2022-23 Gender and diversity: Impacts of programs

Meeting UN targets for deployment of women officers

National Defence GBA Plus Supplementary Information Table

Program: Defence Team Management

As part of Canada’s commitment to the Elsie Initiative for Women in Peace Operations, National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) released its Elsie Initiative Barrier Assessment Report. The report identified barriers and opportunities to improve CAF women’s meaningful participation in United Nations (UN) peace support operations.

The CAF has implemented initiatives to recruit and retain women, such as the expansion of parental leave, the creation of the Integrated Women’s Mentorship Network and Women in Force program, the modernization of dress instructions, and the introduction of an improved suite of operational clothing and equipment designed for diverse body types. Canada’s Elsie Initiative Barrier Assessment Report highlighted the CAF’s progress on meeting UN targets for CAF women deployed to UN Peace support operations. In 2022, 20.2% of the CAF’s Regular Force officers were women deployed, which met UN targets. So far in 2023, women in the CAF have also deployed at a similar rate as men to UN Peace support operations—2.3% of women serving, 2.7% of men serving.

Automating ammunition handling systems

Department for National Defence GBA Plus Supplementary Information Table

Program: Maritime Equipment Acquisition

The Maritime Equipment Acquisition program acquires new or modernized equipment.  The Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC) project concluded its Preliminary Design Review in December 2022. GBA Plus informed the decision-making process throughout the design phase, including in the Insertion of an Automated Ammunition Handling System into CSC’s design.

The CSC required a design change that replaced the main gun system in the ship design, which resulted in a requirement to store and transfer ammunition weighing approximately 70 pounds per round. Applying a GBA Plus lens, it was acknowledged that it would be very difficult for sailors of varied stature and strength to handle such ammunition. A solution was consequently sought to insert an Automated Ammunition Handling System into the design, ensuring safe handling of the ammunition rounds by all Royal Canadian Navy members.

Promoting low-barrier HIV testing uptake among communities

Public Health Agency of Canada GBA Plus Supplementary Information Table

Program: Communicable Disease and Infection Control

In 2022–23, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) secured $8 million to launch a feasibility study to purchase and distribute HIV self-test (HIVST) kits through community-based organizations to increase the number of people in Canada who could access testing. By the end of March 2023, PHAC provided 70,535 HIVST kits to participating community-based organizations across Canada who distributed 10,343 kits to individuals and will continue to do so throughout 2023–24. The approach built on the capacity of community-based organizations to reach key populations who encounter significant barriers to accessing testing and treatment. The initiative has shown an increase in testing offers, including among those who are unaware of their status. It has also demonstrated the value of offering low-barrier access to testing to help identify the undiagnosed, with a reported 46% of respondents indicating that they had never been tested previously. In 1 survey of test users, 98% of participants reported being satisfied with the program while almost 50% of participants indicated that they had obtained additional kits to distribute among their social and sexual networks.

Promoting access to child care throughout Canada

Employment and Social Development Canada GBA Plus Supplementary Information Table

Program: Early Learning and Child Care

According to the Canadian Survey on the Provision of Child Care Services, 45,366 businesses across Canada provided child care services to children aged 0 to 12 years in 2022.

Of the businesses providing child care services, 31% were child care centres, 33% were home-based settings operating with a license, and 36% were home-based settings operating without a licence. Approximately 96% of workers in the child care sector are women, roughly a third of whom are immigrant women.

Federal investments in 2018 to 2019 resulted in at least 16,390 children from diverse backgrounds (for example, Indigenous children, children with additional support needs, official language minority communities and recent immigrants) benefitting from inclusive child care programming.

Facilitating higher commercialization through greater diversity

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada GBA Plus Supplementary Information Table

Program: Business Innovation

The Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) applies a GBA Plus lens in project selection by assessing the public benefits of potential projects, including the advancement of inclusive business and hiring practices. Furthermore, SIF funding recipients are required to develop comprehensive Gender, Diversity and Inclusion (GDI) plans at the initiation of their projects.

In the Innovative Solutions Canada Testing Stream, 17% of survey respondents reported an increase in the representation of underrepresented groups in their company ownership structure or board of directors. Those companies that increased their representation of underrepresented groups in their company ownership structure or board of directors commercialized at a higher rate (67% vs. 43%) than those companies that did not increase their representation.

Promoting Indigenous works of cinema in Canada and abroad

National Film Board GBA Plus Supplementary Information Table

Program: Distribution of works and audience engagement

The National Film Board (NFB) organized a tour of This Is Not a Ceremony, a virtual-reality experience by Niitsitapi writer and director Ahnahktsipiitaa (Colin Van Loon). Presented in English, French and Blackfoot, the tour brought the experience to 13 cities and 6 Indigenous communities in Canada and the United States, thus giving more people the chance to discover a moving cinematic work that explores the darker side of living life in Canada while Indigenous.

