Minister for Women and Gender Equality's appearance at the House of Commons Standing Committee on the Status of Women (May 20, 2022)

Budget 2022

Issue/Question:

Key investments in Budget 2022

Suggested Response:

• In Budget 2022, the Government of Canada demonstrated its continued commitment to grow the economy, create good jobs, and build a Canada where nobody gets left behind, including women and LGBTQ2 communities.
• Key Budget investments include:
  • $539.3M over five years to work with provinces and territories to enhance services and supports to prevent gender-based violence and support survivors.
  • $25M over two years to establish a national pilot project for a Menstrual Equity Fund to help make menstrual products available to Canadians in need.
  • $100M over five years to support the implementation of the Federal LGBTQ2 Action Plan, to support a more equal Canada for LGBTQ2 people.
  • Investments from Budget 2022 will help us continue our work to advance gender equality and diversity in Canada and ensure that we do not roll back the hard-won progress we have already made.

Gender-Based Violence:

• The government remains committed to preventing and addressing gender-based violence in Canada by working with provinces and territories, as well as stakeholders and Indigenous partners.
• Budget 2022 proposes to invest $539.3 million over five years, starting in 2022-23, to enable provinces and territories to supplement and enhance services and supports within their jurisdictions to prevent gender-based violence and support survivors. This funding will support provinces and territories in their efforts to implement the forthcoming National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence.

Menstrual Equity Fund:

• The government is committed to addressing the barriers related to affordability and stigma that some women, girls, and trans and non-binary Canadians face when accessing menstrual products.
• Budget 2022 proposes to invest $25 million over two years, starting in 2022-23, to establish a national pilot project for a Menstrual Equity Fund that will help make menstrual products available to Canadians in need.

Supporting Greater Equality for LGBTQ2 Communities:

• Many LGBTQ2 Canadians still face discrimination on the basis of their sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression, which continues to result in persistent health, social, and economic inequities.
• Budget 2022 proposes to invest $100 million over five years, starting in 2022-23, to support the implementation of the forthcoming Federal LGBTQ2 Action Plan, which will support a fairer and more equal Canada for LGBTQ2 Canadians.

Background:

• Budget 2022 reflects the Government of Canada’s continued efforts to support an inclusive response and recovery and dedication to supporting women and LGBTQ2 communities as it works to ensure opportunities for all Canadians to thrive.
• The Gender Results Framework (GRF), launched in Budget 2018, continues to guide decision-making on policies and programs, ensuring that they are responsive to the diverse needs of people in Canada. The Framework represents the Government of Canada’s goals with respect to gender equality, including how we measure success.
• The Quality of Life Framework, which builds on the Gender-based Analysis Plus approach, is also being applied for the first time to support inclusive and sustainable growth. This includes the cross-cutting lens of fairness and inclusion, and introduces a standardized set of indicators to bring a consistent approach to assessing the nature and distribution of impacts. 

2SLGBTQIA+ Action Plan

Question/Issue:

How is the government advancing equality for LGBTQ2 Canadians?

Suggested Response:

• Discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity and expression continues to be a reality in Canada, and it must be eliminated.
• The Government of Canada is working hard to launch the first federal LGBTQ2 Action Plan. The Action Plan will guide work to address key priority areas that support LGBTQ2 communities.
• Budget 2022 proposes to provide $100 million over five years to support the implementation of the Action Plan, which will support a fairer and more equal Canada for LGBTQ2 Canadians.
• This work builds on historic investments for LGBTQ2 communities.
• Budget 2019 invested $20 million to enhance the capacity of LGBTQ2 organizations.
• Budget 2021 included an additional $15 million for a new LGBTQ2 Projects Fund to support community initiatives that further LGBTQ2 equality.

Key Information:

Budget 2021

• Announced $15 million over three years for a new LGBTQ2 Projects Fund to support community-informed initiatives that address key issues facing LGBTQ2 communities.
• Included $7.1 million over three years to continue to support the work of the LGBTQ2 Secretariat and enable the continued development of an LGBTQ2 Action Plan.

Budget 2022

• Proposes to provide $100 million over five years, starting in 2022-23, to support the implementation of the forthcoming Federal LGBTQ2 Action Plan, which will support a fairer and more equal Canada for LGBTQ2 Canadians.
• In February 2021, the Government of Canada announced funding for 76 LGBTQ2 community-led projects across Canada through the Fund. Of these, 70 were new projects and 6 were amendments for the organizations funded in 2019.
• Organizations Funded through the LGBTQ2 Community Capacity Fund:
  • Fierté Canada Pride ($650,000)
  • Conseil québécois LGBT ($549,963)
  • The Enchanté Network ($1,505,000)
  • Egale Canada Human Rights Trust ($899,361)
  • Rainbow Refugee Society ($582,466)
  • 2 Spirits in Motion Foundation ($650,000)
  • Canadian Trans Network ($99,984)

Results:

• The government fulfilled its commitment to re-introduce conversion therapy legislation within its first 100 days in office to eliminate the practice of conversion therapy. This legislation received royal assent on December 8, 2021, and officially became law in Canada on January 7, 2022.
• On March 24, 2022, Health Canada authorized the Hema Québec (HQ) submission to change their source plasma donor screening criteria. This decision will enable HQ to shift to a behaviour-based model that screens all source plasma donors for high-risk sexual behaviours.
• On April 28, 2022, Health Canada announced that it had authorized the Canadian Blood Services (CBS) submission, with a target of implementation by September 30, 2022. Under this new approach, CBS will introduce a sexual behaviour-based screening questionnaire that will apply to all donors of blood and plasma.

Background:

Federal LGBTQ2 Secretariat

• On October 26, 2021, the Government of Canada issued an Order in Council to transfer the control and supervision of the LGBTQ2 Secretariat from Canadian Heritage to the Department for Women and Gender Equality.
• The Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth’s December 2021 mandate letter includes a commitment to continue the work of the LGBTQ2 Secretariat in promoting LGBTQ2 equality at home and abroad, protecting LGBTQ2 rights, and addressing discrimination against LGBTQ2 communities, building on the passage of Bill C-4, which criminalized conversion therapy.

LGBTQ2 Action Plan

• On November 27, 2020, the government launched a consultation process with LGBTQ2 communities to inform the first federal LGBTQ2 Action Plan. A national online survey, in the field from November 27, 2020, to February 28, 2021, received over 25,000 responses. Engagement activities also included written submissions from diverse organizations representing and/or serving LGBTQ2 communities and a series of roundtable discussions with community leaders, organizations, and researchers.
• The Action Plan is being developed through an intersectional lens and will identify concrete measures to respond to key priorities of LGBTQ2 communities in Canada, including Two-Spirit and Indigenous LGBTQQIA+ communities, and Black and racialized LGBTQ2 communities.
• The launch of the Action Plan will contribute to the promotion of LGBTQ2 equality, protecting LGBTQ2 rights, and addressing longstanding discrimination against LGBTQ2 communities. The Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth’s December 2021 mandate letter includes a commitment to launch the Federal LGBTQ2 Action Plan.

Conversion Therapy

• According to a recently released study, up to 20% of Canadian gay, bisexual, transgender, and Two-Spirit men have experienced conversion change efforts. Of these, approximately 40%, or 47,000 individuals across the country, experienced a conversion therapy-related practice, service, or treatment. While many trans and non-binary people have also experienced conversion therapy or change efforts related to their gender identity or expression, limited data is available to quantify the breadth of this reality.

Menstrual Equity Fund

Issue/Question:

How is the government addressing period poverty through its Menstrual Equity Fund?

Suggested Response:

• Menstrual products are a basic necessity and are essential to upholding sexual and reproductive health rights.
• Unfortunately, too many women, girls, and trans and non-binary Canadians struggle to afford these products. Lack of access, along with period stigma and shame, make it hard for people to fully participate in school, work, and other aspects of public life.
• Budget 2022 committed $25 million over two years to establish a national pilot for a Menstrual Equity Fund that will help make menstrual products available to Canadians in need.
• WAGE will work with key federal partners, provinces and territories, municipalities, community organizations, and experts in the field to better understand the current landscape and needs with regard to menstrual equity.
• This extensive research and engagement will inform the approach to rolling out the Fund and ensure that it reaches those who need it most.

Key Information:

Investment

Budget 2022 committed $25M over two years to establish a national pilot for a Menstrual Equity Fund.

Results:

The results of the information gathering and stakeholder engagement activities will inform the design and implementation plan for the Menstrual Equity Fund. It will also position WAGE to undertake awareness activities to address stigma, shame, and the lack of information related to menstruation and menstrual cycles.

Project examples:

Not applicable

Background:

• The Menstrual Equity Fund will be the latest step the federal government is taking to support menstrual equity in Canada:
• On November 5, 2021, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services, released a statement that all students in First Nations schools on reserve and in federal schools across Canada will have access to free menstrual products.
• The 2021 mandate letter for the Minister of Labour reiterates the Government of Canada’s commitment to provide free menstrual products in federally regulated workplaces.
• These actions support work being done at the provincial level. British Columbia became the first province to provide free menstrual products in schools in 2019. Since then, Prince Edward Island and Ontario have both begun providing free menstrual products in schools.

Research:

• Menstrual equity is the unhindered access to menstrual management products, including access to water, sanitation and hygiene facilities, access to educational materials on the topic, and the ability to discuss issues pertaining to menstruation without any fear or shame.
• Period poverty, or menstrual inequity, is the inability to access menstrual products because of financial limitations or other barriers. Marginalized populations, such as refugees, those who are homeless, sex workers, trans and non-binary people, Indigenous communities, and people living in rural, remote, and northern communities, face additional barriers to accessing menstrual supplies and are at greater risk of period poverty.
• Canadians experiencing period poverty, especially those who are homeless, can adopt poor menstruation management practices, such as using menstrual products for too long. These practices can have detrimental impacts on the overall mental and physical health of menstruators, including sexual and reproductive health.
• A 2019 Plan International Canada Survey found that 27% of Canadian women and girls reported having to occasionally sacrifice something else within their budget to afford menstrual products, and 8% reported having done so regularly. Over half of Canadian women and girls surveyed (51%) reported having to occasionally miss out on an activity because of their period and concerns about not being able to access menstrual products or proper facilities, and 12% have done so regularly.

Gender-based Analysis Plus (GBA Plus)

Issue/Question:

What is the government doing to improve the implementation of GBA Plus?

Suggested Response:

• The COVID-19 pandemic intensified existing inequalities and shed light on the needs of diverse people.
• The Department for Women and Gender Equality will continue to support ministers in reinforcing GBA Plus as part of their portfolios to advance gender equality and greater inclusion for Canadians in all their diversity. This includes:
• Supporting the application of GBA Plus as a mandatory part of key decision-making processes, including Memoranda to Cabinet, regulations, and throughout the federal budgeting process.
• Providing its expertise as a federal authority under Canada’s Impact Assessment Act and helping to ensure that GBA Plus requirements are considered in all aspects of the process.
• Strengthening capacity to apply GBA Plus by developing tools and training for the public service.

Key Information:

Investment

No funding information.

Results:

n/a

Project examples:

n/a

Background:

Gender-based Analysis Plus (GBA Plus) is an analytical tool used to support the development of responsive and inclusive policies, programs, and other initiatives. GBA Plus is a process for understanding who is impacted by the issue or opportunity being addressed by the initiative and how; identifying how the initiative could be tailored to meet diverse needs of the people most impacted; and anticipating and mitigating any barriers to accessing or benefitting from the initiative. GBA Plus is an intersectional analysis that goes beyond biological (sex) and socio-cultural (gender) differences to consider other factors, such as age, disability, education, ethnicity, economic status, geography, language, race, religion, and sexual orientation.

As a centre of expertise, WAGE Canada strives to:

• Increase awareness and understanding of GBA Plus;
• Enhance capacity and expertise for GBA Plus across the federal government;
• Foster collaboration between a broad range of actors to capture new knowledge and share best practices; and
• Act as a hub for GBA Plus knowledge and expertise.

GBA Plus and the Financial Cycle

• Similar to recent budgets and fiscal updates, Budget 2022 includes a gender budget statement and the publication of more than 200 GBA Plus summaries of budget measures. Because the statement and analysis are made public, they serve to induce gender- and equality-oriented accountability across departments and agencies. Publication of GBA Plus has been in place since 2019, and since that time, there have been marked improvements in the application of GBA Plus to budget proposals.
• Most (78%) GBA Plus analyses were initiated early or mid-stage of the initiative, which is indicative of the continuous efforts to better integrate GBA Plus earlier and throughout the budget process.
• The GBA Plus analysis of Budget 2022 includes reports of 12% of budget measures where a potential barrier to access or participation for a specific group was identified. Of these, the vast majority (85%) included steps to reduce barriers or facilitate access and participation.

GBA Plus and the Main Estimates

• While spending proposals were announced in the federal budget spending authority, the Main Estimates present financial appropriations for the fiscal year.
• The majority of expenditures in the 2022–23 Main Estimates are transfer payments—payments made to other levels of government, other organizations, and individuals. Transfer payments make up approximately 61.1% of expenditures, or $243.1 billion.
• GBA Plus is relevant to transfer payment programs to help ensure that they are inclusive and gender- and diversity-sensitive and respond to government policy objectives and priorities.
• GBA Plus as part of the Impact Assessment Act implementation
• WAGE supports the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada and partner departments on the implementation of the 2019 Impact Assessment Act. This legislation obligates proponents of major initiatives, including resource projects, to apply GBA Plus to project planning and implementation to assess potential project impacts on different groups of people.
• Through this legislation, WAGE is working to ensure that the negative impacts of projects such as resource extraction are mitigated, including those related to gender-based violence, and that the benefits of these projects are felt equally among different groups of people.
• Both Indigenous Services Canada and Crown-Indigenous Relations Canada are important partners in the implementation of this legislation and in the application of GBA Plus from an Indigenous perspective.

Strengthening GBA Plus

• GBA Plus is the result of a sustained commitment over more than 25 years. It has evolved over time and is guided by a process of continuous improvement. Changes have been informed by a wide range of evidence and inputs.
• The 2021 mandate letter commitments require that the GBA Plus evaluation process be conducted with the goal of enhancing the framework and parameters of this analytical tool, with particular attention to intersectional analysis.
• The ministers of Housing, Diversity and Inclusion; Crown-Indigenous Relations; Rural Economic Development; and Tourism, the associate ministers of Finance; and Employment, Workforce Development, Disability and Inclusion; and the President of the Treasury Board have been mandated to support this work and will be critical partners in advancing the plan.
• The Auditor General’s report on GBA Plus is expected to be tabled in spring 2022, which will include recommendations for enhancing GBA Plus. This is the third audit of GBA Plus by the OAG. Previous audits were conducted in 2009 and in 2015. The report’s anticipated publication is this spring.
• Other recent inputs to strengthen GBA Plus include Senator Mary Jane McCallum’s (ISG) introduction of Bill S-218 in November 2021. The Bill proposes to include a provision in the Department for Women and Gender Equality Act to require the Minister for WAGE to examine every government bill introduced in either House of Parliament and to table a statement that sets out potential effects of the Bill on women, particularly Indigenous women. Bill S-218 is currently in Second Reading.

Engaging Men and Boys

Issue/Question:

What work are you doing to engage men and boys on the issue of gender-based violence?

Suggested Response:

• WAGE leads several activities to engage men and boys as allies in advancing gender equality and ending gender-based violence.
• Since 2015, WAGE has provided $16.7 million to 41 organizations to engage men and boys. Of this funding, $12.4 million was directed specifically to address gender-based violence.
• Budget 2021 provided $105 million for WAGE to enhance its Gender-Based Violence Program, including funding for initiatives that engage men and boys.
• The National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence will recognize the role of men and boys in addressing gender-based violence.

Key Information:

Investment

• Since 2015, WAGE has provided $16.7 million to 41 organizations to engage men and boys.
• Budget 2021 provided $105 million for WAGE to enhance its Gender-Based Violence Program, including funding for initiatives that engage men and boys.

Results:

• In 2018, WAGE held a series of roundtables on how to engage men and boys in advancing gender equality, which led to a “What We Heard Report” that was published in 2019. This report highlighted four main themes that were raised during the discussions:
• Identify persistent behaviours that contribute to inequality to start unlearning them;
• Challenge and change negative norms, attitudes, and behaviours through accountability and healing;
• Sustain efforts to engage men and boys in equality by building networks, sharing knowledge, and taking action; and
• Ensure accountability and be aware of resource scarcity—engaging men and boys should not hinder funding for women and girls, and efforts should acknowledge the leadership of women’s and LGBTQ2 movements in equality-seeking efforts.
• In 2020-21, projects were completed that led to the creation and dissemination of resources and tools to communities to raise awareness amongst men and boys to advance gender equality. As a result, the projects helped nearly 12,000 men and boys become better role models, develop leadership skills to prevent and address gender-based violence, and discourage sexist behaviours or acts among men in the Canadian workplace.

Project examples:

• In 2019, WAGE provided $560K to four organizations to carry out work to engage men and boys:
  • Next Gen Men ($125K), to build a network for pro-feminist leaders;
  • Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters ($212K), to promote sports figures as role models to increase awareness of GBV;
  • Catalyst Canada ($100K), to support men as disrupters of sexism in the workplace; and
  • FOXY ($125K), to engage Indigenous youth, particularly young men and boys, on gender equality.
• Currently, WAGE is funding the University of Calgary ($176K) to identify strategies, practical approaches, and supporting evidence on how to engage men and boys in advancing gender equality and preventing GBV. This is expected to wrap up in fall 2022. WAGE is also funding White Ribbon ($1.165M) to support the development, implementation, and evaluation of a social marketing campaign to inspire men and young men across Canada to change their attitudes and behaviours, to seek help when needed, and to embrace their roles as allies and change makers.
• The Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters, in partnership with women’s organizations, the CFL, and Edmonton Junior Football, created meaningful participatory experiences at the week-long 2018 Grey Cup Festival held in Edmonton, Alberta, that drew attention to gender-based violence, human trafficking, sexual exploitation, and their association with sporting events. These included a Breakfast with The Guys initiative, in which youth and sports role models were engaged in a discussion around domestic violence and their roles in addressing gendered violence; as well as Train the Trainer activities aimed at junior football players, allowing them to support the continuation of training to additional junior players throughout the year.

Background:

• Governments and civil society, internationally and domestically, increasingly recognize that men and boys must be engaged as allies, partners, and co-beneficiaries of gender equality to create real and lasting change.
• The National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence will recognize the role of men and boys in addressing gender-based violence.
• A significant challenge remains with the limited data currently available on attitudes and norms, as well as evidence-informed interventions for mobilizing men and boys to advance gender equality and address gender-based violence. It is a priority for WAGE to address these knowledge gaps to support a growing movement of organizations and individuals working to engage men and boys.

Gendered Impacts of COVID-19

Issue/Question:

How is WAGE addressing the gendered impacts of COVID-19 and supporting an inclusive recovery?

Suggested Response:

The Government of Canada is committed to addressing the gendered impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, as we know that different populations, particularly women, have been disproportionately affected.

To respond to these impacts, WAGE:

• Has provided approximately $300 million in emergency COVID-19 funding to organizations supporting those experiencing gender-based violence since April 2020;
• Ensured response measures were informed by Gender-based Analysis Plus; and
• Is investing $100 million through the Feminist Response and Recovery Fund to support marginalized and underrepresented groups.
• The Government of Canada’s Budget 2022 proposes additional investments to build back better, including:
  • $539.3 million over five years to advance the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence alongside provinces and territories; and
  • $625 million over four years for an Early Learning and Child Care Infrastructure Fund.

Key Information:

Investments

• Since April 2020, WAGE has committed approximately $300M in emergency GBV funding to organizations supporting those experiencing gender-based violence.
• The $100M Feminist Response and Recovery Fund (FRRF) is supporting projects addressing systemic issues facing vulnerable and underrepresented women to help ensure an inclusive recovery.

Results:

• Through the emergency GBV funding, WAGE invested in more than 1,300 women’s organizations and shelter systems. As a result, more than 1.3 million women and children experiencing violence had a place to turn.
• 237 projects received funding through the FRRF, the results of which will increase the participation of women and girls in Canada’s economic, social, democratic, and political life.

Project examples:

The FRRF is providing the Women’s Economic Council with up to $660,058 for a 29-month project to support the inclusion of diverse women’s and equity-deserving voices in planning for recovery.

Background:

• Gendered Impacts on Employment
• COVID-19 disproportionately impacted women, particularly diverse women.
• To address economic vulnerabilities, the government:
  • Created the Emergency Response (CERB), Recovery (CRB), Recovery Sickness (CRSB), and Recovery Caregiving (CRCB) Benefits^{Footnote 1} ;
  • Established the $100M Feminist Response and Recovery Fund;
  • Tabled Budget 2022, which proposes $625M for an Early Learning and Child Care Infrastructure Fund, which builds on the $30B invested in Budget 2021.

Gender-Based Violence

• Many GBV organizations reported increased demand during COVID. Others saw less demand, suggesting victims could not access help.
• Police data showed that between March 2020 and November 2021, average monthly call levels for police service for domestic disturbances or disputes were 4.6% higher than pre-pandemic levels.
• To address gender-based violence concerns and provide supports, the government:
  • Tabled Budget 2021, which included more than $3B over five years to advance initiatives that prevent and address GBV, including $601.3M over five years to advance towards a new National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence.
  • Has proposed $539.3M over five years, starting in 2022-23, through Budget 2022 to enable provinces and territories to enhance services to prevent GBV and support survivors.

Engagement with Quebec

Issue/Question:

How has Women and Gender Equality Canada been working with the Province of Quebec?

Suggestion Response:

• Women and Gender Equality Canada has a positive and longstanding relationship with provincial officials in Quebec. This takes place both bilaterally as well as through the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Forum of Ministers responsible for the Status of Women.
• Last August, Canada announced an investment of over $44 million to Quebec to enhance support for sexual assault centres, women’s shelters, and other organizations that provide critical services and supports for those experiencing gender-based violence.
• This was in addition to the nearly $17.5 million in COVID emergency funding transferred to Quebec from Canada in 2020 and 2021, which supported 347 organizations across the province.

Key Information:

Investment

• The Department has been working closely with Quebec in recent years to ensure that funding to address gender-based violence effectively reaches those most in need.
• In 2020-21, WAGE partnered with Quebec to support women’s shelters, sexual assault centres, and other gender-based violence service organizations in Quebec. The Government of Quebec received $17.4 million and supported 347 organizations.
• In August 2021, Canada and Quebec amended the 2020-21 agreement to provide an additional $44.4M^{Footnote *}  over two years to Quebec to continue to support front-line organizations in responding to and recovering from COVID-19. Quebec distributed an initial round of funding to organizations in February 2022 ($17.9M) and anticipates it will release a second round for the remaining funding ($26M) in the fall.

Results:

As funding was provided to the province, they would be accountable for results.

Project examples:

As funding was provided to the province, they would implement projects.

Background:

• The Department’s relations and work with the Province of Quebec, while positive, tend to be quite unique from those of the other 12 jurisdictions. For example, unlike other jurisdictions, in recent years, Quebec has required bilateral agreements with Canada to transfer funding to help address gender-based violence in the province.
• In the spring of 2020, Canada and Quebec signed an agreement in order to transfer emergency funding to the province to support organizations and shelters helping women victims of domestic violence and abuse across the province. In August 2021, Canada and Quebec amended the agreement to provide an additional $44.4M over two years to Quebec to continue to support front-line organizations in responding to and recovering from COVID-19.
• Another unique aspect to supporting organizations in Quebec is that, in order to receive most funding, organizations must abide by the province’s M-30 Act, which requires them to receive prior authorization from the provincial government.

Quebec and the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence

• In January 2021, at the 38th annual meeting of FPT Ministers responsible for the Status of Women, Quebec publicly “supported the general principles of the Joint Declaration for a Canada Free of Gender-Based Violence and ensured that it will continue to be active in the fight against gender-based violence by prioritizing its own actions and measures. It also intends to continue to share information and best practices with other governments on this issue,” but it did not endorse the declaration.
• At the 39th annual meeting of FPT Ministers, Quebec did not conditionally endorse the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence, instead stating its intention to undertake its own GBV strategies and action plans within its jurisdiction. This lack of endorsement by the Government of Quebec will not prevent the FPT Forum from moving forward with the GBV NAP.
• Despite Quebec’s position on the GBV NAP, the province is quite advanced in its work addressing gender-based violence relative to the other provinces and territories:
• In 2020, Quebec released its own 2020-2025 Action Plan to Prevent High-Risk Situations of Domestic Violence and Dangerous Situations, and to Increase the Safety of Victims.
• In September 2021, Quebec tabled a bill to create a specialized court for sexual assault victims.
• In Quebec’s 2022-23 Budget, $324.9 million has been earmarked to address sexual and domestic violence over the next five years. Including this amount, $951 million will have been allocated by Quebec to this area since 2019.

Implementing Canada’s Youth Policy

Issue/Question:

What does the government do for youth in Canada?

Suggested Response:

• Youth in Canada are one of our most important resources. They are more diverse, socially engaged, and educated than ever before, and we are working hard to make sure that youth voices are heard.
• The Prime Minister’s Youth Council welcomed its fifth cohort of engaged young people from across Canada in June 2021 and is in the process of recruiting its sixth cohort to advise government decision makers.
• As part of Canada’s Youth Policy, in August 2021, we published the first-ever State of Youth Report about what youth are facing and their priorities.
• We have moved forward in each of the six youth-priority areas identified in the report: Environment and Climate Action; Employment; Innovation, Skills and Learning; Leadership and Impact; Health and Wellness; and Truth and Reconciliation.

Key Information:

Investment

The Youth Secretariat’s budget for 2022-23 is estimated at $1.5 million, and it does not administer any funding programs.

Results:

• Canada’s Youth Policy seeks to “amplify the voices of youth” and help the government “meet their evolving needs.”
• Amplifying the voices of youth in government:
  • The Prime Minister’s Youth Council is consulted regularly by the Prime Minister, members of his Cabinet, senior public servants developing youth-related policy and programming, and NGOs looking for advice or support.
  • For the first State of Youth Report, almost 1,000 youth from across Canada participated.
  • Government departments and agencies continue to set up and consult their own youth councils to help advise them. There are currently a dozen across the government and more in development.
  • The Policy also commits to publishing a State of Youth Report every four years. The first Report was published in August 2021, and the second is in planning and development, to be released in 2025.
  • The Policy further commits to having youth on the boards of 75% of Crown corporations by 2024.
  • As per the Privy Council Office, 42% of all of Canada’s Crown corporations have at least one youth on their board.

Note: the Privy Council Office defines youth as under 40 for this purpose. Note: 59% of Canadian Heritage Portfolio organizations have at least one youth on their board.

Project examples:

N/A

Background:

• The Youth Secretariat supports a whole-of-government approach to youth issues and advises federal departments on Canada’s Youth Policy, engaging youth, and the impacts of their programs, policies, and initiatives on young people.
• The definition of “youth” is varied depending on the context, but in general, Canada has followed the lead of UNESCO, which defines youth as ranging from ages 15 to 24, where youth is seen as a time of transition toward autonomous adulthood and its associated responsibilities and practices.
• The Prime Minister’s Youth Council is a platform for youth to share their perspectives with the Prime Minister (PM) and the Government of Canada. Presently, the Council is composed of 10 diverse young Canadians (aged 16-24) who hold two-year terms. Cohort 5 started their mandate in 2021. The process to select Cohort 6 is currently underway. Since 2020, the Council has met virtually with the PM and his Cabinet colleagues on topics such as COVID-19, mental health, vaccine uptake among youth, building back better post-pandemic, the 2021 and 2022 federal budgets, anti-racism, and access to affordable Internet.
• State of Youth Report: The main sections of the Report were drafted by a Youth Advisory Group. Almost 1,000 youth across Canada contributed to the first Report, including the Prime Minister’s Youth Council.
• Circulation: The Report has been shared with 40 federal departments and agencies to inform the development and delivery of youth-related priorities and programming.

The Student Work Placement Program

Issue/Question:

How is the government supporting work placements for post-secondary students?

Suggested Response:

• Canada’s future prosperity lies in ensuring that young Canadians graduate with the work-ready skills necessary to succeed.
• Additional investments in 2020 and 2021 have contributed to increasing the total number of placements supported to over 100,000 since the creation of the Program in 2017.
• While employment has recovered to pre-pandemic levels, there are many students in need of continued support, particularly those from underrepresented groups, such as youth with disabilities, Indigenous youth, and Black and other racialized groups.
• The government remains committed to supporting post-secondary students. In 2022-2023, the Program will support the creation of up to 40,000 work placements across various sectors, contributing to a growing and resilient economy.

Key Information:

Investment

The government has invested $1.3B in the Student Work Placement Program since 2017-2018.

Results:

• ESDC has contribution agreements in place with 27 funding recipients to deliver the program across all sectors.
• As of 2021-2022, the Program has supported the creation of over 107,000 work-integrated learning opportunities, nearly one quarter of which are for students in underrepresented groups.

Project examples:

• ESDC is also funding Colleges and Institutes Canada to deliver the Expanding Access to WIL Virtual Simulation Opportunities for Health Care Students Across Canada project, under the SWP Program. This project is leveraging new technologies to develop new ways to provide training to students in health-care-related disciplines, such as nursing, medical laboratory sciences, and paramedicine. This project is expected to create 7,000 opportunities to help support smoother school-to-work transitions for students and help them enter into the labour market.

Background:

• The Government of Canada’s Student Work Placement (SWP) Program supports partnerships between industry and post-secondary institutions to create quality work placements for students in all disciplines.
• The SWP Program helps post-secondary students develop work-ready skills, employers to recruit and develop talent, and post-secondary institutions to adapt to changing labour market needs.
• For thousands of Canadian college, university, polytechnic, and CEGEP students, formal co-op programs help to bring together academic learning and applied work experience. These work placements can also include internships or mentorship programs as well as other non-traditional experiences, like hackathons, boot camps, and micro-internships. The Program connects students who need relevant work experience with employers in the Canadian economy looking to benefit from the talent, new ideas, and hard work that young people can bring to the workplace.
• Budget 2021 committed $239.8 million to the SWP Program in 2021-22 to support work-integrated learning opportunities for 50,000 post-secondary students (an increase of 20,000).

Budget 2021: Opportunities for Canada’s Youth (Jobs)

Question/Issue:

What is the government doing to help ensure young Canadians are better prepared to take advantage of job opportunities during Canada’s economic recovery and are not left behind?

Suggested Response:

• Young Canadians have seen more job losses from the COVID-19 pandemic than any other age demographic. This not only deprives them of income that they could use to pay for schooling, build their savings, or cover basic living expenses, but can also lead to long-term consequences from the start of their working lives.
• That is why our Recovery Plan for Jobs, Growth and Resilience outlines the actions we are taking to help ensure youth can gain access to valuable job skills and experience.
• Budget 2021 will expand the government’s ability to help more youth gain training opportunities and work experience through the following programs delivered by Employment and Social Development Canada.
• Budget 2021 commitments to the following programs led by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada will offer young people a promising start as they launch their careers.
• Together, our actions today will help ensure young Canadians have access to the tools and opportunities they need to build successful careers while contributing to Canada’s economic recovery.

Key Information:

Investment

YESS Program

• The Budget 2021 investment of $109.3 million in 2022-2023 (excluding ESDC and GAC) will support an additional 7,000 youth job placements and supports.

This investment is in addition to:

• the 2020 Fall Economic Statement investment of $575.1 million to create 45,300 job placements for youth in 2021-2022 and 2022-2023; and
• $187M (including $40M for ESDC) announced in June 2020 to create an additional 9,500 work opportunities in 2020-2021 for young Canadians in critical and high-demand sectors.

Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ)

• Budget 2021 committed $371.8 million for 2022-2023 to create an additional 75,000 jobs, for a total of 220,000 jobs over 2021-2022 and 2022-2023.
• Budget 2021 builds on recent investments, including:
  • 2020 Fall Economic Statement to support up to 120,000 job placements in 2021-2022; and
  • 10,000 additional job placements for youth with an investment of $61.4M in 2020-2021.

Student Work Placement (SWP) Program

• In recognition of the significant uncertainty COVID-19 has created for students, Budget 2021 committed $239.8 million to the Student Work Placement Program to support work-integrated learning opportunities for 50,000 post-secondary students in 2021-2022 (an increase of 20,000).
• In 2022-2023 and 2023-2024, the Program will support the creation of 40,000 work-integrated learning opportunities per year across various sectors nationwide.

Mitacs

• Budget 2021 proposes to provide $708 million over five years, starting in 2021-2022, to Mitacs to create at least 85,000 work-integrated learning placements that provide on-the-job learning and provide businesses with support to develop talent and grow.

