Women and Gender Equality Canada Info Source

Introduction to Info Source

Info Source describes the programs and activities, and the information holdings related to programs and activities, of government institutions subject to the Access to Information Act to facilitate the right of access. It also provides individuals, including current and former employees of the Government of Canada, with relevant information to access personal information about themselves held by government institutions subject to the Privacy Act and to exercise their rights under the Privacy Act.

An index of institutions that are subject to the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act is available centrally.

The Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act assign overall responsibility to the President of Treasury Board (as the designated Minister) for the government-wide administration of the legislation.

Background

Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE) history and legislative foundation can be found at this link: Women and Gender Equality Canada mandate

WAGE reports to Parliament via the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth.

Responsibilities

Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE) mandate, program responsibilities and major policies, can be found at this link: Women and Gender Equality Canada mandate

Institutional Programs and Activities

Institution-Specific Content

Community Action and Innovation

Through its Community Action and Innovation program, the Department for Women and Gender Equality provides grants and contributions to organizations to implement projects that are designed to strengthen the sector working to advance gender equality and bring some degree of systemic change in the underlying factors that perpetuate inequality at a local and regional level.

Women's Program

Description: Contains information relating to the provision of financial assistance, through grants and contributions, to organizations working to improve women’s equality in Canada. This includes records related to program research and analysis, design and infrastructure, program delivery and program results for Women’s Program funding processes.

Activities: Undertake program research. Develop program design and infrastructure including Terms and Conditions, calls for proposal and continuous intake processes. Analyze results to assist with, evaluation and reporting, document the success of agreements and communicate results.
Document types: Funding guidelines, funded initiatives, accountability framework, grants and contributions management, regional organizations by province/territory, terms and conditions, backgrounders, environmental scans, briefing and discussion papers, policy documents, Treasury Board Submissions, memoranda, recommendation documents, engagement strategies, agendas, minutes of meetings, speaking points, placemats and presentations.
Disclosure summaries: Information on funded projects is proactively disclosed via the Government of Canada Open Government portal.
Record Number: WAGE001

Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Program

Description: Contains information relating to the provision of financial assistance, through grants and contributions, to support organizations working in the GBV sector in developing and implementing promising practices to address gaps in supports for Indigenous and underserved groups of survivors in Canada. Also contains information relating to the Human Trafficking Initiative. This includes records related to program research and design, program delivery and program results for GBV Program funding processes.

Activities: Undertake program research. Develop program design and infrastructure including Terms and Conditions, calls for proposals and continuous intake processes. Analyze results to assist with, evaluation and reporting, document the success of agreements and communicate results.
Document types: Funding guidelines, funded initiatives, accountability framework, grants and contributions management, regional organizations by province/territory, terms and conditions, backgrounders, environmental scans, briefing and discussion papers, policy documents, memoranda to Cabinet, Treasury Board Submissions, memoranda, recommendation documents, agendas, minutes of meetings, speaking points, placemats and presentations.
Disclosure summaries: Information on funded projects is proactively disclosed via the Government of Canada Open Government portal.
Record Number: WAGE002

Equality for Sex, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression (SSOGIE) Program

Description: Contains information relating to the provision of financial assistance, through grants and contributions, to organizations working to improve equality with respect to sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression. This includes records related to program research and design, program delivery and program results for the Equality for SSOGIE Program funding processes.

Activities: Undertake program research. Develop program design and infrastructure including Terms and Conditions, call for proposals and continuous intake processes. Analyze results to assist with knowledge transfer, performance measurement, evaluation and reporting, document the success of agreements and communicate results.
Document types: Funding guidelines, funded initiatives, accountability framework, grants and contributions management, regional organizations by province/territory, terms and conditions, statistical and data analysis, backgrounders, reports, briefing and discussion papers, policy documents, memoranda to Cabinet, Treasury Board Submissions, memoranda, recommendation documents, agendas, minutes of meetings, speaking points, placemats and presentations.
Disclosure summaries: Information on funded projects is proactively disclosed via the Government of Canada Open Government portal.
Record Number: WAGE003

Expertise and Outreach

Through its Expertise and Outreach program, the Department for Women and Gender Equality provides tools, expertise and advice to: (1) federal organizations and central agencies on their proposals to Cabinet and the Treasury Board, and with respect to budget proposals, (2) federal government organizations to further develop their capacity to conduct GBA Plus analyses at all stages of policy/program development and across all government activities and processes; (3) provincial, territorial and local governments, private sector and civil society organizations that have the levers to address gender equality issues through policy, programming and organizational practices; and (4) to increase public awareness through outreach to the general public.