Additionally, the short film Nalujuk Night, produced by the NFB in 2021, had an exceptional festival run last year and won 8 awards. Directed by multidisciplinary Inuk artist Jennie Williams, the film reveals an ancient Labrador Inuit tradition that blends fantasy and fear. It was named best short film at South by Southwest, Sydney and Rio de Janeiro, won a Best of Festival honour at Yorkton, made the Oscar shortlist, and received an award at the Festival du nouveau cinéma de Montréal.

Using social vulnerability indicators to develop flood risk initiatives

Public Safety Canada GBA Plus Supplementary Information Table

Program: Emergence Response/Recovery

In 2022-23, for the Flood Insurance and Relocation Project (FIRP), national census-based racial/ethnic, demographic, and socioeconomic characteristics were analyzed individually against high and low flood-risk areas (classified using a threshold of average damage ratio to residential properties). The results indicate several indicators of social vulnerability in relation to high-flood-risk areas, across Canada, in many areas:

• persons living alone
• renters
• seniors (age 65 and above)
• Indigenous populations
• persons with no high school diploma
• those not in the labour force
• low-income status
• households on social assistance

These results were used to support the continued development of several of Public Safety Canada’s flood risk initiatives, including flood insurance, strategic relocation, disaster financial assistance, and flood risk portal, in addition to an assessment of financial flood risk and social vulnerability.

Generating insight on talent and employment in Atlantic Canada

Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency GBA Plus Supplementary Information Table

Program: Policy Research and Engagement

The Policy, Research and Engagement program provides intelligence, analysis and advice on a broad range of issues and topics for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA). This program, delivered through the Atlantic Policy Research Initiative (APRI), is the primary funding instrument through which ACOA supports policy research.

With support from the ACOA, the Atlantic Economic Council developed a series of reports on finding Talent in an everchanging Atlantic economy. These reports assessed both the current and future skills issues in Atlantic Canada by taking age, income and geographic factors into consideration, taking a deeper dive on select sectors to identify practical strategies that may be most effective and how these may differ by occupation and industry. This partnership also led to the creation of a series of bulletins on Looking ahead at Atlantic Canada’s economic landscape. These bulletins assess what the future holds in terms of Atlantic Canada’s demographic, economic and fiscal outlook, and stimulate informed discussion on how stakeholders can best respond.

ACOA has also supported research conducted by Memorial University of Newfoundland about Employer Attitudes Toward Hiring Newcomers and International Students in the Atlantic Provinces.

Linking databases to identify impacts of taxation systems on people with disabilities

Department of Finance Canada GBA Plus Supplementary Information Table

Program: Tax Policy and Legislation

The Department of Finance Canada’s Tax Policy and Legislation Program develops new and evaluates existing tax policies in order to ensure that the Canadian tax system is as fair and current as possible.

As part of its 2023 report on Federal Tax Expenditures, the Department Finance Canada published a GBA Plus chapter on A Closer Look at Persons with Disabilities. The GBA Plus studies published to date have focused on identity factors directly identifiable using T1 tax return data. Although T1 tax data can be used to identify individuals who benefit from tax expenditures, they do not allow for a comprehensive identification of all Canadians with disabilities. However, while the Canadian Survey on Disability (CSD) enables a more exhaustive identification of the population that reports having a disability, it does not contain the tax data needed to assess the extent to which that population benefits from these tax expenditures.

To address their respective limitations, a link was made between these 2 databases. The new linked dataset makes it possible to examine the use of certain federal tax expenditures by all individuals identified as having a disability. It also allows for a determination of the extent to which those individuals benefit from these tax expenditures.

The study shows that all of these tax expenditures contribute, in varying degrees, to reducing the pre-tax income inequalities that exist between persons with and without disabilities. The study also notes more significant redistributive effects towards persons with severe or very severe disabilities.

Promoting insights on official languages in Canada

Canadian Heritage GBA Plus Supplementary Information Table

Program: Official Languages

As part of its programming, the program helps Canadians better understand and appreciate the benefits of linguistic duality. To that end, Canadian Heritage has published a number of products on the impacts of programs as they pertain to official languages:

• Study on the Appreciation and Perception of Canada’s Official Languages
• Statistics on official languages in Canada highlight some key facts and findings about how the use of official languages is spread out across Canadian provinces and territories and over time.

