Gender-based analysis plus

Section 1: Institutional GBA Plus Capacity (GBA Plus Centre of Expertise)

Governance: NRCan is committed to facilitating diverse and inclusive outcomes for all Canadians through its work, including ensuring that diverse populations of Canadians benefit from our policies, programs, and initiatives. GBA Plus is essential in achieving this goal. In 2021, NRCan established the GBA Plus Centre of Expertise (The “Centre”), and a GBA Plus Action Plan was created and endorsed by senior management. In 2022-23, the Centre continued to implement its Action Plan aimed at driving change in culture; building internal capacity; strengthening governance and reporting; collaborating and co-creating with partners; and applying results analytics to GBA Plus.

To drive change, the Centre provides ongoing guidance, advice and a challenge function on programs and policies in order for NRCan sectors to meet government requirements and beyond. It facilitates the integration of GBA Plus across the department, specifically in the development of policies, programs, and initiatives. In addition, a functional review team was established to oversee multiple functional areas including GBA Plus. The establishment of the team has helped with the alignment of GBA Plus with other areas such as Risk, Performance Measurement, and Sustainable Development. Furthermore, members of this functional review team have undergone training in GBA Plus and are developing expertise in this area as they review Treasury Board submissions (TB Subs) and Memoranda to Cabinet (MCs) with the knowledge they have gained from the training. In 2023-24, the team provided high quality strategic advice to all NRCan cabinet proposals, which included 45 early-stage policies, programs, and initiatives. The Centre performed a challenge function and provided recommendations to sectors on how to enhance their GBA Plus data collection plans and how to measure the impacts of their programs, policies, and initiatives on diverse groups of Canadians.

In addition, the Centre works closely with the Office of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Accessibility (O-IDEA) who ensure that the goals of IDEA are enshrined in everything we do at NRCan. GBA Plus offers analytical tools to support the IDEA vision for all Canadians.

Capacity: To build capacity and awareness, the Centre created a “GBA Plus 101” training session. This introductory course provides an overview of steps to apply GBA Plus and provides NRCan examples of GBA Plus application. The training officially launched in April 2023 and a total of 327 NRCan employees have attended since the first pilot. The Centre has also developed an additional training module on GBA Plus Data to provide guidance on how to find and navigate NRCan datasets, and how to identify appropriate data collection methods for GBA Plus. This module was launched in January 2024, and a total of 94 employees from NRCan and other departments have attended since the first pilot.

In July 2022, the Centre established a GBA Plus Community of Practice; a forum to help build the department’s capacity in GBA Plus and to share information and lessons learned. The Community of Practice continues to grow and includes membership of approximately 200 NRCan employees from across different sectors, occupational groups, and employee networks. The Centre has hosted informative presentations for the Community of Practice by departments such as the Women and Gender Equality Canada (Federal 2SLGBTQI+ Action Plan), Employment and Social Development Canada (Guide to applying a Black-Centric Lens). The centre also organized presentations by the Infinity network for Neurodivergent public servants (Neurodiversity and GBA Plus), NRCan’s Demand Policy and Analysis Division (Housing and Energy Affordability), Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada (Pauktuutit’s Inuit-Specific GBA Plus Framework), and our departmental Communication Portfolio Sector (on audience segmentation using ENVISION platform to support GBA Plus).

The Centre, in collaboration with co-members from the Interdepartmental Working Group for GBA Plus, hosted two large-scale events during GBA Plus Awareness Week in May 2024 on translating GBA Plus, equity, and inclusion in science. This included a joint collaborative event on translating GBA Plus, equity, and inclusion in science, with Guest speakers from Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) Agriculture and Agri-food Canada (AAFC), the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), as well as a Knowledge Sharing session about GBA Plus in relation to NRCan’s mandate. The events were attended by over 500 federal employees.

Through internal consultations, the Centre has made advancements in developing results analytics capacity for GBA Plus data collection. The team has begun an initiative to develop a repository of disaggregated and GBA Plus indicators to facilitate gender and diversity impact tracking. The Centre is also contributing case studies and examples of non-traditional disaggregated data to the ADM Federal Disaggregated Data Committee to further enhance the federal government capacity to collect disaggregated data.

Human resources (full-time equivalents) dedicated to GBA Plus

The department had 5 dedicated FTE’s dedicated to working on GBA Plus during the 2023-24 fiscal year.

Section 2: Gender and Diversity Impacts, by Program

Core Responsibility: Natural Resource Science and Risk Mitigation

Canadian Geodetic Survey: Spatially Enabling Canada

Program Goals:

This program supports the introduction of digital services in underserved parts of the country and aims to level the playing field for remote Canadians by planning future investments in the Canadian Spatial Reference System. Additionally, the program supports increasingly automated transportation services, which have the potential to assist mobility-challenged Canadians.

Target Population: All Canadians

Distribution of Benefits

	Group
By gender	Not Available
By income level	Not Available
By age group	Not Available

Specific Demographic Group Outcomes: All Canadians

Key Program impacts* on Gender and diversity:

Key Program Impacts Statistics:

Statistics	Observed Results*	Data Source	Comment
Not Available	Not Available	Not Available	Not Available
* 2023-24 or most recent

Other Key Program impacts:

The program enhances digital services in remote regions through the Space-Based Earth Observation (SBEO) Project, aiming to add 22 or more real-time Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiving stations to the program’s existing network. Six new and three upgraded stations were added in 2023-2024 in BC, AB, ON, QC, NT, and NU in rural and remote locations; work is underway for nine additional installations in 2024-25. While addressing gender and Indigenous career barriers falls beyond SBEO's scope, GBA Plus considerations are applied. Over half of recent hires were women and members of other groups facing equity barriers in STEM fields.

Supplementary Information Sources:

Not Available

GBA Plus Data Collection Plan:

The Program is exploring a GBA Plus Data Collection Plan as the program develops its capacity to meet the needs of underserved Canadians. A GBA Plus reassessment is proposed at the conclusion of the SBEO project in 2026, when impacts will be better understood. While the GBA Plus assessment conducted at the close of the project would focus on the awarding and implementation of contracts, future assessments may focus on how SBEO data meet user needs and benefit Canadian society. GBA Plus impacts can only occur once contracts have been awarded and implemented.

Canada Lands Survey System

Program Goals:

The Canada Lands Survey System (CLSS) provides the regulatory framework to delineate, demarcate, and legally recognize through publication in a land registry the boundaries and extent of real property rights on Canada Lands – the North, First Nations lands, national parks and offshore. The framework includes survey standards, the regulation of the Canada Lands surveying profession, and the custody and access to legal survey documents to support all land transactions on Canada Lands. The program encourages diverse gender and Indigenous participation in the land surveying and geomatics industry.

Target Population: This survey program supports multiple target populations in various capacities, including all Canadians, Indigenous Peoples, industry, and federal, provincial, and territorial governments.

Distribution of Benefits

	Group
By gender	Not Available
By income level	Not Available
By age group	Not Available

Specific Demographic Group Outcomes: All Canadians, Indigenous Peoples (a particular demographic group), industry and federal, provincial, and territorial governments (specific regions or sectors of the economy) on Canada Lands – the North, First Nations lands, national parks and offshore.

Key Program impacts* on Gender and diversity:

Key Program Impacts Statistics:

Statistics	Observed Results*	Data Source	Comment
Not Available	Not Available	Not Available	Not available
* 2023-24 or most recent

Other Key Program impacts:

The program instigated a Land Surveying Capacity Development Program for First Nations communities in 2018. Its objectives are to:

• increase awareness and understanding of land surveying processes and techniques;
• adapt the program to align with the needs of the community;
• raise awareness about the land surveying profession and encourage Indigenous participants to pursue a career in land surveying;
• strengthen NRCan staff's Indigenous knowledge for program integration.

The program recruits young land surveying professionals for NRCan by offering on-the-job training and experience through the Land Surveyor Development Plan. It targets underrepresented groups with existing recruitment incentives.

The program also collaborated with Academia and the eleven (11) self-regulatory bodies that regulate the practice of land surveying in Canada, with financial support from Employment and Social Development Canada to develop a path towards delivering an on-line Bachelor in land surveying. The ability to obtain a University Degree on-line will facilitate access to education to Canadians from diverse backgrounds and living in remote areas and particularly allow indigenous people to remain on the land in their communities. The program will aim to use departmental hiring practices as a tool to increase diversity in recruitment. The University of New Brunswick will launch their on-line degree in the Fall of 2025.

Supplementary Information Sources:

Not Available

GBA Plus Data Collection Plan:

The program does not have a formal and comprehensive data collection plan for global program impacts by gender and diversity. However, it tracks participation through a gender/diversity lens using daily sign-in sheets for participants to be able to track gender participation in the sessions. A summary of attendance and participation was completed for each engagement session with the First Nation communities involved in the Capacity Building Program. Additionally, the program plans to integrate GBA plus analysis into its cyclical client satisfaction survey every 5 years, particularly targeting better knowledge of indigenous peoples, the largest population base that the system serves. Additionally, the program will track the progression and participation in the online degree program through a gender and diversity lens, using attendance, registration, and graduation records.

Canada-US International Boundary Treaty

Program Goals:

This program ensures that the Canada/US International boundary is clearly visible to the citizens and law enforcement agencies of each country. The Canadian section of the IBC is a key player in the NRCan Land Surveyor Development program, helping shape tomorrow’s land surveying professionals. IBC offers unique and diverse work experience to SGB’s articling students by providing them valuable life and field experience all over Canada.

Target Population: All Canadians (i.e., people carrying out activities along the Canada-US international boundary)

Distribution of Benefits

	Group
By gender	Not Available
By income level	Not Available
By age group	Not Available

Specific Demographic Group Outcomes: All Canadians

Key Program impacts* on Gender and diversity:

Key Program Impacts Statistics:

Statistics	Observed Results*	Data Source	Comment
Not Available	Not Available	Not Available	Not Available
* 2023-24 or most recent

Other Key Program impacts:

The IBC workforce has a diverse team, in terms of nationality, region of residence, first language, age, socio-economic background, academic training, and ethnic origins. IBC also hires several co-op students for the summer from all over Canada and with diverse backgrounds and origins to provide them training and unique work experiences. In 2023, IBC hired two students from the University of New Brunswick and one from Laval University in Québec. Of these three interns one was a First Nation individual. The Canadian section also welcomed two Land Surveyors from the Surveyor General Branch regional offices in Toronto and Winnipeg for an internship within the Land Surveyor development.

Supplementary Information Sources:

Not Available

GBA Plus Data Collection Plan:

Given the nature of the bi-national treaty organization in providing a service to governments, there are no plans to implement a GBA Plus Data collection Plan. As for diversity of the workforce, the IBC Canada section team is limited to a dozen of individuals. While it is not possible to collect quantitative GBA Plus data, due to privacy risks impacting a small group, the program will continue collect qualitative GBA Plus data and information on an ad-hoc basis. For the recruitment of new talent and expertise, the IBC Canada section fully adheres to the departmental Human Resources policies and is striving for greater diversity and GBA Plus prerogatives.

Climate Change Adaptation

Program Goals:

Climate change impacts are disparately experienced, affecting marginalized communities more severely. The Climate Change Adaptation Program, National Assessments Process, and Canada’s Climate Change Adaptation Platform are designed to consider aspects of social equity, inclusion, and accessibility that both increase resilience and reduce disparities in vulnerable populations impacted by climate change.

Target Population: All Canadians

Distribution of Benefits

	Group
By gender	Not Available
By income level	Not Available
By age group	Not Available

Specific Demographic Group Outcomes: All Canadians

Key Program impacts* on Gender and diversity: Not available

Key Program Impacts Statistics:

Statistics	Observed Results*	Data Source	Comment
Not Available	Not Available	Not Available	Not Available
* 2023-24 or most recent

Other Key Program impacts:

Members of Canada’s Climate Change Adaptation Platform identified the need to include social equity in adaptation activities, prompting forum discussions on these topics.

The National Assessment Process increased engagement with under-represented groups. This was reflected in the Canada in a Changing Climate: Synthesis Report (2023) which found that climate adaptation can address existing social, economic, and health inequities and increase equity through engagement with those most affected.

In 2023 the Climate Change Adaptation Program included a specific process to reduce barriers for Indigenous applicants, resulting in more Indigenous-led projects being selected for funding than in previous iterations of the program.

Supplementary Information Sources:

Not Available

GBA Plus Data Collection Plan:

Proposals submitted to the CCAP for funding are evaluated in part by the equity, diversity, and inclusion considerations contained in their workplans. The CCAP does not currently collect specific data to enable reporting on impacts by gender and diversity, however, we will be working with funding recipients during the 2023-2027 program cycle to collect information and data in support of monitoring and evaluation of GBA Plus-related project outcomes. This will include collecting data on who is receiving any adaptation skills training supported by the program and characterizing the audiences and uptake of various other adaptation capacity-building products and outcomes. The program is also tracking how many projects are Indigenous-led and how many include Indigenous partners.

Core Geospatial Data

Program Goals:

The delivery of national standards-based core geospatial data, collected and utilized throughout the federal government, supports many objectives such as open government and open data, economic growth, public safety, security, environmental management, and social well-being. GBA Plus considerations are integrated from planning through evaluation throughout to ensure diversity and inclusion outcomes are achieved.

Target Population: All Canadians

Distribution of Benefits

	Group
By gender	Third group: Broadly gender-balanced
By income level	Third group: No significant distributional impacts
By age group	Second group: No significant inter-generational impacts or impacts generation between youth and seniors

Specific Demographic Group Outcomes:

Direct beneficiaries: Indigenous peoples and communities; economically advantaged groups such as researchers, decision-makers, and scientists; rural, remote, and Northern communities

Groups that may face barriers to access/participation: Women and other underrepresented groups in STEM

Key Program impacts* on Gender and diversity:

The program led to increased female participation in STEM, particularly through career discussions with diverse women leaders and social media campaigns showcasing female employees in STEM roles. Additionally, Indigenous inclusion was bolstered through projects like the Indigenous Technical Working Group on Flood Mapping and support for Indigenous data sovereignty, promoting community engagement and capacity building.

