Deputy Minister Transition Binder 1
Overview of the Department for Women and Gender Equality (WAGE)
Table of content
- Mandate, raison d’etre, vision and mission
- Departmental legislation
- Departmental plans: Women and Gender Equality Canada
- Women and Gender Equality Canada – Departmental Results Framework
- Gender results framework
- Organizational chart
Mandate, Vision and Raison d’être
Mandate
The mandate of Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE) is to advance equality with respect to sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity or expression through the inclusion of people of all genders, including women, in Canada’s economic, social, and political life. This application of a gender and diversity lens will help us to understand better the intersection of sex and gender with other identity factors. These factors include but are not limited to race, national and ethnic origin, Indigenous origin or identity, age, sexual orientation, socio-economic condition, place of residence and disability.
WAGE works within the context of a number of federal and international instruments that support the principle of gender equality such as: the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the Canadian Human Rights Act, the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), and the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
WAGE’s priorities include, but are not limited to, the following:
- advancing the development of a National Action Plan on Gender-Based Violence.
- leading the implementation of Gender-based Analysis Plus (GBA Plus) across the federal government and working to improve the quality and scope of GBA Plus in future budgets.
- implementing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action and the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls’ Calls for Justice in partnership with First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples.
- providing expert advice and strategic support to federal departments and agencies in the development of policies, programs and legislation related to gender equality, including gaps in health research and care.
- sharing research and policy expertise with organizations and other levels of governments that have the levers to address gender equality issues.
- sustaining funding commitments to Canadian women’s organizations and equality-seeking groups, including supporting community action to tackle systemic barriers that perpetuate gender inequality.
- supporting the creation of more accessible and affordable childcare and access to housing that is affordable and meets the needs of Canadian women and girls.
- supporting Canada’s efforts to meet international obligations on promoting gender equality abroad.
- promoting commemorative dates related to gender equality.
WAGE’s mandate is delivered nationally and through five regions: Atlantic; Quebec and Nunavut; Ontario; Prairies; and Pacific. Regional offices are located in Moncton, Montréal, Toronto, Edmonton and Vancouver. The national office is located in Gatineau.
Vision
A Canada where people of all genders, including women, are equal in every way and can achieve their full potential.
Raison d’être
WAGE works to advance gender equality through an intersectional gendered lens. Working in partnership with key stakeholders, including civil society organizations, labour groups, the private sector, other orders of government, and First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples, we actively promote the inclusion of all people in Canada’s economic, social, and political life. WAGE works to uphold its mandate to advance gender equality by performing a central coordination function within the Government of Canada by developing and implementing policies, providing grants and contributions, delivering programs, investing in research, and providing advice to achieve equality for people of all genders, including women.
Departmental Legislation
Background
The Department for Women and Gender Equality Act, which came into force in December 2018, transformed the former Status of Women Canada (SWC) into a full department called the Department for Women and Gender Equality, overseen by the Minister for Women and Gender Equality.
The former Office of Co-ordinator, Status of Women, known as Status of Women Canada, was originally created through an Order in Council and was given a mandate in the 1976 Appropriations Act No. 3, to coordinate policy with respect to the status of women and administer related programs.
Dedicated departmental legislation establishing the Department solidifies the roles and responsibilities that had been undertaken by the former SWC and its Minister, making that work more transparent and more entrenched while expanding the official mandate.
The expanded mandate of the new Department also formalizes as a responsibility of the Minister the promotion of a greater understanding of the Government’s gender and diversity lens, known as Gender-based Analysis Plus (GBA Plus), which involves the examination of the policy and program impacts of the intersection of sex and gender with other identity factors including race, national and ethnic origin, Indigenous origin or identity, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, socio-economic condition, place of residence and disability.