Strategic Policy Planning, Foresight, and Engagement

Description: Provides policy leadership in setting gender equality objectives, priorities, plans, and mechanisms for the Department of Women and Gender Equality Canada. Conducts analysis and contributes to issue-based documents, proposed Acts, regulations, policies, programs and other information from government and non-government sources. Contributes to relevant working groups and committee work, including the Status of Women Federal, Provincial, Territorial (FPT) forum.

Activities: Analyze and provide strategic and forward-looking. Support the integration of Sex, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression into the Department’s work. Coordinate policy planning processes. Support strategic engagement at the Status of Women FPT Forum and lead advice and planning to enable strategic ministerial engagement with experts and stakeholders on cross-cutting gender equality issues, in collaboration with other government departments.
Document types: Reporting documents, briefing notes, agendas, minutes, presentations, correspondence.
Disclosure summaries: No disclosure has occurred.
Record Number: WAGE004

Gender-based Analysis Plus (GBA Plus)

Note: Formally known as “Gender-based Analysis” and “Gender-based Analysis +”

Description: Includes records related to the work led by WAGE to advance and enhance Gender-based Analysis Plus (GBA Plus) across the Government of Canada, with Provincial and Territorial Governments, and external stakeholders. Records include strategic policy documents, assessments of GBA Plus, engagement strategies, learning tools, awareness campaigns, and documentation of collaboration with various stakeholders and committees.

Document types: Workplans, evaluations, presentations, training materials, guidance documents, consultation guides and consultation notes, correspondence, committee terms of reference and members’ lists, briefing notes, Cabinet documents, Memorandum of Understanding, financial agreements, request for standing offers (RFSO) terms and conditions, and reports.
Disclosure summaries: No disclosure has occurred.
Record Number: WAGE005

Gender-Based Violence

Description: Preventing and addressing gender-based violence requires coordinated and collaborative actions from federal, provincial, and territorial governments, each working within their respective jurisdictional authorities, in close partnership with victims/survivors, Indigenous partners, civil society, front-line service providers, municipalities, the private sector and researchers. The federal Gender-based Violence Strategy is the Government of Canada’s response to gender-based violence (GBV) and is the federal contribution to the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence.

Document types: Contracts, memoranda, submissions, procedures, policies, surveys, statistical documents, agendas and minutes of meetings, and research, terms of reference, strategy and action plan, annual reports, recommendations documents, briefing and discussion papers, policy documents, , correspondence, backgrounders, reports, guides, assessments, factsheets, infographics, awareness campaigns, news releases, speaking notes, list of interested parties, civil society organizations and indigenous partners and distribution lists, performance management documents, funding agreements, payments, spreadsheets, presentations, etc.
Disclosure summaries: Information on the bilateral agreements to end gender-based violence with each province and territory is available on the Women and Gender Equality Canada website.
Record Number: WAGE006

2SLGBTQI+ Action Plan

Description: Launched on August 28, 2022, the Government of Canada’s 2SLGBTQI+ Action Plan aims at advancing rights and equality for Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and additional sexually and gender diverse people (2SLGBTQI+) in Canada. This Plan intends to create a more equitable Canada for 2SLGBTQI+ communities, for present and future generations. The Action Plan builds upon work the Government of Canada has done since 2015 to address persisting disparities faced by 2SLGBTQI+ communities and to build a safer, more inclusive country. The Federal 2SLGBTQI+ Action Plan prioritizes community action and coordinate the Government’s work to advance 2SLGBTQI+ issues across federal departments and agencies in a holistic, whole-of-government approach that recognizes the interconnectedness of the types of inequities facing communities.

Document types: Policies, surveys, agendas and meeting minutes, terms of reference, data and subsequent analysis, community engagement reports, recommendations documents, briefing and discussion papers, policy documents, correspondence, backgrounders, reports, distribution lists, presentations.
Disclosure summaries: No disclosure has occurred.
Record Number: WAGE007

Research and Innovation

Description: Support evidence-based decision-making by identifying drivers of and obstacles to gender equality, as well as effective interventions. Work to improve the availability, accessibility and visibility of data, statistics and analysis related to key gender equality issues. Fund and undertake research that addresses knowledge gaps and helps to advance evidence-based responses to gender-based violence. Includes records related to research and data collection initiatives, analysis and knowledge enhancement, engagement strategies, documentation of collaboration with various stakeholders, and knowledge mobilization efforts.