Key Program Impacts Statistics:

Statistics	Observed Results*	Data Source	Comment
Not Available	Not Available	Not Available	Not Available
* 2023-24 or most recent

Other Key Program impacts:

The program inspires girls to pursue STEM and supports Indigenous inclusion through earth observation for flood risk management and UAV mapping. It enhances community capacity in Inuvik, NWT. Activities include:

• Inspiring high school students into STEM by facilitating career discussions with women in diverse leadership roles.
• Raising awareness by highlighting Indigenous female employees’ contributions in mapping projects.
• Featuring women in STEM through social media campaigns.
• Co-chairing the Indigenous Technical Working Group on Flood Mapping.
• Supporting Indigenous data sovereignty in the Flood Hazard Identification and Mapping Program.
• The publication of an article featuring an Indigenous female employee who actively works on projects featuring Indigenous place names in mapping. This article was shared broadly on social media which increase awareness of this Indigenous female employee.

The program also adheres to NRCan’s employment equity guidelines to address underrepresentation in STEM.

Additional activities include:

• Building Indigenous capacity for geographical place naming by supporting an Indigenous Nation in the development of a handbook of best practices for place naming with the goal of helping other Indigenous communities repatriate their own place names.
• An Inuit and a Métis Advisor were appointed to the Geographical Names Board of Canada by the Minister of NRCan in September 2023, and a First Nations Advisor was re-appointed. These advisors will assist in developing national policy guidelines on Indigenous naming and improve collaboration with Indigenous Nations.
• With the support and coordination of CCMEO, the GNBC naming authorities are now making progress to review and replace derogatory names, typically in consultation with Indigenous communities. Actions were taken by five provinces to rescind and/or change 20 offensive place names in 2023.

Supplementary Information Sources:

Not Available

GBA Plus Data Collection Plan:

We expect a list of qualitative outcomes/action items arising from the current Arctic Expo and capacity building workshop occurring in Inuvik in 2023.

CCMEO researchers continue to work in collaboration with Indigenous communities on scientific research projects to collect core geospatial (baseline) data related to impacts of mining, permafrost, and vegetation (e.g., lichen) among others. We work in affiliation with Nòkwewashk to ensure meaningful and respectful partnerships with Indigenous communities and include consideration of OCAP principles in data collection and sharing.

Explosives Safety and Security

Program Goals:

Natural Resources Canada’s Explosives, Regulatory and Business Services Branch (ERBSB) is the national regulator of explosives as well as the centre of expertise for commercial explosives testing and research. Through its mandate, it contributes to the safety of the public and all workers involved in the explosives industry in Canada, as well as national security.

Target Population: All Canadians

Distribution of Benefits

	Group
By gender	Not Available
By income level	Not Available
By age group	Not Available

Specific Demographic Group Outcomes: Workers in natural resource sectors tend to be men with middle or higher income, between 18 and 60 years of age, with the men-women split being approximately 72:28. Immigrant employees make up 39.7% of the downstream mineral and mining sector, with Indigenous employment making up 4.8% of natural resource employees. The total percentage of the natural resources workforce that identified as a racialized person was 17.4% in 2019. However, all Canadians are expected to benefit from an updated regime that increases safety and security, by reducing criminal and terrorist access to explosives, reducing accidents and incidents involving explosives, as well as reducing non-compliance surrounding the care and use of explosives.

Key Program impacts* on Gender and diversity:

Key Program Impacts Statistics:

Statistics	Observed Results*	Data Source	Comment
Not Available	Not Available	Not Available	Not Available
* 2023-24 or most recent

Other Key Program impacts:

ERBSB issues licences, permits, and certificates for explosives, including ammunition, and fireworks, to manufacturers, transporters, importers, exporters, sellers, and users of explosives. The Canadian Explosives Research Laboratory (CERL) 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 explosive precursors.

In 2021, NRCan initiated a comprehensive review of its explosives regulatory regime which included significant outreach with sector stakeholders to seek views and input on current challenges with the regime. In the feedback received, stakeholders identified the need for an updated regime with modern approach to oversight. In discussions, stakeholders identified their wish for more robust compliance and enforcement to address individuals and companies who may be operating unsafely or even illegally for economic advantage. They expressed an interest for greater support from the Program’s S&T capability in authorizing new explosives and explosives materials. In light of this, program officials have moved forward with modernization initiatives including comprehensive regulatory amendments. While stakeholders support reduced administrative and regulatory burden and efficient transactions, they also see the economic and reputational advantages to addressing safety and security risks and addressing any unsafe or illegal activities in the explosives industry.

Supplementary Information Sources:

Not Available

GBA Plus Data Collection Plan:

With regard to the Regulatory Review, ERBSB engaged and consulted regionally on proposed updates to the Explosive Regulations, 2013 and tracked the feedback received in all engagements and consultations. As regulatory proposals are brought forward for consultation, assessments related to the environment and Indigenous Reconciliation are conducted to ensure all rights are addressed and any downstream impacts are identified and mitigated. ERBSB continues to follow departmental hiring practices and goals focused on diversity and inclusion when staffing positions.

The explosives sector does not currently collect gender or diversity information for any of their activities. ERBSB is moving forward with the development of a data strategy, as part of its modernization efforts, with the goal of enhancing its data collection and analytics to support risk-based decision-making, and which will enable the further collection and reporting of disaggregated administrative data.

Upgraded data systems and forms will allow for opportunities for greater collection of data on the gender and disaggregation data. Ideally, the data strategy would identify the sources of information and analytics used to determine the number of women and gender diverse individuals, age and education levels, the number of racialized people as well as the number of Indigenous people (separated into First Nation, Inuit and Métis) who participate in the explosives sector. Additionally further data on the types of industries that use explosives will be collected in greater detail beyond simply the type of license they apply for (which is currently what type of data is collected and stored). For instance, the ability to state what type of businesses specifically apply for a user magazine license for high impact explosives verses a vendor magazine license would enable better consultation with identified stakeholders in all industries they are present within rather than a focus on larger groups in industries already identified. Ideally data collected would include not just the individuals who apply for certification, but also the larger population who works directly with explosives. This data would be enhanced through collection within the grants and contributions programs and anonymized data gathered from proposed security screenings. With this information, ERBSB would be able to identify better data for the industry as a whole, which is currently lacking.

Forest Climate Change

Program Goals:

The Forest Climate Change program informs mitigation and adaptation activities involving forests, provides forest carbon estimates for the National Inventory Report, and considers GBA Plus principles in internal allocation processes. The 2 Billion Trees (2BT) program contributes to the federal government commitment to plant two billion incremental trees by funding a range of recipients, via grants and non-repayable contributions, to plant trees across Canada.

Target Population: The Forest Climate Change Program, including the 2 Billion Trees program, supports multiple target populations in varying capacities within the context of the forest sector, including: all Canadians, Indigenous Peoples, for-profit and non-profit organizations, academia, and federal, provincial, and territorial governments.

Distribution of Benefits

While information on population demographics is not collected at this time, it is expected that end users of the program outputs represent a diverse group of Canadians across the country.

	Group
By gender	Not Available
By income level	Not Available
By age group	Not Available

Specific Demographic Group Outcomes:

All Canadians - The research component of the Forest Climate Change program is designed to support environmental stewardship by applying scientific research within and across all forest regions of Canada. As such this activity is characterized as aimed at all Canadians. 2BT supports tree planting across Canada, also benefiting all Canadians. 2BT has a dedicated, distinctions-based funding stream for Indigenous projects that was co-developed with Indigenous governments and organizations, to reduce barriers to accessing funding and to take into consideration specific priorities and challenges of Indigenous Peoples. The urban tree planting stream places emphasis on human co-benefits and will directly and indirectly positively impact Canadians in lower income and racialized communities through new green spaces.

Key Program impacts* on Gender and diversity:

Key Program Impacts Statistics:

Statistics	Observed Results*	Data Source	Comment
Percentage of projects funded through the Forest Climate Change Program that have direct and established partnerships with Indigenous communities	In 2023-24, 16% (6 of 37) of forest carbon mitigation and adaptation research projects funded through the Forest Climate Change Program had active and direct engagement with indigenous partners.	Program reporting data – self identified in common call for proposals	Not Available
* 2023-24 or most recent

Other Key Program impacts:

The Forest Climate Change Program’s activities contribute to the resilience of the forest sector and forest-based communities by developing integrated systems and tools to advance adaptation and resilience of Canada’s forests to a changing climate, and by advancing forest carbon modelling and science to better understand how forests and the forest sector can contribute to reaching net-zero.

The 2 Billion Trees (2BT) program’s co-benefits include the creation of green spaces for recreational activities and connecting with nature; better regulation of temperature in cities; improved mental health; and reduced risk of wildland fire and floods to our communities. In summer 2023, the program announced that the $500M co-developed Indigenous Funding Stream would deliver distinctions-based funding. Indigenous governments and organizations engaged through the co-development process were unanimous in their desire to see funding delivered using a distinctions-based approach. Distinctions-based funding allocates funding to each of the recognized Indigenous groups (First Nations, Inuit, and Métis), along with a dedicated stream for unaffiliated or cross-distinction groups. This funding approach is a first for Natural Resources Canada.

In 2023-24, 2 Billion Trees supported 26 projects led by 23 Indigenous organizations with over $18.4 million in grants and contributions funding, representing 21% of projects supported by 2BT in that fiscal year.

Supplementary Information Sources:

Not Available

GBA Plus Data Collection Plan:

The Forest Climate Change Program continues to collect GBA Plus input from funded forest carbon mitigation and adaptation research projects to better understand GBA Plus impacts (including inclusion, equity, diversity and accessibility) as research matures through time. For 2023/24, additional information was collected on how GBA plus considerations were included in research design and how Indigenous Knowledge can be incorporated in research design.

2BT has used GBA Plus to incorporate diversity and inclusion considerations into program design and implementation, has engaged with NRCan’s Programs Working Group on Diversity, and continues to explore mechanisms to further track and monitor GBA Plus data.

Geoscience for Sustainable Development of Natural Resources

Program Goals:

Targeted Geoscience Initiative (TGI) produces geoscience knowledge, models, and tools to improve mineral exploration effectiveness. TGI aims to hire and/or award bursaries to women and visible minorities at or above the proportion at which this occurs in the earth sciences sector. Industry groups (e.g. Women Geoscientists in Canada, Women in Mining Canada) are working towards these goals/practices.

The Critical Minerals Geoscience and Data (CMDG) Initiative builds off demands in Canada’s Critical Mineral Strategy and budget 2022 commitments for a secure supply of critical minerals essential for the future low-carbon economy. Foundational to achieving this outcome is enhancing access to critical minerals data and information that can be used to inform decision making about future projects. This initiative includes four work streams:

• to establish a comprehensive critical minerals knowledge base;
• to conduct critical minerals systems studies to support exploration and development of new or emerging sources of critical minerals;
• to introduce advanced analytics and green critical minerals exploration, production and marketing decision-making, and;
• to conduct consumer and supplier critical mineral criticality assessments for Canada.

Employment associated with the CMGD initiative adheres to departmental targets for equity, diversity and inclusion as defined under the 2021-2024 Employment Equity and Accessibility Action Plan. Progress related to GBA Plus is being tracked and reported on annually.

Target Population: Federal departments and/or agencies, regulatory bodies, mining, and/or oil & gas exploration industries

Distribution of Benefits

	Group
By gender	Not Available
By income level	Not Available
By age group	Not Available

Specific Demographic Group Outcomes: All Canadians

Key Program impacts* on Gender and diversity:

Key Program Impacts Statistics:

Statistics	Observed Results*	Data Source	Comment
Targeted Geoscience Initiative (TGI) Percentage of opportunities (for students and early-career researchers) that are given to individuals who belong to one or more groups of people traditionally underrepresented in the earth sciences sector, particularly women and visible minorities	43% of students hired and bursary recipients were women.	Voluntary disclosure of demographic information by applicants for student/early-career researcher opportunities. Collected annually and used internally to inform mid-year and end of year reporting.	Voluntary disclosure; complete data is not available as it is retained by HR as confidential data and not all applicants disclose information.
Critical Minerals Geoscience and Data (CMDG) Initiative Employment associated with the CMGD initiative will adhere to departmental targets for equity, diversity and inclusion.	Approximately 60% of the term and indeterminate staff and 62% of the students recruited under the program are women	Voluntary disclosure of demographic information by applicants for student/early-career researcher opportunities. Collected annually and used internally to inform mid-year and end of year reporting.	Voluntary disclosure; complete data is not available as it is retained by HR as confidential data and not all applicants disclose information.
* 2023-24 or most recent

Other Key Program impacts:

By following federal guidelines for inclusive, merit-based hiring practices, TGI aims to hire and/or award bursaries to women and visible minorities at or above the proportion at which this occurs in the earth sciences sector. Since both students and scientists are most likely to be beneficiaries of research funding under CMGD’s various work streams, corrective measures have been embedded into application processes to encourage diversity and inclusion methodologies and progress among funding applicants as a component of the non-technical project evaluation.

Supplementary Information Sources:

Not Available

GBA Plus Data Collection Plan:

The programs have established data collection to report on its GBA Plus performance indicator through the voluntary disclosure of demographic information by student and research employment opportunities. Feedback on the usefulness of the data and science by program stakeholders will be used for planning and making any required adjustments towards data and science that best serve the Canadian public.

Geological Knowledge for Canada’s Onshore and Offshore Land

Program goals: Onshore, the Geo-mapping for Energy and Minerals program (GEM-GeoNorth) is focused on mineral potential and sustainable land use for economic development in Canada’s North in the context of a changing climate.

GEM-GeoNorth is based on five pillars:

• Geological knowledge - focus on mineral potential and sustainable land use for economic development in Canada’s North in the context of a changing climate.
• Changing landscapes - impacts of changing landscapes and coasts on critical infrastructure in the North
• Energy & environmental assessments - northern energy potential and surveys informing environmental assessments
• Predictive methods - lab and data-driven predictive methods
• Priority Alignment - towards aligning research priorities with Northerners

GEM-GeoNorth is using strategies that promote gender equality in program hiring since 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.

In the offshore, our geoscience knowledge serves to confirm the farthest extents of the Canadian landmass. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) Program works with Global Affairs Canada and Fisheries and Oceans Canada to delineate the outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles in the Atlantic and Arctic oceans. The long-term outcome of this program is to secure international recognition of the outer limits of Canada’s continental shelf, which will be our last boundary on the map of Canada, benefitting all Canadians. This program promotes the participation of women and Indigenous individuals in scientific activities, engagement with the public and Indigenous communities, and will ensure that employment opportunities are equally available to women, men, minority groups, and Indigenous peoples.

