Canada

Consider initiatives aimed at ensuring access to capital, opportunities and support required to ensure women have equal access to opportunities as entrepreneurs and drivers of economic growth, particularlyin ensuring greater public procurement opportunities

Drawing from ongoing policy initiatives in Canada, and taking inspiration from other countries laws and experiences, including the Women-Owned Small Businesses/Small Business Act in the United States, Canada could review options aimed at ensuring greater access to entrepreneurship opportunities for women and women-owned businesses, with a particular focus on the public procurement sector an issue identified by the Gender Equality Advisory Council as requiring further government attention across G7 countries.

Study the gaps in existing law which inhibit the effective prevention and addressing ofinstances of on-line sexual violence including revenge porn, cyber stalking, doxing, and the tremendous challenges posed by online harassment

Canada could learn key lessons from countries such as Australia who have implemented the Enhancing Online Safety (Non-Consensual Sharing of Intimate Images) Act of 2018. In addition to ensuring offenders are subject to criminal prosecution and punishment, further study is required on how to oblige companies to remove content, as well as consideration of the possiblepenalties companies could face for non-compliance with those obligations.

Explore remedies to ensure a strengthened commitment and outcomes for equal pay for work of equal value

Building on examples from the Gender Equality Advisory Council compendium oflaws as well as Canada’s own 2018 Proactive Pay Equity Act (pertaining to women and men in federally regulated work places), there are options worth exploring in terms of achieving strong outcomes in efforts to promote equal pay for work of equal value. In this respect, France’s 2019 Law introducing specific performance obligations with regard to equal pay offer one such approach that merits further study and attention.

Fully implement the Department for Women and Gender Equality Act that created the newfederal Department Women and Gender Equality Canada

The mandate of the Department 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.In 2018 and 2019, Canada adopted a number of transformative measures and laws that set the foundation and continues to build the momentum to achieve gender equality.The adoption of key legislation in a numberof important areas helped build the appropriate framework to advance gender equality. A systemic and holist approach through legislation, policies and programs will help ensure a change in behavior in the long term. In this context, Status of Women Canada (SWC) became Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE) upon Royal Assent of the Department for Women and Gender Equality Act in December 2018. In addition to its previous responsibilities regarding women’s equality, the Department has an expanded mandate to advance gender 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.The Government of Canada also committedsignificant resources (over $380 million) in 2018 and 2019 to support the mandate of the new Department.In order to fulfill its mandate, the Department works closely with provinces and territories as well as other partners and stakeholders to advance gender equality across the country.

Fully implement transformative legislation, such as the Canadian Gender Budgeting Act

The Canadian Gender Budgeting Actcame into force in 2018. The Actenshrines gender budgeting in the federal government’s budgetary and financial management processes ensuring that all measures adopted by the Government of Canada include a Gender-based Analysis Plus (GBA+) approach. GBA+ considerations will be fully integrated in all budget analyses for the Minister of Finance.

The Minister of Finance must table, before each House of Parliament, a report on the impacts in terms of gender and diversity of all new budget measures described in the plan.

Fully implement amendments to Canada’s Criminal Code to address important Gender-Based Violence issues and gender equality, and the Canadian Human Rights Act

Through Bill C-75, which was passed as law in 2018, the Criminal Codewas strengthened to address sexual assault and intimate partner violence and to clarify sexual assault provisions. The Act to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Criminal Code (Bill C-16) adds gender identity and gender expression as prohibited grounds of discrimination in theCanadian Human Rights Act, and adds gender identity and gender expression to provisions dealing with hate propaganda, incitement to genocide, and aggravating factors in sentencing.

Fully implement supporting legislation to advance gender equality in the area of employment

The 2018 Proactive Pay Equity Actintroduces a proactive pay equityregime to ensure that women and men infederally regulated workplaces receive equal pay for work of equal value.

Passed in 2018, Bill C-25 amends the Canada BusinessCorporations Act, the Canada Cooperatives Act, the Canada Not-for-Profit Corporations Actand the Competition Actto ensure diversity of senior management and Boards of Directors of federally incorporated organizations. In 2017, Bill C-65introduced theAct to amend the Canada Labour Codein order to protect employees from harassment and violence in federal workplaces.

Fully implement the National Housing Strategy (NHS) as set out in the National Housing Strategy Act

The NHS prioritizes the needs of the most vulnerable people, which includes women and girls.The Government of Canada committed $40 billion to the NHS, which is a 10-year plan to help ensure that all Canadians have access to safe and affordable housing. At least 25 per cent of NHS investmentswill support projects that specifically target the unique needs of women and girls.

Fully implement the Gender Results Framework to ensure credible monitoring and accountability,and foster continuous improvement of this federal mechanism to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment

Introduced in Budget 2018, the Gender Results Framework represents the federal government’s vision for gender equality and diversity in Canada and abroad. The Gender Results Framework is aligned with the Government of Canada’s policy of GBA+, ensuring that gender is considered in relation to other intersecting identity factors. It is evidence-based, including indicators and benchmarks to monitor progress, and is open to the publicthrough its web portal.Federal Budget decisions are guided by the Gender Results Framework.The Gender Results Framework guides Canada’s progress to advance gender equality by:
1) Guiding future policy decisions and tracking their developments across the government,
2) Providing evidence-based indicators for monitoring progress towards gender equality;
3) Providing the public with up-to-date research and analysis on diversity and gender equality indicators through a web Portal and the Centre for Gender, Diversity and Inclusion Statistics.

The Gender Results Framework focuses on six areas:

1)Education and Skills Development –Equal opportunities and diversified paths in education and skills development
2) Economic Participation and Prosperity –Equal and full participation in the economy
3) Leadership and Democratic Participation –Gender equality in leadership roles at all decision-making levels
4) Gender-Based Violence and Access to Justice –Eliminating gender-based violence and harassment, and promoting security of the person and access to justice
5) Poverty Reduction, Health and Well-Being –Reducing poverty and improved health outcomes

Gender Equality Around the World –Promoting gender equality to build a more peaceful, inclusive, rules-based and prosperous world through Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy.

Fully implement the Feminist International Assistance Policy

The Feminist International Assistance Policy (FIAP)aims to eradicate poverty and build a more peaceful, inclusive and prosperous world by focussing on promoting six action areas: gender equality and empowering women and girls; human dignity (health and nutrition, education, humanitarian action); growth that works for everyone; environment and climate action; inclusive governance; and peace and security. Canada’s FIAP has committed to significantly increasing programming that will advance gender equality and empower women and girls. At least 95% of all Global Affairs Canada’s bilateral international development investments will specifically target or integrate gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls by 2021-22.

Fully implement Canada’s Second National Action Plan on Women’s Peace and Security

Canada’s Second National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security(CNAP) aims to expand women’s participation in peace and security efforts and contained the Government of Canada’s specific commitments to advance the WPS agenda. In developing the 2017-2022 Action Plan, the Government of Canada has consulted with civil society, in particular the Women, Peace and Security Network-Canada (WPSN-C). This input has been invaluable, and the Government of Canada is committed to strengthening this collaboration.

Fully implement Canada’s Trade Diversification Strategy

Canada’s Trade Diversification Strategyadvances an inclusive approach to trade to ensure that all segments of society, including women and women-owned businesses, can take advantage of the opportunities that flow from international trade and investment.