Document types: Contracts, Memorandum of Understanding, letters of agreements, research submissions, surveys, data tables, statistical documents, statements of work, evaluation criteria, research plan, agendas and minutes of meetings, academic publications and research, reports, recommendations documents, briefing notes, correspondence, backgrounders, assessments, factsheets, infographics, list of stakeholders, distribution lists, funding agreements and presentations.
Disclosure summaries: No disclosure has occurred.
Record Number: WAGE008

Federal, Provincial and Territorial (FPT) Relations

Description: Collaborate with provincial/territorial governments, notably through the Federal-Provincial-Territorial (FPT) Forum of Ministers Responsible for the Status of Women, and with the National Indigenous Leaders and Representatives, on matters of public policy relating to women and gender equality.

Activities: Secretariat of the FPT Forum of Ministers Responsible for the Status of Women, and leads the engagement with the National Indigenous Leaders and Representatives
Document types: Briefing notes; agendas, meeting notes; correspondence replies, terms of reference, records of decision.
Disclosure summaries: No disclosure has occurred.
Record Number: WAGE009

International Relations

Description: Engage with international partners to advance gender equality abroad

Activities: Fulfill international obligations and report on gender equality. Maintain and build collaborative relationships with domestic and key multilateral and regional organizations as well as strategic bilateral relations and bilateral engagement. Lead Canada’s engagement in the UNCSW as Head of Delegation. Strategic guidance and management of WAGE international engagement, through the development and implementation of the International Strategic Framework. Provide policy leadership and strategic advice to WAGE colleagues on issues and relationships with international partners and key stakeholders.
Document types: briefing notes, reports, agendas.
Disclosure summaries: No disclosure has occurred.
Record Number: WAGE010

Advancement of reconciliation within WAGE

Description: Implementation of WAGE’s Reconciliation Framework, which comprises initiatives led by teams across the department with the goal of establishing and enhancing WAGE’s relationships with Indigenous partners, stakeholders, communities, organizations, and peoples.

Activity: A Departmental Reconciliation Circle guides and coordinate implementation of the Reconciliation Framework across the department, meeting bimonthly to discuss progress and address challenges. The Circle reports to senior management annually on progress on implementing Framework initiatives through a reconciliation progress report card.
Document types: Reconciliation Circle terms of reference; meeting agendas; records of discussion; presentation materials; annual progress report cards.
Disclosure summary: No disclosure has occurred.
Record Number: WAGE011
Activity: Development of reconciliation education materials for the department, including a learning compendium to enhance employees’ understanding of the rights of Indigenous peoples; a learning pathway to expand cultural competency; tools and protocols to support WAGE officials in respectful and culturally appropriate engagement; and research into the establishment of an Elders-in-Residence program.
Document types: Land acknowledgement guide; Elder protocol; learning events schedule; presentation materials.
Disclosure summary: No disclosure has occurred.
Record number: WAGE012
Activity: Provision of support to WAGE’s Indigenous Employees Network (IEN), a safe-space forum for Indigenous employees at WAGE to share experiences and discuss challenges.
Document types: Terms of reference; agendas; records of discussion.
Disclosure Summary: No disclosure has occurred.
Record Number: WAGE013

Meaningful collaboration and engagement

Description: Expansion and enhancement of relationships with Indigenous partners to enable meaningful engagement.

Activity: Provision of support as Secretariat for the 14-member Indigenous Women’s Circle (IWC) to enable this unique and important advisory body’s regular engagement on WAGE’s programs and priorities and to bring forward ideas and initiatives to support the needs of Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people in Canada. The IWC meets bimonthly, and one two-day meeting is held annually in-person.
Document types: Terms of reference; agendas; records of discussion; presentations; biographical web page content; contracts; briefing notes; meeting notes.
Disclosure summary: No disclosure has occurred.
Record Number: WAGE014
Activity: Provision of support to senior management and guidance to teams across the department on engagement and collaboration with Indigenous partners to ensure that partnerships are developed in ways that are culturally aware and advance reconciliation.
Document types: Briefing notes; meeting notes; scenario notes; emails; correspondence replies.
Disclosure summary: No disclosure has occurred.
Record Number: WAGE015

Integration of Indigenous perspectives into policy and programs

Description: Provision of strategic advice and recommendations on integrating Indigenous perspectives into WAGE policies and programs, both through advising teams directly on Indigenous-focused files (as described) and through contributing to key whole-of-government initiatives (e.g., enhancing GBA Plus) and working with other government department partners to identify potential synergies and enable co‑operation.

Activity: Contribution to the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (UNDA) by reviewing approximately 2,800 action plan items received from Indigenous partners and developing two items for inclusion in the UNDA final Action Plan.
Document types: Briefing notes; proposals; legal opinions; Indigenous partner proposals.
Disclosure summary: No disclosure has occurred.
Record Number: WAGE016

Internal Services

Internal Services are groups of related activities and resources that are administered to support the needs of programs and other corporate obligations of an organization. These groups are: Acquisitions; Communications Services; Financial Management; Human Resources Management; Information Management; Information Technology; Legal Services; Management and Oversight Services; Material; Real Property; Travel and Other Administrative Services. Internal Services include only those activities and resources that apply across an organization and not to those provided specifically to a program.

