2022-23 Gender-based analysis plus

Table of contents

Institutional GBA Plus capacity

Governance structure

The GBA Plus Centre of Expertise facilitates the transfer of GBA Plus knowledge to sectors and programs within CIRNAC, provides secretariat functions for the GBA Plus Network, and supports Indigenous culturally-competent GBA Plus implementation across the federal government. The departmental Centre of Expertise will continue to lead the delivery of various GBA Plus awareness sessions with a focus on distinctions-based and culturally-competent GBA Plus.

CIRNAC's interdepartmental GBA Plus Network, consists of GBA Plus sector focal points and Branch representatives to support the implementation of GBA Plus throughout the department. The Branch representatives share information and resources to help improve the quality of GBA Plus at the Branch level, whereas the sector focal points provide the challenge function on GBA Plus in all policies, programs, and initiatives in their respective sectors, report quarterly on the implementation of GBA Plus, and promote GBA Plus quality and consistency in their sectors.

Human resources

The resources dedicated to support GBA Plus within CIRNAC include the Executive Champions – Champion of Gender Inclusive Services and Champion of Diversity and Inclusion – and a Centre of Expertise comprised of 3 full-time equivalent employees. CIRNAC also relies on the support of its GBA Plus Network, which is comprised of over 50 Branch representatives and 5 sector focal points for Policy and Strategic Direction, Northern Affairs Organization, Treaties and Aboriginal Government, Resolution and Partnerships, and Implementation Sector.

Major initiatives

GBA Plus monitoring will continue to be undertaken on all departmental planning documents, Treasury Board submissions, Cabinet documents, budget submissions, regulatory initiatives, and in policy and program architecture and implementation. With the development of culturally-competent GBA Plus guidelines, implementation strategy, and a modernized GBA Plus policy, CIRNAC will be better positioned to apply and monitor fulsome, culturally-competent GBA Plus throughout the department.

The department strives to develop more robust methods to collect data to support the design, implementation, and review of policy and programs using a GBA Plus lens.

CIRNAC will continue to partner with Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) in support of Indigenous women's organizations working to advance culturally-competent GBA Plus resources. The department will also work with the department of Women and Gender Equality (WAGE) to ensure that an Indigenous lens is included as part of a robust approach to intersectional policy analysis and program design across the federal government. Lastly, the GBA Plus Centre of Expertise will work in partnership with other diversity and inclusion and anti-racism communities across the federal family to ensure complementarity of initiatives.

