Gender-based analysis plus: 2022-23 Departmental Results Report, Women and Gender Equality Canada

Section 1: institutional GBA Plus governance and capacity

Governance

GBA Plus is an analytical process that provides a rigorous method for the assessment of systemic inequalities, as well as a means to assess how diverse groups of women, men, and gender diverse people may experience policies, programs and initiatives. The “plus” in GBA Plus acknowledges that GBA Plus is not just about differences between biological (sexes) and socio-cultural (genders). We all have multiple characteristics that intersect and contribute to who we are. GBA Plus considers many other identity factors such as race, ethnicity, religion, age, and mental or physical disability, and how the interaction between these factors influences the way we might experience government policies and initiatives.

WAGE supports governance on GBA Plus by providing leadership in bringing together federal departments and agencies to collaborate on advancing the government’s diversity and inclusion priorities. As part of this work, WAGE plays a secretariat and advisory role for several committees, working groups and other bodies to collectively enhance the integration of GBA Plus for more evidence-informed public policies.

WAGE’s GBA Plus Directorate is pivotal in providing advice on integrating GBA Plus considerations into departmental initiatives. They also aid the Department’s GBA Plus Champion in fostering engagement in capacity-building.

WAGE internal structures that share information on GBA Plus and coordinate actions include:

The GBA Plus Steering Committee, which involves WAGE and the Central Agencies, guides and ensures the integration of GBA Plus in the Government of Canada’s decision-making processes.

The Interdepartmental Committee of GBA Plus Focal Points is a network of GBA Plus practitioners that promotes coordination and collaboration in the application of GBA Plus across federal departments and agencies.

The Forum of Federal-Provincial-Territorial (FPT) Ministers responsible for the Status of Women, co-chaired by Minister Ien, focuses on advancing GBA Plus for gender and diversity across FPT regions.

The GBA Plus Champions’ Network, led by WAGE’s GBA Plus champion, advocates for GBA Plus across federal sectors.

The GBA Plus Learning Advisory Committee (LAC) and Capacity Working Group are interdepartmental fora for federal organizations to discuss learning needs for the federal public service on the topics of GBA Plus and intersectionality.

Targeted governance to deliver on the government’s commitments to enhance the framing and parameters of GBA Plus

In 2021, Minister Ien was mandated to work with key colleagues to enhance the framing and parameters of GBA Plus with particular attention to the intersectional analysis of race, indigeneity, rurality, disability, and sexual identity, among other characteristics. To support collaboration and ensure a cohesive approach to this work, WAGE advanced work through several groups, including a Deputy-Ministerial Reference Group, Assistant Deputy Minister and Director General-level Core and Expanded Groups. These groups helped steer a coordinated engagement process with governmental and non-governmental partners and develop options for a more robust and intersectional GBA Plus that better captures the lived experiences of all Canadians.  

WAGE Internal governance structures

In addition to horizontal structures, WAGE leverages its internal governance to promote the application of GBA Plus across all its activities and to grow departmental capacity to advance GBA Plus in various functional communities. Specifically:

The Executive Committee (EXCOM) is WAGE’s senior decision-making and priority-setting body. EXCOM is chaired by the Deputy Minister and includes departmental senior management, including the GBA Plus Champion. EXCOM weekly meetings establish priorities, oversee the delivery of the department’s work, and take stock of progress. As a permanent member of EXCOM, the GBA Plus Champion ensures that GBA Plus is considered in all departmental activities and integrated into all decision-making processes.

The Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility Committee implements initiatives to support diversity and inclusion in the Department. Initiatives include raising awareness of diversity and inclusion and its challenges, celebrating diversity at WAGE, and providing departmental staff a forum for discussing contemporary issues related to diversity and inclusion.

The Indigenous Advisory Network is comprised of Indigenous employees within WAGE. It serves as a platform and community that provides advice, mentoring and support to foster wellness among Indigenous employees, and to provide opportunities for professional development.

The Indigenous Women’s Circle (IWC) is chaired by the Deputy Minister and plays an advisory role to WAGE. Membership of the IWC includes representation from First Nations, Métis, and Inuit women, youth, and Elders from across the country. The IWC provides strategic guidance and expertise to inform federal efforts to address systemic inequalities that Indigenous women experience, particularly those related to issues of GBV, economic insecurity, and Indigenous leadership.

Capacity

As a centre of expertise for advancing gender equality and supporting the application of GBA Plus across government decision-making processes, WAGE works to:

• Promote a greater understanding of GBA Plus as an intersectional tool for advancing fairness, equality, and inclusion;
• Provide guidance, develop tools and training, support the implementation of GBA Plus across federal departments and agencies; and
• Contribute to evidence-based practices, including those related to policy and program development, and gender budgeting.

Section 2: gender and diversity impacts, by program

Core responsibility: Advancing Gender Equality

The Department for Women and Gender Equality advances gender equality, including social, economic, and political equality through leadership, support and coordination of targeted policies and programs. It undertakes research, collects, and analyzes data and raises awareness of gender equality issues through outreach and engagement. The Department provides advice to government to achieve Canada’s gender equality outcomes and goals, including advocacy for gender-based budgeting, and facilitates the advancement of gender equality among other partners and stakeholders, through its expertise, contribution to research, and funding to community initiatives. The Department serves as a central point for sharing expertise across Canada and with international partners and uses this knowledge to inform and support Canada’s gender equality priorities.

