Statistics Canada 2024-25 Departmental plan: Supplementary information tables

Introduction

In 2018, Parliament passed the Canadian Gender Budgeting Act. The departmental plans and departmental results reports are being used to fulfill the President of the Treasury Board's obligations to make public, every year, analysis on the impacts of expenditure programs on gender and diversity.

Each organization is responsible for conducting their own Gender-based Analysis Plus (GBA Plus)

Applicability

All organizations must complete GBA Plus supplementary information tables in departmental plans and departmental results reports on an annual basis.

General information: Institutional GBA Plus capacity

The Centre for Gender, Diversity and Inclusion Statistics (CGDIS) is Statistics Canada's centre of expertise on gender, diversity and inclusion and GBA Plus and is a key supporter in the implementation of the agency's Disaggregated Data Action Plan (DDAP). The CGDIS's main activities include developing and maintaining a public-facing hub; conducting research on gender, diversity and inclusion-related issues; disseminating analytical products and insights on this subject matter; and building GBA Plus capacity.

The CGDIS reports to Canadians through the Gender, Diversity and Inclusion Statistics Hub, which brings together Statistics Canada products related to gender, diversity and inclusion in Canada; the Gender Results Framework; and information on gender statistics in the international context. The hub also connects directly to other relevant Statistics Canada data hubs and web portals.

The hub serves as the primary platform for disseminating products and information related to disaggregated and intersectional data, and the CGDIS will continue to engage with external partners to improve its features and functionalities that are available to users.

The CGDIS launched an updated version of the hub. This updated version now includes the Sex, Gender and Sexual Orientation Statistics hub, which reports on Canada's Gender Results Framework and includes data and analyses on gender and 2SLGBTQ+ communities.

The CGDIS continues to improve data holdings, enhance data disaggregation, and develop research and analytical products that support Canada's Anti-Racism Strategy. Key deliverables include engaging an external expert advisory committee to guide and advise on the development of a conceptual framework on ethnocultural diversity and inclusion; developing analytical portraits of racialized groups in Canada along demographic, economic and social dimensions; and updating the intersectional insights of Social Inclusion Framework data.

The DDAP is a whole-of-government approach led by Statistics Canada to strengthen the government's efforts to address systemic racism and gender gaps, leading to better and more equitable decision making for all Canadians.

The DDAP supports more representative data collection methods, enhances statistics on diverse populations to allow for intersectional analyses, and supports government and societal efforts to address known inequalities and promote fair and inclusive decision making.

The DDAP includes data collection, the use of alternative data sources, methods and the development of standards, engagement and collaboration, and the dissemination of results. Its current focus is on the four employment equity groups: Indigenous people, women, racialized populations and people with disabilities. Where relevant and feasible (considering the subject matter, data confidentiality, privacy and quality considerations), disaggregation will extend to other groups (e.g., 2SLGBTQ+ communities, children and youth, seniors, official language minorities, immigrants, and low-income Canadians). To better understand the inequalities of diverse population groups, the DDAP adopts a GBA Plus lens to critically analyze all intersecting identity factors.

In terms of human resources, Statistics Canada continues to foster a workplace that is diverse and inclusive and a workforce that is representative of the Canadian population. Since 2020–21, the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Accountability Framework has increased accountability to employment equity committees, resulting in clearer roles and responsibilities and better service to employees.

Statistics Canada also continues to implement two human resource-related action plans—2021–2025 Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan: Moving Forward Together and Statistics Canada: Road to Accessibility, 2023–2025—which aim to improve and promote diversity and inclusion within the workplace, eliminate systemic barriers in appointment processes, and increase representation at all levels across the agency.

Governance

Since September 2022, the DDAP Secretariat has resided in the CGDIS, which serves as the primary platform for disseminating products and information related to the DDAP to Canadians. The DDAP aims to provide detailed data to help address gender gaps, racism and other systemic barriers in Canadian society. The DDAP enables GBA Plus by supporting the use of more disaggregated data in intersectional analyses that inform fair and inclusive decisions that affect the entire Canadian population.

The CGDIS aims to increase functionality and data visualization tools on the hub; promote relevant statistical standards; develop conceptual frameworks and indicators relevant to diverse population groups; and disseminate more disaggregated data, analytical products and actionable insights.

