental Employment Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EE,D&I) Strategy and Action Plan.

The EE,D&I Strategy and accompanying Action Plan will be introduced and implemented in 2020. Potential barriers and mitigating strategies will be outlined to reduce gaps affecting members of EE designated groups, including women, and create a healthy and inclusive work environment. In an effort to achieve these objectives, various stakeholders from across the Department will be called to take concrete actions.

16. Regional Environmental Scan for Diversity 2020-21

Aims to identify, collect, analyze and present data on the similarities and differences in the experiences and situations of various demographic groups..

Gender equality issues are integrated into the various themes of the analysis..

This data will help to achieve the objectives of the Gender Outcomes Framework by:

1. helping to track Canada's current performance; and;
2. helping to clarify what is required to achieve greater equality.

17. Asynchronous Focus Groups (with the pan-departmental Working Group: Equality at Work)

Conduct an online, anonymous focus group to better understand needs and concerns of non-binary employees with regard to the work environment at Canadian Heritage.

18. Federal Research Data Centre analytical work (with Statistics Canada)

Using micro-data, endeavour to push Statistics Canada to the most precise detail possible in terms of diversity variables, including sex assigned at birth, visible minority or immigrant status, Indigenous status, and more.

19. Gender Equity in Sport Strategy

The Strategy outlines an investment of $30 million over three years to achieve gender equality in all facets of sport by 2035. The four-point Gender Equality in Sport Strategy focuses on: 1) Increasing women in coaching, officiating, and leadership positions in sport; 2) Delivering measures to increase the participation of girls and women in sport; 3) Addressing gender-based violence in sport; and 4) Improving the availability of research and data to support evidence-based decision making.

20. Canada Book Fund’s Accessibility Initiative

Through an additional investment of $22.8 million over five years (2019-20 to 2023-24), the Canada Book Fund has undertaken an initiative to support the sustainable production and distribution of accessible digital books that can be used by all Canadians, including persons with print disabilities. The expected outcome of the accessibility initiative is that Canadians will have access to Canadian-authored digital books that are accessible. This includes those readers in underserved communities, advancing the economic and social participation of Canadians with print disabilities.

Reporting capacity and data

The Sport Canada transfer payment programs (the Hosting Program, Athlete Assistance Program, and the Sport Support Program) all collect data on number of athletes and participants. This information is disaggregated where possible and can be used for GBA+ reporting. Information reported publicly in the Departmental Results Report and the Program Inventory is presented in a non-disaggregated manner.