Lowering recidivism through community-based programs

Department of Justice Canada GBA Plus Supplementary Information Table

Program: Indigenous Justice

An evaluation of the Indigenous Justice Program (IJP) identified positive impacts on the well-being of offenders and victims, as well as broader communities, as outcomes of program activities. The restorative and Indigenous justice processes delivered by community-based justice programs helped offenders understand the causes and the impacts of the offences committed and created a satisfactory resolution process. An estimated 90% of clients enrolled in the programs successfully completed their obligations. For those who may have potentially been charged following a criminal offence, the majority have the charges dismissed. The evaluation also found evidence of reduced victimization rates, and reduced rates of recidivism among those who participated in the community-based justice programs.

Implementing the United Nations Deceleration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act

Department of Justice Canada GBA Plus Supplementary Information Table

Program: Advisory Services

The Advisory Services Program delivers legal advisory services to federal departments and agencies supporting the advancement of government priorities.

The Second annual progress report on the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (UN Declaration) details the progress made between April 2022 and March 2023 on implementing the UN Declaration in partnership with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis. This annual report focuses on the progress made on ensuring that laws are consistent with the UN Declaration; the development of the Action Plan with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis, and ongoing initiatives, programs, and policies advanced by government departments under the Department of Justice Canada’s stewardship.

Among the Indigenous groups that received funding, many noted the flexibility of funding as having a positive impact. This allowed them to engage with their community members in a way that suited their distinct needs. At the same time, Indigenous partners also expressed concerns that limited engagement by various departments and agencies and the compressed timelines within which they were asked to provide input and feedback created significant challenges for ensuring a truly collaborative process. Funding to participate in the engagement process was also raised as an issue.

Enhancing community wellbeing through drug treatment courts

Department of Justice Canada GBA Plus Supplementary Information Table

Program: Drug Treatment Court Funding

The Evaluation of the Drug Treatment Court Funding Program (DTCFP) found that Drug Treatment Courts (DTCs) funded by the program serve mainly Caucasian men, although the proportion of participants who are Indigenous has increased somewhat. There are challenges to equitable access to DTCs due to some differences in eligibility criteria, waitlists for some DTCs and geographic barriers as all DTCs are located in urban centres. While the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions had a negative impact on the operation of the DTCs by reducing the personal and intensive interventions that are a cornerstone of the program, virtual delivery had benefits for some and also offered some lessons that may be applicable for delivering the DTC program to participants in smaller, or rural or remote communities.

Anecdotally, the DTCFP-funded DTCs have shown a positive impact on recidivism and this is generally confirmed by the literature on the DTC model. The DTCs also have benefits in reducing substance use while in the program, and participants report other beneficial outcomes such as reconnecting with family, positive health impacts and progress on employment and educational goals.

Increasing knowledge on the health risks of climate change

Health Canada GBA Plus Supplementary Information Table

Program: Climate Change

The purpose of the Climate Change Program is to increase the knowledge, capacity, and tools on climate change and health risks available to Canadians and partners across Canada.

In September 2022, Health Canada published Public Perceptions of the Health Impacts of Climate Change in Canada 2022. The primary objective of this research was to determine whether, and to what extent, public understanding and perceptions of climate change have evolved over time. The report includes results disaggregated by gender, level of education, Indigeneity, region/geography.

For example, 1 in 5 Canadians find it difficult to regulate the indoor temperature in their main living space in the summer. This skews to residents of apartments and condominiums and those who rent their home, and accordingly, to younger Canadians (under 35 years of age) and those with lower household incomes who comprise a greater proportion of renters and apartment dwellers.

Almost 1 in 5 (18%) Canadians report having visited Health Canada's website in the past year to learn how to protect themselves and their family from climate change; this is higher among British Columbia residents (26%) who disproportionately experienced the impacts of climate change throughout 2021.

Measuring health inequalities with equity stratifiers and standards

Heath Canada GBA Plus Supplementary Information Table

Program: Health Information

The Canadian Institute of Health Information (CIHI) has developed Measuring Health Inequalities: A Toolkit — Equity Stratifier Inventory to help assess the availability of embedded and area-level equity stratifiers (socio-demographic variables) when planning an analysis to measure health inequalities using selected CIHI and Statistics Canada data sources. For each data holding, at least 1 equity stratifier was considered to be available or partially available if there was a defined data element collected for the main unit analysis. Twenty-one equity stratifiers were noted, and included age, income, and language. The capture of sex and gender data elements at CIHI is described and updated regularly in the Equity Stratifier Inventory.

Further, in 2020 CIHI developed pan-Canadian standards for collecting race-based and Indigenous identity data in health systems. These data standards map to existing Statistics Canada's national standards, so information can be integrated and compared with other data sources.

Monitoring patient outcomes of medical assistance in dying

Health Canada GBA Plus Supplementary Information Table

Program: Medical Assistance in Dying

Health Canada monitors medical assistance in dying (MAID) implementation and undertakes policy work to increase the evidence base about how MAID is being delivered in Canada.