Acquisitions

Acquisition Services involve activities undertaken to acquire a good or service to fulfill a properly completed request (including a complete and accurate definition of requirements and certification that funds are available) until entering into or amending a contract.

Procurement and Contracting Class of Record
- Professional Services Contracts Personal Information Bank

Communications Services

Communications Services involve activities undertaken to ensure that Government of Canada communications are effectively managed, well coordinated and responsive to the diverse information needs of the public. The communications management function ensures that the public – internal or external – receives government information, and that the views and concerns of the public are taken into account in the planning, management and evaluation of policies, programs, services and initiatives.

Communications Class of Record
- Internal Communications Personal Information Bank
- Public Communications Personal Information Bank

Financial Management

Financial Management Services involve activities undertaken to ensure the prudent use of public resources, including planning, budgeting, accounting, reporting, control and oversight, analysis, decision support and advice, and financial systems.

Financial Management Class of Record

Human Resources Management

Human Resources Management Services involve activities undertaken for determining strategic direction, allocating resources among services and processes, as well as activities relating to analyzing exposure to risk and determining appropriate countermeasures. They ensure that the service operations and programs of the federal government comply with applicable laws, regulations, policies, and/or plans.

Information Management

Information Management Services involve activities undertaken to achieve efficient and effective information management to support program and service delivery; foster informed decision-making; facilitate accountability, transparency, and collaboration; and preserve and ensure access to information and records for the benefit of present and future generations.

Information Technology

Information Technology Services involve activities undertaken to achieve efficient and effective use of information technology to support government priorities and program delivery, to increase productivity, and to enhance services to the public.

Information Technology Class of Record
- Electronic Network Monitoring Personal Information Bank

Legal services

Legal services involve activities undertaken to enable government departments and agencies to pursue policy, program and service delivery priorities and objectives within a legally sound framework.

Legal services Class of Record

Management and Oversight Services

Management and Oversight Services involve activities undertaken for determining strategic direction, and allocating resources among services and processes, as well as those activities related to analyzing exposure to risk and determining appropriate countermeasures. They ensure that the service operations and programs of the federal government comply with applicable laws, regulations, policies, and/or plans.

Travel and Other Administrative Services

Travel and Other Administrative Services include Government of Canada travel services, as well as those other internal services that do not smoothly fit with any of the internal services categories.

Additional information

For general information about making a request for access to information or personal information, see Make an access to information or personal information request.

To make a request for information online, access the Access to Information and Personal Information Online Request Service.

To make a request for information under the Access to Information Act or the Privacy Act by mail, mail your letter or completed Access to Information Request Form (Access to Information Act) or Personal Information Request Form (Privacy Act), along with any necessary documents (such as consent or the $5 application fee for a request under the Access to Information Act), to the following address:

Access to Information and Privacy Office
Women and Gender Equality Canada
P.O. Box 8097, Station T CSC
Ottawa, Ontario K1G 3H6

In accordance with the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act, an area on the premises will be made available to review original materials on site if that is the applicant’s preference (and it is practical to do so), or if it is not practical to create copies of the material.

Please note: Each request made to WAGE under the Access to Information Act must be accompanied by an application fee of $5. For requests made online, this is paid at the time of application via credit card. For requests made by mail, this should be paid by enclosing cheque or money order made payable to either to the Receiver General for Canada, or if the institution does not have a Receiver General Account, to the department name, WAGE.

The Government of Canada encourages the release of information through requests outside of the formal request processes. To make an informal request, contact:

General enquiries

Email

FEGC.Info.WAGE@fegc-wage.gc.ca

Mail (including Xpresspost)

Women and Gender Equality Canada
P.O. Box 8097, Station T CSC
Ottawa, ON K1G 3H6

Telephone

Toll-Free: 1-855-969-9922
Local: 613-995-7835
TTY: 819-420-6905

Fax

819-420-6906

For additional ways to contact us, please consult the WAGE Contact Page

You may also wish to search summaries of completed access to information requests for which WAGE has already provided responses at Completed Access to Information Requests | Open Government, Government of Canada, as this information may be more easily obtained. You may also wish to review available open data at this link for WAGE | Open Government, Government of Canada.

WAGE conducts privacy impact assessments (PIAs) to ensure that privacy implications will be appropriately identified, assessed and resolved before a new or substantially modified program or activity involving personal information is implemented.

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2024-09-13

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