Gender-based analysis plus

NRCan is committed to facilitating diverse and inclusive outcomes through its work, including ensuring that diverse populations of Canadians benefit from our policies, programs and initiatives, and recognizes the importance of Gender Based Analysis Plus (GBA Plus) in achieving this goal. To that end, NRCan has a well-established GBA Plus framework in place that is supported by senior management and GBA Plus Centre of Expertise (the Centre).

The Centre is the departmental contact point for GBA Plus. It facilitates the integration of GBA Plus across the department, from policy and program development to planning and reporting. The Centre ensures that GBA Plus is integrated into the decision-making processes, by providing guidance in the preparation of Budget proposals, Memoranda to Cabinet, and Treasury Board Submission and ensuring that an assessment is undertaken of the potential implications of NRCan initiatives, including policies, programs, on the diverse populations of Canadians.

The Centre provides ongoing advice and guidance with the aim of increasing understanding of GBA Plus and building capacity to meet government requirements and beyond.

To further advance the implementation of GBA Plus and to build the department’s GBA Plus capacity, The Centre will continue to implement its Action Plan that was approved by the Performance, Measurement, Evaluation and Experimentation Committee.

This includes undertaking a Department-wide analysis of NRCan’s data collection capacity in the coming year, the Centre plans to use the information already gathered to facilitate GBA Plus data capacity within the department. The exercise has provided a baseline on the current data collection capacity at NRCan, which will be used to guide NRCan program to further enhance their capacity to collect and analyze disaggregated data to make NRCan programs more inclusive.

With the establishment of NRCan’s Centre of Expertise and with a clear action plan, the Centre plans to re-establish the department’s GBA Plus working group to help build the department’s GBA Plus Capacity. The working group has continued to evolve and grow since its creation and includes membership from across sectors and employee networks, as well as some guest appearances by other government department partners. Over the years, the working group has supported the department in strengthening its awareness and capacity in GBA Plus during and beyond the demands of COVID-19, including through information sharing, the development of a repository of resources and presentations organised by the Centre on diversity and inclusion. The working group is currently comprised of approximately 55 people from across different sectors, occupational groups and networks.

Further, the Centre plans to enhance the GBA Plus intranet site and host a departmental training and awareness session to foster greater awareness and understanding of GBA Plus in the department. The Centre plans to use tools provided by Women and Gender Equity (WAGE) and NRCan focused data to facilitated awareness and knowledge throughout the department.

NRCan recognizes that the successful transition to a low-carbon economy will depend on our ability to harness all possible talent representing Canada’s diverse population. NRCan’s increased understanding of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in the clean energy technology sector will inform program design, delivery, and evaluation to ensure that research, development and demonstration (RD&D) programs are aligned with the Government of Canada’s goals of gender, diversity and reconciliation, and that they address discrimination and facilitate evidence-based decision making that takes into account the impacts of federal policies and programs on people from a variety of perspectives.

To achieve these goals, NRCan’s Office of Energy Research and Development (OERD) has developed a phased approach to EDI implementation in its RD&D programs from a design, delivery and evaluation perspective. The phased approach aims to: 1) increase inclusivity in OERD’s programs and policies; 2) support NRCan’s and the Government of Canada’s EDI priorities; and 3) identify actions required to help advance and support a diverse and inclusive clean energy technology sector.

EDI data collection, annual data collection and reporting templates for OERD programs have been evaluated and edited to collect gender-disaggregated data that aligns with program goals. Training and hiring metrics are now collected at gender-disaggregated levels and align with Statistics Canada terminology (female, male and gender-diverse). The Clean Energy for Rural and Remote Communities program is also collecting disaggregated information about Indigenous identity (First Nations, Inuit and Métis) for project ownership/participation and youth participation. The EDI data collected will provide a better understanding of participation in and access to the suite of RD&D programs and the impacts of the programs on equity-seeking groups. This EDI data will also allow for a better understanding of the current state of EDI in the clean energy technology sector, and facilitate the identification of gaps and potential actions to promote the inclusion of equity-seeking groups and reduce possible barriers and bias to access and participate in OERD’s RD&D programs.

In 2022-23, OERD will continue work related to the:

1. Collection and analysis of EDI data to help establish a baseline of the status of EDI for applicants/proponents based on annual performance reports, post-completion project reports, and calls for proposals, compared to the composition of the clean energy technology sector’s workforce more broadly.
2. Assessment of best practices and lessons learned from other RD&D funding organizations, associations representing equity-seeking groups and leaders of EDI in the workplace that will help inform RD&D programs targeting EDI considerations.
3. Development of a pilot outreach strategy for equity-seeking groups to increase awareness about OERD funding opportunities.
4. Establishment of EDI metrics as part of the project review and selection process.

The Canadian Geodetic Survey program is exploring approaches that would introduce digital services in underserved parts of the country and level the playing field for Canadians in more remote communities by planning future investments related to the Canadian Spatial reference system. These approaches could also support increasingly automated transportation services, which have the potential to help mobility-challenged Canadians.

There is currently no GBA Plus Data Collection Plan in place, however, as the program develops its capacity to meet the needs of underserved Canadians a data collection plan will be considered.

United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) Program

The UNCLOS program is a horizontal initiative involving Natural Resources Canada, Global Affairs Canada and Fisheries and Oceans Canada. The program is tasked with collecting and analyzing the required scientific data to define Canada’s continental shelf, making a strong scientific case to the United Nations that it is a natural component of the Canadian landmass.

Women are underrepresented in STEM fields in the private sector as well as the federal government, however almost half of this program’s team of geologists and geophysicists are women. No gender or diversity impacts were found on the direct work or operations of the program, the scientific research and analysis to support Canada’s Atlantic and Arctic oceans submissions to the United Nations.

Geo-Mapping for Energy and Minerals (GEM-GeoNorth)

The GEM-GeoNorth program is expected to facilitate increased labour market opportunities for women, especially women in underrepresented groups.

