We have archived this page and will not be updating it.

You can use it for research or reference.

Language selection

Government of Canada / Gouvernement du Canada

Search

Archived - Departmental Plan 2021-2022: Supplementary Information Tables: page 2

General information

Institutional GBA+ Capacity

Context

Since Canada’s first ever Gender Statement in Budget 2017, the Department of Finance’s strong leadership on gender budgeting has elevated the role of Gender–based Analysis Plus (GBA+) in the budget process, to effectively support evidence-based policy decisions that benefit all Canadians. Much has been achieved since then to promote gender equality and inclusiveness – which plays a critical role in building a strong and successful economy – including through significant measures aimed, amongst others, at improving pay equity, workforce participation among women or helping to combat gender-based violence. To maintain these advances in equality in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department also doubled down on the importance of high-quality GBA+ to inform the design of the Government’s COVID Economic Response Plan.

Overall, the gender budgeting approach championed by the Department of Finance comprises two main aspects:

Starting with Budget 2019’s Gender Report and as required by the Canadian Gender Budgeting Act (introduced in December 2018), the Department has also reported on the gender and diversity impacts of all new budget measures in the budget, and extended the reach of GBA+ to include tax expenditures (as of the 2019 Report on Federal Tax Expenditures).

Considering that access to disaggregated data on the basis of gender and intersecting factors (including diversity) is essential for robust GBA+, the Department has supported the Government in its efforts to invest in the collection and tracking of disaggregated data, including administrative data. For instance, Budget 2019 provided funding to Employment and Social Development Canada, Canadian Heritage and the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat to improve the collection of disaggregated administrative data on the basis gender and diversity and strengthen reporting practices, drawing on the expertise of Statistics Canada and the Department for Women and Gender Equality.

Framework

To support the Government’s commitment to advance fairness and equality through gender budgeting, and to support the Department of Finance’s responsibilities as it relates to its day-to-day operations and its own programs and policies, the Department has put in place a robust GBA+ implementation framework as recommended by the Department for Women and Gender Equality. This framework includes: a formal departmental policy statement; a departmental GBA+ Advisory Committee, a departmental GBA+ Action Plan which includes regular discussion of GBA+ issues at senior management committee meetings; resources dedicated to the development, delivery and promotion of GBA+ training for employees; and tools and resources to assist employees in applying GBA+ to their work. Notable activities include:

GBA+ Action Plan

The Department’s GBA+ action plan outlines the GBA+ implementation framework and sets out the main activities to be undertaken to ensure that GBA+ is integrated into departmental decision-making processes. The plan covers the following areas:

  1. Integration of GBA+: the Department requires that a GBA+ be conducted on all policy options developed for the Minister’s consideration and that the GBA+ submitted with Ministerial proposals for budget (or off-cycle) consideration be reviewed by Finance analysts, with key conclusions reported on in briefings to the Minister.
  2. Monitoring and reporting: the Department systematically tracks the extent to which GBA+ has been conducted and is integrated into the advice to the Minister, the uptake of training, and the key issues that analysts face when integrating GBA+ into their work. Internal monitoring and tracking tools include:
    • regular updates to senior management and continuous discussion of issues at the GBA+ Advisory Committee;
    • surveys and questionnaires of analysts’ experiences with GBA+ training activities to assess the quality and relevance of training, as well as the challenges and needs; and,
    • reporting on the Department’s implementation of GBA+ through the Annual GBA+ Implementation Survey conducted by the Department for Women and Gender Equality.
  3. Institutional processes: the Department provides detailed instructions on GBA+ processes, requirements and other guidance to each branch through its internal network of GBA+ advisors.
  4. Training: The Department has an established GBA+ learning plan that consists of:
    • the Department for Women and Gender Equality’s online Introduction to GBA+ course, mandatory since 2016–17 for all departmental analysts and executives involved in policy development or the challenge function;
    • in-house courses and learning activities (for example, Budget GBA+ Boot Camp);
    • other GBA+ learning opportunities (for example, events offered by the Canada School of Public Service and information sessions for other government departments and agencies);
    • on-the-job coaching on GBA+ for analysts through feedback from the GBA+ focal point and the GBA+ Advisory Committee; and,
    • the integration of GBA+ into the orientation and on-boarding processes for new employees.
  5. Tools and data: The Department regularly reviews and updates the GBA+ departmental summary template and guidance to promote consistency, coherence and rigor in the GBA+ submitted with budget or off-cycle proposals. Using its review of lessons learned and best practices, the Department also develops new tools or guidance as needed.
  6. Engagement and outreach: The Department actively engages with the Department for Women and Gender Equality and central agencies to strengthen the quality of GBA+ conducted across other government departments and agencies. It also participates in quarterly interdepartmental GBA+ network meetings to share information, guidance and best practices.
  7. Communications: The Department ensures that key GBA+-related updates are communicated effectively and that information is shared across the department, through e.g. the GBA+ Advisory Committee.

Accountability Mechanisms

GBA+ is supported by internal accountability mechanisms, including regular reporting to senior management on the uptake of mandatory training, progress updates on integration of GBA+, and the implementation of the GBA+ Action Plan.

The Department also reports on its implementation of GBA+ through testimonies to, and responses to reports of, parliamentary committees, and the Annual GBA+ Implementation Survey conducted by the Department for Women and Gender Equality.

Governance and Human resources

The Department’s gender budgeting efforts are led by the Economic and Fiscal Policy Branch, under the responsibility of the Associate ADM. The GBA+ implementation framework is supported by the Departmental GBA+ Champion, a position held by the Assistant Deputy Minister, Federal and Provincial Relations and Social Policy Branch. The GBA+ Champion also serves as a liaison within the broader Government of Canada GBA+ network.

The Department’s gender budgeting approach and GBA+ implementation framework are supported by a GBA+ Advisory Committee, an executive level committee co-chaired by the Economic and Fiscal Policy Branch, and Federal and Provincial Relations and Social Policy Branch. This committee is mandated to support consistency in approaches to GBA+ in policy development and challenge functions, support branch capacity building and encourage continued focus on GBA+ considerations within the Department.

Planned initiatives

Over the course of 2021-22, the Department will continue to support the Government’s commitment to advance fairness and equality through the following activities:

Page details

2024-05-31