Target population: The region of Canada’s North and Arctic

The program’s target client groups are:

• Federal departments and/or agencies, regulatory bodies, communities, mining industries, and the general public
• Scientists and technicians, via program hiring;
• Early career scientists through research opportunities at sea;
• Northern and Indigenous geoscience professionals, via participation in program leadership, program hiring, and participation in capacity-building opportunities;
• Rural and remote based support staff;
• International scientific collaborators.

Distribution of Benefits

	Group
By gender	Not Available
By income level	Not Available
By age group	Not Available

Specific Demographic Group Outcomes: These programs have direct benefits on women, individuals from remote and Northern regions, Indigenous peoples, with indirect benefits to workers in the mining sector, which is composed predominantly of men.

Key Program impacts* on Gender and diversity:

Key Program Impacts Statistics: The UNCLOS Program has filed two submissions with the United Nations showing Canada’s entitlement to approximately 3 million square kilometers of seafloor on the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles in the Atlantic Ocean and Arctic Ocean. Sovereign rights to the living and non-living natural resources on the seafloor and below in the subsoil will benefit all Canadians.

Statistics	Observed Results*	Data Source	Comment
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) Program: Increasing employment opportunities in marine geoscience, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) professions, in fields where Employment Equity (EE) groups have traditionally been under-represented	43% of the scientific team are represented by women, including the Executive Director.	Program	The UNCLOS Program is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace; future hires will target EE groups (women, people with disabilities, visible minorities, and Indigenous peoples).
Geo-Mapping for Energy and Minerals (GEM-GeoNorth): Number of opportunities for students and early-career researchers, that are given to individuals who belong to one or more groups of people traditionally underrepresented in the earth sciences sector, particularly women, visible minorities, and Indigenous peoples.	FYs 23-24: Female Students: 19 Female Early Researchers: 3	Voluntary disclosure of demographic information by applicants for student/early-career researcher opportunities HR records from the GEM-GeoNorth Coordination Office.	Up from 75% increase in female RAP students.
GEM-GeoNorth: Number of grants awarded to Canadian academic institutions (including Northern educational institutions) or Indigenous groups, pertaining to geoscience research and/or capacity-building	Northern Academic Institutions: 4 Other Canadian Academic Institutions: 11 Indigenous groups & NGOs: 9	Financial records from the GEM-GeoNorth Coordination Office.	73% of grants have been awarded to Canadian academic institutions, Northern organizations and Indigenous groups which represents investment of 92.7% of total grant funds
GEM-GeoNorth: Number of opportunities created for Northern students and early-career researchers (directly hired or awarded bursaries).	FYs 23-24: 13 opportunities created for early career researchers.	Human resources records from the GEM-GeoNorth Coordination Office	Doubled the number of post-doctoral researchers since the 2013-2020 period.
GEM-GeoNorth: Number of engagement activities with Northern communities and Indigenous groups regarding geoscience	FYs: 23-24: 26 engagement activities completed by the engagement team in 2023-2024 including some close-out visits from GEM-2 that were delayed due to the pandemic	Database of GEM-GeoNorth Engagement Activities; Reports from completed engagement activities	Communities are enthusiastic for engagement; in person meetings remain the most meaningful and successful, but virtual meetings are becoming more possible as bandwidth in Canada’s North improves. Averaged at least 40 engagement activities annually (2013 – 2020) Relationships have been established with some communities thereby reducing the number of in-person engagement activities.
GEM-GeoNorth: Annual number of meetings involving the Advisory Group of Northerners (AGN) or provinces & territories (P/T) in research priority-setting	FYs 23-24: AGN: 0 virtual meetings, 1 in-person meeting 2 meetings with all Directors of P/T geological surveys 4 meetings with individual P/T Directors	Folder in shared site (GCDOCS) containing meeting dates, agendas, and minutes.	17 meetings held from 2013-2020
GEM-GeoNorth: Number of contracts with Northern and/or Indigenous businesses to support the program’s fieldwork or engagement.	FYs 23-24: 52 contracts valuing approx. 1.060M $K.	Records from the GEM Coordination Office and Procurement Corporate Reporting.	Entered into 52 contracts in 2023-2024.
* 2023-24 or most recent

Other Key Program impacts:

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

During the fieldwork component of the program, more women and Indigenous individuals were introduced into the team to assist in the acquisition of scientific data and engagement with the public and Indigenous communities. At the conclusion of the surveys, science team members have visited the high school and elementary school in Kugluktuk to explain the science undertaken and to encourage students to consider careers in STEM. When in Kugluktuk, tours of the Coast Guard ship and the science labs are given to members of the Junior Canadian Rangers. The program also promoted and supported the participation of women at scientific conferences and international workshops, and all team members in professional development activities and the publication of scientific research.

The program has translated Canada’s Addendum to the Executive Summary of the 2019 Arctic Ocean submission into the two dominant dialects of Inuktitut, increasing access by Inuit people to Canada’s submission to the UN. The program expects to file the English, French, North Baffin, and Inuinnaqtun versions of the Addendum with the UN this spring. Canada will become the first nation to file a submission in an Indigenous language under the UNCLOS Treaty process.

Future revamping of the program as team members retire will be carried out in accordance with the Public Service Employment Act to ensure employment opportunities are equally available to women, men, minority groups, and Indigenous peoples.

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

GEM-GeoNorth expanded the membership of the Advisory Group of Northerners (AGN) from 7 to 12 members over the 2021-2022 FY. Eleven out of a total of twelve members attended the in-person meeting in Whitehorse in June 2024.

The GEM-GeoNorth Grants and Contributions Program specifically targeted capacity building proposals during the second Call for Proposals to increase the number of grants awarded to promote geoscience training and capacity-building opportunities for Northerners. Eleven grants were awarded in 2023-2024, Three were directly awarded to Indigenous organizations and all eleven enhanced geoscience capacity building in the north for youth, post-secondary students, rural and remote individuals as well as Indigenous groups and governments.

GEM-GeoNorth has focused the program to improve economic development outcomes for Northerners. This includes capacity building in the geosciences to increase the participation of people from underrepresented groups in the labour force as well as through procurement of services to support GEM-GeoNorth research. The program also engages with local communities to build relationships and improve outcomes in the short and long-term. Finally, GEM-GeoNorth is enabling Northern organizations to provide local training opportunities (e.g., Nunavut Government’s “Train the Trainers” project for the Nunavut Prospecting Course).

Supplementary Information Sources:

Not Available

GBA Plus Data Collection Plan:

The GEM-GeoNorth program collects sufficient data to enable it to monitor and/or report program impacts by gender and diversity (depending on the voluntary disclosure of demographic information by applicants or people involved). The program is currently reviewing their GBA Plus indicators to ensure that they demonstrate a clear impact.

Regarding its immediate outcome of “Involvement of stakeholders and Indigenous groups in geoscience knowledge and data generation”, the program’s performance indicators include the annual collection of disaggregated data. Several performance indicators also measure program impacts in the North, regarding availability of geoscience knowledge, and support for the Northern economy.

Geoscience to Keep Canada Safe

Program Goals:

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). These programs provide the foundational research and tools to support Canadians in their analysis, preparation and adaptation to natural hazards and climate change.

The CHIS program conducts monitoring and provides hazard information and products on an ongoing basis and in response to emergency situations (e.g., earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, geomagnetic storms, and radiological / nuclear incidents).

The PSGP aims to understand earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, submarine, and terrestrial landslides, and marine geohazards and their associated risks, while working closely with stakeholders to provide data and resources, and to inform safe development, land use planning, conservation efforts, and regulations. Stakeholders include emergency managers, municipal planners, utility owners and operators, regulators, private sector consultants, and others.

The CCGP conducts research and monitoring to better understand how climate change impacts permafrost, glacier melting, coastal erosion, and sea level rise to provide information and data to support land-use planning, infrastructure development, and to help industry and at-risk communities adapt.

All three programs are national in scope and aim to provide all Canadians the necessary information needed to plan, prepare for, and respond to hazard events. GBA Plus considerations are being applied to consider the actions that can reduce barriers Canadians may face when trying to access information provided, efforts to make information widely comprehensible, and by providing educational and employment opportunities to underrepresented groups.

Target Population: All Canadians

Distribution of Benefits

	Group
By gender	Not Available
By income level	Not Available
By age group	Not Available

Specific Demographic Group Outcomes:

Direct Benefits: Women, children, the elderly, and low-income groups are disproportionately affected by natural hazard events. This program seeks to provide science knowledge, tools and resources that identify, monitor, and assess natural hazards to inform risk reduction actions.

Indirect Benefits: Most of the work produced through the three programs supports policy development, planning, and adaptation which will subsequently impact vulnerable Canadians.

Barriers to Access: Most of the available resources produced through all three programs is provided online to the Canadian public. In some rural and remote areas, online connectivity is a barrier. Some material is fairly technical. The program is working to ensure that alerts use various distribution methods to reach rural and remote communities, and to ensure hazard information is reviewed for ease of comprehension and presented in a range of languages including minority languages.

Key Program impacts* on Gender and diversity:

Key Program Impacts Statistics:

Statistics	Observed Results*	Data Source	Comment
Not Available	Not Available	Not Available	Not Available
* 2023-24 or most recent

Other Key Program impacts:

The knowledge and data generated in this program is made available so others can make evidence-based decisions. Natural disaster events disproportionately impact women, seniors, children, low-income groups, and other vulnerable parts of society as highlighted in the United Nations Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. GKCS improves our understanding of hazards and their impacts, allowing policy makers, planners, and emergency managers to identify vulnerable populations and to tailor preparedness and emergency response plans to assist these groups (i.e., specific regions, women, elderly, low-income, children). The program is working with Indigenous groups to ensure the research is useful in their decision making to protect their citizens.

The Public Safety Geoscience Program’s national seismic risk assessment includes a social vulnerability model to help understand the social drivers of risk. The program further convenes a steering committee that helps ensure that the risk assessment made relates to decisions on the ground to help reduce risk for vulnerable peoples in Canada. This helps decision makers look at risk from the perspective of absolute losses (total) or losses based on the capacity of a jurisdiction.

The CHIS provides authoritative, actionable, and timely information about geological hazards, space weather phenomena, and nuclear and radiological incidents. CHIS is augmenting the information it provides for earthquakes through the development of an Earthquake Early Warning (EEW) system. Starting in 2024 this program will provide free-to-recipient alerts in an easy-to-understand format provided seconds to tens-of-seconds prior to the arrival of strong shaking from major earthquakes to help reduce impacts including to those most vulnerable to natural disaster events.

Supplementary Information Sources:

Not Available

GBA Plus Data Collection Plan:

While the program does not collect sufficient data to monitor impacts by gender and diversity, information is collected for internal use for programs mid-year and end of year reports. It is working on a plan to collect data to enable it to monitor and/or report program impacts by gender and diversity.

The program is working to determine how to measure the downstream effects on GBA Plus of the science and research related to natural hazards. 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 potentially be paired with Departmental Result Framework indicators concerning new and accessible knowledge products, stakeholder feedback, and application of new tools and knowledge by provincial, territorial, and federal governments.

Pest Risk Management

Program Goals:

The Pest Risk Management (PRM) program delivers science-based solutions to forest pest issues negatively affecting Canadian forest values, resources, and trade of forest products.

Target Population: All Canadians

Distribution of Benefits

Information on diversity and inclusion is currently being collected for 2023-24 under the Spruce Budworm Early Intervention Strategy (SBW EIS) initiative, and it is expected that benefits extend to a diverse group of Canadians.

	Group
By gender	Not Available
By income level	Not Available
By age group	Not Available

Specific Demographic Group Outcomes: The PRM program is intended to benefit the quality of life of all Canadians resulting from healthy forest environments. By reducing negative impacts of forest pests on Canada’s forests, the PRM program helps protect forest-sector jobs, including for rural and remote communities whose economic well-being depends on the forest industry.

Key Program impacts* on Gender and diversity:

Key Program Impacts Statistics:

Statistics	Observed Results*	Data Source	Comment
Not Available	Not Available	Not Available	Not Available
* 2023-24 or most recent

Other Key Program impacts:

Not Available

Supplementary Information Sources:

Not Available

GBA Plus Data Collection Plan:

In its annual call for proposals, the Pest Risk Management (PRM), applicants are required to answer questions related to GBA Plus, inclusion, equity, diversity, and accessibility (IDEA), and indigenous engagement.

Under the SBW EIS Program, information on the diversity (representation of women and visible minorities) of new hires in program activities is being collected. The program also encourages recipients to voluntarily develop or submit a diversity and inclusion plan for their organization. All research projects report annually on how their project addresses the underrepresentation of women and visible minorities in the forest sector and/or the science and technology sector. Information about impacts on Indigenous communities and the resolution of concerns raised by Indigenous groups is also being collected and reported as part of project proposals and reports to NRCan. The EIS program also encourages recipients of contribution funding to report baseline workforce demography and diversity data as part of a voluntary survey.

Polar Continental Shelf Program

Program Goals:

The Polar Continental Shelf Program (PCSP) enables research across a number of disciplines in Canada’s Arctic and northern regions through the provision of logistics services. The PCSP aims to strengthen the resilience of Indigenous communities through engagement, training, and employment opportunities; enhance economic benefits for Northerners; gain an understanding of the implications of climate change on Arctic terrestrial and marine ecosystems; and support Canada’s sovereignty in the Arctic.

Target Population: Canadian Arctic researchers, federal and territorial governments, and Indigenous and northern organizations and communities

Distribution of Benefits

Not Available – with regard to distribution of benefits by gender, the distribution varies depending on measures – e.g., principal investigator vs. students.

	Group
By gender	Second group: 60 per cent - 79 per cent men
By income level	Not Available
By age group	Not Available

Specific Demographic Group Outcomes:

Direct beneficiaries: Men, women, minority groups, and Indigenous peoples

Indirect beneficiaries: Indigenous peoples as partners within research, and youth becoming the next generation of scientists.