The program aims to directly create a small number of labour market opportunities in the physical sciences and in computer and information systems. Using strategies that promote gender equality in program hiring, the program seeks to increase the accessibility of these opportunities for diverse groups of women. The program’s capacity-building opportunities, which will be designed with the guidance of partners in Northern educational institutions, could also increase labour market readiness among Northerners and Indigenous peoples, including women.

Indirect outcomes of the program, including the potential growth of the mining sector and related industries over the long term (12-15 years) could further create additional jobs in Canada’s North, including for women. Although women currently account for 17% of the mining workforce, initiatives by the Mining Industry Human Resources Council, Women in Mining, and several private sector firms are seeking to address the gender disparity in the mining sector by providing training and development opportunities for women in the sector. The program will consider these initiatives in designing mitigation strategies that promote gender equality in the program.

Regarding its immediate outcome of “Involvement of stakeholders and Indigenous groups in geoscience knowledge and data generation”, the program’s performance indicators include the collection of disaggregated data. A number of performance indicators also measure program impacts in the North, regarding availability of geoscience knowledge, and support for the Northern economy. The program is also working on a plan to collect data to enable it to monitor and/or report program impacts by gender and diversity (GBA Plus) outside of the immediate team.

In March 2021, Natural Resources Canada in collaboration with the federal, provincial and territorial members of the Geographical Names Board of Canada released an interactive map entitled Recognizing Women with Canadian Place Names highlighting the many significant and diverse accomplishments of women in Canada commemorated through place names. Further, also in March 2021, the Minister of Natural Resources Canada appointed an Indigenous Advisor to the Geographical Names Board of Canada (GNBC). The former elected Chief of the Six Nations of the Grand River, was appointed to provide advice to the GNBC on Indigenous cultural perspectives, engagement and inclusion. The program aims to inspire girls into STEM and facilitate Indigenous inclusion projects through:

• Earth Observation in support of flood risk management – pilot project for operational river ice breakup monitoring.
• Building Northern capacity through women to collect and share UAV-based mapping products.
• Community outreach and capacity building in Inuvik, NWT.
• Upcoming projects to further Indigenous inclusion in the Department and STEM.
• Training Indigenous youth and community members in the field of geomatics by supporting Indigenous Mapping Workshops that provide access to geospatial data, software and analytic techniques.
• Co-chairing of the Indigenous Technical Working Group on Flood Mapping.

The program recognizes the need for NRCan to take Indigenous data sovereignty principles into consideration when developing projects and initiatives. Training sessions were provided to support awareness and understanding of these principles. Additionally, guidance documents and knowledge products have been published to support Indigenous communities in the governance of their data resources.

NRCan operates a satellite ground segment. , which received resources in 2021 to upgrade and modernize satellite and data infrastructure, as well as complete a GBA Plus review . The analysis revealed that a broad cross-section of Canadians will directly benefit from an improved infrastructure that enhances data accessibility, availability and usability. Indigenous communities in Canada will benefit from more and better space-based Earth observation (SBEO) data. Installing and enhancing the NRCan infrastructure requires workers in construction and the skilled trades. As a large part of the installation work will take place in the Northwest Territories in the case of the ISSF, this infrastructure work will create business and employment opportunities for members of the Gwich’in community and Inuvialuit community, Northerners, and rural workers. Given the focus on infrastructure, primary beneficiaries of resulting business and employment opportunities would largely be men. The infrastructure upgrades will also provide opportunities for industry and academia. A GBA Plus re-assessment was proposed at the conclusion of the project, to determine how GBA Plus was implemented and assess project impacts. This program contributes to both Core Geospatial Solutions and Innovative Geospatial Data.

The program does not currently collect quantitative - disaggregated data to monitor and/or report program impacts by gender and diversity. It relies largely on qualitative or secondary data, such as case studies. Therefore, it is seeking guidance on the best way to enable future collection of disaggregated data and monitoring of results, beyond the use of narrative reports and/or case studies. Planning is currently underway for a stakeholder study – GBA Plus considerations will be included in the project.

The International Boundary Commission (IBC) is the decision-making body enacting the regulations of the Treaty. The Survey General in NRCan is the Canadian commissioner on the IBC and is responsible for negotiating and reporting on the actions of the Canadian Section of the IBC and its implications on the Treaty. The Commission reports to United States Secretary of State and the Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs. All staffing for the Canadian Section of the IBC are in accordance with NRCan internal policies on gender and diversity.

At this time the program does not have a GBA Plus Data Collection plan.

The Land Surveying Capacity Development Program began in 2018 to increase awareness and understanding of land surveying, provide mentoring and tools to enable better participation in surveys, and encourage land surveying as a career option by providing in-community training for Indigenous Canadians. It builds upon the success of a First Nation-led 2015 survey capacity pilot project with the Wiikwemkoong First Nation in Ontario.

Participants in the program are chosen by the First Nations. The Program has been customized to the First Nation’s needs, consisting of up to 12-weeks of in-community mentoring session.

Participation in the program by underrepresented demographics has been a focus of the program since inception. In this regard, notable program initiatives moving forward will include a focus on reaching participants who may otherwise not be exposed to land surveying or geomatics as a career option. One principle goal is to encourage diverse gender and Indigenous participation in the land surveying and geomatics industry.

While the program does not specifically track participation through a gender/diversity lens, it will implement daily sign-in sheets for participants to be able to track gender participation in the sessions.

Targeted Geoscience Initiative (TGI):

TGI aims to have women and visible minorities hired and/or awarded bursaries by TGI at or above the proportion at which they are available in the Earth sciences sector. TGI will collect data on GBA Plus factors on a voluntary basis from equity seeking groups including temporary staff (e.g. students), and bursary recipients hired by the program in their contribution towards geoscience knowledge and data generation.

The program was renewed in fall 2020 and will establish annual data collection to report on its GBA Plus performance indicator through the voluntary disclosure of demographic information by applicants to student/early-career researcher opportunities. Feedback on the usefulness of the data and science by program stakeholders will be useful for planning and making any required adjustments toward data and science that best serves the Canadian public. Quality of life indicators could be paired with DRF indicators concerning new and accessible knowledge products, stakeholder feedback and application of new tools and knowledge by provincial, territorial and federal governments.The program is working on a plan to collect data to enable it to monitor and/or report program impacts by gender and diversity (GBA Plus).

The Forest Climate Change Program informs adaptation planning for forest adaptation and resilience, and provides forest carbon estimates for Canada that are needed to inform mitigation efforts. In doing so, these activities contribute to the long-term prosperity and competitiveness of the forest sector, more resilient forest-based communities, and the continued health, well-being and sustainability of Canada’s forests. Given the close relationship between sustainable forest management, the resilience of Canada’s forests, and the socio-economic health and wellness of forest-based, rural and remote communities, including many Indigenous communities, activities under this program contribute to an improved quality of life for those communities.

The program does not currently monitor or report on program impacts by gender and/or diversity. Tracking mechanisms  to collect GBA Plus input from funded carbon mitigation and adaptation projects are being explored, and will be implemented in future years.

The 2 Billion Trees (2BT) Program is incorporating GBA Plus Data Collection into its evaluation matrix and reporting requirements. For example, small funding recipients will be encouraged, and medium and large funding recipients will be required, to have Diversity and Inclusion plans. GBA Plus disaggregated data will also be collected through its reporting requirements to actively collect better data, tracking the percent of under-represented equity groups in tree planting and related activities workforce of medium and large recipients as well as the number of Indigenous organizations supported through the 2BT Program. 2BT is engaged with a  Programs Working Group on Diversity & Inclusion to collaboratively improve Diversity and Inclusion measures in G&C Programming. Mechanisms for tracking and monitoring GBA Plus data is currently being explored to implement in future years of the program.

NRCan’s Building Regional Adaptation Capacity and Expertise (BRACE) program is addressing some of the critical shortages of adaptation capacity and expertise that limit adaptation action in Canada. The program’s objective is to enhance the availability, accessibility, and awareness of climate change adaptation knowledge and options in Canada. BRACE funds projects that increase the ability of communities, organizations, small and medium-sized enterprises, and professionals to access, use, and apply knowledge and tools on climate change adaptation in their work. This program responds to the identified needs of provinces and professionals (such as accountants and engineers). BRACE also supports climate change adaptation internships for youth 15-30 through NRCan’s Science Technology and Internship Program by providing them with capacity building opportunities (e.g. in 2020-2021, BRACE invited the interns working in climate change adaptation to attend a Climate Change Fundamentals course offered by Royal Road University) . STIP has its own considerations related to equity and accessibility. The BRACE program sunsets in March 2022.

As the lead of Canada’s Climate Change Adaptation Platform (“Adaptation Platform”), NRCan works closely with partners across the country. The Adaptation Platform enables collaboration between the federal government, provinces and territories, National Indigenous Organizations, industry and professional associations, municipalities, and academia in order to advance shared adaptation priorities. Over the past two years, the Adaptation Platform explored the connections between climate change adaptation and social equity, noting the unequal impact that climate change impacts can have on populations across Canada. Adaptation Platform members report that integrating social equity into adaptation planning, implementation, and reporting has so far been limited in Canada. The Adaptation Platform will continue to explore the social equity dimensions of climate change and the role of climate change adaptation in advancing social equity in Canada.

Each of these components of NRCan’s Climate Change Adaptation Program facilitate the integration of climate change adaptation and the uptake of adaptation actions. Climate change impacts can undermine the quality of health, for example, challenging access to clean air, secure shelter, and sufficient and safe food and drinking water (WHO, 2018). Climate change adaptation, when well informed and designed, can provide multiple benefits that include positive health outcomes and assisting those most in need. Although the program does not directly target health outcomes, it supports adaptation action uptake, which could indirectly support cleaner air and access to safe drinking water and food for certain communities.

NRCan also leads work on Canada in a Changing Climate: Advancing Our Knowledge for Action, a series of reports that provide an authoritative picture of how Canada’s climate is changing, the impacts we face now and in the future because of that change, and what Canadians are doing to adapt. These reports aim to inform diverse decision-makers on the implementation of adaptation measures in a wide variety of areas.

While the program does not collect data to monitor impacts by gender and diversity, future work will explore responsive GBA Plus measures to address barriers and to respond to increasing awareness of the inequity of climate change impacts. NRCan will continue to use the Adaptation Platform to engage partners on the connections between climate change adaptation measures and reducing the vulnerability of marginalized populations.

The Explosives, Regulatory and Business Services Branch within Natural Resources Canada is the national regulator of explosives and the centre of expertise for commercial explosives testing and research. It contributes to the safety of the public and all workers involved in the explosives industry in Canada, as well as national security. Its Explosives Regulatory Division issues licences, permits, and certificates for explosives, ammunition, and pyrotechnics to manufacturers, transporters, importers, exporters, sellers, and users of explosives. The Canadian Explosives Research Laboratory is the only facility of its kind in Canada that conducts science and technology testing and research on commercial explosives and contributes to national security via expertise in blast effects and chemical precursors.

The program does not currently monitor or report on program impacts by gender and diversity. Based on the specific mandate and objectives of this program, no actions are planned to enable future monitoring of reporting of the program’s impacts by gender and diversity.

The Geoscience to Keep Canada Safe (GKCS) program comprises activities from the Canadian Hazards Information Service (CHIS), the Public Safety Geoscience Program (PSGP) and the Climate Change Geoscience Program (CCGP).

