Archived: Departmental Results Report 2019 to 2020, supplementary tables: Department of Environment, chapter 4

Institutional GBA+ capacity

The Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM) of the Strategic Policy Branch (SPB) is Environment and Climate Change Canada’s (ECCC) Gender-based Analysis Plus (GBA+) Champion. The GBA+ Champion is responsible for the overall implementation and updating, as required, of the department’s GBA+ policy.

The department’s GBA+ Centre of Expertise resides with SPB and the Director General of Strategic Policy manages the day-to-day operation of the Centre of Expertise (CoE), which includes one dedicated FTE of an analyst and half of an FTE of a senior analyst who report to a Director. The CoE provides a variety of support to the department, including:

• Developing tools and guidance to facilitate GBA+ analysis of policy and program proposals;
• Offering advice and support to departmental staff undertaking GBA+ analysis;
• Providing a challenge function to ensure that required GBA+ analyses are complete and rigorous;
• Identifying training needs and opportunities to support professional development and enhance GBA+ capacity through the department;
• Chairing the GBA+ Branch Advisory Network; and,
• Liaising with the Department of Women and Gender Equality (WAGE) and collaborating with GBA+ leads in other government departments.

The GBA+ Branch Advisory Network aims to strengthen GBA+ capacity throughout the department by facilitating sharing information, best practices and resources. The network consists of approximately 25 members from across the department.

In addition, GBA+ activities feed into the department’s Working Group on Diversity and Inclusion, supported by two ADM Co-Champions.

These resources aim to advance the integration of GBA+ across all departmental activities to support evidence-based decision-making and to continue to build a culture of inclusiveness.

Highlights of GBA+ Results by Program

ECCC plays an important role in the protection of Canadians and their environment. The careful consideration of how different groups of people experience the environment and the differentiated impacts of environmental policies and programs helps inform good policymaking, science, program implementation and service delivery.

Clean Growth and Climate Change Mitigation

Climate change affects all Canadians; however, experiences differ according to geographic location, gender, income level, ethnicity and other socio-economic factors. For example, large urban centers experience amplified heat waves, whereas those in rural areas who depend on agriculture can experience loss of livelihood. Studies demonstrate that women, people with lower income, and Indigenous people tend to be more vulnerable to the effects of climate change. In Canada, northern and coastal regions are particularly vulnerable to climate change.

Policy responses to climate change can disproportionally affect some subgroups of the population. For example, low income households, which are more likely to be headed by sole female parents and disproportionately include individuals with disabilities or mental illness, recent immigrants and Indigenous persons, may be more vulnerable to pollution pricing as expenditures on carbon-intensive goods make up a larger share of their expenses. This initiative may also impact employment for many Canadians, with potential losses in the traditional energy sector, and gains in the environmental, clean technology, and renewable energy sector. Data will be collected to understand how certain groups may be disproportionately impacted, and to determine ways to mitigate impacts. This includes a Just Transition, which aims to ensure that the transition away from coal-fired electricity takes into consideration those who may be adversely impacted, such as coal workers and communities.

Overall, mitigating the effects of climate change in a balanced and inclusive manner will benefit all Canadians, and in particular, help alleviate the impacts that will be disproportionally felt by certain groups.

International Climate Change Action

Canada’s international engagement on climate change, including our climate finance pledge for developing countries, serves to reduce the impacts of climate change on those most vulnerable (women, Indigenous people, youth, etc.). The repercussion from droughts, floods, extreme weather events, and food and water insecurity have a greater and differentiated effect on these vulnerable groups, especially the poor. To address these issues, proposed programming will specifically target women, girls, and Indigenous people by integrating GBA+ considerations into climate change actions alongside developmental considerations, such as health. Applying a GBA+ lens to investment decisions will help create better social and economic opportunities for vulnerable groups in the face of climate change. In addition, such actions promote the engagement of women and vulnerable groups in the design, decision-making, and implementation of programs and projects while facilitating cooperative solutions and knowledge transfer.

Climate Change Adaptation

Climate change can transform the economy and significantly affect the daily lives of Canadians. Climate change is impacting the frequency and intensity of extreme events, alters ecosystems and habitats, has the potential to create shifts in economic sectors, and poses risks to human health and safety. Certain populations are more vulnerable to a changing climate depending on region of residence, sex, gender, age, income, employment status, family status, Indigenous status, visible minority status, and disability status. Prevailing social norms, attitudes and behavioural habits may also exacerbate the impacts and responses to climate change for certain populations.