Key Program impacts* on Gender and diversity:

Key Program Impacts Statistics:

Statistics	Observed Results*	Data Source	Comment
Percentage of participants who identify as Indigenous (First Nations (North American Indian), Metis or Inuit)	7% of participants identify as indigenous, of which 60% specified as First Nations. 4% choosing not to disclose their indigenous status (chose not to answer).	Program Data (Participant Survey)	The survey is voluntary and helps better understand the client base. These results are based on a very small sample size of the total clients served annually
Percentage of participants who identify as a member of a visible minority as described in Canada.	13% of participants identified as a member of a visible minority in Canada.	Program Data (Participant Survey)	The survey is voluntary and helps better understand the client base. These results are based on a very small sample size of the total clients served annually. The question in the survey draws the exact same language from the standard visible minority question asked of public servants.
Percentage of participants who identify as a person with disability.	6% of participants identify as a person with a disability.	Program Data (Participant Survey)	The survey is voluntary and helps better understand the client base. These results are based on a very small sample size of the total clients served annually
Percentage of participants who identify as female	46% of participants identify as female	Program Data (Participant Survey)	The survey is voluntary and helps better understand the client base. These results are based on a very small sample size of the total clients served annually. As more knowledge is gained and standards evolve, PCSPs survey will continue to update the language and scope of this question
Percentage of participants who identify as non-binary	3% of participants identify as non-binary	Program Data (Participant Survey)	The survey is voluntary and helps better understand the client base. These results are based on a very small sample size of the total clients served annually. As more knowledge is gained and standards evolve, PCSPs survey will continue to update the language and scope of this question
Percentage of participants who identify in different age groups	Most participants (28%) are in the age group 29 and under, followed by 30-39 years (27%), 40-49 years (21%) and the rest are 50+ (24%)	Program Data (Participant Survey)	The survey is voluntary and helps better understand the client base. These results are based on a very small sample size of the total clients served annually.
* 2023-24 or most recent

Other Key Program impacts:

The project selection process for University applicants considers equity, diversity and inclusion planning, as well as engagement and participation of local and Indigenous communities in the scoring criteria. In early 2023, the PCSP provided feedback to university-led project applicants in early 2023 to help improve the Indigenous and local involvement and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion components of each project.

Supplementary Information Sources:

Polar Continental Shelf Program Science Report 2019: Logistical support for leading-edge scientific research in Canada and its Arctic (nrcan.gc.ca)

GBA Plus Data Collection Plan:

The program collects diversity information through its application form and through a survey of participants. The application form collects information on principal investigators - including gender and early career researchers.

An ongoing participant survey, completed at the end of the field season which gathered data on gender, ethnicity, age, disability, career stage, Indigenous status, and location of residence for all project participants

The data collected helps PCSP to track the demographics of participants to signal groups that may not be equally accessing services, to signal areas where potential barriers must be examined and determine if program design changes would reduce barriers.

Wildfire Risk Management

Program Goals:

This program provides fundamental and applied science to help governments, industries, communities, and citizens adapt and live with wildfire impacts. GBA Plus was applied by providing and developing resources that help planners and emergency services to protect most-at-risk populations from wildfires, especially Indigenous and rural and remote communities in forested areas.

Target Population: All Canadians, especially those threatened by wildfires or their effects.

Distribution of Benefits

While, this program benefits all Canadians, the distribution of benefits are felt most by those demographic groups and populations who are disproportionately vulnerable to and threatened by wildfires, and their effects.

	Group
By gender	Not Available
By income level	Not Available
By age group	Not Available

Specific Demographic Group Outcomes: Rural and remote citizens, as well as Indigenous people – primarily First Nations and Métis in forested areas - are disproportionately affected by wildfire in Canada.

Key Program impacts* on Gender and diversity:

Through the Training Fund of the Fighting and Managing Wildfires in a Changing Climate program, 90% of projects were with or for Indigenous organizations or communities. Their training projects provided wildfire training to 331 participants, of which 80% were Indigenous, 53% were youth and 15% were women and other. This had the impact of increasing community capacity to prepare for and respond to wildfires, with some participants working within their communities in a firefighting role and in some cases deployed to respond to wildfires.

Key Program Impacts Statistics:

Statistics	Observed Results*	Data Source	Comment
Not Available	Indigenous People are disproportionately evacuated due to wildfires. From 1980 to 2021, 41.9% of wildfire evacuations events in Canada occurred in communities with predominately (i.e. >50%) Indigenous population.	Canadian Forest Service science publications and Evacuation database	Not Available
* 2023-24 or most recent

Other Key Program impacts:

The program continues to engage Indigenous partners on research projects, including co-development, fieldwork, data analysis, and knowledge exchange. Through the Emergency Management Strategy the program funded the establishment of an Indigenous-led National Indigenous Fire Working Group. Governance for the Working Group has been established by a Steering Committee, and the Terms of Reference for the Working Group were developed in 2023-2024, Additionally, the Fighting and Managing Wildfires in a Changing Climate (FMWCC) contribution program strengthens capacities and capabilities in wildland fire management in Indigenous communities through investments in wildland firefighter training and the incorporation of Indigenous knowledge in wildland fire management.

Supplementary Information Sources:

Not Available

GBA Plus Data Collection Plan:

In order to maintain data on populations most impacted by wildfire in Canada, the program maintains a Canadian Wildland Fire Evacuation database that includes evacuation events from 1980 to current. This database is updated annually.

The fire program has incorporated measures into its grant and contribution project selection process to better assess equity, diversity, and inclusion in project proposals. Applicants are required to detail how they consider the barriers, experiences and/or needs of a diverse range of individuals or groups in their project design and delivery. In addition, applicants are required to provide details about how their projects will benefit Indigenous Communities. The EDI and Indigenous criteria will be used to prioritize project selection for the 2024-2025 fiscal year.

Since 2023-2024 fiscal year, an Activity and Performance Report has been used to collect GBA Plus and Indigenous data for training participants under the FMWCC. This information supports disaggregated data analysis of program uptake by gender, age, racialized groups, disability and Indigenous. Analysis of this data each year will provide an indication of how uptake of the program by GBA Plus and Indigenous participants changes over time.

Core Responsibility: Innovative and Sustainable Natural Resources Development

Energy Innovation and Clean Technology

Program Goals:

The Energy Innovation and Clean Technology program, delivered by the Office of Energy Research and Development (OERD), supports research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) of emerging clean technologies to accelerate the transformation of Canada’s energy system to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. In 2023-24, OERD continued to implement a Phased Approach to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA) for its grants and contributions programs to help understand the short-, medium- and long-term impacts of its programs and who benefits from the funded clean energy technologies.

Target Population: Specific sector or segment of the economy: Science and technology industry; Energy and/or utilities sector; Provincial & territorial governments

Distribution of Benefits

	Group
By gender	Not Available
By income level	Not Available
By age group	Not Available

Specific Demographic Group Outcomes:

Direct beneficiaries: Workers, innovators, academics, and researchers in the clean energy technology sector, who are predominantly highly educated white men.

Indirect beneficiaries: Clean energy technology sector, low-income individuals and households, rural and remote communities, women, children and youth, and Indigenous Peoples.

Groups that may face barriers to access/participation: Groups historically underrepresented in the energy sector, such as women, racialized people, and Indigenous Peoples.

Key Program impacts* on Gender and diversity:

Key Program Impacts Statistics:

Statistics	Observed Results*	Data Source	Comment
Not Available	Not Available	Not Available	Not Available
* 2023-24 or most recent

Other Key Program impacts:

Implementation of IDEA across energy RD&D programming

In 2023-24, OERD continued to implement a Phased Approach to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA) for its grants and contributions programs. Through this approach, OERD has taken steps to identify, assess and implement actionable steps to address barriers to access and participation to its RD&D programs by different underrepresented groups and to integrate GBA Plus into program design and delivery in order to advance inclusion throughout program operations for both new and ongoing programs. This method is already supporting the application of GBA Plus to program analysis and evaluation for past and current programming.

Smart Grid Demonstrations and Regulatory Innovation

In this new funding call launched in 2023-24, applicants were required to complete questions identifying the Societal Project Benefits of their proposed electricity sector projects, including identifying a community need, providing objectives and an implementation plan, and setting targets and metrics for success. Applicants needed to demonstrate that their grid modernization and energy innovation project would contribute to affordability, access for diverse demographics and/or participation of under-represented groups as advisors, leaders, and partners in the projects. In particular, the application form asked proponents to identify and describe Indigenous ownership or engagement related to their proposed project.

Greener Neighbourhoods Pilot Program (GNPP)

The Market Development Team (MDT) funding call sought to fund at least one project that is Indigenous-led or involves an Indigenous core partner. The Demonstration Project call increased the maximum program contribution from 50% to 100% of total project costs for Indigenous proponents. In total, 27% of the eligible GNPP applications received were from Indigenous-led applicants, with additional proposals that included the involvement of Indigenous communities. In 2023-24, one Indigenous project was competitively selected for funding under the MDT call.

Supplementary Information Sources:

Not Available

GBA Plus Data Collection Plan:

Through the implementation of its Phased Approach to IDEA, OERD has adopted a methodical approach to increase the inclusion of IDEA in program scoping, design, delivery, implementation, reporting, and evaluation through GBA Plus.

The Phased Approach began with establishing a baseline through data collection (requesting voluntary IDEA information in project proposals and requesting disaggregated employment and training data for women and gender-diverse people and Indigenous Peoples from funded proponents) in order to better understand the state of GBA Plus in the clean energy technology sector and identify gaps that need to be addressed. The IDEA data collected is still being collected, but results to date are being used to explore opportunities and implement new approaches for targeted interventions to reduce barriers to access and participation in OERD’s RD&D programs.

Cumulative Effects

Program Goals:

The CE program develops knowledge, data and tools to minimize and mitigate cumulative effects in Canada through multidisciplinary science and collaborative partnerships. The CE Program focuses on impacts and risks to forest ecosystem values resulting mostly from non forestry resource development activities, in addition to natural disturbances and climate change.

Target Population: All Canadians

Distribution of Benefits

	Group
By gender	Second group: 60 per cent - 79 per cent men
By income level	Not Available
By age group	Not Available

Specific Demographic Group Outcomes:

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 in rural forested communities who could benefit from reduced impacts on the environment and forest habitat. Also, knowledge products and tools developed through the program can help stakeholders engage in decision making around restoration, forest management and land use for the benefit of communities as a whole.

Key Program impacts* on Gender and diversity:

Key Program Impacts Statistics:

Statistics	Observed Results*	Data Source	Comment
Principal investigator	14/22 male (64%) 8/22 female (36%)	Program Reporting Data	N/A
Percentage of projects funded in 2023-24 through the Cumulative Effects Program that have direct and established partnerships with Indigenous communities	36% (8 of 22 projects)	Program Reporting Data	N/A
* 2023-24 or most recent

Other Key Program impacts:

The Cumulative Effects program continues to advance more equitable research opportunities in addressing the risks and impacts of cumulative effects on forest ecosystems including woodland caribou protection and habitat restoration. This includes the incorporation of Indigenous Knowledge and engagement in research efforts when and where possible. Eight CFS-led research projects were funded in 2023-24 that worked directly with Indigenous partners and other stakeholders, to collaborate and integrate both the knowledge of CE researchers and Indigenous communities to address assessment and restoration of cumulative effects on the forested land-base including caribou habitat.

Supplementary Information Sources:

Not Available

GBA Plus Data Collection Plan:

The Program currently tracks data pertaining to gender distribution of researchers receiving program funds. In addition, the funding process (Common Call for Proposals) integrates GBA Plus related questions (such as how GBA Plus ideals will be included in a project and how Indigenous Knowledge can be incorporated in research design) to collect data and reflect the GBA Plus component in reporting processes. The Program will continue to review GBA Plus reporting processes and consider any additional data that may be appropriate.

Energy and Climate Change Policy

Program Goals:

The Equality in Energy Transitions Initiative is an international framework, organized under the Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) and the International Energy Agency (IEA). The initiative’s goal is to advance gender equality in the clean energy sector, globally. Canada (NRCan) chairs the Executive Committee and leads on the Equal by 30 campaign and the Awards and Recognition work stream.

In February 2023, NRCan released the interim Sustainable Jobs Plan (SJP) detailing concrete federal actions to advance economic prosperity and sustainable jobs in every region of the country, including efforts to advance skills development, promote Indigenous-led solutions and gender equality in a low-carbon future. The Canadian Sustainable Jobs Act was introduced in Parliament in June 2023, GBA Plus is applied through all aspects of the sustainable jobs initiative, as detailed in the plan, since an overarching objective of sustainable jobs is to help to make the labour market more inclusive and encourage the participation of previously underrepresented groups. Outcomes will be identified for this initiative through the development of the 2025 plan.

Target Population: EETI - The global clean energy sector

SJP - Canadians in sectors implicated in the low-carbon transition; Canadians interested in sustainable jobs opportunities, including from groups underrepresented in the labour force; and firms/industries who are looking for workers/skillsets in the net-zero economy.

Distribution of Benefits

	EETI – Group
By gender	Fifth group: Predominantly women (e.g., 80 per cent or more women)
By income level	Third group: No significant distributional impacts
By age group	Second group: No significant inter-generational impacts or impacts generation between youth and seniors
	SJP - Group
By gender	Second group: 60 per cent - 79 per cent men
By income level	Third group: No significant distributional impacts
By age group	Second group: No significant inter-generational impacts or impacts generation between youth and seniors

Specific Demographic Group Outcomes:

Equality Initiative

Direct beneficiaries: Women, all marginalized communities

Indirect beneficiaries: Global clean energy sector

SJP

Direct beneficiaries: It is expected that the Canadian Sustainable Jobs Act will positively benefit workers in transition implicated sectors, notably in the natural resource, construction and energy industries in Canada.

Indirect beneficiaries: Those working in indirect or induced jobs, such as industries that supply goods and services to the energy sector like engineering construction, machinery and equipment, professional services, and transportation services.

Based on GBA Plus, key demographics relevant to sustainable jobs include:

• The environmental and clean technology (ECT) sector workforce is predominantly male, with 71% of jobs in the ECT sector held by men and 29% held by women.
• This composition is consistent with that of the high-emitting industries which will be affected by the low-carbon transition. For example, in 2021, % of workers in the oil and gas sector were women. Therefore, it is expected that, in nominal terms, men will benefit more from this proposal than women.
• These industries are also significant employers of Indigenous Peoples. In 2021, Indigenous People made up 5.9% of the energy sector workforce, whereas they made up 3.6 % of Canada’s overall economy in 2021.
• Furthermore, 21% of oil and gas workers in 2021 belonged to a visibility minority.
• Finally, in 2021, immigrants represented 17.2% of energy sector employees compared to 26.6% of total economy in 2021.
• While this proposal will present an opportunity for any Canadian worker, whether low or high income, to access skills training to move into higher-paying employment, it will have notable impacts on Canadians currently in the oil and gas sector which has an above average salary, compared to the Canadian workforce overall.