This program supports policy development, decision-making, and responses by other groups (such as Public Safety Canada, P/T governments, municipalities and Indigenous communities) who would report on these indicators. It undertakes the monitoring, research and effective planning against various natural and human-induced hazards, including earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides and impacts related to climate change, geomagnetic storms, radiological and nuclear incidents. Through the provision of hazard information, NRCan helps other levels of government, including international government bodies, as well as the private sector and professional organizations to prevent, mitigate, prepare for, respond to and recover from natural disasters. Similarly, geoscience information is used by these stakeholders to minimize the risk of climate change to communities and infrastructure in vulnerable areas.

The knowledge and data generated in this program is made available so others can make evidence-based decisions. Natural disaster events have been shown to impact women, seniors, children and other vulnerable parts of society disproportionately as demonstrated through the work of organizations such as the Red Cross, highlighted in the United Nations Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, and discussed at global, regional and national conferences on disaster risk reduction. The GKCS will improve understanding of hazards and their impacts. This will allow policy makers, planners, and emergency managers to identify vulnerable populations and tailor preparedness and emergency response plans to assist these groups (i.e. specific regions, women, elderly, low-income, children).

While the program does not currently collect sufficient data to monitor impacts by gender and diversity, it is working on a plan to collect data to enable it to monitor and/or report program impacts by gender and diversity (GBA Plus).

Across programs, the feedback on the usefulness of the data and science by stakeholders would be useful for planning and making any required adjustments toward data and science that best serves the Canadian public. Quality of life indicators could be potentially be paired with DRF indicators concerning new and accessible knowledge products, stakeholder feedback and the application of new tools and knowledge by provincial, territorial and federal governments.

The Wildland Fire Risk Management Program seeks to advance more equitable opportunities and outcomes in wildfire management through Indigenous engagement and collaboration, including through the development of the Blueprint for Wildland Fire Science in Canada (2019-2029). This strategy recognizes the value and importance of Indigenous knowledge and the need to collaborate with Indigenous peoples for better wildland fire management, work that will continue in 2021-2022.

Through the Emergency Management Strategy Wildland Fire Resilience Contributions Program, the Fire Program has begun supporting a variety of Indigenous fire related research projects and proponents including the First Nation Wildfire Evacuation Partnership, Salt River First Nation, Turtle Island Consulting Services Inc., the Métis Nation Alberta Association Region 3, and others. An example of an activity the program supported is the newly published “First Nations Wildfire Evacuations: A Guide for Communities and External Agencies”. This guidebook published in January 2021 by the First Nation Wildfire Evacuation Partnership provides unique and culturally appropriate wildfire responses for communities and external agencies.

Another notable activity is the recent publication of Blazing the Trail: Celebrating Indigenous Fire Stewardship in November 2020 by FireSmart Canada (now part of CIFFC) and in partnership with NRCan and Alberta Agriculture and Forestry. Blazing the Trail was developed by an All-Indigenous writing team that included peer reviewers, graphic designers and artists. This publication is both a resource and celebration of the contributions to wildfire prevention of Indigenous communities and Canada. It encourages celebration and sharing of wise practices and lessons learned across generations.

The Wildfire Program continues to foster the values of diversity and inclusion through national and international movements and related working groups such as the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC) and the North American Forestry Commission’s Fire Management Working Group (NAFC-FMWG).

In 2022-23 the wildfire hub will continue to support and collect data regarding Indigenous programming and other GBA Plus impacts. In addition, the wildfire hub will continue to consult with the other CFS science program hubs on data collection best practices and tools.

In 2020, the program updated its review criteria for university-based applications for logistics support to include Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) and measures to ensure early career researchers and researchers with career interruptions (e.g. parental leave) are not disadvantaged in the selection process. These measures will help ensure PCSP services are equally available to men, women, minority groups, and Indigenous peoples; encourage equity, diversity and inclusion in science; promote Indigenous peoples as partners within research; and foster the next generation of scientists.

The program has begun collection of gender data, not including non-binary genders, from its on-line Arctic logistics service request form. This data will support gender disaggregated analysis for program uptake and percentage of projects that receive support. Analyses of these data suggest PCSP services are equally available to men and women, however, uptake of the program’s services by women are lower.

The program has identified the need to collect disaggregated data beyond gender. Data gaps and technical limitations are currently preventing the systematic collection of this information across all services provided by the program. The program is working to address data gaps through measures including modifications to service request forms and internal processes to include demographic information such as gender, Indigenous status and ethnicity of applicants. This will permit future disaggregated analysis required to monitor potential impacts of the program.

Indigenous Off-Diesel Initiative (IODI)

Impact Canada’s Indigenous Off-Diesel Initiative (IODI) seeks to achieve a breakthrough in efforts to transition 14 remote Indigenous communities/regions off diesel as a primary energy source. IODI supports renewable Energy Champions and their communities with tailored renewable energy training, access to expertise and mentors, and financial resources to develop and start implementing community-driven renewable energy projects to reduce diesel in their communities. Projects supported under IODI are Indigenous-led, community-driven, and focused on supporting local capacity building, clean energy planning, and development of clean energy projects.

IODI supports remote Indigenous communities that experience barriers associated with access to capital funding and related activities necessary to enable full participation in the renewable energy and broader natural resource sector. IODI’s capacity building approach includes renewable energy training and community engagement to develop a community energy plan. This work empowers remote Indigenous communities to harness renewable energy resources that work best for their community and supports communities in developing skills and training to support renewable energy activities. As communities undertake these activities, they increase their capacity by:

• Creating green jobs and delivering training opportunities for the community;
• Increasing community resilience;
• Improving energy security; and,
• Supporting other community co-benefits such as housing and food security.

Additional efforts to advance equality were integrated into the Champion selection and application processes. For example, IODI has an all-Indigenous expert external jury that is gender-balanced, has a diversity of ages, and has regional representation; the jury is responsible for Champion selection and project review. Project applications asked Champions to indicate:

• How they would support the participation of women and 2SLGBTQQIA people in project activities; and,
• How they would ensure the safety and security of everyone involved in the project, but in particular women and 2SLGBTQQIA people.