The Third Federal Annual Report on Medical Assistance in Dying presents data for the 2021 calendar year, using data collected under the Regulations for the Monitoring of Medical Assistance in Dying. It builds upon the First and Second Annual Reports on Medical Assistance in Dying.

Findings demonstrate that in 2021, across Canada, a slightly larger proportion of men (52.3%) than women (47.7%) received MAID. This result is consistent with 2020 (51.9% men vs 48.1% of women) and 2019 (50.9% men vs 49.1% women). The average age at the time MAID was provided in 2021 was 76.3 years, slightly higher than the averages in 2019 and 2020 (75.2 and 75.3 respectively). The average age of women during 2021 was 77.0, compared to men at 75.6. Of individuals who received MAID, 43.0%  required disability support services. The majority of these, 87.4%, received disability support services.

Reporting on cannabis use in Canada

Health Canada GBA Plus Supplementary Information Table

Program: Cannabis

The Cannabis Program supports the Government of Canada in the administration of the Cannabis Act, including enhancing public awareness of the health risks associated with cannabis use.

The Sex Gender and Cannabis Report reviews current research and data on cannabis use and its effects in order to highlight factors and issues related to sex and gender. The report is one of the products of a policy-research partnership project funded by Health Canada and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research’s Institute of Gender and Health, and notes recommendations for future initiatives in research, public education, cannabis awareness and prevention.

In 2022-23, Health Canada continued to promote and enable the collection and use of disaggregated data for intersectional analysis of cannabis survey data. The department conducted the 2022 Canadian Cannabis Survey and released the results in December 2022. This survey aims to evaluate the impact of the Cannabis Act and collected data on age, province/territory, sex assigned at birth, gender, sexual orientation, race, Indigenous identity, community size, education level, and household income.

Showcasing applicant diversity for science research programs

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada GBA Plus Supplementary Information Table

Program: Discovery Research

The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Equity, diversity and inclusion - Self-Identification Data Reporting dashboard presents data from applicants to NSERC programs on whether they identify as belonging to 1 or more of the 4 designated groups: women, Indigenous peoples, members of visible minorities and persons with disabilities. This provides a breakdown of NSERC funding applicants, amd awardees based on gender, Indigeneity, race/ethnicity, and disability categories.

A harmonized tri-agency self-identification questionnaire was first launched in mid-2018 and was revised in 2021 for NSERC funding opportunities.

Supporting survivors of human trafficking in Canada

Public Safety Canada GBA Plus Supplementary Information Table

Program: Serious and Organized Crime

The Evaluation of the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline  reported that

• human trafficking continues on an upward trend in Canada
• Canadian awareness of the Hotline and human trafficking is low
• the creation of a hotline is aligned with government priorities, departmental objectives, and federal roles and responsibilities

Sex trafficking is highly gendered and disproportionately affects women and girls. Statistics Canada reported that 96% of detected victims of human trafficking between 2011 and 2021 were women, and that 45% of all detected victims were aged 18 to 24 and 24% under the age of 18.

The number of service provider referrals has consistently increased over the evaluation period, from 258 in 2019–20 to 429 in 2021–22. The most referrals in relation to human trafficking cases in 2021–22 were for shelter/housing assistance (22%); supportive counselling (20%); and case management (19%).

Most interviewees were satisfied with the services provided by the Hotline. Interviewees stated that the Hotline provides a critical service and fills a national gap. They highlighted that the national referral mechanism allows the Hotline to refer victims/survivors to services in their respective geographical locations across the country.

Update on public service employment equity efforts

Public Service Commission of Canada GBA Plus Supplementary Information Table

Program: Policy Direction and Support

In 2022–23, key oversight and monitoring achievements included the launch of the Employment Equity Promotion Rate Study - Three-Year Update, undertaken as part of PSC’s oversight mandate to assess the integrity of the public service staffing system and its responsibilities as outlined in the Employment Equity Act.

The most notable findings reveal that:

• women’s relative promotion rates decreased but remained higher than men
• the relative promotion rates of members visible minorities improved
• Indigenous Peoples continue to have lower relative promotion rates
• persons with disabilities’ relative promotion rates declined.

Taking intersectionality into consideration furthermore reveals that:

• Black public servant women have lower relative promotion rates than non-visible minority women (-5.2%) and Black public servant men (-7.0%)
• the relative promotion rate for women compared to men was higher (8.3%) in the National Capital Region as compared to outside the region (-6.0%)
• the relative promotion rate of women in the National Capital Region compared to women outside the region (72.2%) was higher than the same comparison for men (49.5%).