Key Program impacts* on Gender and diversity:

Key Program Impacts Statistics:

Statistics	Observed Results*	Data Source	Comment
The Equality in Energy Transitions Initiative Member Governments	Grown to 13 member governments as of March 2024. (Australia, Austria, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, European Commission, Finland, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, USA)	Equality in Energy Transitions Initiative website
Equal by 30 Number of Signatories	210 signatories have joined as of March 2024, representing a broad range of industries and organizations across over 25 countries and several energy sub-sectors.	Equal by 30 website	The number of signatories increased by 18 from April 2023 to March 2024.
* 2023-24 or most recent

Other Key Program impacts:

Canada chaired the Equality in Energy Transitions Initiative and continued to lead the Equal by 30 campaign, and the Awards & Recognition Program, under the Equality in Energy Initiative.

Equal by 30 Campaign

The Equal by 30 campaign works to advance equal pay, equal leadership, and equal opportunities for women, and other marginalized groups, in the global energy sector. As of March 31, 2024, there were 210 signatories worldwide to the campaign.

Signatories have developed over 350 commitments to the campaign and implemented policies and practices to support marginalized groups, including increasing representation, creating a more inclusive environment, ensuring fair management practices, supporting career development, and ensuring safe workplaces that are free of harassment and discrimination.

In July 2023, Equal by 30 released a self-assessment tool, to help governments and organizations evaluate progress on implementing inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility practices and policies. NRCan, with support from Electricity Human Resources Canada, organized a virtual workshop and in-person session at the February 2024 GLOBE Forum to promote the use of the toolkit and ensure that signatories and other interested parties were aware of how to maximize use of the toolkit for their unique needs.

The interim Sustainable Jobs Plan

The interim Sustainable Jobs Plan details a new initiative currently being implemented. It lays out the Government’s approach and next steps to build economic prosperity and sustainable jobs across Canada. More specifically, the plan outlines 10 key federal action areas, encompassing both actions to accelerate the growth of net-zero industries as well as measures to ensure workers and communities are ready to seize these new opportunities. Notably, this plan commits to establish a federal framework for accountability, a governance structure, and engagement mechanisms, as outlined in the proposed sustainable jobs legislation introduced in the House of Parliament in June 2023 – Bill C-50, the Canadian Sustainable Jobs Act.

While no direct program impacts on gender and diversity have been realized to date, the (proposed) Sustainable Jobs legislation includes a set of principles aimed at enshrining a people and worker-centered approach to the Government’s actions in this area. Notably, the principles highlight the following:

• a sustainable jobs approach should be inclusive and address barriers to employment with an emphasis on encouraging the creation of employment opportunities for groups underrepresented in the labour market, including women, persons with disabilities, Indigenous peoples, Black and other racialized individuals, 2SLGBTQI+ and other equity-seeking groups.

Furthermore, the plan aligns with existing relevant initiatives and programs, including the Equality in Energy Transitions Initiative and Equal by 30 campaign, detailed below.

Supplementary Information Sources:

• The Equality in Energy Transitions website
• Equal by 30 website
• The Equal by 30 Reporting Framework
• G7 Report on Gender and Diversity in the Energy Sector
• Equal by 30 Self-Assessment Tool
• Bill C-50, An Act respecting accountability, transparency and engagement to support the creation of sustainable jobs for workers and economic growth in a net-zero economy
• Sustainable Jobs - Canada.ca

GBA Plus Data Collection Plan:

There is a persistent lack of disaggregated data around gender, as well as broader inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility metrics, in the global energy sector, which presents an obstacle to fully understanding the underlying barriers for designing and implementing policies to advance equality. To combat this challenge, the Equal by 30 campaign is continuing to develop data collection and reporting exercises, allowing the sector to identify and address key areas for improvement, while emphasizing the importance of a people-centered approach, and ensuring that marginalized communities are central to energy transition efforts.

In July 2023, the campaign launched a self-assessment tool, to help signatories evaluate their progress on implementing inclusion, equity, diversity, and accessibility practices within their workplace. Signatories are able to self-evaluate against the three main objectives of the campaign – equal pay, equal leadership, and equal opportunities, as well as the four main areas for improvement identified through the 2021 Equal by 30 Reporting Framework – inclusive culture, fair management, career development, and workplace safety/harassment, and track their progress on the road to 2030. To ensure that signatories understand how to use this evergreen tool, the campaign hosted webinars, in collaboration with Electricity Human Resources Canada, which are publicly available online.

The interim Sustainable Jobs Plan supports improving the collection, measurement and reporting of data and indicators that can help to track the creation of sustainable jobs across Canada, including in partnership with Statistics Canada. The Plan includes a commitment to: identifying what data is currently tracked across the federal government and other accessible sources; including information related to equity and diversity, and where the gaps are; including data derived from programming; leveraging ongoing work happening across the federal government and other relevant partners to address gaps; including the need for Indige-nous-specific metrics that are shared transpar-ently with Indigenous communities; and supporting continued investment in internal and external research and data developments to improve understanding of current and future labour market conditions.

Energy Efficiency

Program Goals:

The Energy Efficiency Program (EEP) works to incorporate GBA Plus principles in its various products and practices (e.g., collaboration, standards, certifications, product specifications, building codes, tools, and grants and contributions), to enable equitable and inclusive distribution of energy efficiency benefits across diverse Canadian populations. The intended outcomes include reducing energy use and costs, improving living conditions, increasing access to energy efficiency measures for all, while addressing the specific needs of diverse groups.

Target Population: The general public; Indigenous peoples, communities and businesses; energy consumers and producers; federal organizations; service providers and stakeholders in the industry; building, housing, and equipment sectors; and provincial, territorial, and municipal governments across Canada.

Distribution of Benefits

For the Canada Greener Homes Initiative (one initiative under the Energy Efficiency program)

	Group
By gender	Second group: 60 % - 79 % men
By income level	Fourth group: Somewhat benefits high income individuals (Somewhat regressive)
By age group	Second group: No significant inter-generational impacts or impacts generation between youth and seniors

Specific Demographic Group Outcomes:

Increasing the energy efficiency of homes though the Canada Greener Homes Initiative (CGHI) provides direct benefits to energy consumers in Canada. This initiative reduces energy consumption, lowers energy costs, and by decreases greenhouse gas emissions. The initiative includes a stream for Indigenous peoples as an under-represented group.

Key Program impacts* on Gender and diversity:

Key Program Impacts Statistics:

Statistics	Observed Results*	Data Source	Comment
Gender distribution in the energy efficiency workforce in Canada	18 % were women	Environmental Careers Organization of Canada (ECO Canada) Summer 2024 report	Compared to 48% national workforce average
Indigenous peoples in the energy efficiency workforce in Canada	3% were Indigenous peoples	Environmental Careers Organization of Canada (ECO Canada) Summer 2024 report	Compared to 4% national workforce average
Proportion of young workers (18-34 old) in the energy efficiency workforce in Canada	42%	Environmental Careers Organization of Canada (ECO Canada) Summer 2024 report	Compared to 36% national workforce average
* 2023-24 or most recent

Through the Canada Greener Homes Initiative (CGHI), NRCan has employed diverse outreach strategies with National Indigenous Organizations and Indigenous groups. With carved-out funding for Indigenous peoples, and flexibilities to support Indigenous applicants, the suite of programs advanced the energy efficiency performance of houses and buildings in Indigenous communities. Through the CGHI, NRCan partnered with Indigenous governments and organizations for community-wide retrofit projects. These efforts led to the signing of 32 agreements with First Nation and Métis governments to retrofit of up to 6,107 homes that will help with enhancing energy efficiency and living conditions. The Energy Advisor Recruitment, Training and Mentorship (EA RTM) program strengthened inclusivity and workforce diversity efforts by increasing the number of energy advisors in under-represented and under-served areas through funding agreements with five pan-Indigenous organizations and nine non-Indigenous organizations. Since the program’s inception, approximately 11% of program participants are Indigenous, 25% are women, and 30% are from under-served regions.

As part of the Canada Greener Homes Initiative (CGHI), the Oil to Heat Pump Affordability (OHPA) program was launched in February 2023 and was enhanced in October 2023, aiming to help low- to median-income homeowners transition from oil heating to electric heat pumps by offering upfront grants.

Other EEP sub-programs like the Codes Acceleration Fund (CAF), Deep Retrofit Accelerator Initiative (DRAI) and Green Industrial Facilities Manufacturing Program (GIFMP) have embedded inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility considerations into the proposal assessment frameworks, and have prioritized proposals that include such considerations and benefit Indigenous communities. In February 2024, two contribution agreements were signed with Indigenous communities to take on projects under DRAI.

The Toward Net-Zero Homes and Communities initiative backs community-led residential projects in Indigenous, rural, remove and under-resourced areas. An Indigenous organization helps with community outreach and evaluation of applications for the funds carved out for Indigenous participants (25%). To date, the program has awarded around 20 agreements to Indigenous communities and organizations.

Other Key Program impacts:

The development of the Canada Green Buildings Strategy (CGBS) prioritized inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility by using inclusive engagement measures, working with national and regional Indigenous organizations and governments, with consideration given to the realities in remote and northern regions, such as affordability, climate resilience and need for holistic housing related support. EEP undertook extensive stakeholder engagement and published an engagement report in summer 2023, which explored Indigenous partners' priorities regarding green buildings/housing. EEP also commissioned the Indigenous Clean Energy Social Enterprise (ICE) Enabling Energy Efficiency report, which expanded upon the 2021-22 ICE study.

With growing affordability challenges across Canada, Budget 2024 provided funding to launch the Canada Greener Homes Affordability Program (CGHAP) that will support the direct installation of energy efficiency retrofits for households with low-to-median- incomes.

Through the development of CGBS and CGHAP, considerations were given to remove potential barriers for diverse demographics for equitable access to participation.

Supplementary Information Sources:

Not Available

GBA Plus Data Collection Plan:

EEP initiatives have various data collection methods (i.e., contribution agreements, progress reports, service organizations, anonymized & voluntary surveys). The aim is to enable better data collection and disaggregation. EEP conducts and commissions studies and engages with stakeholders to identify key barriers that diverse groups face when accessing energy efficiency projects and careers. Studies undertaken by EEP to identify inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility issues inform policy and program delivery, design, and implementation to promote equities among gender-diverse and under-represented groups, including Indigenous peoples.

EEP plans to commission a GBA Plus study for energy-using products that would inform future market studies and amendments to the Energy Efficiency Regulations. An Indigenous engagement plan and guidelines will be developed for the integration of GBA Plus in the regulatory process.

Previous research identified the barriers inherent in the energy efficiency sector. The ICE studies sought to build on this by further exploring Indigenous perceptions, needs and barriers to the uptake of energy efficiency solutions in Canada. Studies are ongoing on affordability issues.

All studies will inform how we develop and improve data collection and analysis tools to assess the impacts of various initiatives.

Electricity Resources

Green Infrastructure electricity programs

Program Goals:

The Clean Energy for Rural and Remote Communities (CERRC) program will displace the use of diesel and fossil fuels in Indigenous, rural, and remote communities by deploying and demonstrating renewable energy projects, building skills, and capacity. The program prioritizes Indigenous-led projects and the participation of women and youth.

The Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways Program (SREPs) provides funding for smart renewable energy and electrical grid modernization projects. GBA Plus analysis was applied to the initial program design, evaluation, and delivery.

Target Population: All Canadians

Distribution of Benefits

	Group
By gender	Second group: 60 per cent - 79 per cent men
By income level	Third group: No significant distributional impacts
By age group	Second group: No significant inter-generational impacts or impacts generation between youth and seniors

Specific Demographic Group Outcomes:

CERRC

• Direct beneficiaries: Indigenous Peoples, people living in jurisdictions using fossil fuel generated heat and electricity, workers in the clean energy and electricity sectors.
• Indirect beneficiaries: clean energy and electricity sectors.
• Groups that may face barriers to access/participation: women, older people.
• Groups that may face negative impacts from program activities: Fossil fuel industry, workers in fossil fuel industry, who are predominantly men.

SREPs

• Direct beneficiaries: Indigenous Peoples, people living in jurisdictions reliant on fossil fuel generated electricity, workers in the clean energy and electricity sectors.
• Indirect beneficiaries: clean energy and electricity sectors.
• Groups that may face barriers to access/participation: women, youth, racialized people, Indigenous people, and others historically underrepresented in the clean energy sector.
• Groups that may face negative impacts from program activities: Fossil fuel industry, workers in fossil fuel industry.

Key Program impacts* on Gender and diversity:

Key Program Impacts Statistics:

Statistics	Observed Results*	Data Source	Comment
Number of Indigenous clean energy projects	165 Indigenous projects	Program reports and program data collection	42 projects with Indigenous ownership under the Smart Renewable and Electrification Pathways Program.
Number of jobs for youth	TBD	Program reports and program data collection	20 Final Reports have been submitted, indicating that 36 job-years have been created for youth under the Smart Renewable and Electrification Pathways Program.
Number of jobs for women	TBD	Program reports and program data collection	20 Final Reports have been submitted, indicating that 109 job-years have been created for women under the Smart Renewable and Electrification Pathways Program.
* 2023-24 or most recent

Other Key Program impacts:

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.

Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways Program (SREPs)

The Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways Program (SREPs) included measures to increase benefits to underrepresented groups within the electricity sector, where benefits skew towards non-racialized cis-gendered men. SREPs incorporated measures to enable the participation of underrepresented groups, for example:

• All deployment project applicants were required to submit an EDI plan or sign onto a relevant EDI commitment
• Funding was set aside for Indigenous-owned projects
• Indigenous projects were able to access favourable funding limits

Program funding was set aside for the Capacity Building stream which focuses on overcoming barriers to future deployment and includes activities such as knowledge sharing and studies (which could include technical studies and information), mentoring and apprenticeships, training or workshops, engagement opportunities, and the development of EDI plans.

Wah-ila-toos

NRCan is part of a single-window, no-wrong-door approach with CIRNAC, ISC, ECCC and Infrastructure Canada to reduce barriers to accessing funding for implementing clean energy solutions to reduce diesel or other fossil fuels consumption in Indigenous, rural, and remote communities. Three programs delivered under Wah-ila-toos are the Clean Energy for Rural and Remote Communities program (NRCan), the Indigenous Off-Diesel Initiative (NRCan), and the Northern Responsible Energy Approach for Community Heat and Energy (CIRNAC).