Annex A
https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/W-11.3/page-1.html
Departmental plans: Women and Gender Equality Canada
Departmental plans: Women and Gender Equality Canada
Women and Gender Equality Canada – Departmental Results Framework
Core Responsibility | Advancing Gender Equality |
---|---|
Description |
The Department for Women and Gender Equality advances gender equality for women, including social, economic, and political equality with respect to sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity or expression. The Department promotes a greater understanding of the intersection of sex and gender with other identity factors that include race, national and ethnic origin, Indigenous origin or identity, age, sexual orientation, socio-economic condition, place of residence and disability. The Department develops and coordinates policies and programs; and undertakes research and data collection and analyses related to these policies and programs; and raises public awareness through outreach. The Department provides advice to government to achieve Canada’s gender equality outcomes and goals, including advocacy for gender-based budgeting, and facilitates the advancement of gender equality among other partners and stakeholders, through its expertise, contribution to research and funding to community initiatives. The Department serves as a central point for sharing expertise across Canada and with international partners, and uses this knowledge to inform and support Canada’s gender equality priorities |
Departmental Results & Departmental Results Indicators |
R1: The Department’s interventions facilitate the advancement of gender equality I1: % of projects funded by the Department that have an impact on reducing systemic barriers to gender equality I2: % of stakeholders that applied knowledge or resources from the Gender-based Violence Knowledge Centre I3: # of partnerships or coalitions with governments, and international, Indigenous, civil society, private sector, and women’s equality-seeking organizations I4: # of federal government data and research gaps filled as identified by the Interdepartmental Committee on Gender Equality |
R2: The federal government systematically considers gender equality I5: % of federal organizations satisfied with the Department’s tools and resources to incorporate gender equality considerations into their work I6: # of major new federal initiatives (e.g. policies and programs) that include specific measures to advance gender equality |
|
Programs |
|
Result | Indicator | Data collection frequency | Methodology |
---|---|---|---|
R1: The Department’s interventions facilitate the advancement of gender equality |
I1: % of projects funded by the Department that have an impact on reducing systemic barriers to gender equality |
Annual |
Rationale: All funding by the Department for Women and Gender Equality’s programs is directed to projects that aim to have an impact on reducing systemic barriers to gender equality. This indicator provides information on the extent to which projects were successful in this regard, as set out in project proposals. Such systemic barriers are related to issues such as women in leadership positions, the economic security and prosperity of women, and gender-based violence. This indicator contributes to the assessment of the effectiveness of the Women’s Program and the Gender-based Violence program, and their impact on communities. Calculation / formula: At the end of each project funded by the Department, a Project Officer conducts a qualitative analysis of the narrative and data included in a final project report, and assesses the extent to which the project achieved expected results set out in the Project Results Framework. Since all projects funded by the Department’s programs have as their objective to reduce systemic barriers to gender equality, those projects that were determined to have exceeded, met or met most of the expected results will be considered to have had such an impact. The indicator will be calculated as follows: (Number of funded organizations that have had an impact on systemic barriers) ÷ total number of projects that came to an end over the same period) x 100. Baseline: Results for this indicator will be collected and reported for the first time through the 2018–19 Departmental Results Report. These results will be used to establish a baseline for this indicator. The target will be set for subsequent fiscal years. Definition(s):
Data source: Final project reports Data owner: Director General, Women’s Program and Regional Operations Note(s): nil |
I2: % of stakeholders that applied knowledge from resources or the Gender-based Violence Knowledge Centre |
Annual |
Rationale: Knowledge transfer and uptake is one of the primary goals of the Gender- Based Violence Knowledge Centre (KC). This indicator measures the proportion of stakeholders who applied knowledge or resources supported by the KC. It demonstrates the Department’s role as an expert enabler, working with and through others, in support of advancing gender equality through evidence-based decision-making. Calculation / formula: This indicator is calculated using the Gender-Based Violence Knowledge Centre (KC) Survey, in which respondents are asked if they applied the knowledge or resources from the KC. The numerator is the number of respondents that reported applying knowledge or resources supported by the Gender-Based Violence Knowledge Centre in a given fiscal year. The denominator is the number of stakeholders who accessed the Gender-Based Violence Knowledge Centre survey in a given fiscal year. Baseline: The baseline will be established in 2019-20. The target will be greater than 75%. Definition(s):
Data Source: Gender-Based Violence Knowledge Centre survey Data Owner: Director General, Policy and External Relations Note(s): nil |
|
I3: # of partnerships or coalitions with governments, and international, Indigenous, civil society, private sector and women’s equality-seeking organizations |
Annual |
