Archived - Departmental Plan 2023-2024: Supplementary Information Tables: Page 2

Gender-Based Analysis Plus

Introduction

Each organization is responsible to conduct its own analysis, under the Gender-based Analysis Plus (GBA Plus) framework, to support this government-wide reporting requirement.

In 2018, Parliament passed the Canadian Gender Budgeting Act. The departmental plans and departmental results reports are being used to fulfil the President of the Treasury Board's obligations to make public analysis of the impacts of expenditure programs on gender and diversity.

Applicability

All departments must complete the GBA Plus supplementary information table. Even if GBA Plus is deemed not relevant to a department's programs, the department must complete the table and explain how GBA Plus is not relevant.

General information

Institutional GBA Plus Capacity

The Department advances the government's commitment to fairness and equality through gender budgeting (including GBA Plus) and fulfilling the requirements of the Canadian Gender Budgeting Act, in support of Canada's long-term sustainable and inclusive growth. This work is led by the Fiscal Policy Branch and is supported by an executive-level Department-wide GBA Plus Advisory Committee.

In line with this commitment, and consistent with the Act, all budgetary and off-cycle proposals in 2023-24 will continue to be informed by gender and diversity analysis (GBA Plus). This helps ensure that funding decisions are made with the understanding of how diverse groups of Canadians are affected and also helps promote a better understanding of the barriers faced by diverse groups of Canadians.

The Department continues to work to strengthen the quality of gender and diversity analysis performed as part of the policy development and budgeting processes, with particular focus on timing, responsive approaches, and use of disaggregated data. Additionally, the Gender Results Framework will continue to support decision-making and contribute to the government's efforts to understand and respond to the gender and diversity implications of all programs and initiatives.

The Department is also building upon its existing gender and diversity analysis capacity through the Quality of Life Framework. This Framework extends reporting on who is affected by budget proposals with a more thorough assessment of the nature of the expected impacts based on key determinants of quality of life, such as prosperity, health, environment, social cohesion, and good governance. This expanded analysis informed the development of Budget 2022's Impacts Report. The Quality of Life Framework will continue to complement and reinforce GBA Plus and support evidence-based decision-making about government priorities and investments.

These activities represent a keen start to enhancing our GBA Plus capacity.  

Highlights of GBA Plus Results Reporting Capacity by Program

Canada Health Transfer

The Department of Finance Canada does not collect GBA Plus data related to federal transfers as these transfers are unconditional and amounts primarily formula driven. Provinces and territories are responsible for reporting publicly when required on the gender and diversity impacts of their programs and initiatives.

Commitments to International Financial Organizations

All budgetary and off-cycle proposals are informed by gender and diversity analysis and this analysis is reviewed and considered as part of the Department's challenge function. The Department uses the budget proposal templates to gather data and support analysis that considers both who is affected by a proposal (GBA Plus), as well as how, through the Quality of Life domains. This process informs decision-making on federal budgets and supports the publication of gender and diversity considerations following final budget decisions. For example, see the Impacts Report of Budget 2022.

Economic Development Policy

All budgetary and off-cycle proposals are informed by gender and diversity analysis and this analysis is reviewed and considered as part of the Department's challenge function. The Department uses the budget proposal templates to gather data and support analysis that considers both who is affected by a proposal (GBA Plus), as well as how, through the Quality of Life domains. This process informs decision-making on federal budgets and supports the publication of gender and diversity considerations following final budget decisions. For example, see the Impacts Report of Budget 2022.

Economic Policy and Fiscal Policy, Planning and Forecasting

All budgetary and off-cycle proposals are informed by gender and diversity analysis and this analysis is reviewed and considered as part of the Department's challenge function. The Department uses the budget proposal templates to gather data and support analysis that considers both who is affected by a proposal (GBA Plus), as well as how, through the Quality of Life domains. This process informs decision-making on federal budgets and supports the publication of gender and diversity considerations following final budget decisions. For example, see the Impacts Report of Budget 2022.

Federal-Provincial Relations and Social Policy

All budgetary and off-cycle proposals are informed by gender and diversity analysis and this analysis is reviewed and considered as part of the Department's challenge function. The Department uses the budget proposal templates to gather data and support analysis that considers both who is affected by a proposal (GBA Plus), as well as how, through the Quality of Life domains. This process informs decision-making on federal budgets and supports the publication of gender and diversity considerations following final budget decisions. For example, see the Impacts Report of Budget 2022.

Financial Sector Policy

All budgetary and off-cycle proposals are informed by gender and diversity analysis and this analysis is reviewed and considered as part of the Department's challenge function. The Department uses the budget proposal templates to gather data and support analysis that considers both who is affected by a proposal (GBA Plus), as well as how, through the Quality of Life domains. This process informs decision-making on federal budgets and supports the publication of gender and diversity considerations following final budget decisions. For example, see the Impacts Report of Budget 2022.

Fiscal Arrangements with Provinces and Territories

The Department of Finance Canada does not collect GBA Plus data related to federal transfers, as these transfers are unconditional and amounts transferred are primarily formula driven. Provinces and territories are responsible for all public reporting on the gender and diversity impacts of their programs and initiatives.

International Trade and Finance Policy

All budgetary and off-cycle proposals are informed by gender and diversity analysis and this analysis is reviewed and considered as part of the Department's challenge function. The Department uses the budget proposal templates to gather data and support analysis that considers both who is affected by a proposal (GBA Plus), as well as how, through the Quality of Life domains. This process informs decision-making on federal budgets and supports the publication of gender and diversity considerations following final budget decisions. For example, see the Impacts Report of Budget 2022.

Market Debt and Foreign Reserves Management

Nothing planned for 2023-24.

Tax Collection and Administration Agreements

The Department of Finance Canada does not collect gender and diversity data that is uniquely related to Tax Collection and Administration Agreements. Federal measures that are linked to these agreements would be assessed to the extent that they are budgetary or off-cycle expenditure proposals. Provinces, territories, Indigenous and other non-federal entities would be responsible for assessing the gender and diversity impacts of any measures, linked to these agreements, which fall under their purview.

Tax Policy and Legislation

All budgetary and off-cycle proposals are informed by gender and diversity analysis and this analysis is reviewed and considered as part of the Department's challenge function. The Department uses the budget proposal templates to gather data and support analysis that considers both who is affected by a proposal (GBA Plus), as well as how, through the Quality of Life domains. This process informs decision-making on federal budgets and supports the publication of gender and diversity considerations following final budget decisions. For example, see the Impacts Report of Budget 2022.

Pursuant to the reporting requirements of the Canadian Gender Budgeting Act, GBA Plus studies have been published as part of the 2019 to 2022 Reports on Federal Tax Expenditures. A further study is planned for release with the 2023 Report.

Further, the Department has undertaken work so that T1 tax returns data (collected by the Canada Revenue Agency) are linked to other Statistics Canada survey data. This will allow the Department to be able to better understand how tax policy is influencing diverse identity groups. These projects are planned to continue to progress in 2023-24.

Internal Services

The Department will continue gathering and maintaining data about its workforce for the purposes of reporting on the status of employee equity as well as to design workplace policies and programs that will respond to the needs of different kinds of groups of employees. The Department will continue to actively canvass its employees on workplace satisfaction. GBA Plus data collection techniques are being employed as part of these periodic Pulse Surveys so that responses can be understood from a GBA Plus context or lens. Surveys have been planned for 2023-24, which will provide feedback from a GBA Plus lens that will be integrated into internal policy decision-making.