Clean Energy for Rural and Remote Communities (CERRC) program

The CERRC program supports the reduction of diesel and fossil fuels used for heat and power in Indigenous, rural, and remote communities by supporting communities in deploying and demonstrating renewable energy projects, building skills, and capacity. The program prioritizes Indigenous-led projects and the participation of women and youth. The program's four streams include capacity building, demonstration, deployment, and BioHeat. The four streams work together to ensure that direct benefits impact a broad group of Indigenous, rural, and remote communities across Canada, including First Nations, Inuit and Métis women, men and gender-diverse people.

Indigenous Off-Diesel Initiative (IODI)

IODI is a clean energy training and funding program that supports Indigenous-led climate solutions in remote Indigenous communities that currently use diesel or fossil fuels for heat and power. IODI supports participants, called Energy Champions, in their journey from training through to project implementation. Energy Champions are encouraged to work closely with a team of clean energy leaders and to engage with their communities to support community energy literacy and ensure that projects reflect their community’s priorities. Projects supported under IODI are Indigenous-led, community-driven and focused on supporting local capacity building, community energy planning, and development of clean energy projects.

Supplementary Information Sources:

Not Available

GBA Plus Data Collection Plan:

Annual data collection and reporting templates for certain programs (e.g., Smart Grid Program, CERRC) collect gender-disaggregated data that aligns with program goals. Further, training and hiring metrics are collected at gender-disaggregated levels and align with Statistics Canada terminology (e.g., female, male, and gender diverse).

SREPs Data Collection

SREPs will continue to collect disaggregated data from proponents at the final reporting stage on jobs created. The data will include job numbers of men, women, gender diverse people, racialized persons, Indigenous people, youth, and persons with disabilities. The program is also tracking data on Indigenous ownership, number of Indigenous communities involved in projects and progress, and challenges implementing EDI plans and commitments.

CERRC Data Collection

The CERRC program collects, disaggregates, and tracks data annually for renewable energy projects in rural and remote communities by region, Indigenous ownership, and participation. This includes measuring the percentage and number of projects led by or partnered with Indigenous groups. The program also collects information on greenhouse gases reduced to understand the health impacts of the program on communities.

Fibre Solutions

Program Goals:

The mission of the Canadian Wood Fibre Centre (CWFC) is to develop knowledge, tools and approaches aimed at reducing the risks to the forest fibre supply of Canada. By developing and deploying innovative, sustainable solutions that meet the needs of end users, CWFC supports the resiliency of forests to climate change.

Target Population: Forest sector

Distribution of Benefits

	Group
By gender	Not Available
By income level	Not Available
By age group	Not Available

Specific Demographic Group Outcomes: All Canadians, with direct benefits to the forest sector, women, and Indigenous peoples.

Key Program impacts* on Gender and diversity:

Key Program Impacts Statistics:

Statistics	Observed Results*	Data Source	Comment
Not Available	Not Available	Not Available	Not Available
* 2023-24 or most recent

Other Key Program impacts:

In 2020, NRCan’s CWFC started the collection of Diversity and Inclusion data from FIP-CWFC Contribution Program recipients. Final payment upon project completion requires recipients to submit results of their GBA Plus action plans on the project’s work. This data will be analyzed for changes and trends.

GBA Plus Action Plans have been put in place by FIP external partners. They have been encouraged to increase participation by women as research and project team members and address any barriers. Due to the need for specific expertise for projects, women research project members were not always available.

Supplementary Information Sources:

Not Available

GBA Plus Data Collection Plan:

NRCan’s CWFC continues to require the submission of a Diversity and Inclusion plan for 2023-26 FIP-CWFC contribution program proponents. Final payment upon project completion also requires recipients to submit results of their GBA Plus action plans on the project’s work. At the end of Program cycle, end of fiscal year 2025-26, data will be analyzed for changes and trends.

Data is also collected to evaluate the potential impacts of the FIP funding allocated through the NSERC Canadian Forest Sector Workforce Diversity undergraduate supplement for 2023-2026. FIP's contribution to this scholarship is another example of a CFS initiative that aims to improve representation and diversity in the forest sector. The program receives demographic data from NSERC on the recipients of this funding to get a sense of which equity seeking groups are benefitting from the scholarship and receiving support to pursue forest sector research projects and careers.

A final version is anticipated in late 2024 and will be distributed for internal review and information.

Green Mining Innovation

Program Goals:

CanmetMINING works in partnership with stakeholders to address the mining industry’s challenges such as productivity and costs, digital innovation, license to operate, decarbonization, and environment and social risks. Our key priorities are focused on R&D towards clean technology adoption, critical & battery minerals, mining value from waste, digital applications in mining, deep mining, climate change, and environmental impact assessment. Internal discussions are currently underway to examine GBA Plus reporting processes that would be the most appropriate for the program and for the development of a GBA Plus Data Collection Action Plan.

Target Population: Specific regions or sectors: The mining industry and the mining innovation ecosystem

Distribution of Benefits

	Group
By gender	Not Available
By income level	Not Available
By age group	Not Available

Specific Demographic Group Outcomes:

Direct beneficiaries: Workers, innovators, academics, and researchers in the mining sector, who are predominantly highly educated white men.

Indirect beneficiaries: Mining & minerals sector low-income individuals and households, rural and remote communities, women, children and youth, and Indigenous Peoples.

Groups that may face barriers to access/participation: Groups historically underrepresented in the Mining & minerals sector.

Key Program impacts* on Gender and diversity:

Key Program Impacts Statistics:

Statistics	Observed Results*	Data Source	Comment
Not Available	Not Available	Not Available	Not Available
* 2023-24 or most recent

Other Key Program impacts:

This strategic R&D 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 three priority areas: critical minerals, efficient mining practices, and climate resilient mining. Several specialized services such as the production of certified reference materials, ground control dynamic testing, radioactive waste stabilization, and diesel engine certification are also delivered by the program.

Supplementary Information Sources:

Not Available

GBA Plus Data Collection Plan:

In an effort to determine key statistic indicators to understand and address GBA Plus considerations, and put in place a data collection plan for the program in FY24 we revised our Client Feedback Survey that is sent out with the deliverables following the completion of a cost recovery project. We added questions about the adherence to the company’s GBA Plus policies in the services we provided. We have not received any data to date. While CanmetMINING does not have data to-date to determine the degree to which GBA Plus has affected its 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. We are planning discussions in FY25 to examine GBA Plus reporting processes that would be the most appropriate, it is proposed that CanmetMINING begin tracking participation in CanmetMINING-led stakeholder workshops through a gender/diversity lens using voluntary disclosure of demographic information by participants attending each individual workshop.

Innovative Geospatial Solutions

Program Goals:

This program innovates in geospatial research, developing new technologies, methods, and standardized products. It creates science, data, and tools for information sharing, supporting key Government of Canada priorities with a gender- and diversity-sensitive approach.

Target Population: All Canadians

Distribution of Benefits

	Group
By gender	Third group: Broadly gender-balanced
By income level	Third group: No significant distributional impacts
By age group	Second group: No significant inter-generational impacts or impacts generation between youth and seniors

Specific Demographic Group Outcomes: Women, Indigenous communities

Key Program impacts* on Gender and diversity:

Key Program Impacts Statistics:

Statistics	Observed Results*	Data Source	Comment
Funded 3 projects that directly support addressing geospatial issues within Indigenous communities	Projects completed on time and on budget	Project Authorities via final project reports	Funded through the GeoConnections program
* 2023-24 or most recent

Other Key Program impacts:

The Innovative Geospatial Solutions program advances geospatial capacity and inclusivity by:

• Strengthening Indigenous place naming and updating Canada’s Basemap for Indigenous languages.
• Increasing Northern women’s and girls’ participation in UAV mapping and geospatial skills and enhancing geospatial capacity in Inuvik, NWT.
• Supporting Indigenous data governance and ensuring web tools meet accessibility standards and are bilingual.

Additionally, it addresses Indigenous geospatial issues (e.g., climate resilience) through targeted projects.

Contributions through the GeoConnections program include:

• Funded 3 projects that directly support addressing geospatial issues within Indigenous communities. As a result, Indigenous communities benefited from improved access and management of geospatial and aerial imagery data through the development of Apps which imbed Indigenous Traditional Knowledge (hunting, herd migration patterns, sea and ice conditions etc) and Traditional Place Names into comprehensive geospatial databases (mining, forestry, floods and wildfires). Overall, the result has been improved data sovereignty and improved community engagement.

Supplementary Information Sources:

Not Available

GBA Plus Data Collection Plan:

Data collected for this program is qualitative in nature, case studies were previously used and provided information that facilitated a better understanding of the program, but these case studies are no longer assisting the program. As such, the program is seeking guidance on the best way to enable future monitoring and results beyond narrative reports and/or case studies.

The beginning of 2023 saw the creation of a new stakeholder survey to evaluate the use of our Innovative Geospatial Solutions. Future iterations of this survey hope to provide more information on GBA Plus considerations.

Flood mapping specific GBA Plus data collection

Given that the focus of the Flood Hazard Identification and Mapping program (FHIMP) is to increase flood hazard information and maps, no data collection plan is being developed to assess the GBA Plus impacts of this initiative. However, the program will improve the resilience of vulnerable populations by increasing the availability and accessibility of flood hazard information and maps.

In alignment with GBA Plus considerations, the following may be collected and monitored for the duration of the program:

• Equal Access to Flood Hazard Information and Maps: FHIMP will track key parameters identified as contributing to an individual’s vulnerability to floods to ensure the program is reaching them.
• Inclusion of Traditional Knowledge: FHIMP aims to leverage already existing Indigenous technical working-groups, governance structures and internal Indigenous expertise to offer support to PTs to engage with Indigenous communities.
• Employment in STEM Fields: For its own internal hires, FHIMP will track how well it reflects departmental commitments on diversity and inclusion to increase representation of Black people and other racialized groups, Indigenous People, and persons with disabilities.

The FHIMP represents an opportunity to identify, in collaboration with Federal, Provincial, Territorial, and Indigenous jurisdictions, areas and communities vulnerable to floods. In the future, flood risk areas may be cross-referenced with socio-economic and demographic characteristics to derive more detailed information about the communities and used for further initiatives related to natural disasters and emergency management and help to address some of the current knowledge gaps.

Additionally, CCMEO supports engagement between Indigenous communities and provincial/territorial partners by providing Indigenous Engagement Guidelines encouraging meaningful engagement under the Flood Hazard Identification and Mapping Program, enhancing intergovernmental collaboration, and increasing the uptake of flood mapping in vulnerable communities.

Lower Carbon Transportation

Program Goals:

The Lower Carbon Transportation Program enhances 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. GBA Plus is incorporated into the applications to collect data as appropriate and through program design to eliminate barriers to access.

Target Population: Clean Fuels Sector/Industry

• Emission Reduction Fund (ERF): All Canadians
• Clean Fuels Fund (CFF): Clean Fuels Sector/Industry
• Green Freight Assessment Program (GFAP): Freight/Trucking Sector, Municipal and Regional Governments – Companies and organizations with fleets comprised of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles
• Electric Vehicle and Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Deployment Initiative (EVAFIDI): All Canadians
• Recapitalization of the Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program (ZEVIP): All Canadians
• Greening Government Operations Fleet Program (GGO): Federal Departments
• Zero Emission Vehicle Awareness Initiative (ZEVAI): All Canadians
• Clean Fuels Awareness: All Canadians

Distribution of Benefits

	Group
By gender	Second group: 60 per cent - 79 per cent men
By income level	Third group: No significant distributional impacts
By age group	Second group: No significant inter-generational impacts or impacts generation between youth and seniors

Specific Demographic Group Outcomes:

Canadians with a specific focus on macroeconomic stabilization, government operations, clean environment, public safety, fundamental research, broad economic development, democratic participation, and social well-being

Direct Beneficiaries: Funding recipients, including fleet operators and drivers; utilities; non-government organizations; industry associations; electric vehicle equipment manufacturers; academia; research associations; standards organizations; technical experts and tradespeople (e.g. electricians, construction workers, retrofitters); Indigenous and community groups; and provincial, territorial, or municipal governments, their departments, or agencies where applicable.

Many of the benefitting organizations have a male Caucasian majority workforce, given existing gender and ethnic disparity in the automotive industry and science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) related industries. Installation of refueling infrastructure will also call on trades that are predominantly male such as construction, electricians, plumbers, and equipment operators.

Indirect Beneficiaries: Existing zero- and lower-emission vehicle owners and drivers, both LDV and MHDV; new ZEV owners; rural, remote, and northern communities; Indigenous peoples; the utilities sector; the automotive industry; and Canadians who have pronounced health benefits from the reduction of air pollution, such as youth, seniors, and individuals with disabilities.

Benefits associated with new ZEV purchases are anticipated to accrue equally across gender, as 48% of passenger vehicles are owned/leased by women and 52% by men. In the medium to longer term, low-carbon fuels offer opportunities to reduce diesel dependency in Canada’s North. This supports broader Government efforts to transition remote communities across Canada off diesel and improving air quality across the country.

Groups that may face barriers to access/participation: Underrepresented groups such as women in utility companies, LDV dealerships, and the MHDV trucking industry, where women make up 28%, 22%, and 3.7% of the workforce respectively; women in Canada’s construction labour force, who represented 13% of the workforce in 2020; and Black Canadians in all sectors of the automotive industry.

Key Program impacts* on Gender and diversity:

Key Program Impacts Statistics:

The below key impact statistics are from external sources which have helped shape and inform the different program streams’ architecture through rigorous GBA Plus analyses conducted throughout program stages.