Rationale: This indicator captures the extent to which the Department facilitates the advancement of gender equality, given much of its work is done through and with others. The Department is engaged in formal collaborations with a broad range of organizations, including governments, Indigenous organizations, civil society, private sector, women’s and equality-seeking organizations. Calculation / formula: This indicator will be presented in two parts and is calculated using data from an annual survey of departmental staff as well as reporting from recipients of project funding from the Capacity-Building call for proposals, the Gender-Based Violence Program and the Women’s Program. Respondents will be asked to indicate the number of partnerships and coalitions in a given reporting period that help advance work focused on gender equality through collaboration, coproduction of resources, tools or materials, or other specific deliverables. Separate counts will be reported for the Department and for recipients of project funding. Baseline: A baseline will be established in 2019-20. Definition(s):
Data source: Annual survey of departmental staff as well as reporting from recipients of project funding. Data owner: Director General, Research, Results, and Delivery; Director General, Women’s Programs Note(s): nil |
|
I4: # of federal government data and research gaps filled as identified by the Inter-Departmental Committee on Gender Equality |
Annual |
Rationale: This indicator measures the extent to which the Department is addressing research gaps identified as priority within the federal government context by an Inter- Departmental Committee chaired by the Department. The indicator demonstrates the extent to which the Department is enhancing capacity for an evidence-based policy approach to advancing gender equality by undertaking research and data collection to increase access to evidence and data. Calculation / formula: This indicator is calculated using departmental administrative data, as a count of deliverables completed in a given fiscal year that were identified in the Department’s Gender Equality Data and Research Plan. This Plan is developed based on gaps identified by the Inter-Departmental Committee. Baseline: The baseline and target will be established in 2019-20. Definition(s):
Data source: Gender Equality Data and Research Plan Data owner: Director General, Results and Delivery Note(s): nil |
|
R2: The federal government systematically considers gender equality |
I5: % of federal organizations satisfied with the Department’s tools and resources to incorporate gender equality considerations into their work |
Annual |
Rationale: This indicator measures the satisfaction of federal organizations with the tools the Department for Women and Gender Equality has provided them to support consideration of gender equality in their work. The Department’s objective is to provide those organizations with the necessary tools and supports to help them incorporate considerations for gender equality into their activities. Calculation / formula: The percentage will be calculated by dividing the number of departments/agencies that reported that the Department’s tools and resources exceeded or met their expectations by the number of respondents, x 100. Baseline: The baseline is the 2016/17 Annual survey of Federal departments on GBA+ (68% of respondents indicated that the Department’s tools and resources on GBA+ accessed by their department/agency exceeded or met their expectations). The target will represent an increase. Definition(s):
Data source: Annual survey of federal departments/agencies whose deputy ministers/agency heads are members of the Public Service Management Advisory Committee. Data owner: Director General, Policy and External Relations Note(s): Question in the annual GBA+ survey: As the Government of Canada's centre of expertise on gender equality issues, SWC is a knowledge broker and facilitator; the agency offers input, advice and strategic support to other federal departments and agencies. One of SWC's key responsibilities is to help build capacity and tools to foster the full integration of GBA+ across Government. This includes engaging other departments and agencies through the development of training on GBA+ and the dissemination of tools to support the application of GBA+. In the reporting period, the SWC tools and resources on GBA+ accessed by your department/agency: Exceeded; Met; Met some; or Did not meet your expectations. |
I6: # of major new federal initiatives (e.g. policies and programs) that include specific measures to advance gender equality |
Annual |
Rationale: This indicator measures the extent to which federal organizations are incorporating gender equality considerations into their core business, especially new policies and programs that have a direct impact on the lives of Canadians. This indicator is important as it provides information on the extent to which GBA+ tools are being applied and having an impact on current government initiatives. Measuring only initiatives that have been made public ensures that cabinet confidence is not affected. Calculation / formula: An annual survey is sent to 49 departments and agencies whose deputy ministers and agency heads are members of the Public Service Management Advisory Committee (PSMAC). Departments and agencies are asked to identify major initiatives that advance gender equality and to provide supporting narrative on the nature of the initiatives. In the next version of the Survey (covering the period of 2017-18), guidance will be provided to further define “major initiatives”. Major initiatives will be counted and reported in one fiscal year only, even if they are multi-year initiatives. These initiatives will be added to calculate a total number. Baseline: Results for this indicator will be collected and reported for the first time through the 2018–19 Departmental Results Report. These results will be used to establish a baseline for this indicator. The target will be set for subsequent fiscal years. Definition(s):
Data source: Annual survey of federal departments and agencies on the implementation of GBA+ Data owner: Director General, Policy and External Relations Note(s): nil |
Text version
Department for Women and Gender Equality
Executive Management
Deputy Minister
- Runa Angus : Chief of Staff
- Alia Butt : Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic Policy
- Suzanne Cooper /Natalie St Lawrence: A/Director General, Policy & External Relations
- Annette Arsenault: Director General, GBV Policy
- Nancy Gardiner: Assistant Deputy Minister, Departmental Program and Operations
- Runa Angus: A/ Director General, Corporate Secretary
- Stéphane Lavigne : CFO and Director General, Corporate Services and Human Resources
- Joanna Baker : Director General, Program & Regional Operations
- Kristina Guénette : Director General, Communications & public Affairs
- Lisa Smylie: Director General, Research, Results & Delivery and Centre of Expertise
Page details
- Date modified: