What we examined (see Focus of the audit)

This audit examined whether the selected departments performed adequate gender-based analysis to inform government decisions, and whether Status of Women Canada and the relevant central agencies (the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat and the Privy Council Office) appropriately supported the implementation of gender-based analysis throughout the federal government. This audit also examined the government’s progress on our 2009 recommendations.

Why we did this audit

This audit is important because it can help the government assess progress made to implement gender-based analysis, in keeping with its goal of meeting its international commitments to gender-based analysis and its obligations to gender equality.

What we concluded

We concluded that the selected departments have not always adequately performed gender-based analysis to inform government decisions. As in 2009, gender-based analysis has not been implemented in some federal departments and agencies. Furthermore, the departments that had implemented a GBA framework did not always conduct complete analyses, and the quality of their analyses was not consistent.

We also concluded that since 2009, Status of Women Canada, the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, and the Privy Council Office made progress in supporting the implementation of gender-based analysis throughout the federal government by providing assistance, guidance, and training. Despite these efforts by Status of Women Canada and the central agencies, barriers (such as the absence of mandatory requirements for gender-based analysis across government) prevent departments and agencies from embedding gender-based analysis in the development of their policy, legislative, and program initiatives.

What we found

Implementing gender-based analysis

Overall, we found that in the 20 years since the government committed to applying gender-based analysis (GBA) to its policy decisions, a GBA framework has been implemented in only some federal departments and agencies. In the departments and agencies that have implemented a GBA framework, we found that the analyses performed were not always complete and that the quality of the analyses was not consistent. This finding is similar to our finding in 2009. We also found that since 2009, Status of Women Canada and the central agencies—Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat and the Privy Council Office—have made progress to promote and support gender-based analysis. Despite these efforts, we noted that there were barriers to conducting gender-based analysis and integrating gender considerations into policy decision making, including the absence of any mandatory requirement for departments and agencies to conduct gender-based analysis to inform policy, legislation, and program initiatives.

This is important because when gender-based analysis is missing or incomplete, gender-specific impacts might not be fully factored into government decisions about policy, legislative, and program initiatives.

• A gender-based analysis framework was not implemented in some federal departments and agencies

  Recommendation. The Privy Council Office, Status of Women Canada, and the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, to the extent of their respective mandates and working with all federal departments and agencies, should take concrete actions to identify and address barriers that prevent the systematic conduct of rigorous gender-based analysis. Such actions should address barriers that prevent departments and agencies from taking gender-based analysis into consideration during the development, renewal, and assessment of policy, legislative, and program initiatives, so that they can inform decision makers about existing or potential gender considerations in their initiatives.

  Recommendation. Status of Women Canada, with the support of the Privy Council Office and the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, to the extent of their respective mandates, should periodically assess and report on the implementation of gender-based analyses in federal departments and agencies and their impacts on policy, legislative, and program initiatives.

• Departments did not always conduct complete gender-based analyses

  Recommendation. The Privy Council Office, Status of Women Canada, and the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, to the extent of their respective mandates and working with all federal departments and agencies, should take concrete actions to identify and address barriers that prevent the systematic conduct of rigorous gender-based analysis. Such actions should address barriers that prevent departments and agencies from taking gender-based analysis into consideration during the development, renewal, and assessment of policy, legislative, and program initiatives, so that they can inform decision makers about existing or potential gender considerations in their initiatives.

  Recommendation. Status of Women Canada, with the support of the Privy Council Office and the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, to the extent of their respective mandates, should periodically assess and report on the implementation of gender-based analyses in federal departments and agencies and their impacts on policy, legislative, and program initiatives.

• Status of Women Canada and the central agencies made efforts to promote and support gender-based analysis

  Recommendation. We made no recommendations in this area of examination.

• Despite efforts to help them, departments and agencies face barriers to including gender-based analysis in policy development

  Recommendation. The Privy Council Office, Status of Women Canada, and the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, to the extent of their respective mandates and working with all federal departments and agencies, should take concrete actions to identify and address barriers that prevent the systematic conduct of rigorous gender-based analysis. Such actions should address barriers that prevent departments and agencies from taking gender-based analysis into consideration during the development, renewal, and assessment of policy, legislative, and program initiatives, so that they can inform decision makers about existing or potential gender considerations in their initiatives.

  Recommendation. Status of Women Canada, with the support of the Privy Council Office and the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, to the extent of their respective mandates, should periodically assess and report on the implementation of gender-based analyses in federal departments and agencies and their impacts on policy, legislative, and program initiatives.

  Recommendation. Status of Women Canada should assess the resources it needs to deliver its gender-based analysis mandate and assign sufficient resources to its periodic assessments of and reporting on gender-based analysis.

Entity Responses to Recommendations

The audited entities agree with our recommendations, and have responded (see List of Recommendations).

Related Information

For more information

Media Relations
Tel.: 1-888-761-5953
E-mail: infomedia@oag-bvg.gc.ca

Twitter: OAG_BVG