Integrating considerations of gender, income, age, employment status, education, family status, region of residence, disability status and of Indigenous and visible minority communities helps ensure that adaptation policy and programs fulfill the specific needs of the most vulnerable, do not exacerbate inequalities and other vulnerabilities, and ensure the equal participation of diverse groups of people in the decision-making and implementation phases of these activities.

To that effect, a GBA+ lens has been applied to the development of policy advice, including in the design of the Canadian Centre for Climate Services. Some GBA+ has been included in the development of policy recommendations and programs but more work is needed to ensure this is applied in a systematic way.

Air Quality

Certain populations are more vulnerable to air pollution depending on sex, gender, age, income, employment status, family status, previous health status and other factors. Detrimental health effects of air pollution can be compounded in individuals who have multiple risk factors. A person could be disproportionately affected by air pollution if they are elderly, have chronic health conditions, and live in an area that has a higher degree of pollution, as opposed to someone who is elderly but to whom additional risk factors do not apply.

The indoor air quality program in particular will continue outreach and engagement with high-risk groups to create awareness and mitigate negative effects of radon and indoor pollution.

Water Quality and Ecosystems Partnerships

In general, the program is expected to impact Canadians positively by providing cleaner freshwater for drinking, fishing, swimming and other uses, and healthier freshwater ecosystems.

Certain elements of the program will positively impact Indigenous peoples. Specific targeted activities under this program seek to improve the technical capacity and engagement of Indigenous governments, organizations, individuals and communities. These activities aim to address Indigenous peoples’ particular concerns regarding freshwater ecosystems; to include Indigenous representation at key decision-making tables, where appropriate; and, to build capacity in understanding and addressing freshwater issues, especially those that have implications in Indigenous communities.

Community Eco-Action

The EcoAction Community Funding Program and the Environmental Damages Fund programs aim to positively impact Canadians and their communities by funding projects that benefit the environment. The programs’ eligible funding recipients include environmental non-governmental organizations, community groups, youth and student groups, and Indigenous organizations.

The programs allocate funding using Calls for Proposals that are open to all eligible applicants. French and English information on how to apply for funding is available widely on program websites and social media. Staff are also available to answer inquiries and provide advice on proposal development to groups that are underrepresented or have less capacity or experience in applying for funding. Concrete actions have been taken to recognize various cultures and languages through the engagement of Indigenous communities to build awareness of funding opportunities, and through the use of a linguistic lens when evaluating projects involving Official Language Minority Communities. Both programs compile data on funding to Indigenous communities, some of which are located in remote regions.

Substances and Waste Management

Although the Substances and Waste Management Program benefits all Canadians, certain populations in Canada, such as expectant mothers, children, the elderly and Indigenous communities are more vulnerable to harmful substances, and benefit most from sound risk management. Scientific information is used to properly assess risks for vulnerable groups and integrated into decisions and risk management.

Compliance Promotion and Enforcement – Pollution

Compliance promotion officers tailor compliance promotion material based on the target audience’s needs and known compliance barriers, including the cultural and linguistic profile of a regulated community. For example, compliance promotion fact sheets for the Tetrachloroethylene (Use in Dry Cleaning and Reporting Requirements) Regulations were made available in 6 languages (English, French, Korean, Chinese, Punjabi and Persian) to take into consideration the demographics and language profiles of the regulated community. In addition, compliance promotion officers work with various Indigenous communities and organizations to deliver compliance promotion activities that meet the needs of their communities, for example, through in-person visits or workshops.

Species at Risk

Preserving biodiversity is necessary for maintaining strong ecosystems, which in turn, deliver important and diverse ecosystem services to all Canadians. The performance indicators considered in the Species at Risk Program reflect not only the ability of the program to protect species at risk but also examine how the Program might impact, either directly or indirectly, demographic groups who may be more vulnerable due to a combination of socio-economic factors. These groups include private landowners, industry, other orders of government, non-governmental organizations, and Indigenous peoples.

