Women and Gender Equality Canada’s Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy 2023 to 2024

1) Support economic security and prosperity for women and girls in Canada

2) Encourage women and girls in leadership and decision-making roles

3) Take strategic action through engagement to address systemic barriers to gender equality

Program:  Women’s Program

Performance indicator:

Labour force participation rate (for women)*

Proportion of leadership roles held by women**

Prevalence of low income^{Footnote 1}  by gender and sexual orientation***

Data for these indicators are maintained by Statistics Canada and the Canadian Women’s Foundation.

WAGE invests in programs and partnerships designed to support women and girls to foster leadership skills and improve economic prosperity. WAGE is strongly committed to ending gender-based violence and building capacity in 2SLGBTQI+ communities including through the launch of a new 2SLGBTQI+ Projects Fund. These actions contribute to improving the social, health, and economic outcomes of individuals.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

CIF Ambition/Target:

5.2 Gender equality in leadership roles and at all levels of decision-making

CIF Indicator: 

5.2.1 Proportion of leadership roles held by women

GIF Target: Parity between female and male representation percentages (Please see notes)

5.5 Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic, and public life

Indicator result:

* 65%

** No result available for 2023-24

*** No result available for 2023-24

Notes:

* Labour Force Survey, StatCan

** WAGE funded the survey. According to the department’s research plan, the date for the next survey is TBD.

*** The last Labour and economic characteristics of lesbian, gay and bisexual people in Canada survey was conducted from 2015-2018 and the results were released by StatCan in 2022. The date for the next survey is not known.

1) Provide support for victims, survivors and their families through life-saving support and safe spaces, and delivering social, health, and community services that protect and empower victims and survivors.

2) Support a responsive justice system to improve the experiences of victims and survivors.

3) Expand social infrastructure and enabling environments for populations at a greater risk of experiencing gender-based violence.

Program: Federal Gender-Based Violence Strategy - National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence

Performance indicator:

Percentage of the population aged 15 and over that experience intimate partner violence self-reported over a 12-month period*

Starting point:

11.8%^{Footnote 2}  (2022-23)

Target:

Decrease percentage of the population aged 15 and over that experience intimate partner violence to less than 11.8% by 2027-28

Performance indicator: 

Percentage of intervention participants who report using/applying knowledge or support to adapt their attitudes and/or behaviours related to gender-based violence**

Starting point:

 70%^{Footnote 3}  (2022-23)

Target:

Increase the percentage of intervention participants who report adapting their attitudes and/or behaviours related to gender-based violence to greater than 70% by 2027-28

Performance indicator:

Percentage of survivors who report incident(s) to police***

Starting point:

5%^{Footnote 4}  (2022-23)

Target:

Increase the percentage of survivors who report incident(s) to police to greater than 5% by 2027-28

WAGE strongly believes in the right of every Canadian to live free from violence. The department works collaboratively alongside provinces and territories, Indigenous partners, survivors, their families, and gender-based violence organizations to address social inequities and foster the safety, healing, and well-being of survivors and their families. This action contributes to the reduction of rates of violence against women and girls, especially, Indigenous women who experience high rates of violence.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

CIF Ambition:

5.1 Eliminate gender-based violence and harassment

CIF Indicator: 

5.1.1 Proportion of the population who self-reported being sexually assaulted in the last 12 months

5.1.2 Proportion of women and girls aged 15 years and older subjected to physical, sexual or psychological violence by a current or former intimate partner in the last 12 months

GIF Target: 

5.2 Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking

and sexual and other types of exploitation

5.2.1 Proportion of ever-partnered women and girls aged 15 years and older subjected to physical, sexual or psychological violence by a current or former intimate partner in the previous 12 months, by form of violence and by age

5.2.2 Proportion of women and girls aged 15 years and older subjected to sexual violence by persons other than an intimate partner in the previous 12 months, by age and place of occurrence

Indicator result: 

* Results will be available in 2025-26

** Results will be available in 2024-25

*** Results will be available in 2025-26

Notes: 

* The second cycle of the Survey of Safety in Public and Private Spaces (SSPPS) data collection will take place in Fall 2024 and initial findings from the survey will be reported in 2025-26.

** Cohort of final reports data for 2023-24 will be available in 2024-25.

*** The second cycle of SSPPS data collection will take place in Fall 2024 and initial findings from the survey will be reported in 2025-26.

1) Address the substantial and persisting inequities faced by Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and additional sexually and gender diverse people in Canada.

2) Engage with international partners to advance gender equality abroad by participating in sessions organized by the United Nations, the G7, the OECD and regional bodies.

Program:

2SLGBTQI+ Action Plan

Performance indicator:

Percentage of 2SLGBTQI+ individuals who have a sense of belonging in their local community*

Starting point:

33.4%^{Footnote 5}  (2022-23)

Target:

Increase the % of 2SLGBTQI+ individuals who have a sense of belonging in their local community to greater than 33.4% by 2027-28

Performance indicator:

Percentage of 2SLGBTQI+ individuals aged 15 and over who reported good, very good or excellent mental health**

Starting point:

New program, TBD

Target:

Target will be determined

WAGE invests in and takes action to address persistent gender inequalities that impact all people in Canada and achieve more equitable economic, social, and political outcomes for people of all genders. This action contributes to making Canada a country where people of all genders are equal in every way and can achieve their full potential.  

Relevant targets or ambitions:

GIF Ambition/Target:

5.c Adopt and strengthen sound policies and enforceable legislation for the promotion of gender equality

GIF Indicator: 

5.c.1 Proportion of countries with systems to track and make public allocations for gender equality 

Indicator result: 

* 46.5%

** 56.9%

Notes: 

* Sense of belonging to local community by gender and other selected sociodemographic characteristics Survey, StatCan

** Perceived mental health, by gender and other selected sociodemographic characteristics Survey, StatCan

GBA Plus

WAGE plays a key role in ensuring an intersectional gender lens is adopted across the Government of Canada through the GBA Plus framework that facilitates equality, fairness, and inclusion considerations in government decision-making. Besides providing advice on mandatory GBA Plus assessments undertaken by

other federal departments, WAGE will build capacity and awareness of GBA Plus by developing new tools, resources and learning products. WAGE will also support the integration of GBA Plus with other government priorities to better incorporate quality of life measurements into government decision-making and budgeting.

Women’s Program

WAGE will support the capacity and sustainability of women’s equality-seeking organizations to achieve the full participation of women in economic, social, and democratic life in Canada. Since 2015, WAGE has invested over $380 million, under the Women’s Program, in 910 projects to advance women’s equality. The program's pillars on economic security and leadership are leveraged to support entrepreneurship and community development among Black women.

Menstrual Equity Fund

This pilot program will make menstrual products available to those in need. Through partnerships, WAGE will test approaches to distribute free menstrual products to community organizations serving diverse low-income populations in various locations across Canada and scale up education and awareness activities to inform Canadians about period poverty and reduce stigma around menstruation. The Menstrual Equity pilot project will run until March 31, 2024

Domestic and International Co-operation

WAGE will continue to work closely with counterparts in provincial and territorial governments, notably through the Federal-Provincial-Territorial (FPT) Forum of Ministers Responsible for the Status of Women to advance gender equality across Canada. The Forum’s main mandate is to share knowledge and information and to undertake collaborative initiatives to advance the status of women which can include gender diversity and gender equality. WAGE also collaborates with international partners to advance gender equality abroad.

In 2023-24, WAGE supported the application of GBA Plus throughout federal government decision-making processes:

- Completed system-wide enhancement of GBA Plus as part of the work to deliver on commitments outlined in Minister Ien’s mandate letter, and to address recommendations made by the Auditor General and the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology (SOCI).

- Supported collaboration across the Government and enhanced government structures for more systematic approaches to advance shared priorities.

- Refined intersectional methodology to one that provides more context-specific expertise and implementation across government departments and functional areas.

- Delivered Government Response to the Report of the Senate Standing Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology entitled All Together – The Role of Gender-based Analysis Plus in the Policy Process: reducing barriers to an inclusive intersectional policy analysis.

- Made progress on several commitments of the Management Response and Action Plan on GBA Plus, including improving the annual GBA Plus Implementation Survey, launching the survey in November 2023, and developing a new GBA Plus Resource Centre.

- Led extensive consultations with provinces and territories, academia, equity-deserving groups, and other government departments on enhancing the framing and parameters of GBA Plus and facilitated in-depth discussions to identify knowledge gaps, solution and ideas for strengthened implementation.

- In collaboration with learning partners, developed and updated GBA Plus curriculum, tools, and resources to grow capacity to apply GBA Plus across all federal departments and agencies.

-  In collaboration with Public Services and Procurement Canada, established a standing offer of GBA Plus consultancy services and created a pool of qualified consultants accessible to all federal departments and agencies.

- Held a GBA Plus Awareness Week event in May 2023 for federal public servants which included a WAGE and Canada School of Public Service Signature Event that hosted 2,226 public servant participants.