Canada Digital Adoption Program

• Budget 2021 proposes to provide $1.4 billion over four years, starting in 2021-2022, to Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada to:
• Work with organizations across Canada to provide access to skills, training, and advisory services for all businesses accessing this program.
• Provide microgrants to smaller, main street businesses to support costs associated with technology adoption.
• Create training and work opportunities for as many as 28,000 young people to help small and medium-sized businesses across Canada adopt new technology.

Result:

YESS

• There are a number of advantages of working with YESS partners (other departments, agencies and Crown corporations) to collectively administer the YESS. Notably, it allows:
• The partners to serve a much broader range of clients, including youth with disabilities or youth experiencing barriers;
• The federal government to better address priorities with centralized funding decisions, results monitoring, evaluation, and financial accountability;
• The fostering of collaboration, innovation and program complementarity;
• The leveraging of expertise of departments and organizations across various sectors (e.g., STEM, culture); and
• A cohesive response to emerging issues and labour market evidence impacting youth.

CSJ

• The program conducts employer and participant surveys every year. Results from both the Canada Summer Jobs 2020 Employer and Participant Questionnaires demonstrate that satisfaction with the program is high.
• A total of 26,990 employers (95%) responded to the questionnaire. A combined 97.9% of respondents report being very satisfied (85.6%) or somewhat satisfied (12.3%) with the program. In addition, close to 42% of employers indicated they retained the youth hired through the program following the funded work placement.
• A total of 27,485 participants (35.5%) responded to the questionnaire. 95% of youth report being very satisfied or somewhat satisfied with the Canada Summer Jobs program.
• For CSJ 2021, the program has surpassed its target of creating 120,000 jobs. Results will be published in the coming months.

Project examples:

For YESS

YESS sets youth up for success to develop the skills, gain the work experience, and build the relationships needed to be better prepared for, acquire, and maintain quality jobs. In addition, the YESS prioritizes under-served segments of the youth population (e.g., youth living with disabilities, Indigenous youth, Black and other racialized groups, recent immigrants and refugees, LGBTQ2S+, women, and particularly women in STEM, and disadvantaged groups (e.g., youth from low-income households, youth living in rural/remote areas, official language minority communities)). The YESS aims to support economic growth and level the playing field for youth who are furthest from employment by providing supports to young people in Canada who experience multiple barriers to full and equitable participation in the labour market.

For CSJ

Youth have access to a wide variety of safe and secure job placements across many sectors that need extra support right now, including retail, recreation, tourism, education, community services, customer service, factory, and many more. Common jobs available through CSJ include camp counsellors and leaders, administrative assistants, marketing co-ordinators, lifeguards, community service workers, and many more. These jobs provide valuable mentoring, skills building, and experience for their future careers.

Background:

On April 19, 2021, the Government of Canada tabled Budget 2021: A Recovery Plan for Jobs, Growth and Resilience, which included reference to additional support for ESDC’s youth employment programing.

Student Work Placement (SWP) Program

The Student Work Placement (SWP) Program supports partnerships between industry and post-secondary institutions to create quality work placements for students in all disciplines so they can develop the work-ready skills required to secure meaningful employment upon graduation. Placements are work-integrated learning (WIL) opportunities that help post-secondary students to bring together academic learning and applied work experience and can include co-ops, internships, and mentorship programs.

Youth Employment and Skills Strategy (YESS)

The Youth Employment and Skills Strategy (YESS) is a horizontal initiative that is delivered by 12 federal government departments, agencies, and Crown corporations. The Strategy, which consists of two program streams—the YESS Program and Canada Summer Jobs—aims to ensure that young people (aged 15-30), particularly youth facing barriers, gain the skills, work experience, and abilities they need to make a successful transition into the labour market.

Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ)

The CSJ, delivered solely by ESDC, provides wage subsidies to employers from not-for-profit organizations, the public sector, and private-sector organizations with 50 or fewer full-time employees, to create quality summer work experiences for young people aged 15 to 30 years.

Mitacs

Mitacs is a not-for-profit organization that connects young workers with innovative businesses that offer research and training opportunities. Mitacs focuses on supporting research-based innovation in industry and developing a talent stream of highly educated students and graduates through its internship programs.

These students bring cutting-edge scientific and technical knowledge from universities and colleges that will strengthen the innovation capabilities of industry. This combination of innovation and skills development for the next generation of leaders will help drive growth now and ensure long-term competitiveness and prosperity.

Canada Digital Adoption Program

To fuel the recovery, jobs, and growth, the government is launching the Canada Digital Adoption Program, which will create thousands of jobs for young Canadians and help as many as 160,000 small and medium-sized businesses adopt new digital technologies.

Canada Summer Jobs – Program Integrity Measures

Issue/Question:

What program integrity measures has the Government of Canada implemented to ensure that recipients of Canada Summer Jobs funding are eligible for the program?

Suggested Response:

• The Canada Summer Jobs program supports quality job placements for youth that take place in safe, inclusive, and healthy work environments free from harassment and discrimination.
• Each year, Canada Summer Jobs applications received from employers are assessed against criteria outlined in the program’s Applicant Guide for that year, including national and local priorities.
• Employers who are approved for Canada Summer Jobs funding are required to adhere to Articles of Agreement that set out the expectations, conditions, and obligations that govern the receipt of funding.
• The Department conducts financial, activity, and results monitoring to ensure that employers achieve the intended program outcomes.
• Where there is a potential issue, the Department works directly with employers to seek clarification or request additional documentation. Employers that fail to demonstrate that they met the Terms and Conditions of the Agreement will not be reimbursed for the youth’s salary.

Key Information:

Investment

For CSJ 2022, the contribution funding is $454M. As of May 6, 2022, 40,868 projects and 150,395 jobs have been approved for funding.

Results:

• The program conducts employer and participant surveys every year. Results from both the Canada Summer Jobs 2020 Employer and Participant Questionnaires demonstrate that satisfaction with the program is high.
• A total of 26,990 employers (95%) responded to the questionnaire. A combined 97.9% of respondents report being very satisfied (85.6%) or somewhat satisfied (12.3%) with the program. In addition, close to 42% of employers indicated they retained the youth hired through the program following the funded work placement.
• A total of 27,485 participants (35.5%) responded to the questionnaire. 95% of youth report being very satisfied or somewhat satisfied with the Canada Summer Jobs program.
• For CSJ 2021, the program has surpassed its target of creating 120,000 jobs. Results will be published in the coming months.

Eligibility

• CSJ applications are deemed ineligible if the employer is not able to demonstrate that the project and job activities meet the eligibility criteria.
• Before an eligibility determination is made, employers are given an opportunity to provide clarifications and supporting information. For example, employers previously deemed ineligible are given the opportunity to demonstrate action taken, as required, to meet the CSJ eligibility criteria.

Project examples:

Youth have access to a wide variety of safe and secure job placements across many sectors that need extra support right now, including retail, recreation, tourism, education, community services, customer service, factory, and many more. Common jobs available through CSJ include camp counsellors and leaders, administrative assistants, marketing co-ordinators, lifeguards, community service workers, and many more. These jobs provide valuable mentoring, skills building, and experience for their future careers.

Background:

• Canada Summer Jobs is part of the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy, which is the Government of Canada’s initiative to help young people—particularly those facing barriers to employment—get the information and gain the skills, work experience, and abilities they need to transition successfully into the labour market. Canada Summer Jobs is delivered by Employment and Social Development Canada.
• Canada Summer Jobs provides wage subsidies to private-sector organizations with 50 or fewer full-time employees, employers from not-for-profit organizations, and the public sector to create quality work experiences for young people between the ages of 15 and 30. These jobs provide youth with opportunities to develop and improve their skills, respond to national and local priorities, and improve access to the labour market for youth, including those who face barriers.
• The program eligibility criteria were changed in 2018 and implemented in the Canada Summer Jobs 2019 cycle to ensure that youth job opportunities funded by the Canada Summer Jobs program take place in safe, inclusive, and healthy work environments that are free from harassment and discrimination.
• Canada Summer Jobs provides funding for not-for-profit organizations, public-sector employers, and small businesses with 50 or fewer full-time employees to create summer job opportunities for youth.
• Since 2019, the program objectives have focused on providing quality work experiences to youth, responding to national and local priorities to improve access to the labour market for youth who face unique barriers, and providing opportunities for youth to develop and improve their skills.
• The current Canada Summer Jobs Attestation requires applicants to attest that “any funding under the Canada Summer Jobs program will not be used to undermine or restrict the exercise of rights legally protected in Canada.” This is especially important for a program that targets youth.
• As part of the management of agreements, the Department conducts several monitoring activities, including financial monitoring to ensure that funding was used according to the Terms and Conditions outlined in the Agreement with each organization.
• Section 20.0 of the Articles of Agreement details the financial records and audit requirements of the program, including the following: “20.3 In the event that financial irregularities are discovered, Canada may verify information with the Canada Revenue Agency.”
• Also, since 2019, results from previously funded projects, including termination, were considered in eligibility and funding decisions. Section 24.0 (Termination of Agreement) of the Articles of Agreement details the termination process.

Canada Service Corps

Issue/Question:

The Canada Service Corps continues to expand and diversify programming to engage more youth in volunteer service, particularly Indigenous and under-served youth who may face barriers to volunteering.

Suggested Response:

• The Government of Canada recognizes the importance and benefit of service and volunteering for young people. The Canada Service Corps builds a culture of service that empowers young Canadians to gain leadership skills, grow their professional networks, and make a positive impact in communities across the country.
• The Canada Service Corps is expanding and diversifying its programming to ensure that youth, especially those from Indigenous and under-served populations, are included and encouraged to participate in service placements as well as to lead their own projects in their communities.
• In fiscal year 2022-2023, the Canada Service Corps will support up to 23,000 service opportunities for youth across the country.
• If pressed on Main Estimates increase:
  • The increase of $3.0 million from the 2021–22 to the 2022–23 Main Estimates is related to Budget 2019 funding to expand and further establish the Canada Service Corps.

Key Information:

Investment

• Budget 2016 provided $105 million over five years (2016-17 to 2020-21) and $25 million annually thereafter in contribution funding and operating funding to the Canada Service Corps (CSC) with the goal of helping young Canadians gain valuable skills and experience while providing support for communities across the country.
• Budget 2019 committed an additional $314.8 million over five years (2019-20 to 2023-24) and $83.8 million annually thereafter in contribution funding and operating funding to continue to expand on the vision of creating a culture of service in Canada.
• In 2022-2023, under Main Estimates vote 5 for the CSC, there is an increase of 3.0M (3.8%), bringing the total of contributions funding to $81.9M.

Results:

• The CSC currently provides funding to approximately 100 recipient organizations that create thousands of service opportunities annually for youth. Funding has enabled the program to exceed its service opportunity targets in previous fiscal years.
• Organizations created over 7,000 volunteer service placements in fiscal year 2020-2021 (target was 7,000). Additionally, over 2,200 micro-grants were disbursed to youth in 2020-2021 (against a target of 1,000).

Project examples:

• The CSC recently launched a new Call for Proposals that will fund projects under the five program streams listed below:
• Service Placements, Regional: support local/regional projects across Canada;
• Service Placements, National: fund projects with a wider reach (2 or more provinces or territories);
• Micro-grants: fund projects to support small-scale youth-led initiatives;
• Micro-grants, Diversity: dedicated program stream to expand diversity of CSC organizations, which may be best placed to provide support to Indigenous and under-served youth to lead their own projects;
• Accelerator Micro-grants: to support CSC alumni in scaling up and establishing their projects and ideas.
• This funding will enable the CSC to further expand the program, establish agreements with new and diverse organizations, and pilot new approaches to diversity and inclusion.
• A total of $169.5M over 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 will help provide service opportunities to youth.

Background:

• Launched in 2018 after an initial design phase, the CSC helps support the creation of thousands of service opportunities annually for youth across the country.
• The CSC promotes civic engagement among young people from 15 to 30 years old through access to meaningful volunteer service placements that help them gain essential life skills and experience.
• The CSC continues to expand and diversify its programming. In 2022-2023, CSC funding is expected to support:
• Creation of 6,300 annual volunteer service placements;
• Disbursement of up to 16,500 micro-grants for youth-led service projects annually;
• Delivery of up to 850 accelerator micro-grants annually to incentivize and remove barriers to participation for CSC youth alumni so that they may continue to realize their long-term service goals; and
• Piloting of new approaches to micro-grant delivery by funding organizations that are diverse and that may have a better capacity to reach Indigenous and under-served youth.

National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence

Issue/Question:

What is the status of the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence?

Suggested Response:

• In January 2021, the FPT Ministers endorsed the Joint Declaration for a Canada Free of Gender-Based Violence, which confirmed the common vision, principles, and goals for responding to gender-based violence.
• The National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence will focus on ensuring that anyone facing gender-based violence has reliable and timely access to protection and services, no matter where they live.
• Budget 2021 committed $601.3 million over five years “to advance towards a new National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence.”
• Budget 2022 proposes to invest $539.3 million over five years, starting in 2022-23, “to support provinces and territories in their efforts to implement the forthcoming National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence.”
• The intent is to finalize the National Action Plan and begin negotiations with provinces and territories within a year.

Key Information:

Investment

• Budget 2021 committed $601.3 million over five years “to advance towards a new National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence.”
• $105M – Enhance the Gender-Based Violence Program
• Budget 2021 included $105 million over five years for WAGE to enhance its Gender-Based Violence Program, with funding going to initiatives that engage men and boys and increased funding for initiatives to stop human trafficking, including support for at-risk populations and victims and survivors. It will also provide support for testing and implementing best practices to address gender-based violence, with a focus on projects that could be scaled at the national level.
• So far, over $27 million has been invested in 72 projects focused on addressing GBV and supporting those who experience it.
• Several joint projects with provinces and territories stemming from the January 2021 Joint Declaration for a Canada Free of Gender-Based Violence will also be funded through this initiative.

Crisis Lines

• Budget 2021 committed funding over five years so that crisis hotlines can serve the urgent needs of more Canadians experiencing gender-based violence (GBV) and offer more robust services, resources, and supports to prevent the escalation of GBV.
• WAGE will distribute $23.9 million in funding to crisis hotlines through bilateral contribution agreements with PT governments.
• PTs have reacted positively to the news of bilateral agreements. Negotiations on the bilateral agreements have commenced.
• Budget 2022 proposes to invest $539.3 million over five years, starting in 2022-23, “to support provinces and territories in their efforts to implement the forthcoming National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence.”
• As part of its COVID-19 Economic Response Plan, the Government of Canada, through WAGE, distributed an initial $90M to shelters, sexual assault centres, and organizations providing critical gender-based violence (GBV) supports to women and children experiencing violence. In response to high demand, WAGE leveraged an additional $9.5M in existing program funding, bringing the total funding to $99.5M.

Results:

• WAGE has supported a number of activities to prevent and address gender-based violence overall. Since 2015, through the Women’s Program, the GBV Program, and the Human Trafficking Program, WAGE has invested over $187M in 506 projects to prevent GBV and to support survivors and their families.
• In 2020-21, projects that were completed led to the development of over 186 resources to increase awareness about services and supports, as well as how to prevent GBV and to support survivors. More than 350 partnerships were created to implement training on trauma-informed service delivery, transform care for LGBTQ2S survivors of GBV, and implement new supports to help survivors of GBV navigate the legal system.
• Because of these projects, nearly 1.3 million women gained access to programs and supports related to gender-based violence, including access to counselling, court services, and trauma-informed victims’ services.
• Through the GBV Strategy:
  • PHAC-funded projects directly reached 4,684 participants and 7,991 professionals at 85 sites across Canada. Knowledge mobilization products and events engaged an additional 335,000 stakeholders. Interim results indicate that the projects improved participants’ skills and knowledge and influenced behaviour change to prevent and address gender-based violence. Interim results from capacity-building projects demonstrate that service providers feel more competent in responding to clients’ experiences of gender-based violence and providing trauma-informed services and support.
  • PS also continued to fund the PLEA Community Services Society of British Columbia’s “Safer Space” program to develop and implement targeted awareness activities related to online child sexual exploitation. In 2020-21, activities included: developing and delivering over 153 youth workshops in order to prevent and raise awareness of online child sexual exploitation to 7,247 youth participants. More specifically, they gave children and youth information and practical tools to help keep safe online. In addition, prevention and education workshops were delivered to adults and young professionals who care for or work with youth (34 workshops were delivered to 386 adults and professionals).
  • Of the $300 million in emergency COVID-19 funding committed, over $155 million in total funding has been provided to date to over 1,300 organizations, including women’s shelters, sexual assault centres, and other organizations providing services and supports to those experiencing gender-based violence (GBV) across the country. Since April 2020, more than 1.3 million individuals had a place to turn to because of this funding.
  • 560 organizations used the funding to deliver important programs or services.
  • 497 organizations used the funding for additional staff or overtime; 448 of them hired new staff.
  • 336 organizations used the funding for infection control.