This strategic research and development program is delivered by NRCan’s CanmetMINING laboratories. The program has two key objectives: to reduce the environmental impacts of mining and to improve Canada’s competitiveness. Strong environmental performance is closely linked to the long-term economic growth of the mining industry and is essential for maintaining public trust in Canada’s development of its mineral resources. In undertaking this work, NRCan is focused on five priority areas: energy efficiency, enhanced productivity, waste management, water management and climate change. Several specialized services such as the production of certified reference materials and diesel engine certification are also delivered by the program.

The program does not currently collect sufficient data to enable it to monitor and/or report program impacts by gender and diversity.

The Canadian Wood Fibre Centre (CWFC) Contribution Program targeted particular R&D Priorities:

• Broadly applicable approaches aimed at deploying operational Enhanced Forest Inventory (EFI) methods at tree- and plot-level using remote sensing data, targeted to forest practitioners.
• Data analytics and integration applications for unleashing the full value of forest resource information (e.g. EFI) to de-risk and optimize forest value chains.
• Improved understanding of the factors underpinning social acceptability of research application.

As part of the project selection process, the FIP-CWFC Contribution program call for proposals has included as part of the information requirements from proponents, a mandatory gender and diversity questionnaire. Additionally, efforts are being made to ensure that greater equity, diversity and inclusion is being supported through internal processes and practices. For example in 2020-2021 and continuing into the other 2 years (2021-22; 2022-23) of the successful (funded) projects.

• Efforts were/will be made to ensure that the recruitment of students and determinate employees, included the hiring of women and Indigenous peoples. Videos showcasing the diversity of CWFC employees (indeterminate and summer students) were produced in 2021 and will be used in efforts to recruit a diverse set of summer students again in 2022
• Training on diversity, inclusion and anti-racism in science and the Canadian public sector was provided to the CWFC employees, and discussions with employees on unconscious bias and solutions followed (February 2021). Additional discussion and information sharing on equity, diversity and inclusion principles and practices and available training was provided to CWFC staff (summer and fall 2021). The CWFC “Team Charter” has been revised to include EDI principles and a CWFC EDI plan with concrete actions has been developed (August 2021).
• Managers were invited to complete the MIT’s unconscious biases questionnaire, regarding in particular biases around race and gender, before starting their staffing process. In 2022, all CWFC employees will be invited to also complete the questionnaire.
• Raising awareness about NRCan’s and GoC’s anti-harassment policies, GBA Plus and CWFC work with First Nations during the CWFC virtual employee onboarding sessions (May 2020; June 2020; May 2021; June 2021).

NRCan’s CWFC has started the collection of Diversity and Inclusion data from 2020-2023 FIP-CWFC contribution program proponents. This data will be analyzed for changes and trends at the conclusion of this round of funding and project completion.

The data is expected to indicate if gender based analysis and diversity and inclusion policies and practices were successful. Based on the results, additional information may be required from proponents in future Calls for Proposals, such as more definitive plans or requirements to apply GBA Plus principles and policies.

At a larger scale, by advancing the science and research required to prevent and mitigate the potential risks and impacts of cumulative effects in Canada’s forests, the Cumulative Effects Program has the potential to contribute to improved quality of life for forest based and dependent communities through job security, public safety and improved health outcomes.

Indigenous partnerships are key in the decision-making process of funding projects within the Cumulative Effects Program.

Lastly, the Cumulative Effects program seeks to advance more equitable research opportunities and desirable outcomes in woodland caribou protection and habitat restoration through Indigenous engagement and collaboration, including through Grants & Contributions of the Nature Legacy funding program in Canada (2018-2023).

While the program currently does not have sufficient data to determine the degree to which GBA Plus has affected its design or outcomes and impacts for different groups, there may be opportunities in the future to improve the reporting capacity and understanding of GBA Plus impacts, as research matures through time. Sector level discussions are underway to examine GBA Plus reporting processes that would be the most appropriate for the CFS programs.

The program’s objective is to positively enhance the availability, accessibility and awareness of low carbon transportation options for consumers and key actors in the transportation of passengers and freight on Canadian roads.

The program’s data collection methodology was updated to collect additional information on the uptake and impact of the program. Thus, the program has been able to disaggregate by province and territory, which has helped to determine how the uptake and impact of lower carbon transportation options and awareness efforts varies by location. In addition, the program will measure the number of job-years of employment generated by funded projects. The program’s data collection methodology enables it to undertake analyses on both the uptake and impact of the program based on province and territory, employment in the low carbon transportation sector (specific to employment generated by projects funded by the program). Additionally, under some programming elements, data is collected on the diversity of proponent employee bases, specific to the proportion of women and Indigenous peoples employed in the sector.

These programs help reduce Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions and encourage sustainable growth in the electricity sector by providing communities with job opportunities, skills and training.

The program collects data to enable it to monitor and/or report on program impacts by gender and diversity (GBA Plus). Data collection and reporting templates for certain programs (e.g., Smart Grid Program, Clean Energy for Rural and Remote Communities) have been evaluated and edited to collect gender-disaggregated data that aligns with program goals. Further, training and hiring metrics are now collected at gender-disaggregated levels and align with Statistics Canada terminology (e.g., female, male and gender diverse). Other disaggregated data collected include youth, persons with disabilities, Indigenous identity and racialized people. The Clean Energy for Rural and Remote Communities program is also collecting disaggregated information about Indigenous identity and youth participation. The program also collects information on greenhouse gases reduced to understand the health impacts of the program on communities.

The new Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways Program is designed to facilitate greater Indigenous involvement and ownership of clean energy projects to support community renewable energy projects and work towards reconciliation. A portion of funds have been reserved for Indigenous-led projects, which may qualify for higher levels of project support. The program also seeks to encourage participation of all underrepresented groups in the renewable energy sector, and thus facilitate those projects. For instance, applicants to the program are required to include an Equity Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) plan or public commitment. This ensures that projects funded are working to address barriers for underrepresented groups in participating in the renewable energy sector. The program also includes a capacity building stream, enabling communities and organizations to acquire the knowledge and tools needed to develop renewable energy and grid modernization projects.