A key component of Statistics Canada's GBA Plus governance is the GBA Plus Responsibility Network, which includes members from each sector of Statistics Canada who work together to further GBA Plus implementation and increase GBA Plus-related communications across the agency. The network is led by a GBA Plus expert within the CGDIS, with the support of the agency's GBA Plus Champion. The network communicates and collaborates with relevant parties within their programs—using their professional expertise, knowledge and perspectives—to contribute to the collection of data on program-specific gender and diversity performance indicators and the integration of GBA Plus into each program's processes and business.

The role of the GBA Plus Champion is to increase awareness among Statistics Canada's employees and senior management about the importance of GBA Plus and intersectionality through all-staff communications (e.g., Gender Equality Week and GBA Plus Awareness Week).

In addition, Statistics Canada participates in and collaborates with Women and Gender Equality Canada's GBA Plus Learning Advisory Committee. This committee provides an ongoing interdepartmental forum for federal organizations to discuss the learning needs of the federal public service on the topics of GBA Plus and intersectionality and identify and mitigate any gaps in learning resources. The committee focuses on addressing GBA Plus capacity gaps, specifically by improving GBA Plus digital learning and adapting GBA Plus training development and tools to a hybrid teleworking environment.

Furthermore, Statistics Canada participates in the federal advisory committee of assistant deputy ministers on disaggregated data, furthering the agency's commitment to learning about improving data disaggregation by gender and other identity factors.

Capacity

The CGDIS continues to report to Canadians on gender-, diversity- and inclusion-related information; identify and address data gaps and analysis; support data development; and advance GBA Plus knowledge and capacity.

The DDAP is a broader whole-of-government strategy for collecting detailed demographic data to address disparities, while GBA Plus is a tool and an approach to analyze the experiences and outcomes of different population groups and to assess how policies and programs affect different identity groups, with a focus on gender and its intersection with other identity factors. The DDAP enables GBA Plus, as disaggregated data are a fundamental element in conducting effective GBA Plus.

The CGDIS manages the internal GBA Plus Community of Practice (CoP). Statistics Canada's GBA Plus CoP provides a repository for GBA Plus tools and resources and is a knowledge-sharing platform between the GBA Plus CoP and the GBA Plus Responsibility Network. The GBA Plus CoP held monthly meetings, presentations and workshops (e.g., a workshop on methodological considerations regarding the dissemination of statistical information on gender diversity). The CGDIS is responsible for GBA Plus and all engagement and outreach initiatives. It raises awareness and builds GBA Plus capacity throughout the agency to develop training materials that favour the disaggregation of data and enable GBA Plus. The CGDIS collaborates with the Canada School of Public Service and working groups on GBA Plus (use case for training) and participates in and provides input on the pilot course, "Pilot Workshop Invitation: Disaggregated Data Analysis for the Policy Community."

Highlights of GBA Plus results reporting by program

Program: Economic and Environmental Statistics

The Economic and Environmental Statistics program produces a wide range of economic and environmental statistics on topics such as national and international accounts, manufacturing, wholesale trade, retail trade, research and development, price indexes, finance, tourism, transportation, agriculture, and the environment. The program monitors the inclusion of gender and diversity characteristics (GBA Plus) in the statistical products that it releases, specifically,

1. the number of GBA Plus-related statistical products (e.g., catalogued products, such as data tables, research articles, studies, fact sheets, infographics, interactive dashboards, reference products) released and made available on Statistics Canada's website
2. the number of GBA Plus outreach activities (e.g., consultations, presentations) for external stakeholders (e.g., other government departments, academia, non-governmental organizations)
3. the number of surveys or other collection tools that collect data on the following GBA Plus identity factors: gender and sexual orientation.

Statistics Canada's Economic and Environmental Statistics program continues to collect data on the ownership of businesses by gender and other diversity and identity factors (e.g., businesses majority-owned by women, Indigenous people, immigrants, people with disabilities, racialized groups) for its surveys and statistical programs.

Program: Socio-economic Statistics

The Socio-economic Statistics program provides integrated information and relevant analysis on the demographic and socio-economic characteristics of individuals, families and households and the major factors affecting their well-being.