Project examples:

Given that the GBV NAP is still in development, there are no project examples to provide.

Background:

• In December 2019, the Minister for Women and Gender Equality was mandated to build on the foundation laid by the federal GBV Strategy and move forward with the development of a National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence.
• The December 2021 mandate letter to Minister Ien reiterates the Government of Canada priority for a national action plan and mandates the Minister to “move forward with the development of a 10-year National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence, begin negotiations with the provinces and territories within a year, and accelerate the establishment of a dedicated Secretariat.”
• The National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence has been informed by engagement with civil society, Indigenous partners, and community leaders, the Minister’s Advisory Council on Gender-Based Violence, and over a thousand recommendations from stakeholders.

Femicide

• The use of the word femicide is not a concept recognized by Canadian criminal law, and there is no offence of femicide in the Criminal Code. However, femicide is understood—based on the United Nations definition—as homicide where the reason or motivation is the victim’s gender.
• In Canada, the Homicide Survey has detailed information on the accused, victims, their relationship, and the incident itself, but there is currently no way to differentiate a homicide from a killing based on gender. In addition, the Canadian Femicide Observatory on Justice and Accountability collects and reports annual data on killings that they consider to be femicides.
• Despite declining homicide rates overall, homicide of women and girls continues to be of concern in Canada. The Canadian Femicide Observatory for Justice and Accountability reports that 173 women and girls were violently killed in 2021, 13 more than in 2020, and amounting to one every two days.
• Women account for the vast majority of all victims of intimate partner homicides committed in Canada. Between 2014 and 2020, women accounted for 80% of solved intimate partner homicides (458 of 576).
• Budget 2021 allocated $11 million to WAGE for GBV research and knowledge mobilization, of which $1.2 million will be used to design and implement a Femicide Information System, starting in 2022-23, in partnership with Statistics Canada. This will allow for a valid measure and reporting of femicides in Canada.

Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit LGBTQQIA+ Peoples

Issue/Question:

What action is WAGE taking to address the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit (2S) LGBTQQIA+ people?

Suggested Response:

• Violence against, and the disappearance and murder of, Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, and asexual (2SLGBTQQIA+) people in Canada is an ongoing national tragedy.
• In 2020, Indigenous women and girls accounted for about 5% of all women and girls in Canada yet represented 22% of female victims of homicide, with homicide rates five times higher than those of their non-Indigenous counterparts.
• The Government of Canada is continuing its efforts to help end this tragedy.
• Last June, the 2021 Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People National Action Plan and the Federal Pathway to Address Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People were released.
• Budget 2021 provided $55M over five years to bolster the capacity of Indigenous women’s and 2SLGBTQQIA+ organizations to provide gender-based violence prevention programming aimed at addressing the root causes of violence against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+people.
• In January 2022, WAGE launched a call for proposals. Applications are currently being assessed.

Key Information:

Investment

• Since 2015, the Department has funded over 350 projects, providing $147.6 million to projects supporting Indigenous and 2SLGBTQQIA+ communities (representing 31% of all WAGE investments (data excludes COVID funding)).
• In 2019, WAGE provided $13 million to more than 100 commemoration projects to help honour the lives and legacies of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people.
• Budget 2021 provided $55M over five years to bolster the capacity of Indigenous women’s and 2SLGBTQQIA+ organizations to provide gender-based violence prevention programming aimed at addressing the root causes of violence against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+people.

Results:

• The 2021 Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People National Action Plan was developed in close partnership with families and survivors, Indigenous partners, civil society, frontline service providers, municipalities, the private sector, and researchers. Experience and knowledge shared by Indigenous leaders, partners, and communities through that process have also informed WAGE’s work on the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence.
• WAGE does not have any results on which to report specific to this issue.

Project examples:

• The following are examples of WAGE-funded projects that address the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people:
• Native Women’s Association of Canada: Developing Evidence-Based Training for Service Providers, Supporting LGBTQ+ and Two-Spirit Indigenous Survivors of Gender-based Violence ($1,000,000, ended March 31, 2022)
• The project developed and tested training for service providers supporting Indigenous LGBTQ+ and Two-Spirit survivors of gender-based violence. The planned activities were completed, and the expected results achieved. The questionnaire, gatherings, and training were distributed and held as planned.
• Training was delivered to over 50 service providers who indicated, through surveys, that they have “increased knowledge of Indigenous healing and resilience practices, and are better able to provide culturally safe and trauma-informed care and services to Indigenous 2SLGBTQ+ folks with lived experience of GBV” and that “a better understanding of concepts such as cultural safety, decolonization and Two Spirit has resulted in an increased ability to provide safe spaces.”
• Liard Aboriginal Women’s Society (LAWS): Following Our Peoples’ Way: Building a Circle of Dignity and Justice ($1,000,000, ends June 19, 2024)
• This 60-month project will develop, implement, and test a community-based and culturally-relevant advocacy model incorporating a response-based practice to support, respond to, and restore dignity and safety among Indigenous GBV survivors in northern and remote Kaska communities in the Yukon and Northern British Columbia.
• The organization will engage GBV survivor advocates to raise awareness on related issues in their communities and offer peer support and referrals to other GBV survivors in order to improve their access to appropriate response and support services.
• Eagle Vision Inc.: Taken: The Podcast Series ($459,403, ended June 30, 2020)
• Developed a series of podcasts called “TAKEN,” which shares the stories of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, with the hope that it will bring forward new clues to help solve cases and raise awareness of the issues. The podcasts reached over 609,000 Canadians, who listened to the podcasts over 1.4 million times. The podcast, available in both Cree and English, has over 10,000 subscribers.

Human trafficking-related projects:

• Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC): Kewabadjmin: SEEing Ourselves ($400,000, ends March 31, 2024)
• This 36-month project with the Native Women’s Association of Canada will develop, implement, and test an intensive healing and empowering program intervention for Indigenous women and gender-diverse people who identify as LGBTQ2+ and who are survivors of or at risk of sexual exploitation through human trafficking.
• The project will increase knowledge about identifying and addressing past and ongoing traumas, current risk factors of being trafficked, and barriers to self-sufficiency. This will be achieved by engaging survivors, Indigenous Elders, and Knowledge Holders with experience in traditional healing and trauma to participate in a Living Experience Advisory Circle, develop and implement a trauma healing program based on therapy and traditional healing, and identify and address current risk factors for sexual exploitation through human trafficking.
• Native Courtworker and Counselling Association of British Columbia: An Indigenous-Led Response to End Human Trafficking in British Columbia ($315,768, ends March 31, 2024)
• This 37-month project with the Native Courtworker and Counselling Association of British Columbia will develop and implement Indigenous-led, community-based, culturally rooted anti-human trafficking approaches, practices, and materials to advance knowledge and enhance empowerment supports for at-risk Indigenous populations and survivors of human trafficking throughout British Columbia.
• This will be achieved by establishing an Indigenous lived-experience youth panel, identifying high-risk communities, engaging communities, organizing consultations and trainings, as well as developing materials to be used by anti-human trafficking service providers in Indigenous communities.
• At the end of the project, the organization will have engaged the communities, utilized Indigenous community-led approaches, conducted consultations to identify needs and solutions for building protection and prevention, determined further support, and developed anti-human trafficking materials for Indigenous communities. The project will include an external evaluation that will look at the success and scalability of the promising practices.

Background:

• Last June, the 2021 Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People National Action Plan and the Federal Pathway to Address Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People were released.
• A plan to implement the Federal Pathway to Address Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People will be co-developed with Indigenous partners, with the goal of ending violence against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people. The work will address four interconnected thematic areas: culture, health and wellness, human safety and security, and justice, and is the Government of Canada’s commitment through the 2021 Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People National Action Plan.
• The Federal Pathway’s Human Safety and Security theme includes initiatives to support safe communities during resource extraction projects, such as co-developing activities aimed at mitigating impacts of temporary work camps and worker influxes, exploring ways to improve the collection and analysis of gender-disaggregated data to develop targeted measures in support of safe resource worksites and communities, and supporting community-led planning through the Aboriginal Safety Planning initiative (Public Safety lead).
• Both the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence and the 2021 Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People National Action Plan will require coordinated and collaborative actions from several jurisdictions. WAGE is working with Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada to ensure the two national action plans are aligned and complementary.

Resource Development and Violence Against Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit LGBTQQIA+ People

Issue/Question:

What action is WAGE taking to address the issue of violence against Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit LGBTQQIA+ people in the context of resource development?

Suggested Response:

• Resource development projects can create unique risks for Indigenous women, girls, Two-Spirit, and LGBTQQIA+ people and exacerbate existing GBV issues.
• The National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence will focus on ensuring that anyone facing gender-based violence has reliable and timely access to protection and services, no matter where they live. This includes Indigenous women, girls, Two-Spirit, LGBTQQIA+ people, and those living in northern, rural, and remote communities where much resource development takes place.
• The National Action Plan aligns with, and complements, the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People National Action Plan and the Federal Pathway to Address Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People, which present specific Calls for Justice aimed at the resource extraction and development industries.

Key Information:

Investment

Since 2015, WAGE has invested more than $147 million in 353 projects to support Indigenous Peoples. This represents 31% of WAGE’s total investment during this time period.

Results:

• Much of the work to address GBV involves transforming the attitudes, behaviours, and systems that perpetuate this form of violence.
• WAGE has supported a number of activities to prevent and address gender-based violence overall. Through the Women’s Program, the GBV Program, and the Human Trafficking Program, WAGE has invested over $187M in 506 projects since 2015 to prevent GBV and to support survivors and their families.
• In 2020-21, projects that were completed led to the development of over 186 resources to increase awareness about services and supports, as well as how to prevent GBV and to support survivors. More than 350 partnerships were created to implement training on trauma-informed service delivery, transform care for LGBTQ2S survivors of GBV, and implement new supports to help survivors of GBV navigate the legal system.
• Because of these projects, nearly 1.3 million individuals gained access to programs and supports related to gender-based violence, including access to counselling, court services, and trauma-informed victims’ services.

Project examples:

• Liard Aboriginal Women’s Society (LAWS): Following Our Peoples’ Way: Building a Circle of Dignity and Justice ($1,000,000, ends June 19, 2024)
• This 60-month project will develop, implement, and test a community-based and culturally-relevant advocacy model incorporating a response-based practice to support, respond to, and restore dignity and safety among Indigenous GBV survivors in northern and remote Kaska communities in the Yukon and Northern British Columbia. The organization will engage GBV survivor advocates to raise awareness on related issues in their communities and offer peer support and referrals to other GBV survivors in order to improve their access to appropriate response and support services.
• Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada: Addressing Inuit Women’s Economic Security and Prosperity in the Resource Extraction Industry ($465,276)
• Pauktuutit completed a three-year project addressing Inuit women’s economic security and prosperity in the resource extraction industry. The work centred on making industry workplaces safer for Inuit women so that they can continue to benefit from, and contribute to, this significant labour market sector.
• A critical outcome of this project is the recommendations brought forward by Inuit women with regard to measures that can be implemented by various actors to make workplaces safer and more accessible.

Background:

• Qualitative and quantitative evidence clearly indicates an increase insexual violence and harassment against women in areas of resourcedevelopment, including mining camp settings.
• There are systemic and historic factors that lead to patterns of violence in Indigenous communities. Industrial camps, with transitory workforces that are disconnected from the region, are being placed in these contexts, which reinforces and recreates historical patterns of violence against Indigenous women.
• The risk of sexual violence, substance abuse, and sexually transmitted infections associated with rape and sex trafficking is particularly high for Indigenous women and girls in proximity to industrial camps.
• In a study of Indigenous and racialized women in mining camps, almost three-quarters of respondents had personally experienced one or both of discrimination based on gender or sexual orientation, and discrimination based on race or Indigeneity.
• Reporting and disclosure of harassment and discrimination is lacking in work camps, as a result of a lack of grievance mechanisms and clear policy, concerns about lack of action on complaints, concerns about job security, and fear of escalation. Many have never been asked about their experiences of harassment and discrimination in work camps.
• The “hyper-masculine” culture of industrial camps and the demands of a highly transitory population for services can lead to sexual harassment and assault, increased demand for sex trafficking and sex work, child care and gender equality gaps, increase in road safety concerns as women seek transportation to gain access to surrounding services, capacity strains on limited social and health services, infringements on traditional use and rights to land use, and pressure on community and regional infrastructure.

Human Trafficking

Issue/Question:

How is the Government of Canada working to protect those who are at risk of human trafficking?

Suggested Response:

• The Government of Canada is committed to preventing and addressing all forms of gender-based violence, including human trafficking.
• The National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking, led by Public Safety, brings together federal efforts under one strategic framework and is supported by an investment of $57.22 million over five years and $10.28 million in ongoing funding.
• In December 2020, the Government of Canada announced $22.4 million over four years to provide support to 63 organizations to implement projects designed to prevent and address human trafficking and support at-risk populations, victims, and survivors. Of this investment, WAGE is funding 41 projects, for a total of nearly $14 million.
• Budget 2021 committed $105 million over five years for WAGE to enhance its Gender-Based Violence Program, including increased funding for initiatives to stop human trafficking and support for at-risk populations, victims, and survivors.

Key Information:

Investment

• Through the National Strategy, WAGE received $10M over five years, starting in 2020-21, and $2M per year in ongoing funding to develop the Human Trafficking Initiative. The Initiative provides funding to eligible organizations to develop, deliver, and test:
• Innovative prevention programs for at-risk populations, including women and girls, Indigenous women and girls, LGBTQ2 and gender non-binary people, children and youth, and
• Short-term continuum of care interventions to support victims and survivors while they transition out of human trafficking, reintegrate into their communities, and begin their healing and recovery process.
• Following a July 2020 call for proposals, on December 15, 2020, the Government of Canada announced $22.4M over four years to provide support to 63 organizations to implement projects designed to prevent and address human trafficking and support at-risk populations, victims, and survivors. Of this investment, WAGE is funding 41 projects, for a total of nearly $14M (with additional funds leveraged from the Women’s Program). Public Safety is funding the rest.
• Budget 2021 included $105M over five years for WAGE to enhance its Gender-Based Violence Program, with funding going to initiatives that engage men and boys, and increased funding for initiatives to stop human trafficking, including support for at-risk populations, victims, and survivors. It will also provide support for testing and implementing best practices to address gender-based violence, with a focus on projects that could be scaled at the national level.
• The Government of Canada also provides ongoing funding to the Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking to administer the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline. The Hotline is a national, multilingual (200 languages, including 27 Indigenous languages), 24/7/365 service and offers referrals to supports and services to victims and survivors.
• As part of its National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking, the Government of Canada also implemented an enhanced international engagement approach to better leverage multilateral and bilateral partnerships in addressing this crime.

Results:

It is too early to report on results for the Human Trafficking Initiative.

Project examples:

• Examples of projects funded by WAGE include:
  • The Women’s Centre for Social Justice is receiving up to $552,500 for a 37-month project to develop and implement promising intervention practices to advance knowledge and enhance empowerment supports for at-risk populations and survivors of human trafficking in Ontario, Alberta, the Yukon, British Columbia, and Quebec.
  • Sudbury Women’s Centre will receive up to $399,088 for a 37-month project that will develop and implement promising practices through the establishment of the Saving Our Sisters (SOS) Alliance Human Trafficking Intervention Initiative to advance knowledge and enhance empowerment supports for under-served at-risk populations and survivors of human trafficking in Northern Ontario.
  • The CALACS Maison ISA will receive up to $371,880 for a 33-month project that will develop and implement specialized, innovative, and territory-specific intervention practices that will advance knowledge and improve support to empower women victims of human trafficking for sexual exploitation.
  • The Native Courtworker and Counselling Association of British Columbia will receive up to $315,768 for a 37-month project that will develop and implement Indigenous-led, community-based, culturally rooted anti-human trafficking approaches, practices, and materials to advance knowledge and enhance empowerment supports for at-risk Indigenous populations and survivors of human trafficking throughout British Columbia.

Background:

• Human trafficking is a gendered crime that disproportionately impacts women and girls, including Indigenous women and girls, Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, and asexual (2SLGBTQQIA+) individuals, as well as their families and communities.
• In September 2019, the National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking was launched by the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, with investments of $57.22M over five years and $10.28M per year in ongoing funding. The National Strategy includes a number of new and expanded initiatives by Public Safety; the Canada Border Services Agency; WAGE; Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada; Public Services and Procurement Canada; and the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada. It aims to:
  • Empower victims and survivors to regain self-confidence and control over their lives;
  • Prevent more of these crimes from taking place;
  • Better protect those who are most at risk of being trafficked;
  • Prosecute human traffickers for their heinous crimes; and
  • Embrace partnerships with provinces and territories and other organizations to maximize impact.