Clean Energy for Rural and Remote Communities (CERRC) Program

The Clean Energy for Rural and Remote Communities (CERRC) program supports community-led renewable energy and capacity building projects in rural and remote communities to reduce their reliance on diesel fuel for heat and power. CERRC has four streams: Capacity Building, Demonstration, Deployment and BioHeat and is currently supporting 88 projects in 131 communities, including 123 Indigenous communities.

Each rural and remote community is unique and requires different types of support to reduce reliance on diesel. There is no one-size technology solution to transition communities onto renewable energy. Complex factors such as location, weather systems, community priorities and capacity, provincial and utility policies, and Indigenous relationships with the Crown mean that each community has diverse needs. Successful community-driven clean energy projects are the result of numerous iterative steps starting from building energy literacy and training, to completing project-specific design and development activities.

There is a high risk associated with clean energy projects in remote communities due to access issues (seasonal roads, fly in-out, etc.) and limitations on the delivery of equipment (sea barge, seasonal limitations, etc.). Due to this increased risk, along with high costs and longer payback periods, it is more challenging for these projects to access capital through traditional avenues provided by financial institutions, such as debt financing.

The four streams work together to ensure that direct benefits impact a broad group of rural, remote and Indigenous communities across Canada, including First Nations, Inuit and Metis women, men and gender-diverse people. Funding activities from community energy planning to renewable energy and energy efficiency projects directly benefits communities, as these activities are community-led and support capacity building, economic development, self-determination, and reconciliation. This approach responds to the barriers Indigenous communities face with accessing funding for capacity building and renewable energy project implementation.

Further, NRCan has incorporated flexibilities into the CERRC program to support increased participation of diverse groups. For example, CERRC:

• Uses advances to enable recipients to start their projects;
• Pays honoraria for Indigenous elders to help facilitate participation in the projects;
• Ensures diversity on review committees;
• Encourages participation of youth in projects to help with their integration in the natural resources sector (promotion of the S&T Internship Program – Green Jobs); and
• Includes translation of project materials as an eligible cost.

The expected outcomes of CERRC related to advancing the goals of full and equal economic participation include:

• Increased participation of Indigenous peoples in Canada’s renewable energy sector;
• Reduced GHG emissions through a reduction in fossil fuel reliance;
• Increased energy literacy;
• Increased community capacity to own and operate renewable energy systems; and
• Increased collaboration between the public sector and Indigenous peoples.

CERRC Data Collection

The CERRC program collects, disaggregates and tracks data for renewable energy projects in remote areas, by rural and remote community (region), Indigenous ownership and participation. This includes measuring the percentage of projects and the number of projects led by or partnered with Indigenous groups or communities. The program also collects disaggregated data regarding participation of women and youth. With this information, the program will continue to be able to undertake analyses based on region (rural and remote communities), Indigenous status (participation, leadership or ownership), gender and age (participation of women and youth).

NRCan’s Canada Centre for Mapping and Earth Observation (CCMEO) incorporates principles of equality for all marginalised groups into the design of its programs, tools, innovation and outputs. The successful implementation considers how all users of Earth Observation data and tools interact with CCMEO outputs; incorporating equal access, active engagement and input to define tools and research and addressing barriers to improve such access. The program includes:

• Raising public awareness and building Indigenous capacity for Northern geographical place naming.
• Earth Observation in support of flood risk management – pilot project for operational river ice breakup monitoring.
• Building Northern capacity and education, to encourage women and girls to collect and share UAV-based mapping products.
• Community outreach and capacity building in Inuvik, NWT.
• Upcoming projects including Northern field work, to further Indigenous inclusion in the Department and STEM.
• Training women and girls, Indigenous youth and community members in the field of geomatics through Indigenous Mapping Workshops that provide access to geospatial data, software and analytic techniques.

The program recognizes the need for NRCan to take Indigenous data sovereignty principles into consideration when developing projects and initiatives. The program delivered training sessions to NRCan staff and functional groups to support an awareness and understanding of these data sovereignty principles.Additionally, guidance documents and knowledge products have been published to support Indigenous communities in the governance of their data resources.

NRCan CCMEO’s activities related to the implementation of infrastructure aims to drive innovation in Canada and improve competitiveness, and streamline processes and practices across the federal government to improve efficiencies. As such, this activity will enable downstream applications and activities that contribute to NRCan’s program: Innovative Geospatial Solutions. More information on GBA Plus related to this project is included in the section on “Core Geospatial Data”

The program does not currently collect quantitative or disaggregated data to monitor and/or report on program impacts by gender and diversity. Information collection activities are currently more qualitative in nature, including the use of case studies. As such, the program is seeking guidance on the best way to enable data collection which supports the future monitoring of results, beyond the use of qualitative evidence like narrative reports and/or case studies. Planning is currently underway for a stakeholder study – GBA Plus considerations will be included in the project.

Indigenous communities frequently do not have the same access to tenure and face systemic barriers to education and skills training that creates capacity challenges for businesses, and decreases the ability to participate in forest management decision making. It can be difficult for Indigenous communities, organizations and businesses to access capital funding to implement forestry projects. Specifically, it can be difficult to access funding from traditional financing institutions given the high cost, longer payback periods and the perceived risk of both the project proponent and the project itself. Policy, legal and legislative barriers can prevent Indigenous peoples, organizations and governments from accessing financing through traditional financing mechanisms such as debt financing. The IFI is designed to support a strong and resilient Indigenous forest sector by addressing systemic barriers like those described above. The IFI supports Indigenous participation in economic development projects within the forest sector and aims to increase Indigenous participation in forestry-related opportunities, businesses, careers and governance. The overall objective of the proposed activities is to support Indigenous participation in economic opportunities in the natural resource sectors, recognizing that participation in the resource economy and capitalizing on economic development opportunities are fundamental to increasing the economic prosperity of Indigenous peoples.