- Has met its legislative obligations since the Impact Assessment Act came into force in 2019, by advising and assessing the GBA Plus implications of proposed projects in all phases of the Impact Assessment process. For example, WAGE reviewed 75 proposals over the fiscal year and provided advice on GBA Plus, including on GBV prevention.

- Exercised its recognized leadership with key international stakeholders by participating in eight international engagements and three provincial and/or territorial engagements sessions, sharing knowledge generated over close to 30 years of GBA Plus implementation.

Throughout 2023-24, WAGE led stakeholder engagement on the priorities of national and diverse provincial, territorial, regional and local women’s organizations as it related to new funding for the Women’s Program.

On September 1, 2023, WAGE began the implementation of the Menstrual Equity Fund Pilot to support greater access to menstrual products and reduce stigma around menstruation. In partnership with Food Banks Canada, over 74 million products were further distributed to approximately 2,000 organizations across 400 pilot sites in all provinces and territories, reaching over 3.5 million people who menstruate. Additionally, six menstrual equity organizations across the country (The Period Purse, Moon Time Connections, Free Periods Canada, Dignité mensuelle, Project AIM, and Help a Girl Out) were selected to scale up education and awareness activities to inform Canadians about period poverty and reduce stigma around menstruation.

The Gender-Based Violence Research Program helps to:

• shape the research agenda on gender-based violence. It is working with Statistics Canada on the second cycle of the Survey of Safety in Public and Private Spaces (SSPPS) and a Femicide Information System
• fill critical data and knowledge gaps, such as the economic cost of gender-based violence in Canada
• undertake research to advance evidence-based responses to gender-based violence. WAGE will fund studies on how diverse groups of people in Canada experience gender-based violence and why gender-based violence persists

The Gender-Based Violence Knowledge Centre has been set up to:                                                   

• disseminate information within WAGE and key partners
• provide tools, training, and other resources to those experiencing gender-based violence as well as federal partners, stakeholders, and members of the public through a centre of excellence

WAGE keeps track of activity on the Knowledge Centre online portal (number of page views), attendance at events as well as conducts surveys to determine the percentage of those who benefit from resources provided.

Awareness Campaigns

WAGE promotes actions and awareness aimed at preventing gender-based violence through commemorative events and awareness campaigns (e.g., 16 Days of Activism). Through feedback from youth and youth-service partner organizations, WAGE keeps track of performance metrics including the percentage of youth in Canada who report an increased understanding of gender-based violence.

WAGE continues to work towards reducing the prevalence of GBV in Canada and improving support services for people impacted by GBV:

- The development and testing of the second cycle of the Survey of Safety in Public and Private Spaces was fully underway throughout 2023-24, with a scheduled launch of early September 2024.

- The Knowledge Centre hosted five events which drew in an average of 200+ participants, ultimately reaching over 1,000 participants in total. These events reached other government departments, Indigenous partners, stakeholders, and civil society organizations, to promote WAGE funded projects and build awareness of and prevent GBV. 

- Promoted awareness of and activities supporting the need to address and end GBV through commemorative events such as the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence, which included four ministerial statements, one ministerial panel with funding recipients, and the illumination of two federal buildings in purple (the colour also featured in other 16 Days communications products, to reinforce this message and visually unify the campaign). Social media campaigns on Instagram, X, Facebook and LinkedIn resulted in over 400,000 impressions of both English and French content. The Department experienced a 71% increase in views to the website’s GBV section, from an average monthly view of 9,172 in 2022-23 to an average of 12,912 in 2023-24. In keeping with our commitment to being transparent, the website is publicly accessible to all Canadians and hosts resources, research, and programs related to GBV, 2SLGBTQI+ communities, gender equality and GBA Plus.

- Continued to engage with the Indigenous Women’s Circle (IWC), which plays an advisory role to WAGE and 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 in respect to GBV, economic insecurity, and Indigenous leadership. In 2023-24 insights from the IWC helped inform the evolution of GBA Plus to its current intersectional design and application. It now better takes into account how connections to colonialism, patriarchy and capitalism, which overlap to create marginalization levels that disproportionately affect certain groups, such as Indigenous women, more than the rest of the population.

1) Inform the implementation of the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence (Pillar 4: Implementing Indigenous-led approaches) in conjunction with Indigenous peoples.

2) Implement the Federal 2SLGBTQI+ Action Plan (Pillar 3: Support Indigenous 2SLGBTQI+ resilience and resurgence).

3) Collaborate and engage with Indigenous peoples, the Indigenous Women’s Circle and national Indigenous organizations, governments, and representative institutions, on the implementation of these two Action Plans.