Intimate Partner Violence

Issue/Question:

What is WAGE doing to address intimate partner violence in Canada?

Suggested Response:

• The Government of Canada is committed to preventing and addressing gender-based violence, including intimate partner violence, which is one of the most prevalent forms of gender-based violence.
• Intimate partner violence is also one of the most pervasive forms of violence experienced by Indigenous women; about one in six Indigenous women has experienced some form of intimate partner violence in her lifetime.
• The COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to increased cases of some forms of gender-based violence, including IPV, based on data from service providers and police forces.
• Since April 2020, approximately $300 million in emergency COVID-19 funding has been committed to organizations supporting those experiencing gender-based violence. This includes:
  • Over $155 million provided to date to over 1,300 women’s shelters, sexual assault centres, and other organizations, including 126 Indigenous organizations that provide critical supports and services to those experiencing gender-based violence.
  • This funding has helped ensure continuity of services throughout the pandemic and is enhancing the capacity and responsiveness of gender-based violence organizations.
  • Because of this funding, more than 1.3 million individuals experiencing violence have had a place to go and access to supports during the pandemic.

Key Information:

Investment

• Through It’s Time: Canada’s Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence, several initiatives related to intimate partner violence have been funded, including:
• over $30 million in research on gender-based violence, including a new national survey that provided the first comprehensive understanding of IPV in Canada (WAGE);
• Investments to promote healthy relationships (Public Health Agency of Canada); and
• Investments to support Canadian Armed Forces members and their families who may be affected by gender-based violence (Department of National Defence).
• Budget 2021 allocated $11 million to WAGE for GBV research and knowledge mobilization, of which $1.2 million will be used to fund a femicide information database in partnership with Statistics Canada in 2022-23. This will allow for a valid measure and reporting of femicides in Canada. The database will link data from the Homicide Survey to court records and case outcomes, which will help clarify how the justice system is treating these cases and more accurately identify homicides as femicides. This database may be expanded to include analysis of attempted femicides.

Results:

• WAGE has supported a number of activities to prevent and address gender-based violence overall. Since 2015, through the Women’s Program, the GBV Program, and the Human Trafficking Program, WAGE has invested over $187M in 506 projects to prevent GBV and to support survivors and their families.
• In 2020-21, projects that were completed led to the development of over 186 resources to increase awareness about services and supports, as well as how to prevent GBV and support survivors. More than 350 partnerships were created to implement training on trauma-informed service delivery, transform care for LGBTQ2S survivors of GBV, and implement new supports to help survivors of GBV navigate the legal system.
• Because of these projects, nearly 1.3 million women gained access to programs and supports related to gender-based violence, including access to counselling, court services, and trauma-informed victims’ services.
• Of the $300 million in emergency COVID-19 funding committed, over $155 million in total funding has been provided to date to over 1,300 organizations, including women’s shelters, sexual assault centres, and other organizations providing services and supports to those experiencing gender-based violence (GBV) across the country.
• 560 organizations used the funding to deliver important programs or services.
• 497 organizations used the funding for additional staff or overtime; 448 of them hired new staff.
• 336 organizations used the funding for infection control.
• Since April 2020, more than 1.3 million individuals had a place to turn to because of this funding.

Project examples:

Between April and December 2018, Statistics Canada (funded by WAGE) administered the first cycle of the Survey of Safety in Public and Private Spaces, the first nationally representative survey of its kind on gender-based violence. It collected information on Canadians’ experiences of safety at home, in the workplace, in public spaces, and online. Data from this survey has informed the federal Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence and the development of the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence. Planning is underway on the next cycle of this survey.

Background:

• Intimate partner violence is one of the most prevalent forms of gender-based violence. It refers to multiple possible forms of harm—physical, sexual, financial, emotional, or psychological, as well as stalking and coercive control—by a current or former intimate partner(s), dating partner(s), or spouse(s) and can occur in public spaces, private spaces, or via technology.
• More than 11 million people in Canada aged 15 and over have experienced some form of intimate partner violence in their lifetime—6.2 million women and 4.9 million men.
• Between 2014 and 2020, 576 people were killed by a current or former intimate partner in Canada. Women accounted for 80% of these victims who lost their lives to violence; 458 women were killed by an intimate partner over that period, or one woman every six days.
• Most recently, the Canadian Femicide Observatory for Justice and Accountability reported that 173 women and girls were violently killed in 2021, 13 more than in 2020, and amounting to one every two days. 89% of the identified accused were male. Of the 173 women and girls killed, 46 were determined to be intimate partner homicides, but many more likely were; gaps in information about cases make the relationships difficult to discern.
• In Canada, intimate partner violence represented almost one-third (30%) of all police-reported violent crime in 2019. During that year, incidents perpetrated against women accounted for almost 8 in 10 (79%) cases, and intimate partner violence was the most common kind of violence experienced by women.
• In 2018, 12% of women reported that they had experienced at least one form of IPV in the previous year—that’s almost 5,000 women per day.
• Young women aged 15-24 years report the highest levels of spousal violence, almost 2.5 times higher than women in general (29% vs 12%).
• Spousal violence is two times higher for Indigenous individuals vs. non-Indigenous.
• Children exposed to IPV are at increased risk of a wide range of psychological and behavioural problems, including low self-esteem, depression and anxiety, as well as increased risks of aggression, delinquency, violence, and risk-taking behaviours.
• While there are no nationally representative statistics yet on how IPV has changed since the onset of the pandemic, there is considerable evidence from law enforcement; child, youth, and family services; helplines; and other anti-violence organizations suggesting increases in frequency and severity of some forms of GBV.
• Many organizations providing IPV-related supports and services have reported a significant increase in demand since the beginning of the pandemic. Others have seen a decrease in demand for their services, raising concerns that those experiencing intimate partner violence cannot or are not reaching out for help.

Federal Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence

Issue/Question:

How is the Government of Canada working to end gender-based violence?

Suggested Response:

• Announced in June 2017, It’s Time: Canada’s Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence is the Government of Canada’s response to gender-based violence.
• The Strategy brings together the gender-based violence-related efforts of all federal partners to form a whole-of-government approach to end gender-based violence in Canada.
• The Strategy has committed approximately $786 million over nine years, and over $44 million per year in ongoing funding, to advance efforts to prevent gender-based violence, support victims and survivors and their families, and promote responsive legal and justice systems.
• To date, the Strategy has supported a number of important initiatives, including:
• Launching the National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking;
• Launching WAGE’s Gender-Based Violence Program; and
• Conducting three national surveys to establish baselines on the prevalence of different forms of gender-based violence in order to measure progress over time.
• The Strategy has also laid a strong foundation to advance a National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence.

Key Information:

Investment

Since 2017, $786M in new investments and over $44M per year, ongoing from 2023-24, have been committed to advance efforts under the federal GBV Strategy.

Results:

• WAGE has supported a number of activities to prevent and address gender-based violence overall. Since 2015, through the Women’s Program, the GBV Program, and the Human Trafficking Program, WAGE has invested over $187M in 506 projects to prevent GBV and to support survivors and their families.
• In 2020-21, projects that were completed led to the development of over 186 resources to increase awareness about services and supports, as well as how to prevent GBV and to support survivors. More than 350 partnerships were created to implement training on trauma-informed service delivery, transform care for LGBTQ2S survivors of GBV, and implement new supports to help survivors of GBV navigate the legal system.
• Because of these projects, nearly 1.3 million women gained access to programs and supports related to gender-based violence, including access to counselling, court services, and trauma-informed victims’ services.
• Through the GBV Strategy:
  • To support the sharing of research and data and to enable more coordinated, evidence-based action on GBV, WAGE created the GBV Knowledge Centre. Since its inception, over 170 resources were added to this online platform, which was visited more than 64,000 times in 2020-21.
  • PHAC-funded projects directly reached 4,684 participants and 7,991 professionals at 85 sites across Canada. Knowledge mobilization products and events engaged an additional 335,000 stakeholders. Interim results indicate that the projects improved participants’ skills and knowledge and influenced behaviour change to prevent and address gender-based violence. Interim results from capacity-building projects demonstrate that service providers feel more competent in responding to clients’ experiences of gender-based violence and providing trauma-informed services and support.
  • PS also continued to fund the PLEA Community Services Society of British Columbia’s “Safer Space” program to develop and implement targeted awareness activities related to online child sexual exploitation. In 2020-21, activities included: developing and delivering over 153 youth workshops in order to prevent and raise awareness of online child sexual exploitation to 7,247 youth participants. More specifically, they gave children and youth information and practical tools to help keep safe online. In addition, prevention and education workshops were also delivered to adults and young professionals who care for or work with youth. A total of 34 workshops were delivered to 386 adults and professionals.

Project examples:

• Examples of recent projects working to end GBV include the following:
  • The Native Women’s Association of Canada received $1M for a 31-month project to develop and test evidence-based training for service providers supporting Indigenous LGBTQ+ and Two-Spirit survivors of gender-based violence. The project ended in March 2022, and initial results are positive. Through this project, training was delivered to service providers who stated that after participating in the training, their knowledge of Indigenous healing and resilience practices increased and they felt more capable of providing culturally safe and trauma-informed care to victims of gender-based violence.
  • Les Femmes Michif Otipemisiwak is receiving up to $1M for a 60-month project to test and evaluate the promising practice of developing Métis-specific services for those impacted by gender-based violence by engaging and encouraging Métis survivors of gender-based violence to shape the services they need.
  • The Liard Aboriginal Women’s Society is receiving up to $1M for a 60-month project to develop, implement, and test a community-based and culturally relevant advocacy model incorporating a response-based practice to support, respond to, and restore dignity and safety among Indigenous GBV survivors in northern and remote Kaska communities in the Yukon and Northern British Columbia. This will be achieved by engaging GBV survivor advocates to raise awareness on related issues in their communities and offering peer support and referrals to other GBV survivors in order to improve their access to appropriate response and support services.
  • WAGE is providing $1M in funding to Ka Ni Kanichihk for a 72-month project (March 2019 to March 2025) to evaluate the Heart Medicine Lodge program, a 12-week healing program that focuses on the effects of trauma, roles of cultural identity, and Indigenous women’s resilience for healing and thriving through sexual trauma. Through this project, Ka Ni Kanichihk will adapt the healing program to make it more accessible across Manitoba, including in rural and northern Indigenous communities that otherwise lack access to healing programs.

Background:

• Gender-based violence is one of the most pervasive, deadly, and deeply rooted human rights violations of our time, and the Government of Canada continues to be committed to preventing and addressing it. Gender-based violence is a significant barrier to achieving gender equality and is preventable.
• Announced in June 2017, It’s Time: Canada’s Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence (the federal GBV Strategy) is the Government of Canada’s response to gender-based violence. It brings together the gender-based violence-related efforts of all federal partners, including Justice Canada, to form a whole-of-government approach to end gender-based violence in Canada.
• The federal GBV Strategy fills gaps in supports for diverse populations, including: women and girls; Indigenous women and girls; LGBTQ2 and gender-diverse individuals; women living in northern, rural, and remote communities; women and girls with disabilities; immigrant and refugee women; children and youth; and senior women.
• The Strategy encompasses all federal initiatives to prevent and address gender-based violence; however, seven federal departments and agencies received funding for specific initiatives:
  • WAGE
  • Public Health Agency of Canada
  • Public Safety Canada
  • Department of National Defence
  • RCMP
  • Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
  • Department of Justice

Rural Women

Issue/Question:

What action is WAGE taking to prevent and address gender-based violence experienced by rural women?

Suggested Response:

• The Government of Canada recognizes the particular needs and challenges of people in rural and remote communities.
• Women and girls living in rural and remote areas face higher rates of several forms of violence, including sexual assault, family violence, and intimate partner violence.
• Since 2018, the Government of Canada has invested $12.6 million to support 14 projects that included individuals living in northern, rural, or remote areas.
• The National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence, which will be published later this year, will focus on ensuring that anyone facing gender-based violence has reliable and timely access to protection and services, no matter where they live.
• Budget 2021 included more than $3 billion over five years to advance initiatives that prevent and address gender-based violence, including $601.3 million over five years to advance towards a new National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence.
• Budget 2022 proposes to invest $539.3 million over five years to enable provinces and territories to supplement and enhance services and supports within their jurisdictions to prevent gender-based violence and support survivors.

Key Information:

Investment

• Since 2018, WAGE’s Gender-Based Violence Program has invested $12.6M to support 14 projects that included individuals living in northern, rural, or remote areas.
• Since November 2015, WAGE has invested approximately $36.5M to support 60 northern, rural, or remote projects through the Women’s Program.
• Three projects are currently being funded to address gender-based violence for women and girls living in rural and remote areas, for a total of $2,299,204.

Results

WAGE does not have any results on which to report specific to this issue.

Project examples:

• Through the Gender-Based Violence Program, Women’s Shelters Canada received $592,915 to test the Community Safety Circle, which brings together service providers to create survivor-led, customized safety and support plans as a promising practice to provide greater safety to women living in rural, remote, and northern communities throughout Canada who do not have access to an emergency shelter.
• Through the Gender-Based Violence Program, Rowan House Society in Alberta is receiving $731,289 to test the “Safe at Home” model, an alternative approach to serving families living in rural areas who are experiencing domestic abuse and violence. In this model, the abusive partner is the one to move to an off-site facility or independent living, while women and children maintain the stability of their home and support networks. The program also works with the impacted families to connect them to local resources to support them in their own safety and healing.
• Through the Gender-Based Violence Program, Family Transition Place in Ontario is receiving $999,837 to test the Rural Response Program, which seeks to reduce barriers to access to services for women in rural and remote communities through mobile service delivery and increased partnerships between service providers.

Background:

• Women living in rural and remote areas face particular challenges that preclude economic security and prosperity, including lower labour force participation rates, lower employment rates, and over-representation in low-income situations. Canadian rural communities are more likely to be older, Indigenous, or comprised of an official language minority group.
• According to police-reported data, women in both rural and remote areas experience higher rates of intimate partner violence than those in urban and accessible areas:
• In 2019, women in rural areas experienced the highest overall rates of police-reported intimate partner violence (860 victims per 100,000 population), with rates that were almost twice as high as those of urban women (467 per 100,000).
• In 2019, across Canada, the rate of police-reported intimate partner violence against women living in remote areas (2,002 per 100,000 population) was over four times higher than the rate among women in accessible areas (445 victims per 100,000).
• According to police-reported data, girls 15 and younger in remote areas experience higher rates of physical and sexual violence than those in accessible areas:
• In 2019, police-reported physical assault against girls 15 and younger occurred at a rate four times higher in remote areas than in accessible areas (874 versus 223 victims per 100,000 girls).
• In 2019, police-reported sexual violence against girls 15 and younger was also higher in remote than accessible areas (1,014 versus 322 victims per 100,000 girls).
• Self-reported and police-reported data show that sexual assault is more common among women in the territories, rural areas, and Canada’s North:
• In 2018, self-reported data showed that women (40%) and men (12%) living in the territories were more likely to have been sexually assaulted since age 15 than their provincial counterparts (30% and 8%, respectively).
• In 2017, police-reported rates of sexual assault were higher within rural areas of Canada in comparison to urban areas (82 sexual assaults per 100,000 population versus 63 per 100,000 population).
• Police-reported data from 2017 show that rates of sexual assault perpetrated against women were more than twice as high in Canada’s provincial and territorial North than in the South.

WAGE Initiatives

• In 2017, the Government of Canada launched It’s Time: Canada’s Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence (federal GBV Strategy), a whole-of-government effort that coordinates federal efforts and complements the work of provincial and territorial governments to end gender-based violence. It recognizes that women in rural and remote communities are among the populations more at risk of gender-based violence and helps to coordinate supports for these populations, given the lack of access to services in rural and remote areas.
• WAGE’s Gender-Based Violence Program takes action under the federal GBV Strategy and supports organizations working in the gender-based violence sector in developing and implementing promising practices to address gaps in supports for specific groups of survivors, including women living in northern, rural, and remote communities.
• The government is developing a National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence, which will aim to address the root causes and systemic issues that perpetuate gender-based violence, as well as the factors that serve as barriers to accessing reliable and timely supports, services, and protections. A core pillar of the National Action Plan is focused on “social infrastructure and enabling environment,” including in rural and remote areas. Budget 2021 proposed investments of $415 million over five years to advance the National Action Plan.
• The Women’s Program funds projects that address the systemic barriers women and girls face to full economic, social, and political participation.
• On February 11, 2021, the Department launched a call for proposals under the Women’s Program, called the Feminist Response and Recovery Fund. This Fund will invest $100 million in systemic change projects to support a feminist response to and recovery from the current impacts of COVID-19, particularly for underrepresented women, including women living in rural communities.

