Gender-based analysis plus (GBA+)

Introduction

The Government of Canada is committed to supporting the full implementation of gender-based analysis plus (GBA+) across federal departments. GBA+ ensures that the differential impacts of people of all genders are considered when policies, programs and legislation are developed. In 2015, the government renewed its commitment to GBA+ and mandated the Minister of Status of Women (now entitled the Minister for Women and Gender Equality) to ensure that government policy, legislation and regulations are sensitive to the different impacts that decisions can have on diverse groups of people.

The Government of Canada defines the term “gender-based analysis plus” as an analytical process used to assess how diverse groups of women, men and people of all genders may experience policies, programs and initiatives. The “plus” in GBA+ acknowledges that GBA goes beyond biological (sex) and socio cultural (gender) differences. We all have multiple identity factors that intersect to make us who we are; GBA+ considers many other identity factors, like race, ethnicity, religion, age and mental or physical disability.

More information on GBA+ is available on the Department for Women and Gender Equality website.

General information

Governance structures

During the 2020–21 fiscal year, IRCC will continue to advance its GBA+ implementation including:

• a strategy to ensure that GBA+ is integrated into departmental decision-making processes, including accountability and monitoring mechanisms; and
• reporting that builds on existing mechanisms to assess and communicate the extent to which GBA+ is included in the department work.

The GBA+ Unit at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is the focal point and GBA+ Responsibility Centre for the Department in facilitating, convening and supporting the application and implementation of GBA+.

The Director General of the Strategic Policy and Planning Branch, in which the GBA+ Unit resides, is responsible for developing and providing GBA+ functional guidance to the Department. The Department is also supported by Champions for Diversity and Inclusion, a Women’s Network Champion and Champions for the new Policy Direction on Sex and Gender Inclusivity.

Human resources

IRCC has 3.0 full-time equivalents (FTEs) dedicated to the implementation of GBA+: 2 FTEs in the GBA+ Unit, and 1 FTE in the Settlement and Integration Policy Branch. In addition, GBA+ work is regularly undertaken by various policy and operational branches within IRCC.

Planned initiatives

IRCC is required under the Immigrant and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) to include a GBA+ assessment of the impact of the Act in its Annual Report to Parliament on Immigration. The upcoming 2019 Annual Report will likely include a look back at recent initiatives that have significant GBA+ aspects and discuss their impacts on the Department’s work.

Below are major initiatives in where GBA+ is a key consideration in 2020–21:

1) Enhanced settlement programming to address Gender-Based Violence

In June 2017, the Government of Canada announced: It’s Time: Canada’s Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence as the federal response to gender-based violence. It is focused on three main areas of action: prevention; support for survivors and their families; and the promotion of responsive legal and justice systems.

Under this federal Strategy, IRCC received $1.5 million in funding over five years to further enhance the Settlement Program which delivers pre- and post-arrival settlement services to newcomers to Canada. This funding is being used to develop a national settlement sector strategy on gender-based violence through a coordinated coalition of settlement and anti-violence sector organizations. IRCC’s contribution to the national settlement sector strategy includes the standardization of gender-based violence policies and protocols, the establishment of a common base of knowledge on gender-based violence, training for front-line settlement workers to assist in identifying abuse and making appropriate referrals, as well as gender-based violence prevention programming for clients accessing services, including those in smaller cities and rural areas – a model that is a promising practice to inform further work.

This initiative will contribute to Canada’s broader gender equality goals and specifically address gender-based violence for newcomers through capacity building for front line settlement workers and enhanced place-based services. It aligns with the goal of Pillar 4 (Gender-Based Violence and Access to Justice) of the Gender Results Framework: “Eliminating gender-based violence and harassment, and promoting security of the person and access to justice”.

Specifically, this IRCC initiative supports the following objectives, outcomes and performance indicators:

Objectives

• Fewer women are victims of intimate partner violence and sexual assault
• Fewer women are killed by an intimate partner.

Short Term Outcome:

• Intervention participants (including service providers, survivors, and those at risk of experiencing or perpetrating gender-based violence) have access to information, training, support on gender-based violence

Performance Indicator:

• % of settlement workers who receive interventions that report increased knowledge of GBV and awareness of available services

Medium Term Outcome:

• Intervention participants (including service providers, survivors and those at risk of experiencing or perpetrating GBV) use/apply knowledge or support to adapt their attitudes and behaviours related to GBV.

Performance Indicators:

• % of intervention/project participants who report using/applying knowledge in their work or lives
• % of intervention participants who report using/applying knowledge or support to adapt their attitudes and/or behaviours

A performance measurement framework is in place to monitor and assess the expected outcomes of the initiative as well as inclusion in a formal mid-point evaluation process in 2020 for the federal gender-based violence strategy.