4)  Implement $55 million received through Budget 2021 to bolster the capacity of Indigenous women's and 2SLGBTQI+ organizations to provide gender-based violence prevention programming, maintain meaningful partnerships with Indigenous partners to support Indigenous-led, distinctions-based initiatives that respond to priority areas raised by the TRC and the MMIWG2S+ National Inquiry as they relate to gender-based violence.

Program:

Federal Pathway to Address Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People

Percentage of Indigenous organizations that reported an increase in organizational capacity to prevent and address gender-based violence.

Starting point:

New program, TBD

Target:

Target will be determined 

WAGE supports the Government of Canada’s commitment to implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action and the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls’ Calls for Justice in partnership with First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. By co-leading on the human safety and security theme under the Federal Pathway, WAGE will contribute to ending discrimination and addressing the root causes of violence against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people. Additionally, WAGE’s gender-based violence action plan and 2SLGBTQI+ action plan have Indigenous-specific pillars. WAGE provides funding to bolster the capacity of Indigenous women and 2SLGBTQIA+ organizations to provide gender-based violence prevention programming.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

CIF Ambition/Target:

10.2 Canadians live free of discrimination and inequalities are reduced

CIF Indicator: 

10.2.1 Proportion of the population reporting discrimination or unfair treatment

GIF Target: 

10.3.1 Proportion of population reporting having personally felt discriminated against or harassed in the previous 12 months based on a ground of discrimination prohibited under international human rights law

Indicator result: 

Results will be available in 2024-25

Notes: 

WAGE is awaiting the final reports for relevant projects. This data will become available in December 2024.

Support for the implementation of the MMIWG2S+ National Action Plan in partnership with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples

WAGE will continue to support the implementation of the Federal Pathway to Address Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, and 2SLGBTQIA+ People. WAGE will also continue to support the implementation of the 2021 Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ National Action Plan.

Provide funding to bolster the capacity of Indigenous women and 2SLGBTQI+ organizations to provide gender-based violence prevention programming

WAGE will continue to implement $55 million received through Budget 2021 to bolster the capacity of Indigenous women’s and 2SLGBTQI+ organizations to provide gender-based violence prevention programming. 

WAGE conducts quarterly meetings with the Indigenous Women’s Circle and annual meetings with other national Indigenous and representative organizations to discuss progress towards the program’s goals.

Reconciliation

Throughout 2023 and 2024, WAGE provided leadership to advance gender equality by tackling barriers faced by Indigenous women and other marginalized or underrepresented women. WAGE continued to support the Government of Canada’s commitment to implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action and the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls’ Calls for Justice in partnership with First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. WAGE was a co-lead on the human safety and security theme under the Federal Pathway to Address Violence Against Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People (Federal Pathway), along with Public Safety Canada. First Nations, Métis, and Inuit organizations will receive funding through this initiative.

To support the resilience and resurgence of Indigenous 2SLGBTQI+ communities as the first 2SLGBTQI+ communities in Canada, the Federal 2SLGBTQI+ Action Plan was included as an Action Plan measure (11) in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act Action Plan in June 2023, underscoring the federal government’s commitment to advancing reconciliation.

Leaving no one behind

In 2023-24, WAGE took action to advance economic, social, and political equality outcomes for women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people in Canada:

- The 2SLGBTQI+ Capacity Fund: WAGE began implementing the delivery of Budget 2022 funding through a call for proposals from March 13 to May 9, 2023. This process resulted in 101 organizations being approved to receive a total of $25.5 million to build capacity from 2023-24 to 2025-26 (make decisions, manage money and people, collaborate, make plans, learn and drive change.)

- The 2SLGBTQI+ Projects Fund: In 2023-24, WAGE led stakeholder engagement on policy parameters in preparation for the launch of the fall for proposals for the 2SLGBTQI+ Projects Fund. Towards the end of the fiscal year, in March 2024, WAGE began the process to deliver on the Fund by initiating the call for proposals, which ended on April 10, 2024. Recipients of this funding will be announced in 2024-25. 

- Identified as a priority, funding of $3.6 million was awarded in 2023-24 under both funds to twelve organizations that identified Indigenous 2SLGBTQI+ individuals and communities as a primary population they serve.

- Provided $600 thousand to a national organization to engage Black 2SLGBTQI+ organizations and communities to develop recommendations for implementing sustainable supports for Black 2SLGBTQI+ movements, including the potential creation of a national Black 2SLGBTQI+ organization.

- Pride security funding: In response to increasing hate and discrimination, WAGE provided $1.5 million in emergency funding to Fierté Canada Pride, which helped 50 pride organizations across the country to cover the increasing security costs at Pride events during Pride Season 2023.