Coercive Control and Controlling Behaviours

Issue/Question:

What work is WAGE undertaking to address coercive control and controlling behaviours?

Suggested Response:

• Everyone has the right to live free from violence. The Government of Canada is committed to preventing and addressing all forms of gender-based violence, including coercive and controlling behaviours.
• Annual reports from the Canadian Femicide Observatory for Justice and Accountability state that the majority of intimate partner femicides involve some variation of coercive and controlling behaviours prior to their death.
• Coercive and controlling behaviour is a cross-cutting issue that involves several government departments, including Justice Canada.
• It’s Time: Canada’s Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence, brings together the gender-based violence-related efforts of all federal partners, including Justice Canada, to form a whole-of-government approach to end gender-based violence in Canada.
• WAGE is currently funding a project in Quebec to implement a promising practice designed to improve the legal process and address systemic barriers, specifically among underrepresented groups of women who experience coercive control.

Key Information:

Investment

WAGE does not have any funding focused on coercive and controlling behaviours, although at least one initiative (see project example below) specifically includes addressing coercive control.

Results:

• Amendments to the Divorce Act came into force in March 2021 with a definition of “family violence” that includes coercive and controlling behaviour.
• Private Member’s Bill C-202, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (controlling or coercive conduct), which was introduced on November 25, 2021, is identical to former Bill C-247 and proposes a new offence targeting coercive or controlling conduct in the context of intimate partner relationships.

Project examples:

WAGE is currently funding a project in Quebec to implement a promising practice designed to improve the legal process and address systemic barriers, specifically among underrepresented groups of women who experience coercive control.

Background:

• Coercive and controlling behaviour is a cross-cutting issue that involves several government departments, including Justice Canada.
• Coercive control describes a pattern of behaviours to instil fear and to control, monitor, and dominate a family member or intimate partner. Coercive control can include repeated acts of exploitation, manipulation, intimidation, isolation, and micro-regulation of daily life that may be accompanied by acts or threats of physical or sexual violence.
• Experts have identified coercive and controlling behaviours as an increased risk for femicide. Children living in coercive and controlling environments have shown symptoms of PTSD, depression, anxiety, and school disengagement. Coercive control can occur in public spaces, private spaces, and via technology.
• There is no specific offence of “coercive control.” However, some acts of coercive control are crimes, such as assault, sexual assault, forcible confinement, criminal harassment (stalking), and uttering threats.
• Coercive control criminal legislation has been implemented in the United Kingdom in 2015, as well as in Ireland in 2019 and Scotland in 2019. The United Kingdom’s Home Office has published a review of its coercive control legislation entitled, Review of the Controlling or Coercive Behaviour Office.
• Private Member’s Bill C-233, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Judges Act (violence against an intimate partner), would amend the bail provisions of the Criminal Code to require a justice to consider whether an accused person charged with an offence against their intimate partner should wear an electronic monitoring device as a condition of bail release where requested by the Attorney General. It would also amend the Judges Act to include intimate partner violence and coercive control on the list of continuing education seminars for judges that the Canadian Judicial Council (CJC) may establish, and to urge the CJC to report on such seminars.
• In April 2021, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights released a report entitled, Shadow Pandemic: Stopping Coercive and Controlling Behaviour in Intimate Relationships. A government response to the report is being drafted.

Gender-Based Violence in the Canadian Armed Forces

Issue/Question:

What is the government doing to address the issue of sexual assault and harassment within the Canadian Armed Forces?

Suggested Response:

• While the Minister of National Defence is best placed to respond to this question, I would highlight that the Department of National Defence is a key partner in WAGE’s federal Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence.
• Budget 2021 included more than $3 billion over five years to advance initiatives that prevent and address gender-based violence, including $236.2 million over five years to expand work to eliminate sexual misconduct and gender-based violence in the military and support victims and survivors.
• Budget 2022 proposes to invest a further $245 million to continue to advance this important work.
• As directed in my December 2021 mandate commitment, I will continue to work closely to support my colleague, the Minister of National Defence, in ending discrimination, sexual misconduct, and all forms of gender-based violence in the military.

Key Information:

Investment

• The Department of National Defence received funding in Budget 2017 to enhance Family Crisis Teams to support members of the Canadian Armed Forces and their families affected by violence by delivering a wider range of support services and programs in the areas of victim and perpetrator support, violence prevention, and education and awareness tools ($4.0M/5 years and $0.8M/year ongoing).
• In 2018, the federal budget committed investments to enable the Department of National Defence to support sexual assault centres in close proximity to Canadian Forces bases so that members of the Canadian Armed Forces have access to a full spectrum of supports to address gender-based violence ($2.0M/5 years).
• Budget 2021 included more than $3 billion over five years to advance initiatives that prevent and address gender-based violence, including $236.2 million over five years to expand work to eliminate sexual misconduct and gender-based violence in the military and support victims and survivors. Building off this foundation, Budget 2022 proposes to invest close to $245 million to continue to advance this work.

Results:

WAGE does not have any results specific to its programming related to sexual misconduct in the Canadian Armed Forces.

Project examples:

The Family Crisis Teams initiative completed its scoping processes, held national training for Family Crisis Team members, and has distributed funding to about 32 Military Family Resource Centres across the country as well as in Europe and the United States.

Background:

• The Department of National Defence is a key partner in WAGE’s Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence, which was launched in 2017.
• Voluntary surveys of all active Canadian Armed Forces members by Statistics Canada highlight that:
  • A greater proportion of women in the Canadian Armed Forces experience sexual assault as compared to men (prevalence in 2018 was four times higher in the Regular Force and six times higher in the Primary Reserve).
  • A greater proportion of LGBTQ2 members experience sexual assault as compared to members who are not LGBTQ2 (prevalence in 2018 was four times higher in the Regular Force and Primary Reserve).

Gender-Based Violence in the RCMP

Issue/Question:

How is WAGE supporting the RCMP to address and prevent gender-based violence?

Suggested Response:

• The RCMP is a key partner in It’s Time: Canada’s Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence.
• WAGE worked with the RCMP to support the Sexual Assault Review Team in the development and launch of courses for all RCMP employees and officers on reinforcing the use of a trauma-informed approach; victims’ and survivors’ rights; consent law; and the devastating effects of myths pertaining to sexual assaults.
• I will continue to support my colleague, the Minister of Public Safety, to accelerate action to reform the RCMP and ultimately to prevent and address gender-based violence.

Key Information:

Investment

• Through the Federal Strategy to End Gender-Based Violence, the RCMP has received funding for:
  • Cultural Awareness Training for RCMP employees: $2.4 million over five years; $0.6 million per year ongoing (Budget 2017);
  • Enhanced capacity to combat online child sexual exploitation and transnational child sex offenders: $19 million over five years; $5.8 million per year ongoing (Budget 2018) and $20.7 million over five years (Budget 2021); and
  • Support for the Sexual Assault Review Team and Victim Support Action Plan: $10 million over five years (Budget 2018).

Results:

• The RCMP has created and implemented divisional Sexual Assault Investigations Review Committees. These external committees provide an accountability mechanism and serve as an extension to the sexual assault investigation process, ensuring that investigations are trauma-informed, thorough, timely, impartial, and properly classified.
• In early 2020, the RCMP designed a course, Cultural Awareness and Humility, to increase knowledge, enhance self-awareness, and strengthen skills on how to work directly and indirectly with different cultures. WAGE participated in the RCMP-led consultations to develop this course. In October 2020, the RCMP Commissioner formally deemed the course mandatory for all employees. As of August 20, 2021, a total of 25,149 employees, or 90.2% of all RCMP employees, have completed the Cultural Awareness and Humility Course. This includes police officers and civilian employees.
• With support from WAGE, the RCMP’s Sexual Assault Review Team developed and launched courses for all RCMP employees and officers on reinforcing the use of a trauma-informed approach; victims’ and survivors’ rights; consent law; and the devastating effects of myths pertaining to sexual assaults. The Team also created a Sexual Violence Investigations course that was launched through classroom and virtual platforms. It has been completed by 7,367 RCMP officers and employees serving the public as of June 1, 2021.

Project examples:

The RCMP created the Sexual Assault Review Team to undertake an extensive review of “unfounded” and “not cleared by charge” cases and develop “The Way Forward – The RCMP’s Sexual Assault Review and Victim Support Action Plan” to guide RCMP and Sexual Assault Review Team initiatives.

Background:

• The RCMP is a key partner in WAGE’s Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence, which was launched in 2017.
• In 2017, the RCMP requested support from the Minister for Women and Gender Equality’s Advisory Council on Gender-Based Violence to provide advice and input to the RCMP sexual assault investigative review and recommendations. Members of the Minister’s Advisory Council also provided advice to the RCMP with regard to trauma-informed practices and strengthening police training in cases of sexual assault.
• Through the Federal GBV Strategy, Budget 2018 included $10M over five years and $2M per year ongoing to the RCMP for the Sexual Assault Review Team to complete the file review and implement The Way Forward – The RCMP’s Sexual Assault Review and Victim Support Action Plan.
• WAGE continues to work with and support the RCMP in their efforts to reform their organization and to ultimately prevent and address gender-based violence.

Annex

• Federally Incarcerated Indigenous Women
• At the end of fiscal year 2019-20, Indigenous offenders represented 26.1% of the total offender population. Indigenous offenders accounted for 30.1% of the in-custody population and 20.2% of the community population.
• In the 2020-21 annual report, the Office of the Correctional Investigator reported that Indigenous individuals accounted for close to 60% of all positive COVID-19 cases in federal prisons since November.
• While Indigenous women account for about 5% of all women in Canada, they represent almost 50% of all women in federal custody (48% on December 5, 2021).
• The proportion of incarcerated Indigenous women has been steadily increasing over the last 30 years. In the last decade alone, the population of federally sentenced Indigenous women has increased by 73.8%.
• Since April 2019, federally sentenced Indigenous women accounted for 61% of all women involved in uses of force.
• Since the introduction of SIUs in November 2019, 80% of all SIU placements in FSW facilities involved Indigenous women.

Gender Equality in STEM, Skilled Trades, and Key Economic Sectors

Issue/Question:

What policies and programming has the Government of Canada advanced to increase gender equality in the STEM and skilled trades fields?

Suggested Response:

• Canada is facing a shortage of skilled workers in the STEM and skilled trades sectors. The government supports increasing women’s participation in these fields to address these shortfalls.
• To support women in the skilled trades, in Budget 2021, the government provided $470M to establish a new Apprenticeship Service to help 55,000 first-year apprentices in construction and manufacturing Red Seal trades connect with opportunities at small and medium-sized employers.
• To continue to support equality in STEM and the skilled trades, Budget 2022 proposes $84.2M over four years to double funding for the Union Training and Innovation Program to help underrepresented apprentices begin and succeed in skilled trades careers.
• Since November 2015, WAGE has invested over $23.4M in projects to advance women’s participation in non-traditional professions in which they are underrepresented, including in STEM.
• Projects that ended in 2020-21 held more than 100 activities and developed 78 resources to support women in beginning and advancing their careers.

Key Information:

Investment

Since November 2015, WAGE’s Women’s Program has invested over $23.4M in support of projects to advance women’s participation in non-traditional professions in which they are underrepresented, including STEM.

Results:

WAGE does not have any outcome data on which to report for projects funded in this area.

Project examples:

The Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC) of Canada Inc. received $999,000 to establish a network of business leader ambassadors to help organizations build capacity to leverage the leadership advantages of women and promote gender equality in management.

Background:

• Despite significant increases in women’s levels of education and labour market participation, women continue to face barriers to reaching their full economic potential. Among these barriers are the effects of occupational segregation by gender.
• As a result, women are overrepresented in low-paying and part-time occupations and underrepresented in full-time, high-paying ones. Having more women participate in STEM and the skilled trades will contribute to women’s economic security.
• The skilled trades offer women opportunities for well-paying, rewarding jobs in sectors across the economy. The government has invested in supporting more women who want to enter and succeed in the skilled trades by providing:
• $63.5M, over five years, for 68 projects as part of the Union Training and Innovation Program (UTIP) 2020 call for proposals.
• $40M, over three years, in the Union Training and Innovation Program. Budget 2022 proposes to double the investment in this program, with an $84.2M commitment over four years.
• $19.9M, over five years, to pilot an Apprenticeship Incentive Grant for Women. Since its inception in 2018, over 9,000 grants have been approved (as of March 6, 2022)^{Footnote 2} .
• $10M, over three years, to launch the Women in Construction Fund. In 2019-20, 550 women were directly supported through Fund projects, and over 319,800 women were reached through a project promoting awareness of the skilled trades as a career choice.

Care Economy

Issue/Question:

What is the government doing to alleviate the burden of caregiving, which currently falls predominantly on women?

Suggested Response:

• The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated that gender norms around care responsibilities continue to burden women in Canada.
• The pandemic has shone light on these gender gaps and has limited women’s labour force participation.
• The Government of Canada is committed to helping to alleviate the burden of caregiving by providing key investments through Budget 2021, including:
• $30 billion over five years, and $8.3 billion ongoing for Early Learning and Child Care to provide families with access to affordable high-quality child care;
• Initiatives to help seniors age well at home, including increasing the Old Age Security for those 75 and older; and
• Consultations toward a new disability benefit and improving access to and eligibility for the Disability Tax Credit.
• Budget 2022 proposes an additional $625 million over four years, beginning in 2023-24, for an Early Learning and Child Care Infrastructure Fund.

Key Information:

Investment

• Budget 2021 measures to improve the economic participation of women and underrepresented groups include:
• $30 billion over five years and $8.3 billion ongoing for a high-quality, affordable, and accessible early learning and child care system;
• $2.1 billion to extend the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit^{Footnote 1}  and the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit, providing income support to Canadians who found themselves unable to work because they either had to care for a family member, were sick, or needed to self-isolate because of COVID-19;
• $100 million over three years, starting in 2021-22, to support projects for innovative mental health interventions for populations disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, including health care workers, front-line workers, youth, seniors, Indigenous people, and racialized and Black Canadians.

Budget 2022 also included:

• $625 million over four years, beginning in 2023-24, for an Early Learning and Child Care Infrastructure Fund;
• The creation of an expert panel to study the idea of an Aging at Home Benefit.

Background:

• The care economy includes both paid and unpaid work done within formal and informal sectors and related to the provision of care and services for children, youth, adults, the elderly, and people with disabilities and chronic illness.
• In Canada, women are responsible for two and a half times more unpaid household and care work than men. Women are also less likely to participate in the labour market. Care work can negatively impact the mental and physical well-being of care providers.
• The undervaluation of unpaid care work contributes to the undervaluation of paid care work, including lower wages and poor working conditions in care sectors, in which women are over-represented. For example, women make up 96% of child care workers.
• Women, particularly young women, those who are Indigenous, visible minorities, and immigrants have been disproportionately impacted by economic shutdowns throughout the pandemic, since women are overrepresented in the services, retail, care, and hospitality sectors.
• The government is championing initiatives such as the Pay Equity Act; flexible work arrangements as part of the Canada Labour Code; measures to encourage parents to take advantage of maternity and parental leave by increasing existing benefits; and programs to support more women in non-traditional high-paying fields.

Gender Equality in Leadership and Decision-Making Positions

Issue/Question:

Advancing gender equality in leadership and decision-making positions

Suggested Response:

• Promoting equality at all levels of leadership is essential to a fair and democratic society. The Government of Canada continues to advance gender equality and diversity in all spheres of leadership and decision-making.
• The government has remained committed to a gender-balanced Cabinet since 2015, with women currently holding prominent Ministerial positions, including Finance and Deputy Prime Minister, National Defence, and Foreign Affairs.
• Since 2015, WAGE has provided over $78.2M in funding to support 160 projects that strengthen women’s participation in leadership and decision-making roles.
• WAGE’s work complements the Government of Canada’s broader actions, which include:
• Introducing amendments to the Public Service Employment Act to affirm the importance of a diverse and inclusive workforce free of biases and barriers in hiring;
• Launching the 50-30 Challenge to promote gender equality and diversity within Canadian organizations; and
• Requiring federally incorporated organizations to disclose information on the diversity of their board of directors and senior management to shareholders.