Statistics	Observed Results*	Data Source	Comment
Gender distribution in the trucking industry in Canada	3.5% of truck drivers were women in 2021	Trucking HD labour market data, 2022	Below the national workforce average (48%)
New Canadian gender distribution in automotive parts production in Canada	10% were women who had immigrated to Canada	Automotive Industry Labour Market Analysis, 2020 Trend Report	40% of all women employed in this sector are new Canadians
Global gender and ethnic diversity of energy sector	Globally in 2020, women account for 32% of the energy sector, while racial & ethnic minorities account for 22%	Diversio, “Equal by 30, Advancing Diversity & Inclusion in the Energy Sector”, July 2021	Women and ethnic minorities underrepresented compared to population
Proportion of young workers (between 18 and 34) in the energy efficiency workforce in Canada	42% in 2018	Budget 2021	Higher than the national workforce average (33%)
Gender wage gap in the energy sector workforce in Canada	Women earned on average 85% of the hourly wage earned by men in 2021	Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) “Energy Fact Book, 2023-2024”	Compared to 2009, women earned on average 76% of the hourly wages earned by men
Immigrant workers in the energy sector workforce in Canada	Immigrant workers represented 17% of energy sector employees in 2021	Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) “Energy Fact Book, 2023-2024”	Compared to 25% in the total economy
Visible minorities in the energy sector workforce in Canada	In 2021, 20% of the workforce identified as members of a visible minority group	Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) “Energy Fact Book, 2023-2024”	Up from 17% in 2009
Age demographics in the energy sector workforce in Canada	22% of the energy sector workforce were 55 or older in 2021	Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) “Energy Fact Book, 2023-2024”	Up from 17% in 2009
Indigenous peoples in the energy sector workforce in Canada	6% of energy sector employees identified as Indigenous in 2021	Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) “Energy Fact Book, 2023-2024”	Compared to a 4% national workforce average
* 2023-24 or most recent

Other Key Program impacts:

Reducing environmental contaminants and exposure, directly improve the health for Canadians, especially those to whom air pollution poses a pronounced health impact risk, notably young children, seniors and Canadians with disabilities. NRCan initiatives that support the reduction of GHG emissions and other harmful contaminants, and/or support the transition to clean energy are indirectly supporting the advancement of reduced poverty and improved health outcome as outlined by the Gender Results Framework. In the medium to longer term, low-carbon fuels offer opportunities to reduce diesel dependency in Canada’s North and transition remote communities off diesel, improving air quality for all Canadians.

Supplementary Information Sources:

Diversio, “Equal by 30, Advancing Diversity & Inclusion in the Energy Sector”, July 2021

Focal Initiative, Automotive Industry Labour Market Analysis 2020

Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) “Energy Fact Book, 2023-2024”

TruckingHR Canada, Labour Market Snapshot, November 2022

GBA Plus Data Collection Plan:

The various programs have taken several steps to further advance the integration of GBA Plus into program design and delivery, as well as data collection, analysis and results. GBA Plus was integrated into program measures, applications and reporting requirements through consultation, research, and analysis.

Clean Fuels Awareness and ZEVAI also track participation and impact through all funded outreach, engagement, training, and events. These programs have also updated their key performance indicators to require reporting on the breakdown of attendance at events, engagement of underrepresented groups, the number of individuals trained, and other relevant indicators. These data would be available for progress monitoring in subsequent years.

ZEVIP collects data on applicants who have equity, diversity, and inclusion plans in place and encourages applicants with no existing plans to develop Diversity and Inclusion Plans. Successful applicants are asked to report progress on their plan and share information such as describing activities that have been undertaken to promote greater diversity and inclusion and identifying opportunities and considerations for underrepresented groups in the organization.

Since 2019-20, the Green Freight Program has been able to disaggregate data by province and territory, which has helped to determine how the uptake and impact of lower carbon transportation options and awareness efforts vary by location. The program plans to measure the number of job (years) of employment generated by funded projects. The program’s data collection methodology enables it to undertake analyses of employment in the low-carbon transportation sector (specific to employment generated by program-funded projects).

Sustainable Forest Management

Program Goals:

The goal is to carry out research that fills knowledge gaps about forest management and forest ecosystems. This program ensures timely and accurate data and information sharing at international, national, and regional levels. It informs the improvement of forest practices.

Target Population: All Canadians

Distribution of Benefits

End users of the knowledge and tools developed through this program represent a diverse group of Canadians. Currently, data on population demographics is not collected for this program to determine distribution of benefits.

	Group
By gender	Not Available
By income level	Not Available
By age group	Not Available

Specific Demographic Group Outcomes: The SFM program is intended to have a positive impact (directly and indirectly) for all Canadians and contribute to the long-term resiliency of forest-based, rural, and remote communities, including many Indigenous communities. Indigenous contributions are integral for the continued improvement of sustainable forest management practices to protect the socio-economic and cultural value of forests, and its biodiversity.

Key Program impacts* on Gender and diversity:

Key Program Impacts Statistics:

Statistics	Observed Results*	Data Source	Comment
Percentage of projects funded through the Sustainable Forest Management Program that have direct and established partnerships with Indigenous communities	In 2023-24, 20% of sustainable forest management projects had active and direct engagement with indigenous partners.	Program Reporting Data	Out of the 45 projects funded by the program in 2023-24, 9 reported established partnerships with Indigenous communities.
* 2023-24 or most recent

Other Key Program impacts:

The SFM Program continues to fund some research in collaboration with Indigenous communities on forest ecosystems. The SFM program is incorporating some GBA Plus data collection into research proposals and reporting. The SFM program has applied GBA Plus to support projects that are advancing engagement and collaboration with Indigenous communities. The SFM Program funded several projects that collaborated with Indigenous groups on research activities or knowledge sharing. In addition, SFM program managers and researchers, are advancing ways to engage with Indigenous partners and communities though the guidance of a new NRCan Policy on Ethics for Research Involving Indigenous Peoples and their Traditional Lands. The SFM program will continue working to improve mechanisms for reporting on GBA Plus.

Supplementary Information Sources:

Program Reporting.

GBA Plus Data Collection Plan:

The Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) Program is incorporating GBA Plus data collection into its annual call for proposals process. For the 2024-25 research proposals, researchers will demonstrate additional GBA Plus considerations in proposals, aligning with Government of Canada renewed commitments to implement GBA Plus in programs and policies. Applicants are required to answer questions related to GBA Plus, inclusion, equity, diversity, and accessibility (IDEA), and indigenous engagement. To assist the applicants in incorporating Indigenous Knowledge (IK), IDEA and GBA Plus into research design, practice, reporting, and knowledge mobilisation, an “IDEA and IK in Research Self-Assessment Tool” was developed and distributed to researchers.

SFM Program has refined questions in project proposals and reporting on how GBA Plus considerations will be included in research design.

Core Responsibility: Globally Competitive Natural Resource Sectors

Energy Safety and Security, and Petroleum Resources

Program Goals:

The program aims to ensure informed decision-making that promotes the safe, secure, and sustainable production and transportation of conventional and alternative fuels needed in the context of a clean energy transition, and to ensure Indigenous participation in the decision-making processes.

Target Population: Indigenous peoples, communities, governments, Tribal Councils, National and regional Indigenous councils, and tribal organizations, and Indigenous for-profit and not-for-profit organizations.

Distribution of Benefits

	Group
By gender	Not Available
By income level	Not Available
By age group	Not Available

Specific Demographic Group Outcomes: Indigenous peoples, communities, governments, Tribal Councils, National and regional Indigenous councils, and tribal organizations, and Indigenous for-profit and not-for-profit organizations.

Key Program impacts* on Gender and diversity:

Key Program Impacts Statistics:

Statistics	Observed Results*	Data Source	Comment
Not Available	Not Available	Not Available	Not Available
* 2023-24 or most recent

Other Key Program impacts:

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.

Supplementary Information Sources:

Not Available

GBA Plus Data Collection Plan:

The program collects data exclusively for Indigenous community and organization participation, based on its specific Terms and Conditions. Given that the funding did sunset on March 31, 2021, and due to its current authorities, there are no actions currently underway or planned to enable further data collection, monitoring, or reporting of impacts based on gender and diversity.

Forest Sector Competitiveness

Program Goals:

Indigenous Forestry Initiative (IFI):

IFI advances reconciliation by supporting Indigenous-identified priorities to accelerate Indigenous awareness, influence, inclusion, and leadership. Applicants are Indigenous, and benefits accrue to Indigenous communities.

Indigenous governments are exempt from diversity requirements, respecting their sovereignty. Other recipients report on diversity following project completion (e.g., youth, women, Elder involvement in contribution projects).

Investments in Forestry Industry Transformation (IFIT) Program:

IFIT supports the forest sector’s transformation by investing in innovative technologies and processes that lead to the development of new bioproducts. The program aims to capture IDEA-related information on recipients, including through Diversity and Inclusion plans and questionnaires, to evaluate workforce diversity in the forest sector. IFIT also supports IDEA outreach measures.

Forest Innovation Program (FIP):

FIP supports early-stage innovation that accelerates the growth of Canada’s bioeconomy through investments in research, development, and technology transfer activities in the forest sector. FIP contributes to fostering diversity in the forest sector through the collection of IDEA-related information on recipients, and through NSERC’s Canadian Forest Sector Workforce Diversity undergraduate supplement, which targets underrepresented students.

Green Construction through Wood (GCWood):

GCWood encourages the use of innovative wood-based building systems and technologies and advanced bioproducts in construction projects to support the decarbonization of Canada’s built environment. The program has put in place new requirements for a portion of its funding recipients to report on targeted IDEA activities.

Target Population:

Indigenous Forestry Initiative: Indigenous groups seeking to participate in the Forest Sector

Investments in Forest Industry Transformation Program: Legal entities validly incorporated or registered in Canada (including for-profit, not-for-profit, and Indigenous organizations), provinces and territories, and regional and municipal governments.

Forest Innovation Program: Various entities in the public, for-profit and not-for-profit sectors.

Green Construction through Wood: Legal entities validly incorporated or registered in Canada (including for-profit, not-for-profit, and Indigenous organizations), provinces and territories, and regional and municipal governments.

Distribution of Benefits

	Group
By gender	Second group: 60 per cent - 79 per cent men
By income level	First group: Strongly benefits low-income individuals (Strongly progressive)
By age group	Second group: No significant inter-generational impacts or impacts generation between youth and seniors

Specific Demographic Group Outcomes:

Indigenous Forestry Initiative (IFI):

Indigenous groups seeking to participate in the forest sector, along with associated Indigenous communities, community members and businesses.

Investments in Forest Industry Transformations (IFIT) Program:

Forest sector companies are the main recipients of IFIT funding, which includes a higher representation of men, Indigenous Peoples, rural or remote communities, and workers without a post-secondary education.

Forest Innovation Program (FIP):

The ultimate beneficiary of FIP funding is the broader forest sector, which is made up of a variety of forest entities including forest companies, academic institutions and research institutes, forestry schools and colleges, provincial departments, non-government organizations, First Nations, and consulting firms. The majority of industry funding recipients are concentrated under two occupations: biological technologists and technicians (NOC 2016, 2221) and architecture and science managers (NOC 2016, 0212). According to the 2016 Census, both occupations have a gender balanced labour force. The FIP funding delivered through the NSERC supplement is exclusive to students in equity seeking groups (women, Indigenous People, visible minorities, and persons with disabilities).

Green Construction through Wood (GCWood):

GCWood supports construction industry stakeholders (high proportion of men), including but not limited to: builders, developers, building and fire code officials, architects, engineers, quantity surveyors, insurance and finance providers, trades, researchers, procurement officials, code consultants, academics, and manufacturers of wood products, technologies and systems. Contributions are also provided to research organizations and academia.

Key Program impacts* on Gender and diversity:

Key Program Impacts Statistics:

Statistics	Observed Results*	Data Source	Comment
Number of IFI Projects where women participated	2	Program Reporting Data
Total number of women participating in IFI projects	11	Program Reporting Data
Number women led IFI Projects	2	Program Reporting Data
Number of IFI Projects where Indigenous People participated	14	Program Reporting Data
Total number of Indigenous participants in IFI	929	Program Reporting Data
Number of IFI Projects where youth participated	3	Program Reporting Data
Number of Youth participants in IFI	26	Program Reporting Data
* 2021-22 metrics (last full reporting year) Note: Reported IFI numbers are against a total number of 5 projects funded.

Other Key Program impacts:

Investments in Forest Industry Transformation (IFIT) Program:

As part of its 2023 renewal, the IFIT program committed to funding IDEA outreach activities. This may include supporting a forest sector conference centred around IDEA issues and opportunities, or working with industry associations to develop promotional activities to support underrepresented groups. These activities will be reported on in future DRRs once sufficient data is collected.

Forest Innovation Program (FIP):

In 2020, CFS created the Canadian Forest Sector Workforce Diversity Undergraduate Supplement in partnership with the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). This award, funded by FIP and delivered through NSERC, is designed to incentivize students from underrepresented groups to pursue forest-related research. In 2023-24, 90 supplements totaling $450,000 have been awarded to students across Canada, with 68% being awarded to women, 22% to visible minorities, 7% to Indigenous recipients, and 12% to persons with disabilities. In 2023, this supplement was renewed for an additional year, with plans to increase funding and expand the eligibility criteria to reach new student groups in the future.

Green Construction through Wood (GCWood):

As part of its 2023 renewal, to address gender and diversity issues, GCWood committed to start collecting diversity-related outreach data from recipients under the Advancing Education and Building Capacity program stream as part of project reporting requirements. This will be reported on in future DRRs once sufficient data is collected.

Indigenous Forestry Initiative (IFI):

IFI Regional Liaison Officers across Canadian Forest Service’s research offices address systemic barriers, providing applicants with guidance.

In Fall 2023, applicants submitted Expressions of Interest proposals, with select projects invited to submit additional details. This streamlined funding process reduced applicants’ resource expenditure. IFI offers online and offline applications, vital to those with connectivity issues. In Fall 2023, 54 applications were received offline, and 109 online.

An Indigenous contractor forms majority Indigenous and gender-balanced Expert Review Panels to mitigate bias in complex project recommendations. A 2022-23 advisory review confirmed Indigenous involvement on the panel enhances the program’s authenticity and reduces barriers.

Supplementary Information Sources:

Not Available

GBA Plus Data Collection Plan:

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.

CFS-TEIB 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 was 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.

In Summer 2020, the Treasury Board Secretariat approved the four proposed measures outlined in the DWG’s Forest Sector Workforce Diversity: Barriers, Opportunities, and Potential Solutions report. The proposed four measures would help the forest sector to improve its understanding and outcomes with regard to workforce diversity: (1) actively collecting better data; (2) requiring program recipients to have a Workforce Gender and Diversity Plan; (3) support efforts towards addressing education as a systemic barrier; and (4) promoting workforce diversity through collaboration. The report committed the Forest Innovation Program, Investments in Forest Industry Transformation, Indigenous Forestry Initiative, and Expanding Market Opportunities.

Since 2020, several CFS competitiveness programs have gradually been incorporating IDEA-related requirements within their application and reporting processes. In 2023-24, the submission of Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) plans, which outline each company’s diversity-related priorities and actions, were mandatory under the IFIT program for both new applicants and existing funding recipients. Annual D&I questionnaires, which provide anonymous and aggregated information on the company’s workforce composition, were also collected from recipients. Similarly, in 2023-24, FIP collected demographic information from its recipients, and GCWood committed (post-Budget 2023 renewal) to begin collecting D&I data for a proportion of its recipients. These measures will allow the programs to better understand trends in the diversity profiles of their funding proponents, and to emphasize the importance of D&I considerations in forest sector projects from application to project completion.