2) Caregivers: Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot

In February 2019, the Minister of IRCC announced the launch of two new federal pilot programs, the Home Child Care Provider and the Home Support Worker pilots, to provide a clearer pathway to permanent residence for foreign nationals working as in-home caregivers.

These two new pilot programs were launched on June 18, 2019, for a duration of five years, and replace the previous Caring for Children and Caring for People with High Medical Needs pilots.

In spring 2018, IRCC officials conducted consultations with a range of stakeholders on the 2014 pilots and improvements that could be made in future immigration programming. Consultations revealed that many caregivers arrived in Canada as temporary residents without a clear pathway to permanent residence, faced prolonged family separation, and experienced particular vulnerabilities related to in-home work and having their employment status tied to a specific employer. The new pilot programs were designed to reflect lessons learned and respond to specific concerns raised during consultations with stakeholders. The majority of foreign workers in in-home caregiving occupations are women.

The new pilots test a new selection approach to provide a clearer, improved pathway for foreign in-home caregivers while supporting their economic establishment as permanent residents, and continuing to provide Canadian families with a range of caregiving options.

Specifically, the new pilots provide foreign in-home caregivers with occupation specific work permits to reduce their dependence on single employers and allow for a fast change of employers when necessary. The pilots allow immediate family members to accompany the in-home caregiver to Canada, to help families come to Canada together. Adult family members may be issued work permits, allowing the caregiver to work in Canada with the benefit of family support. There is also a clear transition from temporary to permanent status for the caregiver, to ensure that once caregivers have met the work experience requirement, they will be able to become permanent residents through one of the pilots.

This initiative will contribute to Canada’s broader gender equality goals by keeping families together while the caregiver is working, supporting better economic and social well-being.

This initiative aligns with the goal of Pillar 2 (Economic Participation and Prosperity) of the Gender Results Framework: “Equal and full participation in the economy”.

The Department is developing a performance management strategy for the Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot to evaluate the new approach being tested under these pilots.

3) Visible Minority Newcomer Women (VMNW) Pilot

Budget 2018 announced $31.9M for a three-year pilot starting in 2018–19 to support the employment and career advancement of visible minority newcomer women. Programming is designed to address multiple barriers, including gender- and race-based discrimination, precarious or low income employment, lack of affordable childcare, and weak social support.

This initiative aligns with the goal of Pillar 2 (Economic Participation and Prosperity) of the Gender Results Framework: “Equal and full participation in the economy”.

This initiative will contribute to greater opportunities for visible minority newcomer women to participate equally and fully in the economy, and best practices may inform further settlement supports to help greater labour force attachment by newcomer women.

Specifically, this IRCC initiatives supports the following objectives, outcomes and performance indicators:

Objective

• Increased labour market opportunities for newcomer women, especially women in underrepresented groups

Short-term expected results include:

• Access to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada- funded pilot employment services is facilitated
• Increased understanding of pilot clients’ settlement needs and appropriate linkages to other services
• Pilot clients acquire knowledge, skills, and connections to prepare for the Canadian labour market
• Partners deliver responsive and coordinated settlement and community services

Performance Indicators:

• % of pilot clients receiving an employment related service by activity type
• % of pilot clients using support services, by settlement service and type of support service

Medium-term expected results include:

• Pilot clients access services that meet their needs
• Visible minority women clients participate in the Canadian labour market

Performance Indicators:

• % of clients who received a service that addressed an identified need
• % of pilot clients by employment status (as indicated by client) (working, looking for work, outside of labour force)

4) Rainbow Refugees Assistance Partnership

Globally the LGBTI community faces ongoing and unique challenges due to overt discrimination and criminalization based on their sexual orientation, gender expression and identity. The Government of Canada has demonstrated a leadership role through commitments to advance human rights and improve socio-economic outcomes for LGBTI people in developing countries.

On June 1, 2019, the Government of Canada announced the launch of the Rainbow Refugee Assistance Partnership. Starting in 2020 the five-year partnership will assist private sponsors with the sponsorship of LGBTI refugees. The partnership supports capacity building for sponsors by providing start-up costs and three months of income support, for up to 50 privately sponsored LGBTI refugees a year. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada will be providing up to $800,000 over the next 5 years towards this new partnership.