Highlights of GBA Plus Results Reporting Capacity by Program

Core Responsibility: Crown-Indigenous Relations
Program Results Reporting Capacity
Basic Organizational Capacity
  • The program provides Indigenous representative organizations with core capacity funding to support core operations and salaries within their organizations. These organizations are instrumental in advancing Indigenous self-determination and strengthening Crown-Indigenous relationships based on respect, cooperation, partnership, and recognition of rights.
  • The program does not directly support a specific pillar or goal under the Gender Results Framework, as funds are used to support day-to-day operations of Indigenous representative organizations. It is not within the scope of the program to require core capacity funding to be allocated based on gender and diversity considerations.
  • However, the program does have direct impacts on Indigenous men, women, and gender-diverse people, including First Nation, Inuit and Métis peoples. This is because Basic Organizational Capacity funding is allocated to national and regional Indigenous organizations inclusive of all genders and Indigenous distinctions to ensure that diverse Indigenous voices are heard on issues that affect them. The program also has indirect impacts on First Nations, Inuit and Métis women, because of the 50 recognized organizations eligible for funds, there are 4 organizations that specifically serve Indigenous women, and additional Indigenous representative organizations have women's councils that serve the interest of women members and citizens.
  • The program review to be initiated in 2022–23 will be conducted taking into account an intersectional lens and GBA Plus considerations.
Consultation and Accommodation
  • In order to reduce the reporting burden for Indigenous communities, tracking the impacts of GBA Plus is encouraged within the existing reporting structure for Indigenous peoples. For federally-based activities related to consultation and accommodation such as networks, workshops, conferences, and training, GBA Plus impacts will be discussed and/or monitored through data collection and survey/evaluation processes, where applicable.
Consultation and Policy Development
  • The program provides funds to Indigenous Representative Organizations, including First Nation and Inuit Indigenous Women's Organizations, so that they can participate as meaningful interlocutors in engagement efforts with the federal government to co-develop policies, programs and partnerships.
  • The program has direct impacts on First Nations and Inuit men, women, and gender-diverse people as it supports advocacy and leadership capacity of Indigenous Representative Organizations so they can be meaningful players in advancing Indigenous self-determination. It has indirect benefits for First Nations and Inuit women, as 2 National Indigenous Women's Organizations are recipients of this program as well as some 2SLGBTQQIA+ organizations, and additional Indigenous Representative Organizations have women and 2SLGBTQQIA+ councils that also serve the interest of women and gender-diverse members and citizens.
  • The program supports the Gender Results Framework pillar of Leadership and Democratic Participation with the goal of greater representation of women and underrepresented groups in elected office and ministerial positions in national and sub-national governments.
Federal Interlocutor's Contribution Program
  • The program addresses a unique Indigenous demographic of Métis and Non-Status Indians and has direct and indirect impacts on Indigenous women, men and gender-diverse peoples, including Métis, off-reserve, Non-Status, urban, rural and remote populations. It funds support for the governance and policy development goals of Indigenous peoples off-reserve, Métis and Non-Status Indian organizations and communities in order to improve the quality of life of their community members and citizens, and ensure that their diverse voices are heard.
  • The program supports the Gender Results Framework pillar of Leadership and Democratic Participation with the goal of greater representation of women and underrepresented groups in elected office, and the pillar of Poverty Reduction, Health and Well-being with the goal of fewer vulnerable individuals living in poverty.
  • Baseline data collected through the development and implementation of long-term work plans with partner organizations and communities will assist in measuring and tracking GBA Plus considerations.
First Nation Jurisdiction over Land and Fiscal Management
  • The regimes build on past successes and create an environment of community-level decision-making that results in increased opportunities for community and social development, supporting the governance and policy development goals of First Nations in order to improve the quality of life of their community members and citizens, and ensure that their diverse voices are heard. The program benefits diverse First Nation communities through strengthened First Nation land and fiscal governance.
  • The regimes do not have direct impacts that support the pillars and goals of the Gender Results Framework. It supports First Nations assuming jurisdiction of land and fiscal management, moving away from governance models imposed by Canada, and additions to reserve/reserve creation. The regimes do not require core capacity funding to be allocated based on gender and diversity considerations, and do not collect data on individuals, only on First Nations and First Nations organizations and institutions. While the regimes encourage First Nations to share data on impacts at the community level, there are no requirements for this reporting.
  • Activities under these regimes build on other successes, such as how First Nations operating under the First Nation Land Management Act address matrimonial real property through their land code, or how communities operating under First Nation Fiscal Management or First Nation Land Management experience increased potential for economic and social development along with associated benefits from greater economic opportunities. These kinds of successes are examples of community resilience, a protective factor that helps diverse groups of men and women deal more effectively with stressful events and mitigate or eliminate risks in families and communities.
Management and Implementation of Agreements and Treaties
  • The program supports Inuit, Métis and First Nations communities with modern treaties and self-government agreements. This program has direct impacts on First Nations and Inuit men, women, and gender diverse peoples as modern treaty and self-government agreement holders exercise jurisdiction and responsibilities relating to their political, economic, social and cultural development to improve, amongst other things, the socio-economic well-being of their respective populations.
  • As autonomous orders of government, self-governing Indigenous governments have the authority to administer programs and services at their discretion. This program ensures that these governments are provided with consistent funding and equipped to administer programs and services that benefit their communities.
  • Studies such as the Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (2019) have shown that colonial intervention in Indigenous communities imposed a patriarchal status quo and subjected Indigenous women to systems of oppression. Discussions with self-governing Indigenous governments suggest that self-government has increased their ability to reclaim traditional and more inclusive forms of governance. As groups have begun to exercise their inherent right of self‑determination through self-government agreements, Indigenous women are encouraged to return to their vital roles in communities.