Additional efforts are made to advance the full and equal participation of Indigenous communities in the forest sector by addressing unintended systemic barriers associated with the program itself, and were integrated through the program’s application and decision-making processes. For example, with the support of GBA Plus analysis, the program identified that capacity issues in Indigenous communities can present a challenge in applying to the IFI program. As such, the regional component of the IFI’s delivery model supports Regional Liaison Officers (RLOs) located in Canadian Forest Service regional offices across the country, helps to address some of these issues by acting as a point of contact and source of guidance for potential applicants. This was designed specifically to provide added support for Indigenous communities and businesses in applying to the program. Recent improvements have also been made to the application form and process, and include seeking diversity in workforce related plans and priorities from applicants. The IFI has also implemented an External Expert Review panel model to review projects and provide short-list recommendations to the program. It is the intent of the program to develop review panels that are majority Indigenous and gender balanced as an added mechanism to help mitigate and avoid unintended risks of systemic barriers associated with implicit or unconscious bias, and/or lack of cultural understanding. Through planned activities and efforts like these the IFI and broader Forest Sector Competitiveness programs have the potential to improve the status of equality in the forest sector through the facilitation of more equitable opportunities and outcomes for diverse communities. Through planned data collection initiatives, the program further has the potential to evaluate the success of these efforts from a GBA Plus lens.

Collectively, the Forest Sector Competitiveness programs committed to collecting greater gender and diversity information from its proponents or program beneficiaries to monitor program impacts by gender and diversity.

NRCan created a Diversity Working Group (DWG) to support the sector in identifying measures that could contribute to addressing gender and other representation gaps in the forest sector. The DWG’s main objective is to ensure a better understanding of workforce diversity in the forest sector so that recommendations for program measures would be evidence-based, impactful, and align with other initiatives and actions.

The DWG proposed four measures to help the forest sector improve its understanding and outcomes with regard to workforce diversity, such as: actively collecting better data; support efforts towards addressing education as a systemic barrier; and, promoting workforce diversity through collaboration:

Programs will be requiring proponents to develop a workforce diversity plan. For example, the Expanding Market Opportunities program is requesting applicants to submit a Diversity and Inclusion Plan for the 2021-2022 Call for Proposals as part of their funding submissions. Five percent of the project score will be awarded to proposals that include a Diversity and Inclusion Plan; in 2022-2023, the program intends to evaluate the Plan. It is important to note, that with respect to the Indigenous government sovereignty in policy and law-making, the IFI will not be requiring a diversity workplan from its Indigenous Government proponents. Data and information collected to support this work/ recommendations will enable the broader forest sector competitiveness program to measure future results regarding the status of gender equity and diversity in the forest sector.

The Canadian Minerals and Metals Plan (CMMP) highlights the need to take action on gender equality and identifies strategies to increase the number of women and visible minorities in the mining sector and advance Indigenous participation, particularly of Indigenous women. The Plan includes an aspirational target was established under the CMMP to increase the representation of women in the industry’s workforce to 30% by 2030 (compared to 16% in 2016).

NRCan has been working collaboratively with provinces and territories to execute the concrete actions under the first Action Plan to operationalize the CMMP, including advancing six pan-Canadian initiatives as agreed to by Mines Ministers at the 2019 Energy and Mines Ministers’ Conference.

These initiatives include a Canadians of Mining Campaign and educational tool that will highlight the variety of career opportunities in the mining sector in the hopes of creating a more diverse and equitable workforce.

They also included convening conferences on Indigenous procurement in mining across Canada in partnership with Indigenous business leaders and organizations, and provinces and territories. The first in-person Indigenous procurement workshop was held in January 2020 at the Association of Mineral Exploration Roundup Conference in Vancouver, B.C. with a broad audience including leaders from Indigenous communities and businesses.

Shortly after, the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the organization of the procurement conferences. To keep momentum going, NRCan collaborated with the Council for the Development of Native Development Officers (CANDO) to develop and deliver free online webinars geared to economic development officers, land managers, and leadership in Indigenous communities.

The first set of webinars in April 2020 included information on the exploration and mineral development sequence and procurement opportunities in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. They also helped identify regional Indigenous businesses and organizations relevant to procurement. NRCan is currently collaborating with Cando on webinars for Quebec and the Atlantic provinces and has plans to complete webinars for Ontario and the Territories next year.

OTHER INITIATIVES. To increase the number of women, youth, visible minorities, and underrepresented groups in the mining sector and advance Indigenous participation, particularly that of Indigenous women, NRCan has supported a number of initiatives, such as:

• Working with the Mining Industry Human Resources Council to develop a modern, post-COVID-19 National Career Ambassador Program that would involve industry leaders in promoting mining careers through outreach and engagement activities for youth across Canada.
• Supporting the CANDO and their Annual Conference and Youth Program to encourage Indigenous capacity building.
• Contributing funding to the Waubetek Business Development Corporation to develop a Centre of Excellence which will enable Indigenous peoples to have more meaningful participation in the minerals sector, and build their knowledge base and capacity to represent their rights and interests in the mining sector.
• Working with Mining Shared Value on a local procurement checklist to support Indigenous procurement activity, increasing their share of participation in the mining services and supply sector.

Collaborating with Mining Matters on activities to educate young people to develop knowledge and awareness of Earth sciences, the minerals industry, and their roles in society.

Some of this work is done through grants. NRCan plans on reviewing the deliverables when completed and meeting with the project proponents on the kinds of data collected through their activities (e.g. the number of youth engaged, the number of Indigenous peoples engaged, etc.). With this information NRCan can tailor next year’s activities to better support our target populations.

The program provides Contribution funding to Indigenous communities and organizations to participate in engagement for legislative and regulatory development and implementation under the Canadian Energy Regulator Act. The objective is to ensure informed Indigenous participation in decision-making that promotes the safe, secure and sustainable production and transportation of petroleum resources. Key activities include providing advice on the legislative and regulatory frameworks for federally-regulated pipelines.