It is important to note that with respect to the Indigenous government sovereignty in policy and law-making, the IFI does not require a Diversity Plan from its Indigenous Government proponents.

The IFI program also tracks gender and diversity representation on the IFI Expert Review Panel. Further, panelists are selected to ensure an overall Indigenous majority, as well as youth representation. A previous Advisory Review of the IFI confirmed that Indigenous involvement on the Expert Review Panel was an important feature and enhanced the certainty of decisions being made. The IFI program also encourages Regional Liaison Officers (RLOs) to intentionally engage diverse groups within communities during site visits (e.g., youth, elders) to support additional understanding of program impacts. Finally, CFS HR processes prioritize hiring diverse candidates for the IFI/RLO team.

Natural Resources Canada’s Indigenous Partnerships Office

Program Goals:

This program enables NRCan to advance meaningful partnerships, engagement, and support for Indigenous peoples to participate in the natural resource sectors and help ensure that Indigenous people are equal partners and beneficiaries of Canada’s transition to a net-zero economy.

Target Population: Indigenous peoples

Distribution of Benefits

	Group
By gender	Second group: 60 per cent - 79 per cent men
By income level	Second group: Somewhat benefits low-income individuals (Somewhat progressive)
By age group	Second group: No significant inter-generational impacts or impacts generation between youth and seniors

Specific Demographic Group Outcomes: Indigenous communities, in particular those Indigenous communities affected or implicated by natural resource projects.

Key Program impacts* on Gender and diversity:

Key Program Impacts Statistics:

Statistics	Observed Results*	Data Source	Comment
Not Available	Not Available	Not Available	Not Available
* 2023-24 or most recent

Other Key Program impacts:

NRCan is the Federal Co-Chair and Secretariats for the Indigenous Advisory and Monitoring Committees (IAMCs) for the Trans Mountain Expansion Project and existing pipeline (IAMC-TMX) whose Socio-economic Subcommittee (SESC) looks at gendered impacts of the Project as experienced by Indigenous communities, as well as how IGBA Plus can support communities as an analytical tool in early identification of, mitigation and monitoring of risks and benefits. In 2023-24, the SESC continued to monitor a set of co-developed Indigenous socio-economic indicators related to Project construction and commissioned research on the socio-economic risks and outcomes experienced in an area that hosted three work camps during Project construction.

The Indigenous Natural Resource Partnerships (INRP) program further advances the goals of the GBA Plus through active encouragement of projects that increase the participation of underrepresented groups, including Indigenous women, in the natural resource sector across Canada. The INRP program also includes an assessment criterion on supporting the increased participation of underrepresented groups including Indigenous women.

Supplementary Information Sources:

Not Available

GBA Plus Data Collection Plan:

The INRP Program collects data through its application and project reporting processes to measure engagement and access to financial resources of Indigenous communities. Data collected through the application helps to inform program guidelines along with broader policy and investment decisions moving forward.

Separate GBA Plus assessments are conducted for each individual resource project covered under the Impact Assessment Act through the regulatory review process. Further GBA Plus data, in addition to the assessments already conducted through the regulatory review process, will be collected by NRCan when necessary. GBA Plus information is collected through quantitative data on participant funding agreements. This distinctions-based data includes the number of Indigenous communities or individual participants that have benefitted from program initiatives and is aimed at enhancing Indigenous participation in the natural resource sectors and helps to inform policy and investment decisions moving forward.

Provision of Federal Leadership in the Minerals and Metals Sector

Program Goals:

The Program ensures that Canada’s minerals sector is innovative, sustainable, and globally competitive. Its work helps to provide governments, industry, and communities with the knowledge they need to make informed, evidence-based policy decisions.

Target Population: All Canadians

Distribution of Benefits

	Group
By gender	Not Available
By income level	Not Available
By age group	Not Available

Specific Demographic Group Outcomes: Women, Indigenous Women, Indigenous Peoples, Immigrants, Racialized Canadians, Youth

Key Program impacts* on Gender and diversity:

Key Program Impacts Statistics:

Statistics	Observed Results*	Data Source	Comment
Not Available	Not Available	Not Available	Not Available
* 2023-24 or most recent

Other Key Program impacts:

Both the Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy (CCMS) and the Canadian Minerals and Metals Plan (CMMP) are working to identify strategies to increase the number of youth, visible minorities, new immigrants, and underrepresented groups in the mining sector and advance Indigenous participation, particularly that of Indigenous women.

The CCMS aims to increase the supply of responsibly sourced critical minerals and support the development of domestic and global value chains for the green and digital economy. The Strategy addresses five core objectives, including supporting economic growth, competitiveness and job creation; promoting climate action and environmental protection; advancing reconciliation with Indigenous peoples; fostering diverse and inclusive workforces and communities; and enhancing global security and partnerships with allies.

Developing Canada’s critical minerals and associated value chains will create jobs and prosperity for communities across the country, including Indigenous communities. We want to help workers and communities thrive in the new economy, while fostering a diverse industrial sector that include Indigenous peoples, women, and racialized Canadians, and people from rural and urban areas across Canada.

In 2023-24, the CMMP worked collaboratively with its partners to deliver initiatives to help meet these goals, including:

• Working with provinces and territories through a Workforce of the Future Task Team on strategies to diversify the mining workforce and bolster the pipeline of future talent;
• Launching a “Canadians of Mining” campaign to highlight career opportunities to help create a more diverse and equitable workforce;
• Supporting the Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers (Cando) with its Annual Conference and Youth Program to raise awareness of mining;
• Collaborating with Cando on mining webinars for Ontario and the Territories for Indigenous economic development officers, land managers, and community leaders to highlight the opportunities that mining could bring to their communities; and
• Launching the CMMP Local Procurement Checklist to Support Indigenous Procurement in Mining to boost Indigenous participation in the mining supply and services sector.

Supplementary Information Sources:

The Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy

The Canadian Minerals and Metals Plan

GBA Plus Data Collection Plan:

In 2023-24, the CCMS Horizontal Initiative Results Framework (HIRF) was published online and outlines performance outcomes, indicators, and targets for the Strategy as a whole, as well as its various initiatives and activities. As committed to in the HIRF, the Strategy will administer a funding recipient survey to collect GBA Plus data and information from proponents to support the Strategy’s objective to foster diverse and inclusive workforces and communities. This will improve understanding of the impact of funding according to key GBA Plus related factors, such as gender, Indigenous status, racialized identity, and rural or urban location.

Many of the activities carried out under the Canadian Minerals and Metals Plan (CMMP) are delivered through the provision of grants to external recipients. Information relevant to GBA Plus is collected through discussions with grants recipients and project proponents following project completion. NRCan looks to proponents to report on their project outcomes as outlined in the grant and contract agreements with a view to release data that were collected through their activities (e.g., such as measuring the number of youths, diverse populations, or Indigenous Peoples engaged). The results help inform future program design and implementation to improve the impact of the grants and initiatives. Additionally, an exercise to Take Stock of the CMMP will take place in 2024-25, which will capture information on users, participants, and beneficiaries of these various initiatives, and in doing so, capture descriptive information to help monitor and/or report on the Plan’s gender and diversity impacts. This information will be complemented by sector-wide statistics on employment.

Youth Employment and Skills Strategy - Science and Technology Internship Program (STIP) - Green Jobs

Program Goals:

STIP – Green Jobs provides funding to employers across Canada to hire, train, and mentor youth (aged 15 – 30) in the natural resources sector. The program works to increase the participation of youth who experience barriers to employment and create quality and inclusive work experiences.

Target Population: The program targets youth in Canada aged 15 to 30, including youth from employment equity groups and youth who experience barriers to employment, to create quality work experiences and launch careers in the natural resources sector.

Distribution of Benefits

	Group
By gender	Third group: Broadly gender-balanced
By income level	Second group: Somewhat benefits low-income individuals (Somewhat progressive)
By age group	First group: Primarily benefits youth, children, or future generations

Specific Demographic Group Outcomes:

Key Populations:

1. Employers in the natural resources sector
2. Youth aged 15 to 30 (inclusive)
3. Youth from employment equity groups and those who experience barriers to employment, including:
   • Indigenous youth
   • Youth with disabilities
   • Racialized youth
   • Women
   • Youth from northern, rural, and remote communities

Key Program impacts* on Gender and diversity:

Key Program Impacts Statistics:

Statistics	Observed Results*	Data Source	Comment
Number of youth (ages 15-30) served	653	Program Administrative Data	Disaggregated data source omitted for privacy consideration.
Percentage of youth employed/self-employed following a placement	86%*	Program Administrative Data	Disaggregated data source omitted for privacy consideration.
Percentage of youth who returned to school following a placement	5%*	Program Administrative Data	Disaggregated data source omitted for privacy consideration.
* Preliminary results based on data received at time of reporting.

Other Key Program impacts:

STIP – Green Jobs applies a GBA Plus lens to all aspects of program design and delivery and regularly engages with youth to ensure program relevancy. In 2023-24, 83% of participants were from at least one employment equity group (surpassing its target of 60%), including, 52% women, 34% Indigenous youth, 31% racialized youth, and 10% youth with disabilities.

In 2019-20, following recommendations from youth engagement, the program made several design changes, including removing post-secondary education requirements and increasing wage subsidies. These changes increased participation by employment equity groups, including Indigenous youth (from 5% in 2018-19 to 34% in 2023-24).

Supplementary Information Sources:

Not Available

GBA Plus Data Collection Plan:

STIP – Green Jobs collects disaggregated participant data from employers and youth at the beginning and the end of the placements. Self-identification is not mandatory, only information to determine eligibility is required (e.g., name, age, and legal status in Canada). The program invites video testimonials from youth and feedback from employers, and requires annual reporting by delivery organizations.

The program collects data on the following indicators:

• number of youth served;
• age;
• where youth live
• where placements are located;
• self-identification (optional)
  • Indigenous (First Nations, Métis or Inuit)
  • Racialized
  • Disability
  • Gender
  • 2SLGBTQQIA+
  • Official Language Minority Community
  • Newcomer to Canada
• level of education completed;
• skills gained through the placement;
• adjustments, supports and/or accommodations required and/or received;
• percentage of youth employed; and
• percentage of youth who returned to school.

This information enables the program to undertake analysis based on age, location, employment status, employment equity group, and gender.

Statutory Offshore Payments

Program Goals: This program fulfills legislated obligations under the Accord Act to transfer revenues collected from offshore oil and gas to the provinces of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador and to fund the offshore boards.

Target Population: Provinces of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board and the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board.

Distribution of Benefits

	Group
By gender	Not Available
By income level	Not Available
By age group	Not Available

Specific Demographic Group Outcomes: Not Available

Key Program impacts* on Gender and diversity:

Key Program Impacts Statistics:

Statistics	Observed Results*	Data Source	Comment
Not Available	Not Available	Not Available	Not Available
* 2023-24 or most recent

Other Key Program impacts:

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 annual 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.

Supplementary Information Sources:

Not Available

GBA Plus Data Collection Plan:

The Statutory Atlantic Offshore Program does not collect GBA Plus data related to how the provinces use these revenues, nor does it collect data to enable it to monitor and/or report program impacts by gender and diversity. Given the program’s limited scope, there are currently no actions being taken to enable future monitoring or reporting of the Statutory Atlantic Offshore Program’s impacts as they relate to gender and diversity.

Nòkwewashk

Program Goals:

Through this program, NRCan advances globally competitive natural resource sectors by:

• supporting interactions with Indigenous groups across Canada so engagements are carried out in a manner consistent with the Government’s commitment to reconciliation;
• providing expert advice and a depth of knowledge and experience in working in partnership with Indigenous groups, industry, and the regulatory community to meet Canada’s objectives to create sustained and mutually beneficial partnerships with Indigenous communities; and,
• contributing to major project development through the facilitation of interdepartmental, inter-agency and inter-jurisdictional coordination and analysis of regulatory and permitting processes to understand and advance regulatory and permitting efficiencies in a complementary way to federal departments and agencies.

Target Population: Indigenous peoples

Distribution of Benefits

	Group
By gender	Second group: 60% to 79% men
By income level	Second group: Somewhat benefits low-income individuals (Somewhat progressive)
By age group	Second group: no significant intergenerational impacts or impacts on generations between youths and seniors

Specific Demographic Group Outcomes: Indigenous communities, in particular those Indigenous communities affected or implicated by natural resources development projects.

Key Program impacts* on Gender and diversity:

Key Program Impacts Statistics:

Statistics	Observed Results*	Data Source	Comment
Not Available	Not Available	Not Available	Not Available
* 2023-24 or most recent

Other Key Program impacts:

The mandate and vision for the program are focused on the five key impacts:

• Regulatory Coordination - building long-term, mutually beneficial relationships, assisting Crown consultations, providing Section 35 assessments, improving impact assessment and traditional land use processes, and promoting competitiveness through a strategic major projects lens;
• Indigenous Engagement and Partnerships – leading Indigenous Advisory and Monitoring Committees for Line 3 and TMX expansion projects, increasing use of Indigenous science/knowledge, facilitating Indigenous environmental monitoring, engaging industry and Indigenous partners (Regional Energy Resource Tables, United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act);
• Indigenous Economic Policy - providing concierge-style services to industry and Indigenous partners, expansion of key programs promoting the participation of Indigenous peoples in the natural resource sectors including the Indigenous Natural Resource Partnerships programs, a new national benefits-sharing framework and measures to improve Indigenous access to affordable capital;
• Advancing Reconciliation – maintaining a continued focus on transforming the way we work internally at NRCan by aligning all NRCan operations with the objectives of the UN Declaration and by creating a Pathways to Reconciliation Action Plan; and,
• Expertise in Program Delivery - Improving Indigenous service delivery and streamlining funding delivery through single-window programming.

Supplementary Information Sources:

Not Available

GBA Plus Data Collection Plan:

Separate GBA Plus assessments are conducted for each individual resource project covered under the Impact Assessment Act through the regulatory review process.

Nòkwewashk will further explore measures to improve the collection of disaggregated data in an effort to reveal deprivations and inequalities that may not be fully reflected in aggregate data, while still respecting the intellectually property provisions of Indigenous communities and data sovereignty. In doing so, the RPS 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.