Program name: Community Action and Innovation

Program goals: Through its Community Action and Innovation program, the Department for Women and Gender Equality provides grants and contributions to organizations to implement projects that are designed to strengthen the sector working to advance gender equality and bring some degree of systemic change in the underlying factors that perpetuate inequality at a local, regional, and national level.

Target population: Although all Canadians ultimately benefit from greater gender equality, certain groups facing systemic barriers that limit their access to opportunities stand to particularly benefit from the Department’s funding to equality-seeking organizations, specifically: women, girls, 2SLGBTQI+ and non-binary individuals, including those who are Indigenous, racialized, youth, non-status, refugees, immigrants or newcomers, seniors, living in a northern, remote or rural area, living on a low income, living with disabilities, living in an official language minority community.

Specific demographic group outcomes

While all projects signed in 2022-23 will benefit “all Canadians (i.e., rather than specific sub-groups)”, 30% will benefit Indigenous Peoples, 27% will benefit racialized individuals, and 25% will benefit individuals on low incomes.

Key program impacts^{Table note 1} on gender and diversity

Program name: Expertise and Outreach

Program goals: Through its Expertise and Outreach program, the Department for Women and Gender Equality provides tools, expertise and advice: (1) to federal organizations and central agencies on their proposals to Cabinet and the Treasury Board, (2) to further develop the federal government’s intrinsic capacity to conduct GBA Plus at all stages of policy development and program delivery, including gender-based budgeting; (3) to provincial, territorial and local governments, private sector and civil society organizations that have the levers to address gender equality issues through policy, programming and organizational practices; and (4) to increase public awareness through outreach to the general public.

Target population: While all Canadians benefit from greater gender equality, certain populations are more likely to benefit from this Program, specifically: women, girls, 2SLGBTQI+ and non-binary individuals, including those who are Indigenous, racialized, youth, non-status, refugees, immigrants or newcomers, seniors, living in a northern, remote or rural area, living on a low income, living with disabilities, or living in an official language minority community.

Specific demographic group outcomes

While all projects signed in 2022-23 will benefit “all Canadians (i.e. rather than specific sub-groups)”, 30% will benefit Indigenous Peoples, 27% will benefit racialized individuals, and 25% will benefit individuals on low incomes.

Key program impacts^{Table note 2} on gender and diversity

Supplementary information sources

The May 2022 Report of the Auditor General of Canada called on the Government to monitor regularly and comprehensively and report publicly on the status of GBA Plus implementation across the federal government, including plans to advance GBA Plus implementation. This broadly aligns with the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology (SOCI) recommendation on public reporting on GBA Plus implementation. To respond to these calls for more transparency, the Government has committed to:

• improving the annual GBA Plus Implementation Survey by addressing the methodological and other concerns identified by the Office of the Auditor General of Canada; and,
• ensuring public reporting of information that demonstrates progress and challenges at a government‑wide level and over time.

Measuring the impacts of GBA Plus as part of government expenditure programs is the responsibility of all federal organizations as described in the Canadian Gender Budgeting Act. WAGE supports TBS in delivering on its responsibilities related to the Act as well as supporting federal organizations through its contributions to developing and disseminating guidance, training, and in raising awareness. TBS and WAGE have collaborated on guidance to support the incorporation of GBA Plus into program evaluations and also supports others in the design and implementation of data collection and reporting plans.

GBA Plus data collection plan

In 2022-23, WAGE continued to develop and implement reporting tools tailored to each of the grants and contributions program for which it is responsible. The tools were designed to better collect project data to monitor indicators and allow the Department to systematically collect project data in a format that greatly improved its ability to analyze the information being collected. In addition, reporting tools were revised to collect data disaggregated by identity and social factor, to monitor outcomes for those population groups. These data will be available in the 2023-24 fiscal year Departmental Results Report.

WAGE collects information related to the activities funded by the Department, through annual progress and final reports. Through data collection and funded research, the department focuses on intersectionality and the disaggregation of data by identity factors in order to ensure a comprehensive understanding of issues that can be experienced differently by certain groups, including: Indigenous Peoples; women and girls; men and boys; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and non-binary individuals, queer, two-spirit (2SLGBTQI+) individuals; visible minorities; those living in northern, rural, and remote communities; people with disabilities; children and youth; people living on a low income; newcomers and immigrants to Canada; religious minorities; and seniors. These data and research inform direction of WAGE and other Government of Canada initiatives by powering more robust GBA Plus throughout the initiative lifecycle; they also allow the Department to monitor and report on the impacts of its initiatives on diverse populations.

Scales

Gender scale

• First group: predominantly men (80% or more men)
• Second group: 60% to 79% men
• Third group: broadly gender-balanced
• Fourth group: 60% to 79% women
• Fifth group: predominantly women (80% or more women)

Income‑level scale

• First group: strongly benefits low‑income individuals (strongly progressive)
• Second group: somewhat benefits low‑income individuals (somewhat progressive)
• Third group: no significant distributional impacts
• Fourth group: somewhat benefits high‑income individuals (somewhat regressive)
• Fifth group: strongly benefits high‑income individuals (strongly regressive)

Age‑group scale

• First group: primarily benefits youth, children or future generations
• Second group: no significant intergenerational impacts or impacts on generations between youths and seniors
• Third group: primarily benefits seniors or the baby boom generation