Key Information:

Investment

• Since 2015, WAGE’s Women’s Program has invested over $78.2M in more than 160 projects to advance women’s representation in leadership and decision-making roles, including:
• The $100M Feminist Response and Recovery Fund (FRRF), which supports 237 projects that will increase women’s and girls’ participation in Canada’s economic, social, democratic, and political life; 82 of these projects will tackle systemic barriers diverse women face to participating in leadership and decision-making roles.
• Support for Indigenous Women’s Leadership: WAGE is funding projects for the Assembly of First Nations, Pauktuutit, and Women of the Métis Nation to empower and increase Indigenous women’s leadership and democratic participation in their communities.

Results:

• In 2021, projects funded under this priority area led to the development and dissemination of 1,235 different resources to improve access to supports for women leaders. As a result of these projects, 1,442,379 women gained access to services and supports that resulted in better opportunities for leadership positions in various spheres.
• In addition, 56% of projects in this category resulted in changes to policies and institutions. They developed and disseminated 1,148 resources, undertook advocacy, and leveraged partnerships and collaborations in order to bring about changes to institutional processes and cultures.

Project examples:

• Between 2018 and March 2022, WAGE invested a total of $3,666,103 for Equal Voice to lead a project focusing on empowering the next generation of women leaders and increasing their participation in politics, through engagement with a diverse array of elected officials and the political institutions in which they serve. It will foster increased awareness among emerging women leaders about the diverse journeys of women in Canada and highlight the political advances made to date as well as the significant challenges that remain, using an anti-oppression approach to ensure equitable representation and participation.
• In 2021, WAGE funded the National Association of Friendship Centres for a total amount of $675,300 to address discriminatory legislation, policies, and practices that prevent women and girls from fully participating in the social, political, and economic spheres by amplifying the voices of urban Indigenous women in existing legislation and policy using research, policy development, and advocacy work. Systemic racism will also be addressed through the participation of current FCM leaders to incorporate an Indigenous GBA+ lens to policymaking on a federal level. The project will end in 2024.
• The “Daughters of the Vote” project, an annual initiative by Equal Voice, has brought about systemic changes in government by organizing one day each year in which 338 delegates, representing every federal riding in Canada, participate in the House of Commons Orders of the Day and engage with MPs in a political leadership summit. As a result of the project, gender equality has increased in the federal government, and there are now a historic 103 women MPs.

Background:

• Despite progress, women, including diverse women, and gender-diverse people continue to face barriers to obtaining leadership and decision-making roles in Canadian society, including politics.
• The Government of Canada is committed to helping to advance gender equality in leadership and decision-making spaces.
• Amongst businesses and corporations, this advancement includes:
• Passing Bill C-25, which requires federally incorporated companies to disclose diversity information to shareholders. Budget 2021 committed to conducting public consultations on measures that would apply these requirements to federally regulated financial institutions and Crown corporations.
• Promoting the 50-30 Challenge, which encourages organizations to increase the representation of diverse groups within the workplace. Close to 1,400 organizations are participating.
• Investments to modernize the Employment Equity Act.
• In February 2016, the government committed to an open, transparent, and merit-based process for selecting Governor-in-Council (GiC) appointments. With this commitment, as of December 31, 2021, 52.5% of appointees identify as women.
• For the first time, women have been appointed to key positions, including the first woman President of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

Funding Overview

Issue/Question:

How does Women and Gender Equality Canada support communities to advance gender equality?

Suggested Response:

• Gender equality benefits everyone—women, men, non-binary people, and people of all gender identities.
• The Department for Women and Gender Equality advances gender equality through partnerships with key stakeholders to actively promote the inclusion of all people in Canada’s economic, social, and political life.
• As lead federal department, WAGE supports women’s and equality-seeking organizations providing vital supports to our communities.
• WAGE provides funding support for these organizations to:
• address barriers to gender equality in the areas of economic security and prosperity, leadership, and ending gender-based violence;
• build capacity to advance gender equality through activities such as strategic planning and partnership development; and
• develop and test promising practices, such as survivor-centred and trauma-informed approaches to service delivery, to support at-risk populations and victims and survivors of gender-based violence.
• WAGE is working to sustain historic funding commitments to these organizations, focusing support on Indigenous women, women with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ2 communities, and racialized, newcomer, and migrant women.
• Since November 2015, the Government of Canada has significantly increased funding to the sector. Since 2015, WAGE has funded over 1,100 projects, providing more than $476.2 million, to ensure that everyone can participate fully in Canadian society.
• Budget 2022 provides further investments to support equity-seeking organizations, including:
• $539.3 million over five years to work with provinces and territories to enhance services and supports to prevent gender-based violence and support survivors.
• $25 million over two years to establish a national pilot project for a Menstrual Equity Fund to help make menstrual products available to Canadians in need.
• $100 million over five years to support the implementation of the Federal LGBTQ2 Action Plan, to support a more equal Canada for LGBTQ2 people.

Key Information:

Investment

• Since 2015, the Department has funded over 1,100 projects, providing more than $476.2 million, to ensure that everyone can participate fully in Canadian society. This includes over $300 million targeting diverse intersections of population groups (data excludes COVID funding):
  • $147.6 million to Indigenous projects (representing 31% of all WAGE investments)
  • $54.6 million to projects for racialized communities
  • $57.5 million to projects in northern, remote, or rural communities
  • $44.5 million to non-status, immigrant, or refugee projects
  • $44 million to youth-focused projects
  • $44.6 million to LGBTQ2 projects
  • $22 million to projects targeting low-income individuals
  • $14.9 million to official language minority communities
  • $10 million to projects targeting people with a disability
• Women’s Program: Through the $100 million Feminist Response and Recovery Fund, launched in February 2021, WAGE is supporting 237 systemic change projects across the Women’s Program’s three priority areas (ending violence against women and girls; improving the economic security and prosperity of women and girls; and encouraging women and girls in leadership roles).
• Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Funding:
  • GBV Program: WAGE is investing $59.2 million in 65 projects. Budget 2021 outlined an additional investment of $105 million over five years for WAGE to enhance its GBV Program. Thus far, 72 projects have been approved for a total investment of $27 million.
  • Human Trafficking Initiative: Through the National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking, WAGE is funding 41 projects for a total investment of $13.64 million to develop, deliver, and test promising empowerment-focused prevention and intervention practices for at-risk populations, victims, and survivors of human trafficking.
  • COVID-19 Funding for Organizations Providing GBV Supports and Services: Of the $300 million committed, over $155 million in emergency COVID-19 funding has been provided to date to over 1,300 organizations, including women’s shelters, sexual assault centres, and other organizations providing supports and services to those experiencing GBV. Since April 2020, more than 1.3 million individuals had a place to turn because of this funding.
• LGBTQ2 Funding: Through the $20 million LGBTQ2 Community Capacity Fund announced in Budget 2019, the capacity of 76 LGBTQ2 organizations has been enhanced. On February 2, 2022, an additional $7.5 million was announced to extend the Fund for another year for existing recipients. A separate $15 million LGBTQ2 Projects Fund was announced in Budget 2021 over three years to address barriers to equality with community-informed solutions. The first two projects totalling $800,000 have been announced, in anticipation of a Spring 2022 Call for Proposals.

Results:

• In 2020-21, projects funded by the Women’s Program to:
  • Improve women’s and girls’ economic security and prosperity created and disseminated 153 different resources to increase awareness of what services and supports were available and how to access them. Other projects connected women to services. As a result of these projects, 368,229 women gained access to services and supports that resulted in better opportunities in education, employment, health, and social services.
  • Encourage women and girls in leadership and decision-making roles developed and disseminated 1,196 resources, including toolkits, guides, and various models. In total, 315 women participated in the training workshops. As a result of these resources and training workshops, over 3.5 million people gained skills and knowledge to create more equitable conditions for women in various spheres.
  • Prevent and address gender-based violence developed over 186 resources to increase awareness about services and supports, as well as how to prevent GBV and to support survivors. More than 350 partnerships were created to implement training on trauma-informed service delivery, transform care for LGBTQ2S survivors of GBV, and implement new supports to help survivors of GBV navigate the legal system. Because of these projects, nearly 1.3 million women gained access to programs and supports related to gender-based violence, including access to counselling, court services, and trauma-informed victims’ services.

Project examples:

• Women’s Program:
  • The Woman Abuse Council of Toronto (WomanACT) is receiving $435,178 over 30 months from the Feminist Response and Recovery Fund to address systemic barriers to women’s safety in their homes. Engaging with survivors of GBV, the project will work to shift gender norms and attitudes through public awareness and collaborate with police, crisis lines, housing access services, and income support providers to identify opportunities for culture and practice change.
  • The Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association undertook a project to increase access to affordable alternative child care for immigrant women working in the food service industry. The organization offered free child care services, resulting in 43% of women moving to full-time work, 29% receiving promotions, and 14% re-entering the labour force.
  • The PEI Coalition for Women in Government, Women’s Network PEI, and Winding Path Incorporated partnered on a project to provide women in PEI with the knowledge and skills to participate in political spheres. As a result, in the provincial election following the project, PEI saw a record high of 33% women candidates and a 5% increase in the number of women elected.
• GBV Program: The Ontario Native Women’s Association is receiving $1 million over five years to develop organizational and system-wide approaches and mechanisms to respond to the needs of Indigenous women survivors of violence, engaging with Indigenous women using a trauma-based care approach and cultural practices.
• LGBTQ2 Funding: The Community-Based Research Centre received $442,185 over 15 months from the LGBTQ2 Community Capacity Fund to strengthen its capacity to advance LGBTQ2 equality in Canada through the development of community-based research training for LGBTQ2 organizations, an internal knowledge translation and exchange strategy, and governance enhancements.

Background:

Women’s Program

The Women’s Program aims to achieve the full participation of women in the economic, social, and democratic life of Canada by investing in projects that address systemic barriers to women’s equality.

Gender-Based Violence Funding

• GBV Program: Established as part of It’s Time: Canada’s Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence in 2018, the GBV Program provides funding to organizations in the GBV sector to support the development and implementation of promising practices to address gaps in supports for victims and survivors and their families.
• Human Trafficking Initiative: On September 4, 2019, the National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking was launched by the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, with investments of $57 million over five years and $10 million per year ongoing.
• COVID-19 Funding for Organizations Providing GBV Supports and Services: In addition to the Government of Canada providing $300 million in COVID-19 emergency funding to support GBV organizations, Budget 2021 committed $30 million over five years, starting in 2021-22, so that crisis hotlines can serve the urgent needs of more Canadians and offer more robust services, resources, and supports to those experiencing GBV.
• Budget 2021 announced additional investments to combat GBV, including:
• $55 million over five years, starting in 2021-2022, to bolster the capacity of Indigenous women and 2SLGBTQQIA+ organizations to provide GBV prevention programming aimed at addressing the root causes of violence against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people. The Call for Proposals was launched on January 27, 2022, and closed March 10, 2022.
• $11 million over five years, starting in 2021-2022, for GBV research and knowledge mobilization.
• Budget 2022 announced $539.3M over five years to work with provinces and territories to enhance services and supports to prevent GBV and support survivors.

LGBTQ2 Funding

Building on the LGBTQ2 Community Capacity Fund and the LGBTQ2 Projects Fund, Budget 2022 announced $100 million to support the implementation of the forthcoming LGBTQ2 Action Plan.

Menstrual Equity Fund

Budget 2022 announced $25M over two years to establish a national pilot project for a Menstrual Equity Fund to help make menstrual products available to Canadians in need.

Supporting Women’s Shelters, Sexual Assault Centres, and Other Organizations Providing Gender-Based Violence Supports and Services across Canada during COVID-19

Issue/Question:

What has the government done to support women facing gender-based violence during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Suggested Response:

• The Government of Canada moved swiftly to support women’s shelters and ensure those facing gender-based violence have a safe place to turn during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Since April 2020, approximately $300M in emergency COVID-19 funding has been committed to organizations supporting those experiencing gender-based violence. This includes:
  • Over $155 million in emergency funding provided to date to over 1,300 organizations, including women’s shelters, sexual assault centres, and other organizations providing critical supports and services to those experiencing gender-based violence.
  • This funding ensures the continuity of services and enhances the capacity of organizations that provide critical and often life-saving services and supports for women, girls, and LGBTQ2 and gender non-binary people experiencing violence. Because of this funding, more than 1.3 million individuals experiencing violence had a safe place to go and access supports across Canada.
• Budget 2022 proposes to invest $539.3 million over five years, starting in 2022-23, “to support provinces and territories in their efforts to implement the forthcoming National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence,” including enhancing services and supports to prevent gender-based violence and support survivors.

Key Information:

Investment

Of the $300 million in emergency COVID-19 funding committed, over $155 million in total funding has been provided to date to over 1,300 organizations, including women’s shelters, sexual assault centres, and other organizations providing services and supports to those experiencing gender-based violence (GBV) across the country.

Funding has supported organizations in every province and territory, including those serving northern, rural, and remote communities. The breakdown by province and territory is as follows:

2020 COVID-19 Funding for Shelters and Sexual Assault Centres

• As part of its COVID-19 Economic Response Plan, the Government of Canada, through WAGE, distributed an initial $90M to shelters, sexual assault centres, and organizations providing critical gender-based violence (GBV) supports to women and children experiencing violence. In response to high demand, WAGE leveraged an additional $9.5M in existing program funding, bringing the total funding to $99.5M.
• This initial funding was distributed as follows:
  • $36.24 million was provided to Women’s Shelters Canada to redistribute to women’s shelters, including Indigenous off-reserve shelters across the country (outside of Quebec);
  • $40.83 million to the Canadian Women’s Foundation to redistribute to sexual assault centres, women’s organizations, and other organizations providing supports and services to those experiencing GBV (outside of Quebec), with $7.2M coming from WAGE’s grants and contributions program budget;
  • $17.46 million to the Province of Quebec to redistribute to women’s shelters and organizations that support victims of sexual and domestic violence across the province, with $2.3M coming from WAGE’s grants and contributions program budget; and
  • $5 million to support the mobilization of grassroots and community organizations to further coordinate and support their important work.

Budget 2021 Funding for Gender-Based Violence Organizations

• Budget 2021 committed $601.3 million over five years, starting in 2021-22, to advance towards the development of the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence. From this funding, WAGE is distributing nearly $200M over two years, starting in 2021-22, to enhance the capacity and responsiveness of organizations that provide critical and often life-saving services and supports for women, girls, and LGBTQ2 and gender non-binary people experiencing violence.
  • The Budget 2021 funding is being distributed as follows:
  • $81.5 million to Women’s Shelters Canada to redistribute to women’s shelters across the country (outside of Quebec);
  • $70.6 million to the Canadian Women’s Foundation to redistribute to sexual assault centres, women’s organizations, and other organizations providing supports and services to those experiencing GBV (outside of Quebec); and
  • $44.4 million for the Government of Quebec to redistribute to women’s shelters and organizations that support victims of sexual and domestic violence across the province.

Results

• Of the $300 million in emergency COVID-19 funding committed, over $155 million in total funding has been provided to date to over 1,300 organizations, including women’s shelters, sexual assault centres, and other organizations providing services and supports to those experiencing gender-based violence (GBV) across the country.
• 560 organizations used the funding to deliver important programs or services.
• 497 organizations used the funding for additional staff or overtime; 448 of them hired new staff.
• 336 organizations used the funding for infection control.
• Since April 2020, more than 1.3 million individuals had a place to turn to because of this funding.

Project examples:

• 2020 and Budget 2021 COVID-19 Funding: Since April 2020, a range of organizations across Canada received funding as part of the Government of Canada’s response to increased demand on frontline organizations working to support women and children experiencing violence. Examples of organizations that received this funding through Women’s Shelters Canada, the Canadian Women’s Foundation, and the Government of Quebec include:
  • Minwaashin Lodge-Indigenous Women’s Support Centre (Ontario): $513,677
  • Black Canadian Women in Action Society (Alberta): $204,689
  • Maison pour femmes immigrantes (Quebec): $214,600
  • Hope Haven Inc. (Newfoundland and Labrador): $205,504
  • The Arctic Rose Foundation (Nunavut): $166,410

Background:

• From the start, Canada’s COVID-19 response measures have been informed by a feminist and intersectional analysis to ensure that our approach provides support to those who need it most.
• Through WAGE, the Government of Canada is providing approximately $300M in emergency COVID-19 funding to organizations supporting those experiencing GBV.
• Budget 2022 further proposes to invest $539.3 million over five years, starting in 2022-23, “to support provinces and territories in their efforts to implement the forthcoming National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence.”

