Terms of Reference - Task Force on Women in the Economy

Mandate

The mandate of the Task Force (“the Panel”) is to advise the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and the Minister of Middle Class Prosperity and Associate Minister of Finance, and Finance Canada (“the Parties”) on policy actions to address the unique and disproportionate impacts on women caused by the COVID-19 recession. The Panel will also provide broader advice on advancing gender equality over the medium and longer-term, consistent with the goals and policy intent of the Canadian Gender Budgeting Act and the Government’s Gender Results Framework.

Scope of work

The Panel will provide verbal advice to the Parties through a series of meetings throughout 2021 that will inform the Government’s Action Plan for Women in the Economy. Advice may take the form of policy ideas, priorities, and feedback on proposals that have been put forth publicly and which may be under consideration by the Government.

In early 2021, the Panel will focus on actions the Government could take as part of its stimulus package. These actions would primarily assist women in regaining full employment and improving labour force participation, but could also include social infrastructure measures to address issues that may have been exacerbated by the pandemic, such as gender-based violence and the disproportionate burden of unpaid care work on women.
Following Budget 2021, the Panel will consider broader and longer-term issues related to gender equality and women’s well-being, such as the gender wage gap and women’s underrepresentation in leadership positions.

Operating structure

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Middle Class Prosperity and Associate Minister of Finance will serve as Co-Chairs. The Panel’s priorities will be determined jointly by the Co-Chairs and will guide the work program of the Secretariat.

The Co-Chairs will shape the agenda for the Panel meetings and will guide the work of the Secretariat when preparing for meetings.
Panel members will share advice based on their experience and expertise.
The Minister of Middle Class Prosperity and Associate Minister of Finance will liaise with other Ministers of the Crown who have an interest in the work of the Task Force and may wish to provide information or views to the Task Force, including relevant findings from their own pre-budget consultations.
The Secretariat will be housed within the Department of Finance, and will report to the Co-Chairs of the Panel, and will support the Panel by:
- managing meeting organization and logistics;
- preparing meeting summaries and background materials, drawing from resources within the Department of Finance, other relevant government departments and external sources as appropriate;
- conducting analysis and research, and
- drafting written advice if required.
The Department of Finance will provide additional support and information to the Panel as needed, and will liaise with other departments with expertise related to the Panel’s work, including Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE), Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED).

Meetings

The first meeting will be held in early March 2021, with up to three follow-up meetings in March and April. Subsequent meetings will be held approximately every two months until the conclusion of the Panel’s work in late 2021.

Meetings may be organized around specific policy themes and types of policy measures to facilitate a structured approach to the Panel’s advice and the potential involvement of relevant federal departments (e.g. COVID-19 labour market impacts, potential measures surrounding early learning and childcare, women’s entrepreneurship, occupational segregation etc.).

Meetings will be held virtually. If public health restrictions allow, Panel members may be invited to one or more in-person meetings in late 2021. In-person attendance would be optional and at the discretion of Panel members.

Duration

Under the purview of the Ministers, the Panel will operate for a period of 12 months after being confirmed, at which point its activities are expected to conclude. If needed, however, the Task Force may be extended or renewed.

Compensation, travel and accommodation

Panel members will not receive a per diem for conducting the Panel work. In the event in-person meetings are held, the Department of Finance will reimburse Panel members for approved travel and accommodation expenses in accordance with Treasury Board directives.

Confidentiality and non-disclosure

Panel members shall treat as confidential all discussions, advice, recommendations, draft or final reports, or parts thereof, whether recorded or not, as well as any background documents and oral information identified as “confidential information” by the Department of Finance. Throughout the term of the Task Force, Panel members shall keep all confidential information secure and shall not use the information except as required in the work of the Task Force and shall not disclose the confidential information to any person except with the prior written consent of the Ministers.

Conflict of interest

Panel members will act in the public interest only and will uphold the highest ethical standards so that public confidence and trust in the integrity, objectivity and impartiality of government are conserved. Members will take all necessary steps to avoid a real, apparent or potential conflict of interest between their private, professional or business interests and their duties as a member of the Task Force. They will immediately disclose any situation existing at the commencement of their participation in the Task Force or subsequently arising that may place, or be seen to place, them in a conflict of interest. Any such conflict shall be resolved in the public interest by the most appropriate means. Members will also be required to meet any applicable requirements of the Lobbying Act and the Lobbyists’ Code of Conduct that may arise as a result of their participation on the Task Force.

Any members who are public office holders as defined in the Conflict of Interest Act are subject to and required to meet all applicable requirements of that Act in connection with their participation on the Task Force.

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Date modified:: 2021-03-08

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Terms of Reference - Task Force on Women in the Economy

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