  • This program does not directly support a specific pillar or goal under the Gender Results Framework, as funds are used to support the implementation of modern treaties and self-government agreements. As such, it is not within the scope of the program to require core capacity funding to be allocated based on gender and diversity considerations.
Negotiation of Treaties, Self-Government Agreements and other Constructive Arrangements
  • This program supports Canada's commitment to the negotiation of treaties, self-government agreements and other constructive arrangements, which reconcile Indigenous rights with the sovereignty of the Crown.
  • CIRNAC recognizes that, as Indigenous nations work to revitalize their traditional ways of living, GBA Plus and other diversity and inclusion principles provide an opportunity to address the unique experience of Indigenous women, 2SLGBTQQIA+ people, youth, and elders, and to help restore traditional Indigenous governance and economic structures that were disrupted by the Indian Act and other colonial structures.
  • The program has direct impacts on the Gender Results Framework, particularly in support of the key area "Economic Participation and Prosperity". The program's work on self-government agreements has had positive effects in areas such as total income, labour force attachment and household incomes.
  • Measures will continue to be taken to ensure that this program reflects GBA Plus perspectives in its work with Indigenous partners, and supports Indigenous communities in using intersectional approaches that could strengthen their chosen systems of governance. For example:
    • Federal negotiators will ensure inclusive communication, and be mindful that colonial and patriarchal structures, as well as rhetoric, may impact the type and subject matters of negotiations.
    • Canada will continue to ensure that underrepresented groups have a voice in the engagement and co-development of policies, and will encourage diverse perspectives at negotiation tables where appropriate.
    • All negotiated agreements require the approval of Cabinet and therefore require a thorough GBA Plus, in line with Treasury Board Secretariat and the Women and Gender Equality Canada guidelines.
  • An evaluation of the program in 2022–23 will help provide an understanding of the program's effectiveness at applying GBA to its program design and delivery. In turn, this will help CIRNAC identify new ways to implement a diverse and inclusive approach into ongoing negotiation and policy work.
Other Claims
  • Resolution of childhood claims in a fair, compassionate and respectful manner contributes to addressing the negative consequences experienced by Indigenous people who suffered harms as children as a result of past Government policies and programs, specifically First Nations, Inuit, Métis and Non-Status individuals located across Canada, living in both urban and remote communities.
  • Neither sex nor gender identity were prevalent factors in school or residential placements, or in child welfare decisions, and survivors of abuse are of both sexes and can be of any income level, sexual orientation, or level of ability. However, while there is presently no data available to determine the impacts of this initiative through an intersectional lens, existing research indicates that women and 2SLGBTQQIA+ survivors of these harmful historic programs and policies likely experience disproportionate consequences.
  • Effective management and resolution of childhood claims will directly benefit Indigenous people who suffered harms as children as a result of past Government policies and programs, and will have positive impacts for Indigenous communities, including youth and future generations.
  • Childhood claims will continue to apply GBA Plus considerations into policy guidance.
Residential Schools Resolution
  • The program supports the implementation of the Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement. It is accessible equally to male and female applicants and data is collected on components of implementing the Agreement.
  • The program includes secure, protected and confidential data collected from recipients and adheres to all necessary legal obligations and privacy protocols and therefore does not publicly report on compensation recipient gender identification.
  • Gender-based considerations are incorporated into policy guidance for program and service delivery.
Specific Claims
  • Specific claims are grievances that First Nations have against the Government of Canada for failing to discharge its lawful obligations with respect to pre-1975 treaties and the management of First Nation lands, monies and other assets. The program provides a voluntary alternative dispute resolution framework that allows the federal government to discharge its outstanding historic legal obligations to First Nations through negotiated settlements. Specific claims settlements can also provide significant resources for First Nations to invest in their self-determined socio-economic development plans and priorities.
  • While the intended recipient of settlement compensation is the entire First Nation, including women, men, children and youth, elders, persons with disabilities/health issues, and persons of different genders, Canada's policy is to not interfere with how a First Nation chooses to use its settlement funds. Nor does Canada seek to ask First Nations to report on the use, access and benefits derived by the use of the settlement funds. As such, it is not within the scope of the program to identify impacts of claims negotiations or settlement agreements on individual members of the diverse groups of First Nations in Canada, to address such effects post-agreement, or to require First Nations to provide data on gender and diversity impacts.
Core Responsibility: Northern Affairs
Program Results Reporting Capacity
Canadian High Arctic Research Station
  • Polar Knowledge Canada, as the operator and future administrator of the Canadian High Arctic Research Station (CHARS), will be responsible for ongoing monitoring and evaluation of CHARS-related research programs and operations starting in 2022-23. Polar Knowledge Canada continues to use GBA Plus as both an analytical process and as a tool for meaningful engagement to provide information, data and trends that will inform mitigation measures and activities in support of departmental results.
Climate Change Adaptation and Clean Energy
  • The Climate Change Adaption and Clean Energy program monitors diversity impacts on a distinction basis. Starting in 2022–23, the Northern REACHE program will monitor the percentage of projects that have taken steps to include culturally-competent GBA Plus measures.
Northern and Arctic Environmental Sustainability
  • In 2021–22, the Northern Participant Funding Program began collecting information on what steps Indigenous governments and organizations, as well as Northerners, who received funding under the program, took to include GBA Plus and intersectional considerations as part of their participation in impact assessments of major territories in the North. In 2022–23, that data will be analyzed to develop baselines and evaluate what additional steps the program can and should take to advance culturally-competent GBA Plus while respecting the right of Indigenous governments and organizations to self-determination.
Northern and Arctic Governance and Partnerships Nunavut Devolution