The vast majority, if not all, of the work undertaken by the Socio-economic Statistics program includes GBA Plus considerations. As such, the Socio-economic Statistics program monitors its inclusion of gender and diversity characteristics (GBA Plus) in several ways:

1. the number of GBA Plus-related statistical products (e.g., catalogued products, such as data tables, research articles, studies, fact sheets, infographics, interactive dashboards, reference products) released and made available on Statistics Canada's website
2. the number of GBA Plus outreach activities (e.g., consultations, presentations) for external stakeholders (e.g., other government departments, academia, non-governmental organizations)
3. the number of training and awareness initiatives related to GBA Plus
4. the number of visits to the Gender, Diversity and Inclusion Statistics Hub by fiscal year^{Socio-economic Statistics note *}
5. the number of Gender Results Framework indicators released by sex or gender by fiscal year^{Socio-economic Statistics note *}
6. the number of Gender Results Framework indicators released by sex or gender and other identity factor by fiscal year^{Socio-economic Statistics note *}
7. the percentage of programs from the agency's program inventory, excluding Internal Services, that have data collection plans for reporting on the effects on gender and diversity^{Socio-economic Statistics note *}
8. the number of surveys or other collection tools that collect data on the following GBA Plus identity factors: gender and sexual orientation.

The Socio-economic Statistics program will continue to focus on gender, diversity and inclusion in its analytical products for the next fiscal year. Statistics Canada is working on expanding the standards for the concept of racialized populations. A report detailing the results of a consultative engagement on this concept, including recommendations, will be made available to the public by May 2024. The objective is to have a new collection and dissemination standard ready for the 2026 Census. In addition, Statistics Canada follows the federal 2SLGBTQI+ Action Plan objectives, which include strengthening national data on 2SLGBTQI+ populations. For example, Statistics Canada released its first statistical standard on sexual orientation in August 2023, along with an updated question to collect data on this topic. The Socio-economic Statistics program continues to conduct intersectional analysis of the 2SLGBTQ+ population and aims to fill data gaps, for example, by looking at the feasibility of collecting data specific to the intersex population. The Socio-economic Statistics program will continue to collaborate with the Centre for Indigenous Statistics and Partnerships, which is currently leading consultations to inform the development of a statistical standard on Two-Spirit people.

Program: Censuses

The Censuses program provides statistical information and analyses that measure changes in the Canadian population and its demographic characteristics and in the agricultural sector. The program includes the Census of Population and the Census of Agriculture.

The Censuses program monitors the inclusion of gender and diversity characteristics (GBA Plus) in the statistical products it releases, specifically,

1. the number of GBA Plus-related statistical products (e.g., catalogued products, such as data tables, research articles, studies, fact sheets, infographics, interactive dashboards, reference products) released and made available on Statistics Canada's website.

Using the richness of the disaggregated data available from the 2021 Census, the Censuses program will continue to conduct intersectional analysis to highlight the impacts of programs and initiatives on various population groups and people, and it will continue to support the competent authorities in their decision-making process.

Program: Cost-Recovered Statistical Services

Through the Cost-Recovered Statistical Services program, Statistics Canada conducts special surveys to gather new data; produces high-quality statistics that are currently not part of the agency's data holdings; and conducts on-demand special analytical projects to meet the specific needs of federal, provincial and territorial institutions and other clients.

Cost-recovered projects and statistical services are undertaken across programs throughout the agency. For example, on a cost-recovery basis, Women and Gender Equality Canada has funded, and continues to fund, research and other projects that have addressed important gender-, diversity- and inclusion-related data and knowledge gaps. As such, the cost-recovery program monitors its inclusion of gender and diversity characteristics (GBA Plus) through

1. the number of GBA Plus-related statistical products (e.g., catalogued products, such as data tables, research articles, studies, fact sheets, infographics, interactive dashboards, reference products) released and made available on Statistics Canada's website.

The cost-recovery program will continue to provide mentorship and specialized knowledge when required to ensure deliverables are based on best practices and meet the needs of stakeholders.

Program: Centres of Expertise

The Centres of Expertise undertake innovative research, analysis and data development activities and continually seek new data sources, leading-edge methods and systems, cost-effective operations, and new statistical products to address the current and future information needs of Canadians. The Centres of Expertise monitor the inclusion of gender and diversity characteristics (GBA Plus) in the statistical products they release, specifically,

1. the number of GBA Plus-related statistical products (e.g., catalogued products, such as data tables, research articles, studies, fact sheets, infographics, interactive dashboards, reference products) released and made available on Statistics Canada's website
2. the number of training and awareness initiatives related to GBA Plus.

The Centres of Expertise will continue to provide mentorship and specialized knowledge when required to ensure deliverables are based on best practices and meet the needs of stakeholders.