ECCC expects that the Program will have more direct effects on Indigenous peoples, given that Indigenous reserves and lands often provide important refuge for species at risk. Canada’s Indigenous peoples are also the holders of Indigenous Traditional Knowledge (ITK) essential to achieving the protection and recovery goals for many species. Additionally, the Program consults with Indigenous peoples to ascertain impacts to Treaty rights. Therefore, expected negative Program effects may be related to consultation fatigue and the continuous, repeated gathering of ITK on species at risk. Efforts will be made to reduce these effects by focusing more on ecosystem-based and multi-species conservation approaches as well as improving coordination among federal departments and provincial/territorial governments.

Migratory Birds and other Wildlife

ECCC is responsible for implementing the Migratory Birds and Other Wildlife Program and the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change provides advice to the Governor in Council with respect to migratory birds. Such advice is based on science, including ITK, and consultations with affected parties for expected socio-economic impacts. Where socio-economic or cultural impacts are significant, the department collaborates with conservation stewards, stakeholders and other orders of government to incorporate, when possible, their concerns into the decision-making processes and implementation activities to avoid or mitigate disproportionate impacts on certain groups.

Habitat Conservation and Protection

The core outcome of this program is the protection of important wildlife habitat through the regulation, purchase or donation of land and water. Impacts and benefits would accrue to different demographics along the process of achieving this outcome. While the processes of securement and protection tend to involve and favour specific groups of Canadians (landowners, governments, non-government organizations), the long-term ecosystem services that are gained by conserving ecosystems and landscapes are most often to the benefit of lower-income, rural and Indigenous communities.

Biodiversity Policy and Partnerships

The Biodiversity Policy and Partnerships Program aims to engage with domestic and international governments, Indigenous organizations, non-government organizations, businesses, and Canadians to develop and meet Canada’s biodiversity commitments. The conservation and protection of biodiversity is necessary for maintaining strong ecosystems, which in turn, deliver important and diverse ecosystem services to all Canadians. To increase capacity to conserve biodiversity in Canada, the Program develops, reviews, and shares Canadian positions and policy frameworks, provides targeted funding, conducts research, and maintains and shares data and information. Indicators are being collected to gauge the level of engagement of the population.

Environmental Assessment

Resource development impacts the environment and may have economic, social and health consequences that may be felt more heavily by some demographic groups. ECCC provides expert advice and knowledge to decision-makers for subjects within its mandate, such as water quality and biodiversity. This engagement will help to determine potential impacts of development to Canadians, including vulnerable populations.

Compliance Promotion and Enforcement – Wildlife

The Enforcement Program is aware that certain instruments, under the Acts it is responsible for enforcing, may present more challenges to compliance for specific groups, such as visible minorities, linguistic groups, and/or Indigenous peoples. The various compliance promotion strategies utilized need to respond to these challenges. As a result, enforcement officers take into account established precepts when determining a fair and appropriate enforcement response.

Furthermore, Enforcement Branch has developed Guidelines for entry and engagement on Indigenous lands, which support staff by: raising awareness and respect for Aboriginal treaty rights; instilling a greater awareness for the unique cultural and legal context of regulatory enforcement on lands where Indigenous peoples manage or control access or where Indigenous peoples exercise Aboriginal or treaty rights; and providing contact information and resources to leverage existing branch and departmental knowledge.

Weather and Environmental Observations, Forecasts and Warnings

Canadians, and especially people living in northern and rural areas, are dependent on weather forecasts, warnings and expert advice to safely plan their daily activities. Canadians and other stakeholders rely on ECCC for authoritative information on weather, water and climate. Weather warnings provide information that can assist vulnerable Canadians, such as the elderly, children, or those with certain chronic illnesses or their caretakers, to make informed decisions in weather scenarios that may pose increased risks to these populations (e.g. extreme heat, extreme cold). This also applies to information that might be used to support other populations such as the homeless (i.e. extreme cold responses). An important aspect of these warnings is determining how best to communicate with all Canadians, especially those who are most vulnerable.

Hydrological Services

Disasters in Canada, including water-related disasters such as floods and droughts, have shown that major events such as these can have significant psycho-social impacts, especially on those citizens who lack sufficient social infrastructure or those who were vulnerable prior to the event. Hydrometric data can be used in combination with socio-economic data to identify potential impacts of water hazards on various groups and implement mitigation measures accordingly. For instance in the case of flooding, hydrometric data provide the core information to develop flood maps which, when combined with geo-referenced socio-economic data, such as household revenue, age and sex, can be used to generate detailed risk assessments to prioritize actions targeting the groups that are the most at risk.