- Community-led research: WAGE initiated a call for proposals with Public Services and Procurement Canada for community-led research for 2SLGBTQI+ communities from November 2023 to January 2024. Following this process, contracts will be awarded in 2024-25, which are expected to inform key research and data gaps, specifically related to 2SLGBTQI+ people.

Purchase executive fleet vehicles that are zero emission.

Program: Internal Services

Performance indicator:

Percentage of executive fleet vehicles that are zero emission

Starting point:

0%

Target:

100% by 2030

WAGE is moving towards the purchase of zero-emission vehicles to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This action will enhance sustainable consumption and contribute to reducing climate change in the long run.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

CIF Ambition/Target:

12.1 Canadians consume in a sustainable manner/Zero-emission vehicles represent 10% of new light-duty vehicle sales by 2025, 30% by 2030 and 100% by 2040

CIF Indicator: 

12.1.1 Proportion of new light-duty vehicle registrations that are zero-emission vehicles

GIF Target: 

12.7 Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national policies and priorities

Indicator result:

50%

Notes:

WAGE purchased a new electric vehicle in 2024 

Ensure all procurement, materiel management specialists and acquisition card holders are trained in green procurement (through the Canada School of Public Service courses on green procurement or equivalent) within one year of being identified.

Program: Internal Services

Performance indicator:

Percentage of procurement and materiel management specialists and acquisition card holders trained in green procurement within one year of being identified

Starting point:

100%

Target:

100%

WAGE incorporates environmental considerations into its purchasing decisions through green procurement. This action is expected to motivate suppliers to reduce the environmental impact of the goods and services they deliver and lead to more sustainable supply chains.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

CIF Ambition:

12.2 Canadians consume in a sustainable manner

CIF Indicator:

12.2.1 Proportion of businesses that adopted selected environmental protection activities and management practices

GIF Target:

12.7 Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national policies and priorities

Indicator result:

100%

Notes:

All procurement and material management specialists, as well as acquisition card holders, have successfully completed the CSPS Green Procurement (COR405) course within one year of being identified.

Ensure all relevant employees are trained on assessing climate change impacts, undertaking climate change risk assessments, and developing adaptation actions within one year of being identified.

Program: Internal Services

Performance indicator:

Percentage of relevant employees trained on assessing climate change impacts, undertaking climate change risk assessments, and developing adaptation actions within one year of being identified

Starting point:

New program, TBD

Target:

100% 

Trained staff at WAGE identify risk to critical program delivery and develop responses to increase the resilience of operations to impacts of climate change. These actions contribute to helping meet the government’s green targets and commitments to get to net‑zero.

Relevant targets or ambitions:

CIF Ambition/Target:

13.3 Canadians are well equipped and resilient to face the effects of climate change

CIF Indicator:

13.3.1 Proportion of municipal organization who factored climate change adaptation into their decision-making process

GIF Targets:

13.3 Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning

Indicator result:

No result available

Notes:

Program has not yet started.

Assess the risk of climate change impacts at mission critical assets and where there are moderate to high risks, develop plans to reduce the risk.

Program: Internal Services

Performance Indicator:

Percentage of mission critical assets for which the risk of climate change impacts is assessed

Starting point:

20%

Target:

100% (2026)

WAGE assesses the risks of climate change impacts at mission critical assets and develops plans to reduce these risks. These actions contribute to reducing the risk of disruption of critical service delivery to Canadians.

Relevant targets or ambitions

CIF Ambition / Target:

13.3 Canadians are well equipped and resilient to face the effects of Climate change

CIF Indicator:

13.3.1 Proportion of municipal organization who factored climate change adaptation into their decision-making process

GIF Targets:

13.3 Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning

Indicator result:

20%

Notes:

BCP will be updated in 2024-2025

Incorporate a natural disaster scenario in a business continuity plan tabletop exercise.

Program: Internal Services

Performance indicator:

A natural disaster scenario is included in a business continuity plan tabletop exercise

Starting point:

A disaster scenario has not been included yet

Target:

By the end of 2024-25 

WAGE will include a disaster scenario in a business continuity plan tabletop exercise to assess its readiness and make the necessary adjustments. This contributes to strengthening resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in Canada.

Relevant targets or ambitions

CIF Ambition/Target:

13.3 Canadians are well equipped and resilient to face the effects of climate change / No specific target

CIF Indicator: 

13.3.1 Proportion of municipal organization who factored climate change adaptation into their decision-making process

GIF Target:

13.2 Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning

Indicator result:

No result available

Notes:

A disaster scenario has not been included yet. Exercise will occur once the BCP has been updated 2025-2026