  • The program to negotiate the Nunavut Devolution Final Agreement supports the "economic participation and prosperity" pillar of the Gender Results Framework. A GBA Plus completed for Nunavut Devolution found that in the short term, during Canada's negotiation of the Final Agreement, there were no potential impacts. Elements of devolution might have impacts on Indigenous peoples (men, women, children, and elderly), primarily the Inuit of Nunavut, representing approximately 85% of Nunavut's population. These elements include the need for development of a human resource strategy, as part of the Final Agreement negotiations. This strategy would train Inuit so that they could take up positions that would be transferred as part of Nunavut devolution. Considerations will include women and family needs, many of whom will be young parents, the inclusion of housing, travel support, and location and language of instruction and/or employment. Devolution may also impact other Indigenous peoples which will result in Canada being required to fulfill its duty to consult and, if necessary, accommodate as part of Final Agreement negotiations.
  • The program to negotiate the Nunavut Devolution Final Agreement uses sufficient data to monitor program impacts by gender and diversity. The process to negotiate the Final Devolution Agreement includes the first 2 of 5 years to implement a Transitional Human Resources Development Strategy. Implementation of the Strategy will include ongoing monitoring by the parties and/or reporting of program impacts in terms of diversity and gender.
Circumpolar Affairs

  • Under the project entitled: "Gender Equality in the Arctic IV" the program builds upon the project's previous iteration, the pan-Arctic Gender Equality in the Arctic (GEA) III report, to address the knowledge gaps and recommendations for future actions identified during that phase of work. This fourth iteration will focus on the integration of GBA Plus or gender mainstreaming in the work of the Arctic Council and the collection of sex disaggregated data. In this regard, Canada and its circumpolar partners will both develop a process that ensures gender perspectives, contributions and knowledge are adequately assessed in all stages of the Council's project work as well as seek collaboration among national statistical agencies, Permanent Participant Organizations and Arctic Council working groups to develop an approach to address the lack of sex disaggregated data available in the region. This project aligns closely with Canada's commitment to gender equality. The Circumpolar Affairs initiatives outlined above will be monitored via planning and reporting processes as outlined in various Treasury Board submissions, departmental plans, and operational plans.
Northern Contaminated Sites
  • The Northern Contaminated Sites Program collects socio-economic data on each of its projects, which include statistics on the number of female, Indigenous and/or Northern employees, as well the number of Indigenous and /or Northern businesses contracted for work. This data is used to meet a number of internal and external reporting requirements.
Northern Regulatory and Legislative Frameworks
  • This program does not currently collect sufficient data to enable it to monitor or report program impacts by gender and diversity. In 2022-23, program staff will identify how to collect sufficient data to monitor or report program impacts by gender and diversity, and will begin collecting that data in 2023-24 or as soon as possible thereafter.
Northern Strategic and Science Policy
  • This program does not collect socio-economic data. Co-development partners to the Arctic and Northern Policy Framework established a set of principles to provide continuing guidance on implementation of the Framework, including that "policy and programming will reflect a commitment to diversity and equality, and to the employment of analytical tools such as GBA Plus to assess potential impacts on diverse groups of people."
  • Reporting requirements for the post-secondary initiatives are all done by the academic institutions and/or governments receiving funds for those initiatives. For example, in support of the transformation of Aurora College into a polytechnic university, Aurora College has provided a robust and public online reporting structure for the College's transformation. Aurora College does not currently provide complete demographic statistics, for example, a gender or an age breakdown of their student population (in 2019-20, 469 full-time students and 1,359 part-time students were enrolled). The College has a stated strategic priority of achieving equitable Indigenous student participation and success rates in post-secondary education. The highest level of schooling data is available from the Northwest Territories Bureau of Statistics.
Nutrition North Canada
  • The program's collaborative approach to working with Indigenous partners supports distinctions-based food security initiatives that respond to the experiences and lived realities of Indigenous communities. Regular engagement with NNC's Indigenous Working Group, its Advisory Board, and the Inuit-Crown Food Security Working Group guides and informs NNC on where to best target food security funding to maximize benefits for Indigenous groups. These engagements recognize the diverse experiences of Indigenous women, children, elders, gender-diverse peoples, and differently abled persons, and strive to reduce systemic barriers to access.
  • The NNC retail subsidy and Harvesters Support Grant are important to individuals and groups more likely to face challenges affording or otherwise accessing food. Ongoing programming will rely on GBA Plus, and this should result in increasing Northerners' resiliency to changing environments, and provide better access to food for residents in isolated northern communities.

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