Given that the Contributions funding has ended there are no actions currently underway or planned to enable further data collection, monitoring or reporting of impacts based on gender and diversity.

Pursuant to the Accord Acts, this program involves making payments to the provinces of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador equivalent to the revenue amounts received by Canada in relation to offshore oil and gas activities in the Canada-Nova Scotia and Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore areas. It also involves paying 50% of the operating costs of the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board and the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board.

Under the offshore Accords with Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador, the provinces are the principal beneficiaries of offshore oil and gas resources, which are a source of important economic benefits. NRCan acts as a flow-through for these revenues, and is not responsible for determining how these funds are utilized within the provincial fiscal framework.

The program does not collect GBA Plus data related to how the provinces use these revenues. Given the program’s limited scope, there are currently no actions being taken to enable future monitoring or reporting of the Statutory Offshore Payments program’s impacts as they relate to gender and diversity.

RPS applies a GBA Plus lens to policy analysis, project tracking and solutions, including monitoring GBA Plus issues encountered in natural resource projects, such as Indigenous participation and underrepresentation of women in the natural resource sectors.

Project tracking informs work on horizontal policy and helps identify solutions to emerging issues with respect to natural resource projects, including relevant GBA Plus data. NRCan will continue to support the engagement of Indigenous communities through a distinction-based approach, which will tailor engagement based on each community’s capacity, concerns, and interests. This approach will continue to apply to ongoing Indigenous engagement on the Trans Mountain Expansion (TMX) Project and focus on improving opportunities for Indigenous communities to benefit from TMX-related initiatives, including through the Government of Canada’s 8 accommodation measures and the CER’s 16 Recommendations.

Measures to improve and streamline grants and contribution G&C funding delivery to Indigenous groups have been implemented, including: consolidated proposal forms; flexible payment approaches; reduced demands on communities; and streamlined reporting requirements. In 2022-23, NRCan will continue to explore means for improving and streamlining G&C funding delivery to Indigenous groups.

NRCan will not collect additional GBA Plus data on the individual resource projects designated under the Impact Assessment Act. Separate GBA Plus assessments will occur through the regulatory review process for all designated projects.GBA Plus information will be collected through quantitative data on participant funding agreements and Crown Consultation and Accommodation Reports for each major project. Qualitative data will be collected to understand the views of diverse community members (i.e. women, men, and elders). The Resource Partnerships Sector program will further explore measures to improve the collection of disaggregated data, or data that is broken down by detailed sub-categories, in an effort to reveal deprivations and inequalities that may not be fully reflected in aggregate data. In doing so, the Resource Partnerships Sector program will continue to support the Government of Canada’s distinctions-based approach to its federal policy and decision making focusing on the three federally recognized Indigenous groups in Canada: First Nations, Métis and Inuit.

Using non-repayable contributions and a third-party delivery model, the Science and Technology Internship Program’s (STIP) supports youth aged 15 to 30 (inclusive) across Canada in all natural resources sectors. STIP provides wage subsidies to natural resource sector employers across Canada in energy, forestry, mining, and earth science to train and hire youth. These activities support employers in sectors undergoing significant transition and transformation towards a low-carbon future, and help to build a diverse and skilled workforce in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and other related fields that advance environmental outcomes in the natural resources sectors.

Since 2016-17 FY, the Program has ensured 50% of placements are reserved for employment equity groups (e.g., women, Indigenous Peoples, visible minorities, and persons with disabilities).In 2018-19, the Program identified a major gap, through the program’s data, in the participation of Indigenous, northern and remote youth.

As a result, the program engaged Indigenous youth and youth living in northern and remote communities to identify the barriers they may be experiencing with regard to employment opportunities in the natural resources. Through these engagements, the following barriers to employment opportunities and/or participation in the Program for Indigenous, northern and remote youth were identified: post-secondary education requirements, a lack of access and exposure to STEM, and a higher cost of living in northern and remote communities. Another program barrier identified was the participant age limit of 30 years and under. Since many Indigenous and racialized peoples enter education and career pathways at later stages, the 30 year age limit posed a disproportionate and significant barrier to their participation in YESS Programs. Based on these engagements, YESS STIP made the following Program adjustments in 2019-20:

• removed all education requirements, allowing employers to set their own eligibility criteria;
• increased wage subsidies for youth in northern, rural and remote communities to account for the higher cost of living;
• added training as an eligible expense to support youth to receive the technical training necessary to find employment; and
• set aside at least 20% of program funding toward serving youth experiencing barriers to employment opportunities, including Indigenous youth, youth living in northern, rural and remote communities, and youth living with disabilities.

Data for the 2020-21 FY demonstrates that efforts made to address barriers to employment resulted in progress in terms of an increase in labour market opportunities and participation for diverse groups. For example, analysis of 2020-21 program data demonstrated the following:

• Increased participation of Indigenous and northern youth from 6% in 2018-2019 to 22% in 2020-21;
• 61% participation by employment equity groups;
• 89.5% of youth participants found full-time employment post-internship; and
• Program expanded into all three Territories.

STIP was unable to address the age-barrier given the parameters of the Youth and Employment and Skills Strategy, which currently only allow youth between the ages of 15 and 30 to be eligible for funding.

The program collects the following data: the number of youth (ages 15-30) served; where youth live; where placements are located; employment equity group (i.e. women, Indigenous Peoples, visible minorities, persons with disabilities); the official language spoken; the percentage of youth hired on a full-time basis with the employer or in natural resources immediately after their participation in the program; the percentage of youth who found other employment outside of the natural resources sector; the percentage of youth who returned to school; and the percentage of youth who are unemployed.

For each of these indicators, data is disaggregated by gender, including an option that permits youth to ‘not identify’ their gender. Youth are encouraged to self-identify but it is not a mandatory requirement to participate in the program. This enables the program to undertake an analysis based on age, location, employment status, employment equity group and gender.