The partnership, established in cooperation with the Rainbow Refugee Society, will encourage more Canadians to support LGBTI refugees and will help strengthen collaboration between LGBTI organizations and the refugee settlement community in Canada. Through the Partnership Rainbow Refugee Society works with established Sponsorship Agreement Holders across Canada bringing awareness to these organizations of the vulnerabilities of LGBTI refugee.

This initiative will contribute to Canada’s broader gender equality goals and specifically address gender-based violence for LGBTI refugees. It aligns with the goal of Pillar 4 (Gender-Based Violence and Access to Justice) of the Gender Results Framework: “Eliminating gender-based violence and harassment, and promoting security of the person and access to justice”.

Specifically, this IRCC initiatives supports the following objectives, outcomes and performance indicators:

Objectives

• To increase awareness among private sponsors of the need within this community.
• To increase the number of LGBTI refugees resettled to Canada.
• To ensure LGBTI refugees have the proper post-arrival support in Canada, whether it be in LGBTI communities or not.

Short Term Outcome:

• Increased awareness of organizations and private sponsors of the new five-year partnership.

Performance Indicator:

• Number of sponsorship applications submitted for resettlement through the partnership.

Medium-Long Term Outcome:

• Increased resettlement of LGBTI refugees to Canada.
• LGBTI refugees being appropriately supported once arrived in Canada.

Performance Indicator:

• Number of refugees arriving in Canada through the partnership
• Number of complaints to IRCC of inappropriate supports provided to LGBTI refugees who have been sponsored through this partnership

Please note: This partnership is based on private sponsors coming forward to identify and submit cases. IRCC does not have control over the number of submission private sponsors will make through the partnership.

Reporting capacity and data

In November 2019, IRCC announced the appointment of a new Chief Data Officer responsible for establishing IRCC’s data governance, vision and strategy, and the development of a data policy. In 2020–21, the IRCC GBA+ Unit will be working with this office to continue to enhance data and reporting capacity for GBA+.

At IRCC, programs collect and keep individual recipient micro data so as to undertake GBA+:

• Temporary residents: Visitors, International Students, Temporary Workers
• Asylum Claimants
• Permanent residents: Federal Economic Immigration, Provincial Economic Immigration, Family Reunification, Humanitarian/Compassionate and Discretionary Immigration; Refugee Resettlement; Protected Persons
• Settlement
• Citizenship
• Passport

The following lists the depth of analysis that can be undertaken:

• Temporary residents: sex, date of birth (age), country of citizenship, country of birth, marital status, number of dependents (but not type of dependent), intended destination, type of permit(s).
  • In addition:
    • Visitors: mother tongue, knowledge of official language, post-secondary education
    • International students: intended Canadian education institution, intended field of study, program duration, intended destination
    • Temporary workers: type of work permit (open or employer-specific), occupation (but not for open work permits), employer name (but not for open work permits), exemption from a Labour Market Impact Assessment (for the International Mobility Program), intended destination
• Asylum Claimants: province, regular/irregular refugee indicator
• Permanent residents: sex, date of birth (age), country of birth, country of citizenship, marital status, number of dependents, level of education, intended destination in Canada, knowledge of official language, mother tongue, “French-speaking” indicator, Syrian refugee indicator, prior TR permit holder status,
  • In addition:
    • Federal and provincial economic principal applicants: primary occupation (by National Occupation Classification codes)
      • Express Entry: primary occupation, years of work experience, education in Canada, highest level of education, job offer in Canada, family in Canada, trade certification, Canadian licensure for regulated occupations
    • Family Reunification: data on the sponsor (sex, date of birth (age), financial capacity)
    • Refugee Resettlement: country of alleged persecution
    • Protected Persons: country of alleged persecution
• Settlement: types of settlement services accessed (such as language training, needs assessments, employment-related services), and linkages with permanent residence admissions data
• Citizenship: 1) For citizenship grants (naturalization): gender, date of birth (age), place of birth, marital status, knowledge of official language (evidence), special needs that require accommodation, income tax information and filing history, prohibitions, and linkages with permanent residence admissions data. 2) For citizenship proofs (to confirm proof of Canadian citizenship): gender, date of birth (age), place of birth, derivative parent’s/grandparent’s country of birth, date of marriage, citizenship status, foreign government employment, Canadian crown service employment
• Passport: sex, date of birth (age), place of birth, place of residence, year of obtaining citizenship marital status, Protected Persons status

Publicly released reports include:

• Annual Report to Parliament on Immigration: temporary resident entry and permanent resident admissions data
• Express Entry Year-End Report
• Statistical reports including those posted on Open Data
• Departmental Results Report
• Canada’s National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security 2017–22 – IRCC – Progress report for fiscal year 2017–18