UN-CEDAW Reporting

Issue/Question:

What is the status of Canada’s 10th report to the UN CEDAW Committee?

Suggested Response:

• Canada’s 10th progress report on the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women will be submitted in spring 2022.
• Canada’s 10th report will not only respond to the input received from the CEDAW Committee, but will also cover Canada’s response measures to address the gendered impacts of the pandemic.
• As per the usual process, Canada can expect to be called to the CEDAW Committee to discuss the report sometime in late 2023 or early 2024.

Key Information:

Investment

Not applicable

Results:

• Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE) has been working closely with Canadian Heritage (PCH), other federal government departments, and provinces and territories, to prepare the 10th report for the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) Committee, covering the period 2016-2021.
• Canada’s 10th CEDAW Report is currently in the final approval stages and is expected to be submitted in spring 2022. As per the usual process, Canada can expect to be called to appear before the CEDAW Committee sometime in late 2023 or early 2024.
• As part of the review process to monitor Canada’s progress in meeting its commitments, Canadian civil society organizations (CSOs) will submit “shadow reports” on Canada’s implementation of the Convention; meet with the CEDAW Committee and provide suggested questions to members of the Committee; and observe the review itself.

Project example:

Not applicable

Background:

• The CEDAW was ratified by Canada on December 10, 1981. As a Party to the Convention, Canada must report to the United Nations approximately every five years on measures taken to eliminate discrimination in the enjoyment of civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights by women.
• Canada, led by WAGE and PCH, submitted its combined 8th and 9th reports to the CEDAW Committee in April 2015, covering the period from 2008 to 2015. Canada subsequently appeared before the Committee in October 2016 to present the two reports.
• In November 2016, the CEDAW Committee published its Concluding Observations (COs) on Canada’s reports and outlined recommendations, including the development of a National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence; implementation of a human rights-based approach throughout the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls; and increased collection of sex-disaggregated data.
• In early 2019, Canada submitted an interim report to the Committee on progress made towards specific recommendations that relate to the national women’s machinery capacity, a national gender strategy, and the National Inquiry. In September 2019, the CEDAW Committee issued an assessment of Canada’s interim report, which did not require any follow-up action.
• In November 2019, Canada received the List of Issues Prior to Reporting (LOIPR) from the CEDAW Committee that identified key areas of concern that the Committee would like to see addressed in Canada’s 10th report. In particular, the LOIPR identified the following issues:
  • strengthening Canada’s national machinery for the advancement of women;
  • discriminatory stereotypes and harmful practices;
  • missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls;
  • trafficking and exploitation of prostitution;
  • participation in political and public life;
  • education;
  • employment and economic empowerment;
  • health; and
  • marriage and family relations.
• The report will also include some of Canada’s key COVID-19 response and recovery measures.

Federal-Provincial-Territorial (FPT) Forum of Ministers responsible for the Status of Women

Issue/Question:

What is the current status of the Federal-Provincial-Territorial (FPT) Forum of Ministers responsible for the Status of Women?

Suggested Response:

• Women and Gender Equality Canada advances its priorities through strong intergovernmental collaboration.
• The value and strength of the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Forum of Ministers responsible for the Status of Women have been evident in responding to the gendered impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• At their 39th annual meeting in December 2021, the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Ministers agreed to collaborate to advance towards a National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence.
• The 40th annual meeting of Federal-Provincial-Territorial Ministers will be held in Nova Scotia in Fall 2022.

Key Information:

Investment

Not applicable

Results:

• From the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, thanks to strong intergovernmental relationships and joint work with provinces and territories, emergency response measures were rolled out quickly and effectively to support women and children fleeing violence across the country.
• In January 2021, FPT Ministers responsible for the Status of Women endorsed the Joint Declaration for a Canada Free of Gender-Based Violence. Stemming from this, in August 2021, Women and Gender Equality Canada announced eight co-funded projects worth $2.8 million to address gender-based violence—British Columbia (two projects), New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Yukon (two projects), and in the Atlantic region as a whole.
• In December 2021, during their 39th annual meeting, the FPT Ministers committed to continuing the collaboration to advance towards a National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence. Budget 2022 announced $539.3M over five years, starting in 2022-23, to enable provinces and territories to supplement and enhance services and supports within their jurisdictions to prevent gender-based violence and support survivors.

Project example:

Not applicable

Background:

• The mandate of the Federal-Provincial-Territorial (FPT) Forum of Ministers responsible for the Status of Women, established in 1972, is to share knowledge and information and to undertake collaborative initiatives to promote and advance the status of women, which can include gender diversity and gender equality, while considering the varying scope of each minister’s mandate.
• As the 2022 FPT Forum co-chair, Nova Scotia’s Minister responsible for the Advisory Council on the Status of Women Act, Minister of Community Services, and Minister of L’nu Affairs, the Honourable Karla MacFarlane, will host the 40th annual meeting in Fall 2022 (date TBC).

2022-2023 Main Estimates

Issue / question:

2022-2023 Main Estimates

Suggested response:

• The Government of Canada continues to work towards creating a more inclusive society, where every person has an equal opportunity to succeed.
• Women and Gender Equality Canada will continue to advance equality through the inclusion of all women and members of LGBTQ2 communities in Canada’s economic, social, and political life.
• The Department will receive $310.3M in funding from the 2022-23 Main Estimates, representing an increase of $184.8M from the previous year’s Main Estimates.
• The majority of the funding will be used to support capacity building of women’s and equity-seeking organizations, to further women’s participation in Canadian society, to advance towards a National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence, and to advance LGBTQ2 equality.

Background:

• The Main Estimates are part of the normal parliamentary approval process to ensure that previously planned government initiatives receive the necessary funding to move forward.
• The Main Estimates confirm requests for resources that have already been approved by the Treasury Board.
• The Department will receive $310.3M in total funding for 2022-23:
• $59.0M in Operating expenditures;
• $245.2M in Grants and Contributions; and
• $6.1M in Statutory (Employee Benefit Plan: $6.0M, Minister’s salary & car: $92.5K).
• The total Grants and Contributions funding of $245.2M to be received in 2022-23 relates to:
  • Advancement of a new National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence – Budget 2021 ($162.3M)
  • Increase Capacity and Sustainability of the Women’s Movement ($67.4M)
  • Gender-Based Violence – Budget 2017 and 2018 ($10.0M)
  • Advancing LGBTQ2 Equality – Budget 2021 ($3.8M)
  • National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking ($1.7M)
• The following table indicates the variance in the funding received from the previous Main Estimates:

• The variance of $184.8M is attributable mainly to the funding received to advance towards a National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence and to advance LGBTQ2 equality.

2022-2023 Departmental Plan

Issue/Question:

What are the priorities for Women and Gender Equality as described in the 2022-2023 Departmental Plan?

Suggested Response:

• Over the past two years, WAGE has focused on providing urgent support for communities impacted by COVID-19. In 2022-23, WAGE will build upon these investments and further strengthen the Department as a world-class Centre of Expertise for advancing gender equality, addressing systemic barriers, and creating positive change in communities across Canada.
• Collaborating with other levels of government, Indigenous organizations, the women’s movement, the private sector, advocates, and equality-seeking organizations, WAGE will:
• Continue to advance a National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence to ensure that anyone facing gender-based violence has reliable and timely access to protection and prevention services;
• Launch Canada’s first Federal LGBTQ2 Action Plan;
• Deliver programming to create stable, predictable, long-term funding that organizations need to advance gender equality in Canada;
• Work with federal partners to develop a Menstrual Equity Fund;
• Undertake vital research to address knowledge gaps to better capture the lived experiences of all Canadians.

Background:

• The Departmental Plan (DP) is a ministerial accountability mechanism as well as an annual reporting requirement that serves to communicate Departmental expenditure plans, as well as the organization’s priorities, resource requirements, and expected results for the fiscal year. This Departmental Plan provides an outline for achieving more equitable outcomes for women and girls, including Indigenous women and the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community, and building capacity to fulfill the Department’s expanded mandate and its role as a centre of expertise.
• The mandate for Women and Gender Equality Canada is to advance equality with respect to sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity or expression through the inclusion of people of all genders.
• In 2022-2023, the Department will focus on four priority areas:
  • Preventing and addressing GBV, including: ongoing implementation of Canada’s Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence, advancing the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence, and delivering programming for organizations working to address human trafficking and GBV; funding research to address knowledge gaps and to advance evidence-based responses to GBV; implementing the first phase of a GBV Youth Awareness Campaign and supporting 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.
  • Strategic actions and engagement to address systemic barriers to gender equality, including: continuing to advance LGBTQ2 equality through the LGBTQ2 Secretariat; launching the first Federal LGBTQ2 Action Plan; establishing WAGE as a world-class Centre of Expertise for advancing gender equality; collaborating with provincial/territorial governments through the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Forum of Ministers responsible for the Status of Women, as well as with National Indigenous Leaders and Representatives; and supporting other federal government departments in advancing gender equality as part of the economic recovery.
  • Ensuring GBA Plus throughout federal government actions and decision-making processes, including: developing a new whole-of-government GBA Plus Action Plan; leading the evaluation process of GBA Plus to better capture the lived experiences of all Canadians; supporting federal departments and agencies in applying the tool in their policy and programming work; and improving the quality and scope of GBA Plus in budgeting processes in collaboration with Finance Canada and the Treasury Board Secretariat.
  • Supporting community action to advance gender equality, including: implementing a new LGBTQ2 Projects Fund to address the unique needs and persistent disparities facing LGBTQ2 communities; supporting projects to address systemic barriers to gender equality, including the Feminist Response and Recovery Fund; developing a Menstrual Equity Fund in collaboration with federal partners; and providing funding to Indigenous organizations to support Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ individuals.
• Over the reporting period, the Department will continue to strengthen internal services functions, including: Communications, Human Resources, Finance, Information Management, Information Technology, and Real Property and Acquisition.
• Key internal service priorities for the fiscal year include: designing and implementing a new and inclusive organizational structure; attracting and retaining a highly diverse and qualified workforce; and implementing a comprehensive governance approach to serve WAGE’s expanded organizational mandate and structure and support transformation.

The House of Commons Standing Committee on the Status of Women (FEWO)

The Standing Committee on the Status of Women’s mandate gives it the broad authority to study the policies, programs, expenditures (budgetary estimates), and legislation of departments and agencies, including the Department for Women and Gender Equality, that conduct work related to the status of women and gender equality.

In the 43rd Parliament, the committee has studied:

• Sexual misconduct within the Canadian Armed Forces;
• Challenges faced by women living in rural communities;
• Women’s unpaid work;
• Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on women;
• Midwifery services across Canada;
• Implementation of the Pay Equity Act.

During their first meeting of the first session of the 44th Parliament, members agreed that witnesses who appear before the committee would have five minutes to make opening statements. Whenever possible, these opening statements should be submitted to the committee seventy-two hours in advance. This is followed by a question and answer period. Questions will proceed in the following order:

Round 1 – 6 minutes each, CPC, LPC, BQ, NDP

Round 2 – 5 minutes each, CPC, LPC, then 2.5 minutes each, BQ, NDP, and subsequently another 5 minutes each CPC, LPC

The committee also elected Ms. Karen Vecchio (CPC) as Chair, Ms. Sonia Sidhu (LPC) as Vice-Chair and Ms. Andréanne Larouche (BQ) as Second Vice-Chair.

The committee agreed to undertake the following studies:

Resource Development and Violence against Indigenous Women and Girls (started on April 26, 2022)

That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee undertake a study on the relationship between resource development and increased violence against Indigenous women and girls, as it relates to Calls for Justice 13.4 and 13.5 of the National Inquiry into Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls; that the committee dedicate at least four meetings to this issue, report its findings and any recommendations to the House; and that, pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee request a comprehensive government response to the report.

C-233 An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Judges Act (violence against an intimate partner)

This private members’ bill is sponsored by Anju Dhillon and Pam Damoff from the Liberal Party of Canada. The first reading was on February 7, 2022, and was debated at second reading on April 29, 2022. It was adopted on April 29 and referred to FEWO. The study of the bill started on May 6, 2022. The committee heard the sponsors of the bill as well as the mother and step-father of Keira Kagan, the girl who was murdered by her father in the case of a separation and who inspired the bill.

It was agreed, — That the evidence heard by the committee as part of its study on intimate partner and domestic violence in Canada be taken into consideration by the committee as part of its study of Bill C-233, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Judges Act (violence against an intimate partner).

It was agreed, — That Anju Dhillon be invited to appear on Friday, May 6, 2022, as part of the study of Bill C-233, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Judges Act (violence against an intimate partner), and that she appear for one hour.

It was agreed, — That Department of Justice officials be invited to appear on Friday, May 6, 2022, as part of the study of Bill C-233, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Judges Act (violence against an intimate partner), and that they appear for one hour.

It was agreed, — That the committee commence clause-by-clause consideration of Bill C-233, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Judges Act (violence against an intimate partner) on Friday, May 13, 2022, and that any amendments be sent to the clerk by Wednesday, May 11, 2022, at noon (ET).

It was agreed, — That the deadline for submitting briefs as part of the study of Bill C-233, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Judges Act (violence against an intimate partner) be Wednesday, May 4, at 4 p.m. (ET).

Intimate Partner Violence (ended on April 5, 2022)

That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee undertake a study, using an intersectional lens, examining intimate partner and domestic violence, with sub-topics including, but not limited to:

1. Current support and protection infrastructures for women and girls subject to unsafe environments;
2. Intimate partner violence specifically regarding teen dating and toxic masculinity, including causation, prevention, and the resources and education available for victims and perpetrators;
3. Barriers facing women seeking to flee their perpetrators, including, but not limited to, an examination of the financial, social, coercive abuse, and immigration factors;
4. The various legislative experiences of states and countries that have created legislation to criminalize coercive and manipulative behaviour, and any other public policy tools.

That the committee consider additional ways in which the government can contribute to the prevention of intimate partner violence and the protection of women and children fleeing violence; that the committee hear from witnesses, as well as from department officials, for no less than ten meetings; that the committee report its findings to the House; and that, pursuant to Standing Order 109, the government table a comprehensive response in the House.

That the committee commence its study of intimate partner and domestic violence in Canada; that each witness hearing meeting take the form of two one-hour panels; that each panel be composed of three witnesses; that the parties send a list of witnesses to the clerk of the committee no later than 3:00 p.m. (ET) on Wednesday, February 2, 2022; that the committee accept briefs on this study; and that members of the public be able to submit briefs directly on the committee’s webpage.

That senior officials from the Department of Women and Gender Equality, the Department of Statistics Canada, the Department of Justice Canada, the Department of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs, the Department of Indigenous Services, and the Public Health Agency of Canada be invited to appear in relation to the study of intimate partner and domestic violence in Canada on Friday, February 4, 2022, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. (ET).

That the Minister of Women and Gender Equality and Youth be invited to appear in relation to the study of intimate partner and domestic violence in Canada.

The study ended on April 5, 2022. The committee is now drafting the report.

Mental Health of Young Women and Girls

That the committee undertake the following study as its third study: That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee undertake a study examining the factors contributing to mental health issues experienced by young women and girls, including, but not limited to, eating disorders, addiction, depression, anxiety, and suicide; that the committee provide attention to the impact of online harms and issues regarding self-esteem in young women and girls; that the committee hear from witnesses for six meetings, including the Minister of Women and Gender Equality and Youth for one hour and the Minister for Mental Health and Addictions for one hour; that the committee consider ways in which the government can continue to strengthen mental health supports for young women and girls; that the committee report its findings to the House; and that, pursuant to Standing Order 109, the government table a comprehensive response to the report.

Human Trafficking

That the committee undertake the following study as its fourth study: That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee undertake a study on human trafficking of women, girls, and gender-diverse individuals for sexual exploitation in Canada, including an examination of how to prevent the trafficking of individuals and ways to improve Canadian law enforcement’s capability to apprehend and prosecute perpetrators; that a minimum of eight and a maximum of ten meetings be held on this study; and that the committee report its findings to the House.

FEWO Members

Liberal Party of Canada:

• Jenna Sudds – New Member
• Emmanuella Lambropoulos – Returning Member
• Marc G. Serré – Returning Member
• Sonia Sidhu – Returning Member
• Anita Vandenbeld – Returning Member

Conservative Party of Canada:

• Karen Vecchio – Returning Member
• Dominique Vien – New Member
• Shelby Kramp-Neuman – New Member
• Michelle Ferreri – New Member

New Democratic Party:

• Leah Gazan – New Member

Bloc Québécois:

• Andréanne Larouche – Returning Member